How to prepare for winter with essential oils
Essential oils have long been used in food, beauty products and health-care practices. However, not all essential oils are the same or created equally, meaning the health benefits to us are compromised. It’s important to ensure the essential oils you use are 100% pure, plant-based oils that are extracted from the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers and other parts of plants – and have not been made or blended with synthetics.
How do essential oils work?
Essential oils can be used to help benefit a wide range of emotional and physical wellness challenges. The three best ways to use essential oils are aromatically, topically and ingesting (such as in food in place of herbs and other flavourings in cooking, or as a dietary supplement in a vegetable capsule or added to water).
1. Aromatic
Our sense of smell is a tool that can elicit powerful physiological, mental and emotional responses. Essential oils are quickly absorbed by our smell receptors, which have a direct link to the part of our brain that supports a variety of functions, including smell, emotions, behavior and memory. For this reason, essential oils have an especially powerful effect when used aromatically in your home. Some essential oils induce uplifting or invigorating effects, while others are more calming. Using a cold steam diffuser is one of the simplest methods for using essential oils aromatically, but you can also apply essential oils to a cotton ball and place in the air vents of your car, mix oils in a glass or metal spray bottle with water to mist over furniture, carpet or linen, or use in place of your household surface cleaners and make your own toxic-free cleaning products in glass or metal spray bottles.
2. Topical
Topical application is a very effective method for applying essential oils because they are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and easily penetrate the skin. Some of the most beneficial areas to apply essential oils are: neck, forehead and temples, chest and abdomen, wrists, behind your ears, legs and bottom of feet. It’s always best to dilute an essential oil with a carrier oil first, such as fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil or olive oil, to test your skin’s sensitivity. You can also add essential oils to your moisturiser, add a few drops to a warm bath, or make a hot or cold compress.
3. Ingest
Certain essential oils have a rich culinary history and can be used in food. When you sprinkle cinnamon on your oats, sip a mug of peppermint tea, or add fresh basil leaves to your spaghetti, you are actually consuming some essential oil compounds. When ingested, essential oils directly enter our blood stream via the gastrointestinal tract, where they are transported throughout the rest of the body. We can effectively use oils internally by replacing herbs and spices with oils in our cooking, add oils to our drinking water, smoothies, milk, tea or other drinks, or add a small amount of essential oil to yoghurt and healthy treats and desserts.
Top 3 essential oils as a preventative measure in the lead-up to cold and flu season
1. On Guard – This germ-fighter is perfect to build up your body’s immune defence in winter and help to protect you from any nasty colds and flu doing the rounds. Apply with a carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil to bottoms of feet, back of neck and chest, or gargle with water for an irritated throat and diffuse.
2. Easy Air – This ‘respiratory blend’ is the go-to when your chest, nose, head or throat all feel compromised during the colder weather. Apply with a carrier oil to bottoms of feet, back of neck and chest and diffuse.
3. Tea Tree – You can use this as a powerful cleaning product in your house. This essential oil also has a fresh, clear aroma when diffused, which comes as a welcome change in those stuffy winter months.
Top 5 essential oils every household should have
1. Lavender – Calming for both the mind and body. Promotes restful sleep and is great for soothing the skin.
2. Wild Orange – Invigorating and supportive to our emotional wellbeing and uplifting to both mind and body.
3. Peppermint – Combine 1-2 drops with Wild Orange in the palms of your hands and inhale. Or diffuse in a diffuser. This is a great pick-me-up first thing in the morning or when the afternoon slump rolls around. Peppermint oil also makes a fantastic mouth wash and breath freshener.
4. Lemon – A natural cleaner for your home, it gives that ‘umphh’ to a main course or dessert, and it has an energising aroma when diffused, promoting those big, deep breaths we often forget to take.
5. On Guard – As mentioned above, this ‘protective blend’ is warm, spicy and woody and fantastic for keeping seasonal threats at bay as the cold and flu season hits. It includes ingredients such as Wild Orange Peel, Clove Bud, Cinnamon Leaf, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Leaf, and Rosemary Leaf/Flower.
doTERRA Wellness Advocate Skye Kennett offers free, individualised consultations on essential oils. Visit Skye's website.
Please note: When using essential oils, safety guidelines must be followed. Please contact Skye for further information.
The products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.