The FAB FIVE winter essential oils

First blog entry of 2018 and let's start with wishing you all a happy and healthy 2018. I hope you saw in the new year in better shape than myself - fighting off a nasty chest infection/sinus infection . lucky for me I had both my essential oils and my sons to get me back in shape and ready to go back to the day job of teaching yesterday. It did, however, prompt me to share my top 5 winter essential oils to have handy so you don't get caught out yourselves - so here they are.

CYPRESS ESSENTIAL OIL (: Cupressus sempervirens - not to be confused with cupresssus arizonica ) is widely used to treat tickly , dry coughs . It is quite a strong oil - not for use with pregnant or breast feeding mums nor hormaonal cancer patients. If using externally, always dilute with a carrier oil and to a patch test on the inside of the elbow or on the wrist 48 hours before using.

Some of the different recipes include;

- in a dropper bottle mix 2ml each of cypress, eucalyptus radiata and tarragon essential oils . Dilute one drop of this mix in a teaspoon of honey and take 4 times a day for one week. Avoid contact with cigarette smoke.

- Mix one drop each of cypress, eucalyptus radiata, ravensara and niaouli essential oils with 4 drops of calophyllum seed oil. massage the mix into the thorax and back 4 times daily for 10 days.

- in a bottle mix equal parts of cypress, eucalyptus (ideally the globulus variety but radiata will be fine too) and ravensara essential oils. Diffuse 10ml of the synergie morning and night in the main living areas (do not allow children in the room whilst diffusing) .

EUCALYPTUS RADIATA ( I have given this oil preference over the globulus variety as it has the same properties but is better supported by children) is an excellent essential oil to tackle respiratory infections, blocked noses, sore throats, chesty coughs and viral infections such as colds and flu.

Generally used as an inhalation you can either use in diffusion in the air, drop a couple of drops in a bowl of hot water to inhale or quite simply put a couple of drops on a tissue and inhale as needed.

For those tough to shift upper respiratory tract infections you can also make a massage oil of 100 drops of eucalyptus radiata essential oil mixed with 100ml of any carrier oil. Massage the mix onto the sides of the nose and sinus (be careful of your eyes though ) .

MYRR ESSENTIAL OIL is an excellent expectorant and CAN be used with asthma patients too (but not pregnant or breastfeeding mums or children under 10 years old)

Here are some of the recipes as recommended by our specialist pharmacist.

FOR DRY COUGHS 1 drop each of myrr and cypress essential oils on a sugar lumb or a small amount of honey taken as needed.

FOR CHESTY COUGHS In 50ml hazelnut oil dilute 2ml each of myrr and eucalyptus essential oils and 1ml of ravensara essential oil. massage into the thorax as soon as the signs of a chesty cough begin and continue using three times a day for 4 to 5 days.

As an extra to a base treatment of chesty coughs you can also make a synergie to diffuse of 5 drops of myrr, 3 drops of eucalyptus and 3 drops of ravensara . Diffuse for 30 mins morning and evening (insuring no children are in the room during the diffusion time)

OREGANO ESSENTIAL OIL will really help boost your immune system and prevent reinfection. It is though a VERY strong oil that should be used with extreme care - not for children or pregnant/breastfeeding woman , never to be taken internally without a doctor's advice or used pure.

The only use that I would recommend (as I'm not a doctor and therefore would never recommend using internally) is as a massage oil to fight bacterial and viral infections of the lower respiratory tract. Mix 1ml of oregano essnetial oil, 4ml ravensara essential oil, 1ml eucalyptus essential oil and 3ml of niaouli essential oil with 20ml hazelnut oil. Use 8 drops of the mix to massage the thorax and back 4 times daily.

And last but not least RAVENSARA ESSENTIAL OIL (: Cinnamomum camphora NOT to be confused with Ravensara aromatica.) which is a great antiviral oil.

Some uses include;

FOR VIRAL ATTACKS suck half a sugar lump with 2 drops of ravensara essential oil on it 4 or 5 times a day for 2 days.

FOR FLU either dilute 3 drops of ravensara in 10 drops of carrier oil and massage the thorax/back 4 times a day for 3 days OR diffuse 20 drops of ravensara 3 times a day (for 20 minutes) in the living areas (taking all usual precautions).

FOR A GENERAL LACK OF IMMUNITY dilute 4 drops of ravensara in a tablespoon of carrier oil and massage along the backbone .

You may also wish to purify the air in a simple manner by putting 4 drops of ravensara on your vacum cleaner bag - purify the air whilst cleaning !!!!.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ESSENTIAL OILS DO NOT REMPLACE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION NOR IS MY ADVICE DESIGNED TO REMPLACE A DOCTOR'S - do make sure you consult a suitable medical professional.

I currently have an offer running to obtain all of the FAB FIVE essential oils (in the 5ml bottle sizes) with a handy little bag and full infomation sheet about the oils for just 18€ . If you would like more infomation or to order you can do so via the facebook page or via email

#winterills #fabfiveessentialoils