Winter Wellness: How to Harness the Power of Therapeutic Essential Oils
As the cold months approach, many of us brace ourselves for the inevitable seasonal sniffles, coughs, and fevers. While winter can feel like an unavoidable onslaught of illness, the team at Absolute Essential provides a natural solution, backed by over 35 years of expertise and sustainable practices. In this blog, we'll explore how practitioners can integrate certified organic essential oils into their patient care plans for a healthier winter, focusing on both prevention and recovery.
Absolute Essential: A Leader in Sustainable Healthcare Solutions
At a time when many large companies boast about their environmental efforts but fall short of meaningful action, Absolute Essential stands as a beacon of genuine sustainability. The company was founded in 1988 by Dr. Bo Hendgen, a natural health practitioner who saw a gap in the market for truly medicinal-grade essential oils. Her vision went beyond producing therapeutic products; she wanted to protect the environment and ensure ethical business practices.
Dr. Hendgen established relationships with small farming communities worldwide to source the purest essential oils. In doing so, she built a business committed to minimal environmental impact, fair trade, and transparency. In fact, Absolute Essential recently won the Corporate Social Responsibility Award and was named Supreme Winner at the 2023 Natural Health Products New Zealand summit.
Dr. Bo’s dedication to sustainability doesn’t stop at product sourcing. The company has pioneered fully recyclable packaging and has contributed to the rebuilding of a traditional Lokta paper-making cooperative in Nepal, which was devastated by earthquakes. At Absolute Essential, caring for people and the planet has always been the priority, not profit margins.
“If a small business like Absolute Essential can make these slow and steady commitments, it’s an excellent example for larger companies,” says Dr. Hendgen. “We must lead consumers and make it easier for them to make the right choices, especially in a world where greenwashing has become the norm.”
A Practitioner’s Guide to Winter Wellness with Essential Oils
Now that you know the heart behind Absolute Essential, let’s dive into how their essential oils can be used to help your patients navigate the colder months ahead. While nutrition, lifestyle changes, and supplements are key to a healthy winter, adding therapeutic essential oils offers an additional layer of protection and care. Here’s a practical guide to using these oils for both prevention and recovery.
Prevention: Essential Oils for Building Immunity
As the saying goes, the best offense is a good defense. Supporting your patients’ immune systems before illness strikes is key to avoiding the discomfort of winter bugs. Before we dive into the specific oils, it’s important to recognize that 95% of medicine—whether natural or allopathic—is designed to be swallowed and absorbed by the digestive system. While this method can be effective, it also comes with the potential for interactions between vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, and medications.
Therapeutic essential oils offer a different approach. Unlike many medicines, essential oils can bypass the digestive system and be absorbed directly through the skin and into the brain, making them a powerful, non-interfering addition to any holistic healthcare protocol. By applying them topically or using them aromatically, patients can experience the therapeutic benefits without the risk of interference with other treatments they may be taking.
With this in mind, here are the top essential oils to help fortify your patients’ immunity this winter:
Eucalyptus Australiana – (100% pure Eucalyptus radiata, distilled leaves, Australia) A classic when it comes to cold and flu prevention. This oil supports healthy respiration, clears sinus congestion, and has a clean, refreshing scent that lifts the spirits.
Lavender True – (100% pure Lavandula angustifolia maillette, distilled flowers, France) More than just a calming scent, Lavender True is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, ideal for relieving fevers and body pains.
Mānuka – (100% pure Leptospermum scoparium, distilled flowers and leaves, Aoteatoa, New Zealand) Known for its antibacterial and immune-boosting properties, Mānuka is a must-have for preventing and treating colds and flu.
Tea Tree – (100% pure Melaleuca alternifolia, distilled leaves and flowers, Australia) Versatile and powerful, Tea Tree is a natural antiviral and antibacterial essential oil that every household should have in their winter toolkit.
