Fall has arrived and it is sweater weather time and gathering around the the wood fire, sipping hot, mulled cider and roasting marshmallows to make s'mores. Our sense of smell is truly amazing! The scent of freshly picked sweet apples, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and clove bring back fond memories of my mother happily making from scratch pies in her kitchen listening to Polka music on the radio. The month of November brings the delicious scent of a roasting turkey filling the house on Thanksgiving. The arrival of early December invokes the cool crisp scent of cedar and pine when we would make the trek to the family farm parcel, Cedar Hill, in search of the perfect Christmas tree for my grandmother’s farm house.
A scent can invoke strong emotional and physical reactions as well as good and bad memories. Science has proven our olfactory receptors are directly connected to the limbic system, the most ancient and primitive part of the brain, which is said to be the seat of all emotion. Nasal inhalation is the fastest and most direct method to receive the therapeutic benefits of essential oils into our systems. The inhalation process directly stimulates the limbic system, releasing neurotransmitters, regulating our moods, and balancing our psychological and physical states while clearing nasal passages for easier breathing.
There are multiple methods of essential oil inhalation. One being, an electric cool mist diffuser. Fill the diffuser with distilled water and add the recommended amount of essential oil drops to the water, as per the diffuser directions. Once turned on, the diffuser emits a cool, subtly scented vapor into the room air. Some diffusers have a timer and light color sequence to choose from. Other inhalation forms are, a nasal inhaler tube, similar to the Vicks nasal inhaler that was very popular in my youth. Also, passive diffuser jewelry, such as pendant and bracelet locket styles, both are very popular. The beauty of using a passive diffuser, is they won't impose on others near you and are safe to use around pets.
Again, just add a few drops of your preferred essential oils to the felt pad inside of the locket, close and wear around your neck or on your wrist. I personally wear a pendant locket diffuser most times with an immunity essential oil blend through out the cooler weather months. The current blend I’m using naturally boosts the immune system. It consists of Tea Tree, Lemon, Eucalyptus & Orange Sweet pure essential oils. This select blend has anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, immune system and respiratory supporting properties.
A few other Fall and winter inspired essential oil scents are Clove, Cinnamon, Pine, Fir Needle and Balsam. They all have anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and respiratory support properties. With the arrival of cooler weather and people gathering more indoors, they are great choices.
I do not advise diffusing essential oils in small enclosed areas with domestic pets present, especially cats. Cats are lacking a crucial liver enzyme that metabolizes most essential oils. Please speak with your veterinarian before diffusing essential oils around your beloved pets.
As always, if you are under a physician's care for any health or medical condition, are taking prescribed medications and supplements, are pregnant or breast feeding, please consult with your physician before using any essential oil product.
We are enjoying the sweater weather, hot mulled cider and s’mores around the fire pit as often as we can before the first snow flies and I hope you and yours are too!
Best regards,
Arlene
Cedar Hill Botanicals