health_wellness

Although the months from November through February should be a slower, more reflective season, often the climate’s harsh elements may irritate and stress your body’s respiratory system, circulatory system and your skin.

Essential oils––100% pure and unfiltered or unadulterated––can provide much needed rescue to your body’s distress.

Feeling frazzled? Try Frankincense. From the botanical Boswellia carteri, Frankincense is steam distilled from a gum/resin. Its fragrance may seem camphor-like to some, but its health and beauty benefits outweigh its smell.

For centuries Frankincense has been considered a highly sought-after commodity and has improved aging skin (wrinkles), relaxed muscles, restores respiratory distress and emotional tension.

Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of (frank) incense. Song of Songs 4:6 NIV

One of my favorite winter fragrances is cinnamon. The essential oil is steam distilled from cinnamon bark. Warming by nature, cinnamon is helpful for improved circulation, digestion, as well as being highly anti-bacterial and anti-viral. Cinnamon may be somewhat irritating to the skin and nasal membranes, but can be diffused or sprayed throughout the house for an uplifting fragrance.

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Proverbs 7:17 NIV

Eucalyptus is another great cold-weather fragrance. From the same botanical family as myrtle, it works quite well as an expectorant, decongestant and mucolytic, with its anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-aging properties. Remember the chest rubs Mom used when you were a child? Eucalyptus probably was part of that soothing concoction. The pungent fragrance lingers offering soothing balm to an irritated throat or lungs.

Any of the evergreen fragrances (pine, fir, cedarwood, spruce) make wonderful winter fragrances. Most of these essential oils are highly antiseptic and produce that wonderful winter-wonderland woodsy fragrance throughout your home.

The pure essential oils may be inhaled, rubbed on your chest or the soles of your feet. A few drops of oil may be added to a tablespoon of olive oil for a soothing chest rub. Cover your chest with a warm, wet towel to increase essential oil absorption. If using an essential oil diffuser, follow manufacturer’s instructions. Most essential oils are not for ingesting, so please follow label instructions.

Essential oils may also be added to a warm bath for a luxurious soak. Now, sprinkle a few drops into a cup of Epsom Salts (this ensures dispersion of the oils) then add Salts to bathwater . . . sit back, breathe deeply and savor the scent.