Are pesky allergies, runny noses, sneezing, and congestion interrupting your workflow? As cold and flu season approaches, bolster your immune system with the support of natural remedies to keep up with your regularly scheduled programming! Some of the best natural remedies for congestion and overall immune function are oregano oil, garlic oil, and black seed oil. Sounds like ingredients to a culinary recipe, doesn’t it?

Oregano oil (Origanum vulgare) boasts a rich history dating back millennia in the Mediterranean. It was originally used as an antiseptic for wound healing and treating respiratory and digestive issues. Its potent antimicrobial properties, fueled by compounds like carvacrol and thymol, have been used to alleviate respiratory issues such as coughs, bronchitis, and sinusitis.

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been recognized for its medicinal and culinary properties for thousands of years, and garlic oil is one of the preparations used to harness its health benefits to the fullest. Ancient Egyptians and Greeks considered garlic a powerful healing herb and used it to promote cardiovascular health, enhance immune function, and address respiratory issues.

Black seed oil, also known as black cumin seed oil or Nigella sativa oil, contains compounds like thymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, and thymol, which have demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects and have a long history of use in traditional medicine. While scientific research is ongoing, black seed oil may enhance immune function.

Looking more closely, it’s evident that both oregano and garlic oils have been used in herbal medicines to alleviate symptoms related to upper respiratory tract infections, including nasal congestion and excess mucus production.

Oregano Oil

• Contains potent antimicrobial properties due to its high concentration of compounds like carvacrol and thymol, which work together to help kill off cold and flu viruses.
• Promotes antimicrobial action, works to fight inflammation, and reduces congestion.

Garlic Oil

• Thought to have immunomodulatory properties, meaning it can help regulate and enhance immune function!
• Antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties further strengthen the immune response and promote a healthy respiratory system.
• Regular consumption has been associated with a reduction in LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) and an increase in HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol) and maintaining healthy blood pressure.

Black Seed Oil

• Compounds, thymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, and thymol contain potent anti-inflammatory powers. These compounds help to reduce inflammation in the body and may be beneficial for fighting upper respiratory infections, reducing the associated symptoms like nasal congestion and mucus buildup.
• May also help stimulate immune cells and improve the body’s defense against infections and diseases.

Supporting Immunity with Lifestyle Adaptions

It’s always best to bolster our supplements with a healthy and active lifestyle. Try implementing some of these changes alongside your supplementation:

• Get outside first thing in the morning or sit near a window to take in the daylight. Regular exposure to morning light improves circadian rhythm, supporting adequate rest, sleep and healthy immune function. If you are unable to get sunlight, support your body with a daily dose of vitamin D3 in supplemental form.
• Eat foods to support your recovery from colds and flus, like potent bone broths, ginger, and electrolyte-rich beverages, like coconut water, to replenish fluids and ensure proper hydration.
• Enhance your supplement protocol with other immune-supportive products like Health First ProBio Supreme, a potent probiotic promoting immune-fighting bacteria, and Berry-C Supreme, an easily absorbable buffered vitamin C with antioxidant superpowers to combat seasonal viruses.
• Other preventative measures like regular hand washing and saline nasal rinses can also be effective in supporting your body’s defenses.

Health First Congestion Relief Supreme is the go-to relief when fighting off excess mucus and nasal congestion! It works to ease mucus buildup while clearing upper respiratory tract congestion. This potent blend of 75 mg of organic oregano oil, 1 mg of organic garlic oil and 424 mg of black seed oil provides your body with the fighting powers it requires in one synergistic supplement.

Take congestion support up a notch with an herbal supplement containing a potent combination of antifungal, antibacterial and immune-modulating herbs that can ensure that you’re back on your feet in no time!

References:
1. Arreola, Rodrigo, et al. “Immunomodulation and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Garlic Compounds.” Journal of Immunology Research, vol. 2015, no. 401630, 2015, pp. 1–13, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4417560/, https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/401630.
2. Badary, Osama, et al. “Thymoquinone: A Promising Natural Compound with Potential Benefits for COVID-19 Prevention and Cure.” Drug Design, Development and Therapy, vol. Volume 15, May 2021, pp. 1819–1833, https://doi.org/10.2147/dddt.s308863. Accessed 6 May 2021.
3. Gilling, D.H., et al. “Antiviral Efficacy and Mechanisms of Action of Oregano Essential Oil and Its Primary Component Carvacrol against Murine Norovirus.” Journal of Applied Microbiology, vol. 116, no. 5, 12 Feb. 2014, pp. 1149–1163, https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.12453.
4. Mahboubi, Mohaddese. “Natural Therapeutic Approach of Nigella Sativa (Black Seed) Fixed Oil in Management of Sinusitis.” Integrative Medicine Research, vol. 7, no. 1, Mar. 2018, pp. 27–32, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imr.2018.01.005. Accessed 29 Jan. 2021.
5. Raiyan Sakib, et al. Antioxidant Properties of Thymoquinone, Thymohydroquinone and Black Cumin (Nigella Sativa L.) Seed Oil: Scavenging of Superoxide Radical Studied Using Cyclic Voltammetry, DFT and Single Crystal X-Ray Diffraction. Vol. 12, no. 3, 1 Mar. 2023, pp. 607–607, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10045468/, https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12030607. Accessed 24 July 2023.

About the Author: Health First Network

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