*Disclaimer: Elephant Journal articles represent the personal views of the authors, and can not possibly reflect Elephant Journal as a whole. Disagree with an Op-Ed or opinion? We’re happy to share your experience here. This website is not designed to, and should not be construed to, provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion or treatment to you or any other individual, and is not intended as a substitute for medical or professional care and treatment. For serious.

There’s scary medical stuff going on right now.

A mystery respiratory virus is putting Colorado kids in the hospital and Ebola is popping up all around the US.

I’m getting pinged non-stop with questions about how essential oils can protect you and family from it all.

So let’s clear up a few things:

A virus is a small infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of other organisms. Viruses can infect all types of life forms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea.

Simply put, a “virus” and a “bacteria” (or what the kids call “germs”) are two different things.

Viruses live inside your cells; bacteria live outside them.

A healthy body is pretty good at getting rid of both.

That’s what “flu-like symptoms” are all about—your body’s natural defenses at work.

Antibiotics do not kill viruses.

They can actually do more harm than good because do they not kill the virus, if taken too often can create resistance to treatment and they kill the good bacteria your body needs. True, there are potent antiviral drugs available but they only stop viruses from reproducing.

It’s scary to think about modern medicine only just getting around to vaccines and treatments to kill Ebola, but essential oils or health blogs are definitely not the answer.

You know I’m a huge essential oil advocate.

I have an essential oil protocol that kicks the butt of any drugstore garbage.

But no oil is going to fix a super-virus and any claim that says otherwise is not backed by scientific proof.

The blog writer who’s flu symptoms went away after taking apple cider vinegar and honey is not a “cure”. Symptom relief and ending an illness are as different as viruses and bacteria.

Don’t toss out your essential oils and think they good for nothing, though.

150 years ago, people only had plants to ease sickness.

Modern scientists poo-poo ancient wisdom for not having test data. This is changing.

In a 2010 study of doTERRA’s On Guard, the essential oil blend, stopped a virus from replicating in a test tube. If the virus can’t replicate, your body has a better chance of fighting it off. That’s progress! But that’s one study. Who knows what will be uncovered with further studies.

If you’re sick, stop reading this blog and go to a doctor.

If you think you’ve been exposed to Ebola, get to a hospital.

Do not pass Go.

And do not leave until you have a diagnosis. And a second opinion.

As a health coach, I want you to be proactive, not reactive. Ask yourself, “How can I support my health and well being” not “how do I stop being sick?”

Ebola is going to be in the news for a while.

It is something to keep our eye on.

The natural remedy for beating Ebola and other viruses is prevention.

Eat good, natural, whole food.

Exercise.

Get rid of the toxic chemicals in your home.

Reduce stress.

Wash your hands.

Do things that support a healthy immune system.

Let your body do its job. 

These are the things needed to beat a virus.

xo Hayley

XO HayleyXO Hayley
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Author: Hayley Hobson

Editor: Ashleigh Hitchcock

Photo: flickr