Fight off the dreaded winter blues with our essential oils toolkit to survive and thrive during those colder, darker months.
It’s official: winter is coming. Your hand is teetering by the heating dial (or, if you’re like me, you’ve YOLO-ed it and kept it firmly on all day every day). It’s getting harder to wake up. Your skin is becoming dangerously ghost-like. And the winter blues are tapping you on your jumper-clad shoulder.
When you’re building your own business, feeling happy and healthy all year round is pretty important. It’s also virtually impossible.
A day away from the desk to look after your body and mind can feel like sacrilege. Who’s going to send that email? Who’s going to handcraft that product? Who’s going to keep that empire rising?
Winter? Pah. It just gets in the way.
Luckily, there is a hack for staying warm, grounded and energised as you tackle the business world while staying fit and healthy. Introducing, essential oils.
Essential oils are used in aromatherapy; an alternative medicine that harnesses plant extracts to support health and wellbeing. They can be inhaled, diluted and rubbed into the skin or digested if (and only if!) they are doTERRA pure essential oils.
They harness a holistic healing treatment to boost the health of your body, mind and spirit, with a huge range of oils delivering varied physical and emotional benefits.
When it comes to the winter months, they’re an absolute blessing.
Here are my top 7 “go to” essential oils to lift me out of the cold and back into the sunshine.
Lavender oil
There isn’t much that lavender oil can’t do. Arguably the most popular and widely used of all the essential oils, it supports rest and tranquility and also aids conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, depression and restlessness.
A few drops on your pillow at night (or, even better, in your diffuser) can work wonders for your sleep, perfectly setting you up for a day of being a total boss.
Lemon oil
After that restful night’s sleep, you’re going to want something to sharpen you up for the day ahead. Lemon oil is that “thing”.
It’s a stimulant, and so it brings about clarity and concentration with its refreshing, energising and uplifting scent.
Plus, lemon oil is an antioxidant and so can boost your overall immunity. Oh, and a drop added into your face wash works a treat for dry, cracked skin. I know. Epic, right?
Peppermint oil
Feeling the winter lull? After an energy boost but desperately trying to steer away from more
caffeine? Give peppermint oil a try.
It’s one of the more intense oils and is often used to raise alertness levels and minimise fatigue. I love rubbing it into my neck and shoulders throughout the day to give me a much needed lift.
If you (like me!) suffer from achy muscles during the colder months, the anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties of peppermint oil are fantastic for soothing pain. Just massage them into any sore muscles or joints and enjoy the oil’s warming, healing sensation.
Oregano oil
Say “ta-ra!” to winter colds with oregano oil by your side. Okay, I can’t promise zero illnesses, but oregano oil is a powerful antioxidant and a natural antibiotic, so it really is abundant in health benefits.
It is particularly useful when it comes to fighting against colds as it contains thymol, a natural
fungicide with antiseptic properties that protects against toxins. This means it is brilliant for any viruses affecting the respiratory tract. It’s also an anti-inflammatory, acting as a soothing agent for coughs.
Splash a few drops in your bath next time you’re relaxing with some candles and a book. You’ll be surprised by the difference it makes.
Ginger oil
Have you ever heard the phrase “gut health” and the idea that what happens in your gut impacts your entire body?
Whether you believe it or not, there’s no denying that the way our gut feels has a massive impact on our general wellbeing. It stands to reason that it’s our job to keep it as healthy and functional as possible.
Ginger oil is a detoxifier, facilitating the elimination of toxins and boosting digestion.
It’s an oil that ticks so many boxes. It eases stomach and bowel pain, reduces inflammation and is even known to enhance appetite.
So if you’re looking for an oil that truly works from the inside out, inhale ginger oil and get the process truly started.
Ylang ylang oil
The end of the year often results in a flare up of anxiety for me. Christmas nerves, wrapping everything up with the business and signs of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) result in reduced defences against anxiety and a tendency to slip into panic mode.
Ylang ylang oil works as a mild sedative, and is therefore my golden ticket to fight anxiety.
It calms the nervous system and delivers ultimate relaxation by lowering the body’s stress response while slowing heart rate and blood pressure.
I love applying it to my pressure points - especially my wrists and temples - as soon as I start to feel the little anxiety demon approach. It also combines beautifully with lavender to aid a restful night’s sleep.
Rose oil
All you need is love, right?
Rose oil is the perfect balancing oil, evoking feelings of hope, happiness and love. It’s a strong anti-depressant and a fantastic tool for aiding emotional support.
If you’ve ever experienced loving-kindness meditation, rose oil is the ideal accompaniment.
It’s also recognised as “women’s oil” as it helps centre hormonal and menstrual issues and imbalances; always handy in my book.
For any yogis, I find a drop of rose oil on my scalp before a yoga practice totally transforms my experience on the mat, setting me up with love in my heart for the rest of the day.
I’d love to know if you’ve given any of these a go, or if you’d add any to the list! Tag us in a post on Instagram or get in touch to share your own experience.
Interested in health and wellbeing? Join us for our Happy, Healthy Me event in Winchester on the 30th November and hear from guest speakers and panel discussions, as well as shopping from local health and wellbeing stalls. Find out more information and book you ticket here: https://www.womenwd.co.uk/events/happy-healthy-me
Amber Badger, Health & Wellness Editor
Amber is a Content Writer and Content Coach born and raised in sunny Southampton. After spending 7 years flitting between Wales, Australia, Italy, South East Asia and Cambridge, she returned to her hometown to set up Badger Creative, her digital storytelling business, working with evolving companies across the south coast to level-up their content game. She's an avid yogi with a passion for all things health and wellbeing, and believes that self-care and an exploration of holistic wellness can be the key to a more fulfilled life. When she isn't writing or in downward dog, you'll find her rock climbing, hiking and falling through the air in aerial silks.
Do you have a blog you'd like to write within health and wellness? Contact Amber on hello@womenwd.co.uk
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