Hands up how many of you read every cleaning bottle label now that you have children?

I know that I’m a lot more invested in using natural products on the surfaces my children seem to drag themselves across, instead of walking on. And then there’s skincare, did you know that your skin is the largest organ in your body? So, using natural and organic skincare products instead of putting chemicals onto and essentially into our children’s bodies makes absolute sense. And what about your constant winter time visits to the doctors, only to come away with nothing to help relief your little one’s ailments because it’s viral.

There’s no wonder that Essential Oils are becoming more popular in everyday life as parents turn to nature to help look after their family and to help them battle the germs that they are exposed to on a daily basis.

What are Essential Oils?

These are highly concentrated plant extracts and actually not oils at all! The chemical composition and aroma of these extracts offers a broad range of therapeutic benefits when they are inhaled or applied to particular parts of the body.

How should I use them?

Because they are highly concentrated you only need a tiny amount to be beneficial. You should always read the bottle label and follow the instructions carefully.

We like to use them in adiffuser during the Winter to help relieve stuffy noses and instil calm and relaxation at bedtime. They can also be used in massage therapy, skincare products and household cleaning.

Are all oils the same?

As with everything, you tend to get what you pay for! If you’re looking to use them for therapeutic reasons, it’s important to buy a high-quality oil. Examine the label, it should contain the common name, latin name, country of origin, part of the plant that was processed, the extraction method used and how it was grown.

Which Essential Oils should I be using during Winter to help my family fight off all the cold weather germs?

We asked the lovely and super talented Courtney Dow from theConscious Coven for her expertise and advice on which essential oil blends we should be using at this time of year. Here are her top picks:

• Easy Air (our respiratory blend): A remarkable blend of essential oils including Laurel Leaf, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lemon, Cardamom, Ravintsara, and Ravensara. doTERRA Easy Air can be applied topically to the chest, back, or bottom of feet, or diffused to promote clear breathing
• On Guard (our protective blend): protects from seasonal threats and is my number one blend to keep my daughter safe from day care germs, also great for cleaning the house. Contains powerful essential oils such as Clove, Cinnamon, Wild Orange, Rosemary & Eucalyptus.
• Lavender Peace (our restful blend): The most beautiful blend for relax & calm. Lavender Peace combines essential oils renowned for their ability to soothe the senses and calm emotions. The perfect blend to use aromatically before a peaceful night’s sleep. Apply one to two drops to the hands and inhale throughout the day to promote a relaxed feeling while keeping up with the fast pace of life. May diffuse at night to promote a calming environment for children before bed. 

Courtney has a Pregnancy and Babies Workshop as well as a Winter Wellness Workshop coming up that may be of interest to you if you live near the Sunshine Coast. All the details are here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/the-conscious-coven-16088401962

Essential Oil fun facts

• Adiffuser is the most recommended method of dispersing essential oils into the air, especially with children.
• Most essential oils need to be diluted, although Tea Tree Oil, Lavender Oil and Sandalwood Oil can be used sparingly, undiluted.
• Don’t wear certain oils in the sun – they can harm your skin.
• Don’t use water to remove the oil – it will spread it further. Get some grapeseed oil and wipe it over the oil you want to remove.
• Fragrance oils are NOT essential oils

Essential Oils and their benefits

• Jasmine – calms nerves, is an antidepressant and has uplifting properties.
• Rosemary - improves memory retention, fights mental fatigue and exhaustion.
• Bergamot, Orange and Grapefruit are good for boosting confidence.
• Best essential oils for croup cough are Eucalyptus, Sandalwood and Frankincense.
• Lavender is a sedative, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, immune booster, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and helps relieve anxiety! It is considered the most effective, and according to many, the gentlest.
• Eucalyptus - The properties in this oil will clear up a chest cold, as well as kill bacteria, fungus, and insects!!!

Essential oils are nature’s way of helping to keep our family healthy and safe. By using them, we no longer need to rely on all those chemicals that seem to creep into our everyday lives. If you’d like more in depth information about essential oils, we highly recommend talking withCourtney or even better, attending one of her workshops.

If you have an essential oil blend that you love to use with your family at this time of year, please let us know in the comments below.