It seems with the more kids we have in school and social events, the more often colds and cases of flu like to rear their ugly heads. Use these essential oil blends for colds and flu to boost your mood and moisturize your skin, stimulate your immune system and fight off infection, clean your home and freshen the air you breathe. Today I’m sharing top essential oil blends to keep your home, and your family, safer and strong all season long.

Cold and Flu season ramps up between December and February but can last well into May. Symptoms can easily persist for 2 weeks and that can add up to 2 weeks of aches and pains, 2 weeks of added chemical treatments, and 2 weeks of side effects to these medicines. There is an alternative by finding relief with essential oil blends for colds and flu.

Essential oils are a more natural way to treat the symptoms of colds and flu. And if you have children you know how doctors are shifting their recommendations in the last decade away from taking over the counter medicine to reduce fever.

Most doctors are now recommending that otherwise healthy people from ages 2-adult with a fever 102 F or below rest and drink plenty of fluids without taking medication.

But the great thing is that you can use essential oil blends to naturally help with colds and flu symptoms.

When Should You Take Medicine for Colds and Flu

I don’t want you to think that I am saying that essential oil blends for colds and flu are a cure. They are not. But they can very much ease or relieve your symptoms, clean your home, and help protect you from getting sick in the first place.

Essential oils are a natural way to boost your body’s own response and aid in healing itself. 

If you or a child you are caring for, age 2-adult has a fever above 102 F (38.9 C) you can use acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) to relieve the fever. Do not give aspirin to children, age infants through teens. 

If you or your child doesn’t respond to a fever-reducing medication call your doctor. A baby 0-3months with a fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or a child 3-6months old with a fever above 102 F (38.9 C) higher taken rectally will constitute a call to your doctor as well.

I am not a doctor but found this information from a reliable source–the Mayo Clinic. 

If your child continues to behave irritable, overly tired, or complains of significant discomfort please contact a medical professional. And as we all know now if you or an ill adult you are caring for have a severe headache, stiff neck, shortness of breath, or other unusual signs or symptoms you should contact a doctor.

10 Amazing Essential Oil Blends for Colds and Flu

Best Essential Oil Blends for Colds and Flu

I decided to put together a list of the 10 best essential oil blends for colds and flu that I use with my family. Use these essential oil blends to boost your mood, moisturize your skin, stimulate your immune system, fight off infection, clean your home, and freshen the air you breathe. 

When it comes to dilution rates I like to refer people to the Tisserand Institute Dilution Chart. Robert Tisserand is an international speaker, educator, and consultant on the science and benefits of essential oils and their safe and effective application.

Follow the chart to mix your essential oil blends for colds and flu with a carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil, at a safe rate for children and adults.

As a general rule, it is recommended to dilute essential oils to 1% for children, but hot oils such as Clove Bud, Cinnamon, and Oregano should be diluted to 0.5% and may not want to be used with children under ten.

I feel comfortable with using essential oils with my children after years of use and studying up on the topic. But Momma, make the best choice for your family and consult a doctor if you ever have questions and concerns.

Now, let’s get into these 10 amazing essential oil blends for colds and flu.

Essential Oil Blend Vapor Rub 

Make your own chest rub for those icky colds. Add some drops of Eucalyptus and Peppermint oil to fractionated coconut oil and rub on your chest and the bottom of your feet to break up that cold. Add in Lavender oil for runny noses as well.

Typically, Eucalyptus is best avoided in children under 10, however, E. globulus and E. radiata (this is the version we use) is considered safe if diffused briefly or applied topically at 0.5% dilution at 2+ years.

Soothe Sore Throats and Detox with Steam and Massage

Lemon oil is proven to detox and cleanse on a cellular level. Add one to two drops to two cups of boiled water. Cover your face with a clean towel, and with your eyes closed, inhale the steam through your nose. With it’s antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, it will give your immune system a boost while fighting respiratory conditions and can relieve a cough by reducing swelling in the lymph nodes.

Tip: Use in a glass as citrus oils can break down plastic.

Another great option is to apply oils directly to the outside of the throat. Mix a couple drops of Lavender and Lemon essential oils with a carrier oil, such as warmed coconut or sweet almond oil, and gently massage the throat, chest, and back to help absorption.

Essential Oil Blend Hand Sanitizer

Shield essential oil is probably one of my favorite essential oil blends for colds and flu. You can read how to make your own Shield blend and essential oil hand sanitizer spray on my other essential oil posts.

Ingredients for an essential oil hand sanitizer (makes 16 ounces):

• 1 1/3 C Alcohol – at least 180 proof alcohol or isopropyl alcohol with 60% alcohol content or higher
• 2/3 C Aloe Vera gel
• 20 drops Shield Essential Oil

The scent of Shield is great, and with Cinnamon and Clove in the mix, it’s a very Christmas-y scent that I like to diffuse in the house. But the main function of this oil is immune support and sanitizer. 

