Essential oils are the Holy Grail to my self-care routine. They were an amazing supplement to my therapy, nutrition planning, and treatment plan during the beginning of my recovery. Therefore, I will be starting a Self-Care series about how I use essential oils within my daily, and weekly routine.
Today’s post is dedicated to prevention and intervention for that oh so dreaded cold….yes it’s that season, everyone is getting sick, therefore why not boost that immune system and soothe the senses!?
When it comes to Eating Disorder Recovery, getting sick with a cold, or the stomach flu, or really anything, is just a part of the process. Your body is doing its very best to build up your immune system, therefore weird things start to happen, like getting sick! In the beginning of my own recovery, I was constantly sick with a cold, sinus infection, bloated, and swollen, because my body was figuring out how to be healthy again…. because in reality, my body wasn’t being treated very well for a good ten years! This was the hard part of recovery…. remember, it gets worse before it gets better! Therefore, essential oils played a major part within this not so easy and somewhat painful part of recovery, to soothe my mind and body, and boost my immune system in a natural and safe way!
This week is a big week for me; Sean and I are moving cross-country with our two furry animals, to start a new life in Charleston South Carolina, and this on top of starting a new job, finishing school work, and saying goodbye to friends and family is incredibly exciting but stressful…and with stress comes sickness! Therefore, I have been diligent with my preventative essential oil routine, to not only build up my immune system, but to also manage my emotional and mental stress!
Essential oils for the immune system:
There are various uses for each and every essential oil, whether that be single oils or blends, therefore this brief list is what I have found useful within my self care routine when it comes to my immune system. The Essential Oils Pocket Reference by LifeScience is my Essential Oil Bible…
Thieves:
This is AMAZING….it is a blend of essential oils designed perfectly to ward off a cold!
Ingredients: Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary
Applications:
- Dilute 1 part essential oil to 4 parts vegetable oil
- Diffuse for 15 minutes every 3 to 4 hours
- Apply to he bottoms of the feet….This is my favorite way to use this oil blend, as I have found it to be most effective!
- Put one drop on the tongue and push against roof of mouth
- Add 2 drops to wet cloth and put in clothes dryer
Peppermint:
Medical Properties: anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, pain relieving, and digestive stimulant
Uses: Respiratory infections, viral infections, headaches, and nausea
Fragrant Influence: Purifying and stimulating
Application: There are various options with the actual usage of each essential oil.
- Dilute 1 part essential oil with 2 parts vegetable oil and apply 1-2 drops on location (abdomen, temples, etc)
- Rub into hands, cup hands and inhale
- Diffuse with a diffuser, or soak cotton balls in the oil and place on your air vents.
- Put a few drops into hot water, and make a tea!….My favorite!
- Put a few drops on your tongue and push against the roof of the mouth
Lavender:
Medical: Antifungal, relaxant, anti-inflammatory
Uses: Respiratory infections, high blood pressure, PMS, Nervous tension
Fragrant Influence: Calming, relaxing, and balancing
Application:
- Apply 2 to 3 drops on location
- Apply on chakras
- Inhale directly
- Diffuse with a diffuser, or soak cotton balls in the oil and place on your air vents.
- Put a few drops into hot water, and make a tea!….My favorite!
- Put a few drops on your tongue and press tongue to the roof of the mouth
Arbor Oil/Eucalyptus oil:
Medical Properties: Antbacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory
Uses: Respiratory/sinus infections, and viral infections
Applications:
- Dilute 1 part essential oil with 1 part vegetable oil
- Apply 2 to 4 drops on the location
- Apply on chakras
- Rub into hands, cup hands and inhale
- Diffuse or put in a humidifier
I have displayed various brands of Essential Oils, as some are more accessible than others. My favorite brand is YoungLiving, because they offer beautiful blends of different essential oils, and from my experience their oils are without fail, pure and safe to use!
So there you have it, as we move through the month of November and December, I will be talking about my self care routine with essential oils, please let me know if you have any suggestions or questions! So lets conquer this week and #SelfCareitOut!