The four main ways to use your oils in Winter

The four main ways to use your oils in Winter.

This is often a question that we get asked. There are many different opinions on which way is best and many reasons why these differ. The things we take into account are effectiveness, practicality, safety, sustainability and cost effectiveness – in our minds these are all very important.

Vaporising, Diffusing or Burning:

Vaporiser or burner – This is a much lighter way of using oils and by far the most expensive as 8-10 drops of oil will vaporise into the atmosphere in 2-3 hours. However during the winter months it can be used to reduce the transfer of airborne bugs. Using oils with antibacterial and antiviral properties can prevent the whole family from passing on the same illness. Oils that can help in this situation are Eucalyptus, Fir, Cajeput, Lemon, Lemongrass, Tea Tree and Thyme. If you are already unwell, there are many different recipes for clearing catarrh, assisting with breathing issues and relieving pain.

Inhalation:

This is a great way to use oils when you have a blocked nose, a headache, sinus, hay fever or even a chest infection. Simply place 4-5 drops of oil in total into the bowl and then fill with boiling water. Pull a towel over your head and breathe in the goodness for a few minutes. Depending on the issue different oils are suggested but the most common one would be our Breathe Easy which has Frankincense, Myrrh, Cajeput and Cypress. I love to add a drop of Peppermint too as it seems much nicer that way.

Bathing:

 Bathing is a great way to get a big start on the road to recovery. Most children are completely at home in the bath (but won’t do an inhalation) and this method is useful to drop temperatures and help them to breathe easier. A great fever blend is Lavender, Chamomile, Eucalyptus and Spearmint. Please be aware that oils and water don’t mix, so we have to be very careful to emulsify them into the water. We have a plain Bubble Bath in our range that is really popular with the Mums or you can use Bath Salts, a squirt of carrier oil or a cup of full cream milk to mix the oils into the water. Always allow about 20 mins in the bath to get the full effect.

Topical

Whilst massage is always amazing, we don’t all have availability when needed. Topical application doesn’t need to involve massage- just dilute the oils in a carrier and apply to the skin. Topical application is the easiest way and the most cost effective. For example, to make a roll-on of the Sore Throat Blend all you need to do is fill it with a carrier oil and 2 drops each of Thyme, Lemon, Eucalyptus and Sandalwood. This would cost no more than $3.00 to make and last up to 8-10 weeks – where as a vaporiser uses the same amount of oils in 2-3 hours. The oils also enters into the blood stream a lot faster than vaporising so the effect is far greater.

This way of using oils is portable which makes it the most popular way of use.