Fever Reducer and Tension Relief

For those tough-to-break fevers, or a headache that needs to be kicked to the curb, try Peppermint oil. Rub a little (diluted) on the temples for tension relief (NOT too close to eyes) or on the bottom of feet to reduce a fever. 

Another helpful tip if you have a stomachache is to rub diluted Peppermint oil clockwise on your belly or add a few drops to water for everything from nausea to digestion issues.

Fresh Essential Oil Blend Pillow Spray

When we are unwell we can all use a good night’s sleep. Add 18 drops of Bliss calming essential oil blend to a 2 oz. dark glass spray bottle. Spritz on your pillows for a restful night. You can also simply add to a diffuser before bedtime. 

Tip: Our Sleepy Head Kid-Safe Essential Oil Roller is also a great option for aiding in a good night’s sleep, comes pre-made and ready to use!

Lavender Essential Oil Moisturizer

Lavender essential oil is a natural skin healer and moisturizer. Mix with fractionated coconut oil for an after bath/shower intense moisturizer that is also an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-parasitic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, a decongestant, and an antidepressant.

I’m also a HUGE fan of a few drops of our Fresh Mommy Essential Oil Blend (which does include Lavender) added to a bottle (add a pump-top for easy use!) of fractionated coconut oil and sweet almond oil for an all-over body moisturizer! The scent is ahhhh-mazing and the benefits of the oils are incredible as well. 

Chest Congestion and Cough Relief

Along with Eucalyptus oil as we mentioned before, Lime oil helps boost the immune system to fight off colds and other respiratory ailments and can also help to cool fevers.

Anti-Viral Essential Oil Blends for Colds

While Shield essential oil is a potent blend to protect and boost the immune system, Oregano oil is one of the most potent essential oils on the market. It has high anti-microbial properties. Though it’s has a strong scent, it does blend well with carrier oils or other essential oils.

Essential Oil Disinfecting Surface Spray

Keep a natural sanitizer for surfaces close by, especially during cold and flu season. It’s inevitable that we will be near someone that is sick in our household. Viruses may live on solid surfaces for anywhere from 3 hours to 3 days.

Use a 1:2 ratio of isopropyl alcohol to cold water and add in 18 to 36 drops of Respire essential oil. Respire is a combination of the essential oils Peppermint, Melaleuca, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Lemon, and Clove. This is one of the best essential oil blends for colds and flu symptoms. In addition to a disinfecting surface spray, you can use Respire in a diffuser to help with the common respiratory issues such as congestion.

Stomach Soother

Keep stomachaches at bay with both Peppermint oil and Ginger oil. There is scientific evidence that inhaling Peppermint oil will alleviate nausea symptoms, so place a few drops on a cloth or felt that you can have near you. If the scent bothers you, you can easily take it away.

You can also ingest high-quality essential oils diluted in water or dilute it with a carrier oil to use topically, specifically to rub on the stomach for an upset stomach.

Tip: Our Tummy Buddy Kid-Safe Essential Oil Roller is also a great option for stomach-relief in both kids and adults, comes pre-made and ready to use!

The Best Essential Oils to Buy

I often get asked what essential oil brand I recommend. 

I’ve long been a fan and user of essential oils. For years, I used oils as after-bath massage lotions on my kids, as a natural defense before I’d send them out the door and as healthy remedies for ailments of all kinds. 

I truly believe that essential oils are nature’s pharmaceuticals, and when they are of HIGH quality, I feel completely comfortable slathering them on my kids and myself, and even ingesting them. I’ve found that having an arsenal of at-home remedies at the ready for when my family needs it is empowering.

After more research, and with the help of my mom, I stumbled across Spark Naturals whose oils are Certified Pure Pharmagrade (CPPG), 100% steam distilled and cold-pressed. All of that means their oils are of very HIGH and ingestible quality, same as a couple of those high-end companies I’ve used before. But Sparks Naturals’ price point couldn’t be beaten. Another plus is that there are no minimums or monthly auto-ship orders that have to be fulfilled.

Use discount code FreshMommy for 10% off any order.

Try Essential Oil Blends for Colds and Flu

As we enter into an era of changing mindset in the medical field, and at home, natural remedies are growing in popularity. More research needs to be done, but the information we are getting about essential oil blends for colds and flu is promising.

I hope these essential oil blends help you tough out any cold or flu you may experience. Combine these with bed rest and liquids to help your body do its job.

If you enjoy essential oils check out this post on Super Refreshing Summer Diffuser Blends, and be sure to let me know what essential oils you like to use medicinally in the comments below.

Do you have any favorite go-to essential oil blends for cold and flu?

Essential oils are a great option for all-natural help! It is, however, important to note that is doesn’t mean essential oils are risk-free. These are highly concentrated substances and must be used properly and diluted.