Did you know aromatherapy has been used for over six thousand years and can be used to treat a wide range of ailments from stomach issues to headaches and so much more? In the last few years aromatherapy has become very popular and is now the cornerstone for many holistic healing practices. Along with being therapeutic for a
wide range of health issues, essential oils can be used for many other purposes such
as cleaning, baking and simply to make your home smell nice! Here are some great
ways to use essential oils and aromatherapy this holiday season.

The Basics

Before diving head first into aromatherapy there’s some basics you need to know. Firstly is how essential oils can be used. One of the most common ways to use essential oils is to apply them topically. Depending on the oil this will need to be done using a carrier oil. Carrier oils are oils including jojoba oil, coconut oil and almond oil to name a few. To avoid skin irritation, dilute a couple drops of your essential oil with a carrier oil and apply to the skin.

Another common way to use essential oils is by diffusing them into your space using a diffuser. Both NOW and Oriwest have beautiful essential oil diffusers that fit perfectly into any room.

The third way you can use essential oils it with portable diffusers. Oriwest has beautiful essential oil diffusing bracelets, car diffusers and even dog tags to help keep ticks away in the summer!

Now that you know the different ways to use essential oils, let’s get into all the different uses!

Cold & Flu

There’s nothing worse than getting that tickle in your throat or those aches in your body signifying a nasty cold or flu coming on. Due to their medicinal and soothing properties, essential oils applied topically or diffused in the air can work wonders to help prevent or treat colds & flus.

Here are some great essential oils to help soothe and treat even some of the nastiest bugs you might encounter this winter:

Tea Tree: Great for diminishing coughs, congestion, sore throats and colds, tea tree oil is also a wonderful disinfectant. Using a carrier oil, apply some tea tree oil to your chest and sinuses or diffuse the oil to help relieve discomfort and help treat your symptoms. Add 25 drops of the oil to 16oz of water in a spray bottle and use as a natural disinfectant to help kill bacteria and keep them from spreading.

Peppermint: With a great cooling effect and menthol scent, peppermint essential oil is great at soothing headaches, sinus pain, nausea, upset stomachs and body aches and pains. This oil is best used with a carrier oil massaged into your chest or wherever you’re experiencing aches and pains or diffused into the air to help soothe sinus pain and headaches.

Oregano: Oregano oil is notorious for two things - preventing and treating upper respiratory ailments such as coughs and colds and it’s incredibly intense flavour. The best way to take oregano oil is to make sure you get a top-grade, pure, ingestible form of the oil and to place a few drops under your tongue.

Lavender: Lavender is well known as an amazing natural sleep-aid. When suffering from a cold or flu, you can sometimes has difficulty falling or staying asleep. Diffuse lavender essential oil in your bedroom 30 minutes before going to bed, using a carrier oil apply it to your chest and neck area or even make a homemade pillow spray using 2 tablespoons of witch hazel, 10 drops of lavender essential oil and 6 tablespoons of water in a small spray bottle.

Seasonal Ailments

Along with colds & flus there are a few other ailments that come with the winter months and luckily there is aromatherapy tips to help soothe all of them.

Mood: Once the winter months come around and the sun is out less often, it’s quite easy for us to become Vitamin D deficient which often leaves us feeling sad and depressed. Along with taking a good quality Vitamin D supplement, aromatherapy can help boost your mood and make you feel happier during the winter. Bergamot and citrus essential oils like orange, lemon and grapefruit work great at uplifting your mood and making you feel happy. Try diffusing these in your home to help lift your spirits.

Stress: The winter months can be a busy time between the holidays, the weather and trying to stay healthy. Using essential oils is a great way to manage your stress to keep you from feeling crumby this holiday season. Frankincense, lavender, bergamot and ylang ylang work great to help relax, balance stress and encourage cheerfulness and calmness.

Warming: Sometimes when it’s super chilly out, cranking the heat just doesn’t do the trick. Diffusing essential oils in your home can be a great way to warm up your home without racking up the bills. Diffuse oils like cinnamon, ginger and clove leaving your home feeling toasty warm and smelling super festive.

Oils for Entertaining

Did you know, conventional candles are full of chemicals that we end up breathing in as we burn them? There’s nothing like having your house smell like freshly baked cookies, candy canes, or pine trees around the holidays. Diffusing essential oils is a great natural alternative to seasonal candles that will leave your home smelling amazing for the holidays. Try one of these blends to get the perfect holiday scent:

Winter Forest: Pine, cinnamon, clove

Gingerbread House: Ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon

Christmas cookie: Nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla

Christmas Orange: ginger, orange, cinnamon

Christmas Tree: Fir, cedarwood, orange