Winter Wellness

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or aromatherapist.  I am sharing this information for interest only.  

Last Thursday I attended a workshop on essential oils suitable for winter. It was a great session and it was neat to meet other like-minded people who like to use essential oils. As an aside when deciding what oils to choose for preventing winter ills and chills, make sure you choose oils you like. Smell to all of us is very personal and whilst why I might like Ravensara, it doesn’t mean everyone else will. Over the evening, we got to smell and discuss a number of oils. I will keep this simple and share just a few of the oils and a brief outline of how they can help if you are suffering from winter ills.

Tea Tree – Melaleuca alternifolia

Analgesic properties which means it helps to relieve pain therefore works well as a decongestant for colds and flu.

Lemon Essential Oil – Citrus limonum

Anti-bacterial, anti-viral and antiseptic. Good for respiratory infections and builds immune system.

Euclyaptus – Eucalyptus globulus

Good for sinus conditions because it can be breathed very closely without triggering a cough. A good one to use in an inhalation as it helps you breathe more easily.

Frankincense – Boswellia carteri

Powerful immunity essential oil mild and can help to beat persistent colds, coughs and congestion.

Lavender – Lavender angustifloia

A good addition to cold and flu remedies with its proven germ killing ability, as well as its ability to stimulate the respiratory system and ease breathing.

Pine – Pinus sylvestris

Helps to release mucous and ease breathing. It can help clear congestion in the sinuses, lungs and bronchial passages. Better used as an inhalation or oil burner. Don’t use in the bath as it can be irritating to the skin. Don’t use this oil if you have high blood pressure.

Cedarwood – Juniperus virginiana

Helps to remove excess mucous making it very good for bronchitis, coughs – use as an inhalation or chest rub.

Ravensara – Ravensara aromatica

Helps to expand the airways in the respiratory system and it does this without stimulation which helps you to breathe easier.

While the above oils are useful to use when sick, they are great to use throughout winter to help build up the immune system and provide your body with essential nutrients to cope with winter.

Some suggested blends to use:

Ravensara, lemon and eucalyptus.

Pine, lavender and eucalyptus

Lavender, eucalyptus, ravensara

Eucalyptus, ravensara, pine and lemon

Cedarwood, lemon and lavender

Frankincense, lemon and ravensara

Ways to use essential oils:

Throat & Chest Oil: add 4 drops of essential oil to 1 teaspoon of almond or apricot oil and blend. Massage this over chest and throat.

Oil Burners: 6 to 8 drops in water

Foot Bath: 5 drops of essential oil in warm water

Inhalation: 4 to 6 drops into 1 litre of hot water. Cover head with towel and inhale, Make sure you close eyes when you are doing an inhalation as some vapours may irritate the eyes. This is really good for cold and flu and chest problems.

Tissue:  1-2 drops onto the tissue direct and inhale.

Shower: 1-2 drops on shower floor, place foot on drain hole and inhale the essential oils, or you can make yourself a shower fizzie – see photo below. ( I will post  a tutorial on Friday with the recipe and photos on the how-to).