Are you looking for ways to treat your winter woes naturally? Did you know that there’s a lot you do to address the symptoms of colds, dry skin, and other winter complaints with healing aromatic plants, especially in their beautiful, concentrated, holistic form as an essential oil?

Of course, the selection of plants and their applications depends on the issues you typically deal with in winter. Still, there are some common complaints, which we’ll address here.

These include chills (internal chills), dry skin, chapped lips, dry stale interior air, colds and flu, joint stiffness, and depressed moods. But really the compendium of how aromatic plants support your health and wellness through the winter could fill a book.

Key Aromatic Plants to Treat Your Winter Woes Naturally

Let’s look at some of the healing properties of aromatic plants to help you select specific species for particular woes.

• Anti-Oxidants For Colds and Flu – Choose among cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), clove (Eugenia caryophyllus), narrow-leaf eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiata), lemon (Citrus limon), and manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) to beat off or treat a cold or flu. Create a blend with an array of healing properties that appeals to you.
• Antidepressants – To get some relief from winter blues, try a bit of ylang ylang (Cananga odorata), orange (Citrus sinensis), or myrtle (Myrtus communis).
• For cold and flu symptoms – There are a number of oils that clear up congestion. Some of the best are palo santo (Bulnesia sarmientoi), peppermint eucalyptus (eucalyptus dives), scotch pine (Pinus Sylvestrus), Siberian fir (Abies sibirica), Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), or rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis var camphor).
• Aches and pain – Whether your aches and pains are from winter sports or colds and flu, use clove (Eugenia caryophyllus), nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) black pepper (Piper nigrum), and ginger (Zingiber offinciale).
• Deodorizers – Indoor spaces can get stuffy in winter. Defuse grapefruit (Citrus x pradisi), lemon (Citrus limon), or hiba wood (Thujopsis dolabrata).
• Emollients – For dry skin, try myrrh (commiphora myrrha), sandalwood (Santalum alba), frankincense (Boswellia carteri), or rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora).

What Are the Best Treatments When You Use Aromatic Oils To Treat Your Winter Woes

Some of the typical winter aromatherapy applications are warm baths, balms, body butter, body oils, diffusers, and inhalers.

Warm Baths

Warm Baths are particularly therapeutic and enjoyable in winter. They’re helpful for chills or when you feel cold to the bone. Add bubbles to keep the water warmer longer.

If dry skin is an issue, include a dash of carrier oil. This could be any one of a wide range of all-natural carriers, but sesame and olive oil are especially warming. You can adjust the amount of carrier oil based on your preference, but make sure to start out with just a little because oil can be impactful. And, you can always add more.

Make sure when using essential oils in the bath that you use only those considered non-irritating to the skin, and be aware that warm water can increase the potential for irritation. For example, don’t use clove or cinnamon in the bath.

Also, make sure to dilute the essential oils in an emulsifying carrier (e.g., vegetable oil, vegetable glycerin, and even whole – not fat-free or skim – milk) before adding them to the bath to assure that they disperse and are, thus, less concentrated. You don’t want little essential oil bubbles floating on the surface and making direct contact with your warm skin.

Choose essential oils with properties that support your intentions – warming, moisturizing for dry skin, or emotionally supportive and uplifting. Also considered the scent you like to create a beautiful way to treat your winter woes naturally.

Balms, Body Butters and Body Oils

Balms, Body Butters, and Body Oils can provide protection against the cold and wind as well as moisturize and nourish the skin. The choice of the carrier can really make the difference between a good and a great balm, butter, or oil. Avocado, carrot seed, coconut, and argan oil all moisturize and soothe dry parched skin. Shea and cocoa butter, often found in natural balms, are excellent emollients. Arnica and safflower oil are good for aches and pain.

Add a bit of the essential oils listed under aches and pains to get some relief for an achy, creaking winter body. Whereas body oils, butters, and balms can feel a bit heavy in the summer months, they tend to warm, moisturize, and soothe the skin during the cold, dry months of winter. Make sure to use a safe and proper dilution for each specific intention and application.

As a general rule use these dilutions of essential oils for specific applications:

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

Diffuser Oils For Treating A Whole Space

Diffuser Oils can be used to eliminate stall winter odors, disinfect and brighten moods. Citrus oils are good odor eaters, while many other essential oils can mask unpleasant odors.

Use oils listed as high in anti-oxidants to provide a good immune boost. A few drops of essential oil in a diffuser are sufficient. You don’t need a lot. Alternatively, place a few drops in a vaporizer to open congested sinuses and soothe other cold symptoms. For example, peppermint eucalyptus is high in pipertone, which works great to loosen and clear thick mucus.

Inhalers To Treat Just You

Inhalers can offer a convenient, portable, and personal treatment. A personal inhaler can be filled with a blend that uplifts the spirits, gives an immune boost, or helps knock a cold out before it gets going.

For More on Using Healing Aromatic Plants Or Natural Healing and Wellness In General, See:

• My Mind Body Spirit blog and use the search term Energy Healing and Wellness,

Contact me.

Updated July 20, 2022