Winter Cold Fighting Tip

It's coming up on real winter. This time of year, the sniffles are almost unavoidable.

Almost.

Here's a little cold-fighting tip that has always worked quite well for me, and may be just the thing for you too.

And you only need one thing - a small bottle of essential oil.

Essential Oils - Do They Work?

Although more clinical studies are needed to positively establish whether or not essential oils really do offer the different properties claimed (by folk medicine among other things), evidence is beginning to gather about the some of the properties of todays 2 stars:

• tea tree essential oil
• lavender essential oil

For example, a PubMed review of the properties of tea tree oils states:
"A wealth of in vitro data now supports the long-held beliefs that TTO (tea tree oil) has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Despite some progress, there is still a lack of clinical evidence demonstrating efficacy against bacterial, fungal, or viral infections." (link)

So, although more studies are needed, the efficacy of essential oils is being looked at with interest by more of the scientific community.

Personally, I have had more success than failure with almost all of the essential oils I have worked with over the years. And tea tree and lavender essential oils have both performed consistently. They are both staples in my stock.

To be fair, I cannot discount that these 2 oils are great at keeping colds and sniffles at bay because I happen to have great health to begin with (there are usually 4 or 5 years between the times I catch a cold or the flu). Then again, perhaps my good health is the result of the essential oils... hmmm.. there's a bit of food for thought!

Meantime, here's my go-to cold-busting tip.

The Cold Busting Tip

Any time an inkling of an oncoming cold presents itself, grab a bottle of tea tree or lavender essential oil and

• Uncap the bottle
• Hold one nostril shut
• Bring the bottle to the open nostril
• Inhale deeply
• Repeat with opposite nostril
• Enjoy your day (or evening)

Tip: Do NOT let the bottle touch your nose!

Another method: Make Your Own Inhaler

Check this post for a step by step on doing your own Aromatherapy inhaler
Here's a DIY for a stuffy nose inhaler

Coming Up

Stay tuned for a fancier version that might even be a great little gift idea for the approaching holiday season.

More About...

Tea Tree oil (this blog)
A PubMed Review of Tea Tree Oils properties
MedLine Plus on tea tree oil
Lavender essential oil (this blog)
Robert Tisserand - essential oil expert
NAHA Aromatherapy methods - an overview