Fall, like all the other seasons, poses some unique health and wellness challenges. Therefore, you need to adjust your lifestyle and self-care routines a bit to meet those challenges. If you like to keep things pure and simple, try medicinal plants and their potent and effective form, essential oils. They offer fall natural remedies to stay healthy through the fall.

Wellness Challenges Through the Fall

Fall is typically a season of transition and adjustment in terms of climate, lifestyle, and wellness challenges.

Weather: In the fall, the weather becomes cooler, breezier, and fresher. Depending upon where you live, the fall can bring great relief from an oppressively muggy summer (think Florida and Washington, DC) or excessively dry hot conditions (think southern California and Arizona).

Transition: Fall brings some significant changes. For example, summer greenery fades, leaves dry up and fall from beautifully colored trees, and most herbaceous plants die back to the ground or mere skeletons of themselves. Daylight hours shorten. In sum, nature draws inward. Many people turn inward as well. They become more focused, solitary, and self-reflective.

Lifestyles: Fall is also the time to return to routines: school, work, and other duties after a more flexible summer schedule. Summer was spacious, whimsical, and playful. In contrast, people are more focused, structured, and productive. Some people get motivated and concentrate on new projects. For others, fall is ungrounding and unsettling and can make them melancholy, gloomy, anxious, or even depressed.

Health: The change in climate promotes some physical issues as well. Many people suffer from allergies and associated symptoms such as nasal congestion, headaches, sneezing, dry cough, and itchy eyes. Colds and flu become more prevalent. Eczema, psoriasis and other dry skin conditions can flair up with the drier air, lower temperatures, and less exposure to sunlight. For these people, autumn’s colorful transition may induce a sense of dread.

Some Great Fall Natural Remedies

Let’s take a look at some essential oils with healing prosperities that address some of the more common challenges of autumn.

• Dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis treatment – geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), German chamomile (Matricaria recutita), helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum), and rose (Rosa damascena). With skin treatments, the choice of carriers is important. calendula (Calendula officinalis), rosehip (Rosa rogosa) and tamanu Calcophyllum inophyllum) are good for eczema.
• Anti-Oxidants/A fighting chance against colds and flus – cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), clove (Eugenia caryophyllus), narrow-leaf eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiata), lemon (Citrus limon) and manuka (Leptospermum scoparium).
• Nasal congestion and sinus inflammation/Relief from allergies, colds or flues – peppermint eucalyptus (Eucalyptus dives), hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), helichrysum B. (Helichrysum bracteiferum), ravintsava (Cinnamomum camphora), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis var camphor) and Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris).
• Stimulants for focus and concentration – Basil (Ocimum basilicum), black pepper (Piper nigrum), peppermint (Mentha piperita) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis var camphor).
• Uplifting/Mood modifiers – Bergamot (Citrus bergamia), clary sage (Salvia sclarea), lemon (Citrus limon), myrtle (Myrtus communis), orange (Citrus sinensis), and ylang ylang (Cananga odorata).
• Grounding – Cedar (Cedrus altanica), Himalayan Cedar (Cedrus deodora), Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin), Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium), Vetiver (Vetiver zizanoides).

NOTES: It’s important that you know the specific plant species from which the essential oil was derived, that is Lavandula angustifolia and not just any lavender. This will ensure that the essential oil you use has the healing properties you seek. That’s one reason why the botanical names have been included in parentheses above. Make sure to use them when you shop for oils  (for more on names, see my blog on botanical names).

Use caution because some oils are contraindicated for people with certain medical conditions.

Applications of Fall Natural Remedies to Stay Healthy Through the Season

Essential oils are the primary aromatherapy ingredient. However, carriers (all-natural vegetable and nut oils, butters, creams, salts, etc.), and the type of application applied to play a critical role in the efficacy of the treatment. In fact, in situations such as when the skin is very sensitive or inflamed, an aromatherapist may recommend only a simple blend of soothing carriers.

Some types of applications are better suited for certain conditions: balms and ointments persist on the surface of the skin and offer more extended healing to the skin’s surface for wound and acne treatment), while the skin absorbs lotions rapidly for quick delivery of their nourishing attributes for moisturizing purposes.

In choosing fall essential oils, select one to four essential oils that create an integrated, complementary, and mutually reinforcing blend. Resist the temptation to use every essential oil that has an appealing attribute given your condition or intention.

Personal inhalers

Inhalers can offer a convenient, portable personal treatment for an individual. Tailor blends for unique autumn experiences and intentions. A personal inhaler can be filled with an essential oil blend to clear the sinuses, increase focus and concentration, and ground or uplift the spirits.

Diffusers

Diffusers treat an entire space affecting everyone present or moving through the space. In shared spaces diffuser emissions treat everyone present. Consider if that’s you’re desired intent or not. They can serve as an alternative or a complement to personal inhalers. Depending on the blend of essential oils used, diffusers can address sinuses congestion or moodiness, promote focus and mental clarity or provide an immune boost.

Lotions, creams, and butters

These treatment options are excellent applications for dry skin, eczema and psoriasis, and other skin conditions prevalent in the fall. The healing properties of carriers make important contributions to these products. Many oils and butters, rich in beneficial fatty acids, moisturize the skin. Avocado (Persea americana), jojoba (Simmondisia californica) and shea butter (Butyrospermum parkii) are three common choices. Tamanu (Calcophyllum inophyllum), evening primrose (Oenothera biennis), and calendula (Calendula officinalis) address both eczema and psoriasis. Carrot seed oil (Daucus carota) calms the itchiness that often accompanies these conditions. You can also add essentials to an organic, scent-free lotion, cream, or butter.

Bath oils

Bath oils are a wonderful way to get a little “me time,” and to modify your mood. Just make sure to add essential oils to a carrier so that they’ll emulsify in water. Just a 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of carrier oil, vegetable glycerin, or full-fat milk will do the trick.

You don’t want little full-strength essential oil bubbles floating on the surface and making direct contact with your warm skin. Choosing the right carrier can also help soften and soothe the skin. But, be aware that but more oil you use, the oilier the bath, and your skin, will feel.

Use only essential oils non-irritating to the skin, and be aware that warm water can increase the potential for irritation.

Appropriate Dilution For Common Fall Natural Remedies

NOTE: Because essential oils are extremely concentrated, they can cause irritations when used improperly.

As a general rule, use these dilutions for specific applications:

• 1-2% for body oils and other applications applied to large portions of the body (e.g. massage oil, lotion, cream, body butter.
• 1% dilution for children, the elderly, and those with sensitive skin or compromised systems.
• 3% for products applied to specific limited areas of the body
• 4-8 drops per bath: add the essential oils to the bath using a dispersant such as vegetable oil, whole – not fat-free or skim-milk, vegetable glycerin, or salt (use fever drops for those with sensitive skin)
• 3-6 drops (100% essential oils or essential oil blend) for a diffuser (for a 12ft x 12ft room). Less for energetic blends.
• 100% essential oil or essential oil blend for sniffing from a personal inhaler or tissue.

So, as the seasons come and go, support your good health with aromatherapy self-care. It’s empowering and delightful!

Or, contact me.

Updated August 26, 2022