Essential Support

Last week we experienced Snowmageddon 2016, a serious winter storm here in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area (DMV), dumping over two feet of snow. Adding freezing insult to chilly injury, it came after two other days of snow earlier that week. And what does this weather tend to bring? Snotting, sneezing, coughing and wheezing! No, thank you! 

Thankfully, Earth Mother comes to the rescue, offering many gifts to support our physical as well as mental and emotional well-being. These include essential oils, which are made from the bark, root, flower, fruit, stem, and leaf of plants or trees. These essences contain powerful chemical compounds that can have very therapeutic effects for our cold and flu season ailments, as well as a number of conditions. The practice of using these essences, or oils, is often called Aromatherapy. On 1/30/16 I started off my monthly Self-Care Saturday Series with a workshop entitled W.A.R.M.~Winter Aromatherapy Remedies & More. I will share with you a one of the remedies we made in the Aromatherapy section of the class, as well as a tea we made in the More section.

Using steam inhalation is great for a sore throat, cough, or an excessive build-up of mucus. I have called upon it many times over the years. I use a designated little pot which I fill with water and heat on the stove. After it boils, I remove it from the heat and add about 3 drops of a single or up to 6 drops total of a combination of essential oils. Another option is to heat water in a tea kettle and pour the boiling water in a separate container. Some of the oils will stain, and they are powerful and have a lasting imprint, so use a durable container (no plastic or Styrofoam) that is for this purpose only.

Once you have your oil(s) in the water, cover your head with a towel, making a tent, and lean over the pot. The heat evaporates the water and tiny molecules of essential oil become suspended in the water vapors, so make sure to close your eyes for protection. Also, don’t get too close to burn your face. Inhale deeply until the steam is gone. This will help open your sinus passages and kill the bacteria in your passages and get things flowing.

Because of its high menthol content, avoid using peppermint for this remedy. Good oils to use are lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, and rosemary. Lavender helps stimulate the immune system, relaxes you and soothes aches and chills. Tea tree contains both anti-bacterial and anti-viral qualities. Eucalyptus helps bring mucus up from the lungs and helps cleanse your body of toxins and harmful microorganisms that can make you feel sick. Rosemary is invigorating and picks you up and helps you get on your way when feeling groggy and tired.

Another remedy we made is lemon peppermint tea. This is soothing for a sore throat and will help clear a stuffy nose. An option is to add a pinch of ginger or cayenne pepper to really warm you up!

1.      Fill a mug with boiling water.

2.      Add a splash of fresh squeezed lemon juice and a spoonful of raw honey.

3.      Add one drop of peppermint essential oil and let it sit for a minute before you drink it (or the peppermint fumes will make your eyes water.)

Here is an added caution about ingesting essential oils. Only do so under the guidelines of a trained aromatherapist, and only use pure grade 100% natural essences. This is not a "more is better" situation. These gifts from Earth Mother are quite potent, so be sure to just use what is advised.

This information is not to be used in place of medical advice; however, I have found that when using these ancient, traditional remedies on a regular basis, trips to the doctor and use of over the counter medicine are minimal. I encourage you to invest in at least 3 essential oils to support you, such as lavender, tea tree, and peppermint. They all have multiple benefits that go beyond cold and flu season maladies.

Everyone had a blast at this workshop, and I look forward to co-creating with Spirit and occasionally other healers, more monthly holistic healing events. Next up on February 27^th from 1-3 PM, Food Facials Funshop, in which we'll use items found in the fridge and cupboard, pair them with essential oils, and use our creations to cleanse, firm, smooth, and moisturize our skin. Until then, cheers to vibrant health!

To find out about my holistic offerings, visit my website at www.mindbodyandspiritworks.com. To tune in to my radio show, Mind, Body & Soul Food, visit www.blogtalkradio.com/tonyaparker. Purchase a Kindle or audio version of Diary of a Witch’s Daughter, my young adult novel with holistic and metaphysical themes at http://tinyurl.com/diaryofawitchsdaughteronamazon.