whole-house diffusing

It's chilly outside, and all of Harrison's (consenting) public schoolchildren are infected with the h1n1 virus this weekend via a spray vaccination they received at school this week.

Seems like a good time to stay home, make some hot tea, and to put some antiviral* essential oils into the air we're breathing this weekend.  Even something as simple as a cotton ball next to your desk (or inside your pillowcase) with a few drops of EO on it can help your body fight invaders like bacteria and viruses.

If you don't have one of those fancy cold-air diffusers like we enjoyed at Darla and Hannah's each Sunday night, try this:

Put 6 or more drops of EO on a tissue.  (Like Kleenex.)

Find your house's air intake for the heating system.  Tape it onto the grate.  If you can, block about half of the grate with furniture or something (I used old suitcases that were nearby) so that more air has to be pulled through the tissue.

Turn your heat up a degree or two to get the heater going.

Now go across your house to a grate and put your face into the warm blowing air.  Inhale.

Nice trick, huh?  It's likely not enough to disinfect every room in your house, but every little bit helps.  And hey, it smells nice.
A few antiviral EOs:
Basil

Bergamot
Black pepper
Cinnamon leaf
Clove

Eucalyptus (globulus or radiata)
Fir
Grapefruit
Laurel leaf
Lavender
Lemon
Lemongrass
Lime
Oregano
Pine
Ravensara/Ravintsara
Rock Rose/Cistus
Sandalwood
Spike Lavender
Spruce
Tea Tree
Thyme (ct. thymol or linalool)

...and of course, the Thieves-type blend so much of us love works great for this purpose as well.

Posted via email from the Oil Crowd