The chilly season is hitting hard these days and its time to gear up with nature's best remedies. Essential oils are known to give off a myriad of benefits, one of which is being able to keep the sneezles away. How apt for the impending pre-winter chills!
Warming Essential Oils
We all love a good sniff of flowers and fruits, but for the cold season, you might want to keep your hands off the floral and fruity, and reach out for some other oils that make you feel warm and cozy like a balled-up kitten in the night. Such oils are Cinnamon, Ginger, Marjoram and Clove. These oils, when used in an aroma burner, gives off a warm, relieving sensation that releases any aches, pains and stress. Not to forget, the flickering lights from the tealight candles in your burner adds a nice homey touch to the environment.
Winter Ailments
Falling sick feels bad enough, but falling sick in winter is worse. Doesn't help that the prevalence of children falling sick in winter spikes the highest during winter months. (Yes, we can see you mummies nodding your heads in unison!) Some of the common ailments are colds and flu, as well as muscle aches and rheumatism among the older generation. The cold weather will also take a toll on your skin, making them dry, dehydrated and your lips chapped and unkissable.
During this time, what you need the most is to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
Choose a heavy-duty body cream if you have dry skin all year round because, in the winter, it's going to get even drier. If you don't struggle with dry skin in the first place, then a body lotion or body oil will suffice for your day-to-day needs during the winter months. For an added boost, try mixing a few drops of serum into your body moisturizer for a double effect. Go with Gigawhite in you want a brightening effect or Collagen for anti-ageing.
Remedies for Winter Illnesses
This is the best time to take out your essential oil stash and get crafty with some D-I-Y essential oil blends. Here are some key essential oils you should have for your blending activity:
As a natural antibiotic, Eucalyptus helps to treat several respiratory-related illnesses such as sinuses, congestion and the flu. Its menthol aroma has the ability to open up the nasal passageway, allowing for easier, unconstructed breathing. When applied on the chest, Eucalyptus can help to loosen mucus and expel them out from the chest when you cough. Also, eucalyptus can also ease joint pains and muscle aches - a great choice for those suffering from arthritis, osteoporosis or rheumatism.
Similar to Eucalyptus, Rosemary gives off a menthol aroma that clarifies your mind and gets rid of all traces of lethargy. To boost concentration and alertness, Rosemary is the go-to oil for driving, studying and anything that needs focus on. In the winter, Rosemary can quell headaches and sinuses caused by the chilly weather. Additionally, Rosemary helps with blood circulation, increasing your natural body temperature by a wee bit.
Ginger
A well-known warming oil among essential oil enthusiasts would be Ginger. This oil can stimulate blood circulation, detoxify unwanted bodily wastes through sweat and has anti-inflammatory properties which help with pain associated with the muscles and joints. Now you know why people drink ginger tea regularly. It is not only a warming aid during the wintertime, but it is also a pain-relieving remedy for women experiencing period pain, and men with muscle aches.
Another essential oil you should have is Frankincense. Because its easier to fall sick during the cold season, you should have an essential oil that helps to strengthen your immune system and Frankincense does the job best. Frankincense is said to contain powerful anti-inflammatory properties that work to support the immune system, and treat various ailments ranging from arthritis, asthma, and digestive issues.
To blend these essential oils, start with adding one or 2 drops of each essential oil and experiment with what your noses tell you. For an extra dimension to the blend, try mixing essential oils that have different notes, for example, you can mix Eucalyptus (top note) with Ginger (base note) and you'll see that the scent of your essential oil blend fades from a strong minty dominant scent to a warming aroma over time.
Have fun exploring what scents you can come up with and finalize it with a bespoke winter blend that's entirely made by you.