Tis the season for nasty seasonal ailments. Ailments that leave you feeling tired, sore, and clogged up with a buncha nastiness. The world this time of year is a giant melting pot of viruses, bacteria, and many other germs just waiting to pounce on everyone that encounters them.
So… what can you do to stay your best? Lots. The best thing you can do to keep healthy this holiday is to wash your hands frequently. Pretty simple, huh? How many times do you forget to wash your hands coming into the house from a busy day at work, or shopping? How many germs did you encounter throughout your daily travels? Probably more than you’d like to think.
The second thing you can do, is to avoid those people who are unfortunate enough to come down with the seasonal plague. OR, if you’re the unlucky one suffering from the plague, stay home and away from others. Really, we won’t mind if you’re not around for a couple of days… just take care of yourself.
Taking care of yourself. That’s the REAL subject we’re going to chat about this blog post. So, let’s set the stage for a moment. You’ve had a busy week. You’ve had to get the kids to school, brave the holiday traffic to finish up some last-minute holiday shopping, and let’s not forget knocking people over at the grocery store for the last Thanksgiving turkey. Whew, are you exhausted. Well, about a week later, you start to feel a little stuffy and you have a little bit of a tickle in your throat. Twenty-four hours later, BAM, you’re bedridden. What now? Well, my favorite thing to do, and the first thing I reach for, is my essential oils. Conifers to be exact. The perfect weapon against seasonal ailment symptoms. Here are my top 3 conifer essential oils for combating seasonal ailments.
Balsam Fir
Balsam Fir
is an essential oil produced from the needles of Balsam Fir trees (Abies balsamea). Balsam Fir is a great essential oil for relaxing muscles and joints. It’s also a great essential oil for supporting a healthy respiratory system. And, best of all… it smells like the holidays. You could dilute it in alcohol and spray it right on your Christmas tree. Balsam Fir is also safe to use with children ages 2 and older.
Spruce Hemlock
Spruce Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is another essential oil that is perfect for boosting the respiratory system and elevating your overall mood. Spruce Hemlock is also safe to use with children ages 2 and older. It is high in Bornyl Acetate and β-Pinene which give this essential it’s anti-inflammatory properties.
Fir Needle (Siberian Fir)
Fir Needle
or Siberian Fir (Abies sibirica) is an essential oil extracted via steam distillation from the needles and twigs of the Siberian Fir tree. Just like Spruce Hemlock and Balsam Fir, it is great for respiratory support (notice a recurring theme?). It’s a great source of Bornyl Acetate, Camphene, and α-Pinene. The cool thing about this oil being high in α-Pinene is that not only is it a great anti-inflammatory, it’s anti-bacterial and anti-fungal as well.
Now let’s talk about how to use these oils…
For a non-child safe diffuser blend to promote healthy respiratory function, try diffusing 4 drops Balsam Fir, 2 drops of Spruce Hemlock, and 2 drops of Eucalyptus Globulous.
For a child safe cleaning spray, you could mix 1 ounce of distilled vinegar with 15 drops Fir Needle, 5 drops Lemon, and 5 drops Grapefruit, and 2 drops of Lavender.
Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only. The information discussed on this website has not been evaluated by the FDA. This post is not to diagnose, prescribe, or treat medical conditions or disease. You are encouraged to seek advice from a licensed medical practitioner regarding medical issues before using aromatherapy. A Simply Enchanted Life, Kristin Lail or Guest bloggers will not be held liable for any actions performed by those viewing this website.
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