Fight Back to School Germs with Steaming

First off, I apologize for my recent lack of posts. I've been traveling and recently attended an aromatherapy conference at the University of Sussex and returned to CA to a backlog of orders and a new article assignment on top of wife and mom duty. Plus I'm not much of one for automating posts.

I have lots to share, so I'm excited that things have settled down a bit I have some time to write. :)

I tend to write about questions I receive, things that are happening, things I've learned, and stuff I'm excited about discovering or rediscovering.

Today I was busy formulating a natural hair gel, creating a custom face cream recipe, and making a diffuser blend, inhaler, and roll on to support respiratory support among other things. Later in the day I was mailing a package and dropping off some products I also had to stop by the grocery store to pick up some items for dinner.

While at the store my poor checker was stuffed up and had lost her voice. I asked if she was suffering from allergies or a cold and she mentioned that she had a sinus infection. "I probably caught the latest cold that's been going around."

Now that kids are back in school it sometimes seems like germs spread like wildfire.

As I've mentioned before washing your hands with regular old soap and water is one of the best defenses. Using a hand cleanser with germ fighting essential oils or an alcohol base when there is no sink available can also help.

In addition to hand washing you can also steam with essential oils to fight germs that are trying to take hold.

A simple way to steam is to boil water, add it to a glass or ceramic bowl, add a single drop of an essential oil or blend, close your eyes, place your face over the bowl (make sure it's not too hot so you don't burn yourself), place a towel over your head, and breathe in the steamy fragrance. Keep tissues close by and if it's too intense, uncover your head and move away from the bowl.

You can try this with an oil such as peppermint (Mentha x piperita) or Eucalyptus radiata or a blend of germ fighting, airway opening essential oils.

Doing this at the first sign of a cold 2 or 3 times a day for a few days can be really helpful. In one study steaming with peppermint 2 or 3 times a day improved sinus infection symptoms within 5 days. You can generally use essential oils alongside antibiotics.

Caution must be used with children under 10. Oils like eucalyptus and peppermint can simply be too strong. Diffusing gentle oils such as lavender, orange, cedarwood, or frankincense may be a better choice. And if you do use steaming more is not necessarily better. A drop or two will do.

Below are a few blends you can try to fight germs trying to take hold:

To a stock bottle add:

10 drops Siberian fir essential oil

10 drops Tea tree essential oil

10 drops Eucalyptus radiata

10 drops Peppermint

Gently shake to mix. Add ONE drop of this blend to a bowl of steaming water, close your eyes, place face over the bowl, pull a towel over your head and breathe. Keep tissues close by and take a break if needed. Repeat 2-3 times a day for 2 to 3 days at the start of a cold or for 5 to 7 days to fight a sinus infection.

Safe Steam blend for kids:

Use a drop of cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana, Cedrus atlantica or Cedrus deodara) in a bowl of steaming water for kids age 5 to 10.

Adults can also simply use a drop of peppermint or eucalyptus in a bowl of steaming water for wonderful relief.

If you have questions about steaming or would like suggestions on steam blends contact Tricia.

Stay healthy my friends!

Tricia