| 'Tis the season alright. Flu bug, cold bug, sniffles, | | | | Some essential oils you can use: cypress, eucalyptus, |
| sneezes, stuffy heads, runny noses. Chances are | | | | peppermint, tea tree, lavender, cedarwood, myrrh, |
| you've already been hit by at least one of these | | | | rosemary. |
| symptoms. If you're like my family, you've been hit | | | | You CAN Sleep with a Cold |
| with them all. | | | | Sleeping when you can't breathe means a long, tiring |
| Here's a few essential oils that may help alleviate | | | | and restless night for you. Things you can do to help |
| some of the symptoms and make everyone feel | | | | ease it a bit is to make sure you have a humidifier or |
| just a little bit better. | | | | vapourizer going in the room. The humid air helps |
| Clear the Air | | | | keep your air passages moist. Next add the same |
| An easy way to make the air in your winter enclosed | | | | penetrating oils from the "Clear the Air" list. Whatever |
| home feel fresher and help beat off the bugs is to | | | | worked best for you in that list, use it here. |
| diffuse oils into the air. You can do with with a | | | | Make sure your vapourizer has the proper insert for |
| diffuser, lamp, ring or simply by warming some water | | | | adding essential oils. If it doesn't, a small ceramic dish |
| on the stove and adding a few drops of oil to that. | | | | beside the steam outlet (not over) will work nicely |
| Just watch that you don't let the pot go dry. | | | | too. Close enough that the dish warms up from the |
| Some essential oils you can use: eucalyptus, | | | | steam, but does not block the steam's path. A couple |
| rosemary, peppermint, tea tree, ginger, orange, | | | | of drops of the oil placed on a cloth close to your |
| cinnamon, cypress, bergamot, frankincense, clary | | | | pillow will give an extra boost until the scented steam |
| sage, pine, chamomile, lime, juniper, lavender. | | | | takes effect. |
| Go Steam Your Head | | | | Why so many suggested oils? |
| When your head is stuffed and congested or you | | | | Simply because some oils work better on one person |
| can't stop coughing then steam your head. Steaming | | | | than another. Some oils are easier to find than others |
| is an age old treatment to let warm, moist air into | | | | and some people may have known reactions to |
| your head and lungs. Often used with herbs and | | | | certain oils. You need to play with the different oils |
| essential oils for penetrating power. The cough from | | | | and see which ones are most effective on you. |
| a cold is usually made worse by the dry winter air. | | | | There are many more oils that can be used for |
| Pour boiling water into a metal or glass bowl, then | | | | these conditions. Pick up any aromatherapy book and |
| add your essential oil. Drape a towel over your head | | | | you'll likely find more oils suggested. However some |
| and position your face 10-12" above the bowl. Breath | | | | require advanced knowledge to utilize them safely, |
| deeply. | | | | some aren't quite as effective as the ones listed |
| Some essential oils you can use: cypress, eucalyptus, | | | | here and some are wonderful but are just too costly |
| peppermint, tea tree, lavender, rosemary, | | | | for all but the most dedicated users. |
| frankincense. | | | | The best thing you can do is try a few of the more |
| Bathing Beauties | | | | common oils out and see how they affect you. As |
| Got that sore, achy feeling all over? Nothing feels | | | | always, pick up some reputable books on |
| better than a nice warm bath. Add some bath salts | | | | aromatherapy and find out more about the oils |
| to help draw some of the metabolic toxins out with | | | | you've chosen. You're on your way to a healthier, |
| your sweat. Add some essential oils to ease chest | | | | smelling-good kind of home. |
| and nasal congestion. | | | | |