One of my favorite essential oil blends from doTERRA is their On Guard protective blend. It contains wild orange, clove bud, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus radiata, and rosemary and is formulated to support a healthy immune system.

During cold and flu season I use On Guard on a regular basis in a variety of ways to help boost our immune systems and protect against flu, colds, and viruses.

5 Simple Ways to Use On Guard to Combat Cold and Flu

Make Antibacterial Hand Soap

We know hand washing is an important step in minimizing the spread of germs. You can use On Guard essential oil to make your own antibacterial hand soap. I reuse foaming soap dispensers and make a foaming hand soap. Here’s how to do it:

• Fill your foaming soap dispenser almost to the top with water.
• Add 1-2 Tbsp. liquid castile soap
• Add 10-15 drops On Guard essential oil

Apply On Guard Topically

To keep immunity up during cold and flu season, I apply On Guard to my kids feet each night before bed. It’s easy and has become a part of our nightly routine. If anyone’s getting sick I apply it more frequently throughout the day.

I dilute with a ratio of 3 drops On Guard to 1 tsp. carrier oil (fractionated coconut oil or olive oil) and store in a roll-on bottle so it’s ready to apply whenever I need it. For a sore throat, apply this diluted blend directly on your throat.

*You can find these roll-on bottles at Aroma Tools.

Room Spray

Making a room spray is a simple way to enjoy the aromatic benefits of essential oils. Fill a small glass spray bottle about 3/4 full with distilled water. Add 15-20 drops On Guard. Use when you need to freshen things up (i.e. after a diaper change,) or just when you want to enjoy a nice smelling home. **One thing I love about On Guard is that the smell reminds me of the holidays, so it’s perfect during the Fall and Winter.

Make a Disinfecting Cleaner

If you make your own all purpose cleaner using vinegar and water (mix vinegar and water together in a spray bottle using a 1:1 ratio), simply add in 10-15 drops of On Guard to give it some extra anti-bacterial cleaning power. This will also help if you’re not a huge fan of the smell of vinegar.

Sometimes I just add a couple drops of On Guard to my sponge to wipe down the counter if I’m just doing a quick counter top wipe-down.

Take Internally When Sick

Photo by boo_licious

When I do come down with something or know I’m starting to get sick, I will take On Guard internally to help speed my recovery time. I either add a drop or two to some hot tea or I add a few drops to a capsule and swallow it. **I have not tried giving my kids essential oils internally.

Please note: On Guard is a blend formulated by doTERRA, which is CPTG (Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade) and is safe to take internally. I would not recommend using other essential oils internally unless you have researched them thoroughly.

doTERRA also offers several other On Guard products including Cleaner Concentrate, Whitening Toothpaste, and Foaming Hand Soap (if you don’t want to make your own).

For more ideas on how to use essential oils, check out my Essential Oils Board on Pinterest.

Shared at Your Green Resource and Simply Natural Saturdays.