Stay Healthy This Winter Season!

Are you worried about your family catching a cold or the flu this winter? If so, you are not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of cases reported for influenza-like illnesses for the 2014–2015 season has more than doubled the national average.

So, what can we do to keep ourselves and our family healthy? Many essential oils have antibacterial and antiviral properties that may help boost the immune system to help the body fight illness. Modern Essentials lists the following oils as the primary recommendations for the following conditions:
Cold: Thyme, lemon, Protective Blend, and melaleuca. For children: Thyme, lemon, and cedarwood.
Congestion: Eucalyptus, peppermint, and Respiratory Blend.
Influenza: Respiratory Blend, melaleuca, peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, and Protective Blend. For children: Cypress and lemon.

Top 5 Tips for Staying Healthy This Winter Season:

1. Get plenty of rest, and try to get as much sunshine as possible. If our bodies are well rested and have sufficient quantities of vitamin D, we can better fight the viruses that come.

2. Get a water bottle that you can use with essential oils, and keep a small bottle of lemon or Protective Blend in your purse or backpack. Add 1–2 drops of oil to your water, and drink it throughout the day to boost your immune system.

3. Use a diffuser to diffuse essential oil throughout your home or office. Have your kids take a Whispi® Personal Diffuser with them to inhale the oil throughout the day.

4. Wash hands often, especially before meals or after coming home from public places. If you aren’t able to wash your hands with soap and water, consider carrying a bottle of hand sanitizer with you.

5. Act quickly if you feel something coming on. Some things you can do are gargling and swishing a drop of oregano or Protective Blend mixed with water, sleeping, and showering or bathing with essential oils. Below is a recipe for making shower disks with essential oils.

Some symptoms of influenza include a sudden onset of high fever, dry cough, sore throat, muscle aches and pains, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, and nasal congestion. If you are experiencing influenza-like symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. This information is in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling.

Breathe Easy Shower Disks

Servings: 6 | Time: 10 minutes active; 20 minutes inactive | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1/3 cup water
• Eucalyptus essential oil
• Lavender essential oil
• Rosemary essential oil

Instructions:

1. Mix the baking soda and water together to form a paste. Add water, if needed, to reach the desired consistency.
2. Prepare a muffin tin by adding cupcake liners. If you have a silicone muffin tin, you don’t need the cupcake liners.
3. Pour the baking soda mixture into the cupcake liners (about 1/2 full).
4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15–20 minutes, or leave on the counter to dry overnight.
5. Once baked, allow to cool completely before adding a couple drops of each of the essential oils on each disk. If you wish, you can add the oils right before you shower.
6. To use, simply place a disk on the floor of the shower, and allow the steam to diffuse the oils as you take a shower.

The information above is an abridgment from the Modern Essentials “Personal Usage Guide” section by AromaTools. This information has been designed to help educate the reader in regard to the subject matter covered. This information is provided with the understanding that the publisher, the authors, and AromaTools, LLC, are not liable for the misconception or misuse of the information provided. It is not provided in order to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body. The authors, publisher, and AromaTools, LLC, shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss, damage, or injury caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this information. The information presented is in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling. Anyone suffering from any disease, illness, or injury should consult a qualified health care professional.

Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/summary.htm
Modern Essentials, Sixth Edition, pp. 228–229, 231, 233, and 263