Lemon – (100% pure Citrus limonum, cold pressed rind, Argentina) With its refreshing, uplifting scent, Lemon supports general immunity and provides an excellent way to brighten up winter days.
Peppermint - (100% pure Mentha piperita, distilled leaf, France) Particularly effective for clearing head tension and sinus congestion, Peppermint can also be used to relieve nausea, which is common during seasonal illnesses.
For patients looking for simplicity, Absolute Essential also offers Immune Care and Child Immune Care, professionally formulated blends of the most effective certified organic essential oils for winter protection. These blends can be added to diffusers, baths, or applied directly to the skin (dilute for children), offering comprehensive immune support with minimal effort.
Practical Prevention Protocols:
Diffusion: Add 5-10 drops of the Immune Care blend or any single essential oil to a diffuser in your clinic or at home. This purifies the air and provides continuous immune support.
Topical Application: Encourage patients to apply 3-5 drops of essential oil blend to the soles of their feet before bed, allowing it to work while they sleep. Cover with socks for maximum absorption.
Bath Soaks: Adding essential oils to a warm bath can provide both relaxation and immune support. Mix 10 drops of essential oil blend into a cup of fatty milk (dairy or plant-based) and a tablespoon of Epsom salts for a therapeutic soak. Be sure to remind patients not to exceed 15 minutes in the bath to avoid reabsorbing toxins.
Recovery: Essential Oils for Quick Relief from Winter Illnesses
Despite our best efforts, sometimes viruses make their way through. When they do, essential oils offer a natural and effective method for managing symptoms and speeding up recovery. Here are some recommended protocols:
Inhale Essential Oil Blend: Formulated over 30 years ago, this blend remains a favorite for clearing congestion and easing respiratory discomfort. It’s particularly effective for sinus issues and upper respiratory tract congestion.
Application Tips:
Apply 1 drop to the tip of your nose to clear sinuses.
Inhale steam infused with a few drops of the blend by adding it to a bowl of hot water and covering your head with a towel.
For high-altitude activities, apply 1 drop to your nose every 30 minutes to improve oxygen absorption. It helps prevent you from suffering altitude sickness.
Breathe Well Essential Oil Blend: Coughs and congestion are inevitable in winter, and this blend is designed to help with both. Its antiseptic, expectorant, and antispasmodic properties make it perfect for the lower respiratory system.
Application Tips:
Apply 1 drop to each of your 4 fingertips and rub directly onto the soft tissue part between the ribs. Repeat on the other side. Make sure to wrap up warm afterwards so that the essential oils can penetrate through the skin into your lungs.
Apply 3-5 drops onto the soles of the feet before bedtime. It will get to work throughout your body while you sleep.
Add 5-10 drops to a diffuser and stay near it, breathing deeply. Or, add 3-5 drops to a handkerchief or tissue and inhale it as often as you need to.
Baby Breathe Essential Oil Blend: Specially formulated for babies and children, this blend offers gentle, safe support for young ones suffering from colds and coughs.
Application Tips:
Apply 1 drop to the collar of baby’s clothing. Repeat 3-4 times per day/night.
Add 5 drops to a diffuser and place it near the child’s bed. Replenish every couple of hours.
Add 2-3 drops to a tsp of Chest Care Cream, mix, and rub onto the child’s chest to ease congested breathing and other symptoms of discomfort.
For parents and busy individuals who want a convenient solution, Absolute Essential’s professionally formulated blends, such as Breathe Well, Immune Care, Inhale, Child Immune Care, and Baby Breathe, are the perfect go-to options. They combine the power of multiple essential oils to provide comprehensive immune support and symptom relief in one easy application.
Conclusion: A Natural Defense for Winter
Winter doesn’t have to be a season of sickness. By integrating the power of Absolute Essential’s certified organic essential oils into your patient care protocols, you can help protect your patients from seasonal threats and offer them natural, effective recovery tools. Whether through prevention or treatment, these oils provide a simple, accessible way to harness the healing power of nature.
To add this brand and products to your store click here.