As part of my resolution to find a new equilibrium in my life as a mom, I’m determined to buck up my immune system and keep this family as healthy as I can in 2013. I plan to share some of my attempts here, especially if I see results.
One thing I’ve started to use a lot lately (at the suggestion of my sister and a local naturopath) is essential oils. I was somewhat familiar with them already — I use body products that include essential oils, and I interviewed an aromatherapist here on SlowMama before — but with the recent bouts of sickness in my household, I’ve been reminded just how much essential oils can help when respiratory illnesses hit.
We use a warm humidifier in our bedroom in the wintertime, since the air is so dry, so when the girls came home I bought one for their room, too. When we all had terrible colds and respiratory infections recently, I placed some oils in the medicine cup of the humidifiers at night and noticed a big difference. The girls’ coughing pretty much subsided as soon as the essence dispersed through the room: They could breathe through their noses better, which meant no mouth-breathing, which eradicated the constant coughing and made for a deeper sleep, helping them heal more quickly. (I noticed the same in our bedroom, too — on the nights I got to sleep there, anyway — but our humidifier has only been working on and off.)
There are so many essential oils — all used for different purposes — but a handful are particularly great for respiratory illnesses, and I now keep them in the cabinet for use in our humidifiers:
Red thyme — A fairly strong-smelling oil with a reddish color, it’s used as an antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal, as well as an immune-system stimulant. Herbalists often recommend it for circulatory and nervous-system issues, as well as for digestive problems and respiratory illnesses.
Eucalyptus — Most people are familiar with this scent; it’s considered a balancing oil and a common choice for relieving coughs, sore throats, and sinus problems.
Peppermint — Peppermint is said to be an effective decongestant that helps clear the head and unblock the sinuses. It’s nice to add a couple drops of peppermint along with eucalyptus when trying to treat respiratory issues.
I keep a number of oils on hands for other purposes, too: tea tree, lavender, lemon, and ylang ylang, to name a few. You can use essential oils in all kinds of ways — topically, aromatically, and even internally — but whatever the case, make sure they’re good quality, especially when using them in or on the body. For high-quality products at reasonable prices, I recommend Mountain Rose Herbs (you can find more about them in this post from last year). In a pinch, you can find some decent oils at a place like Whole Foods, which are fine for use in humidifiers. And for more information on essential oils and 25 ways to use them, check out this post on Simple Mom from last year.
Do you use essential oils, and have you seen results? What are your favorites?
Image: Zoe Saint-Paul
Hello, I'm Zoe Saint-Paul. I'm a writer, life coach, and new mama to twins who's trying to live "slower" in a speed-obsessed world. Here we chat about life and love, food and design, and everything in between -- all at the right pace. So grab some tea, pull up a chair, and join the conversation. Feel free to 
This is a really good idea, especially with a little baby who HAS to breathe through his nose! When he was a month old, Dominic was terribly congested and it was painful to listen to him wheezing away, trying to get a breath.
On that note, do you happen to know if it is safe to use essential oils in an infant’s humidifier?
Many oils are safe for infants — but you do need to be careful with some. I suspect the red thyme oil is fine for infants since my naturopath suggested I use it with the girls. And the eucalyptus has been great for them, too. But you can probably do more research on line about which oils are safe for babies. Ingesting or putting on the skin would be another level of sensitivity so oils that might be fine in a dispenser would not necessarily be good on the skin, etc.
Zoe, John and I have really gotten into essential oils lately. (I remember you introducing me to homeopathic remedies YEARS AGO!!) We still use remedies, but we’re really enjoying learning about the oils. I use a cold air diffuser with Thieves for generally refreshing the air and cleaning it up (it is an anti-viral, anti-bacterial oil). Apparently the warm air diffuser alters the essence of it, thus the cold. I also rub a few drops on the kids feet as soon as they show signs of coming down with something. It really helps to fight off “bugs”. I also add Thieves household cleaner to the laundry and as a substitute for cleaning with bleach. We use Aroma Seiz, Wintergreen, Oregano, Basil and R.C. in succession, rubbing them each on the back of the person with a cold. It goes away, yippee! (Some of these are very “hot” and so require mixing with a carrier oil.) Anyway, glad you’re learning about these. We are just getting started and have lots to learn.
Cheers,
John and Karen
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