The festive season is a time for celebration, festivities, food, family, as well as friends. However, as joyful as this period of the year is meant to be, it can also turn quite overwhelming and toxic. Luckily, there are ways to better manage your health as well as ease the tensions associated with the holiday season. In fact, one optimal way to do so would be through the use of essential oils.
Created by crushing certain plants and herbs, essential oils are pure substances that have been used to address a number of health ailments. These range from poor sleep to painful headaches. As each essential oil has a particular chemical compound, the body will react to each oil differently, providing some much-needed benefits.
With that said, the following oils may help add more festive joy to the holiday season.
Essential oils and the holiday season
1. Bergamot essential oil
Created from cold-pressing parts of the Citrus bergamia plant, bergamot essential oil can be used to help you refocus on those busy days when you can’t seem to keep up with all the relatives and gifts.
Additionally, bergamot oil has also been linked to helping invoke calming properties, which is most definitely needed during those tense and stressful days (1).
2. Cacao Essential Oil
If you’re attempting to find some alone time with your partner during the festive season, especially with a full house, this oil may be exactly what you need.
Derived from the cacao plant native to South and Central America, cacao is often cited as an aphrodisiac due to its ability to enhance your sex life by boosting libido.
3. Chamomile oil
The holiday season can be incredibly stressful, and one of the symptoms associated with stress is insomnia. According to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, high levels of stress can affect one’s ability to sleep.
That said, if you’re battling to get some much-needed rest, then it’s advisable to invest in this oil. Additionally, you can also round off the day with a warm cup of chamomile tea. According to research published in the Journal of Education and Health Promotion, chamomile contains relaxing properties that can help ease you to sleep.
4. Clove essential oil
A lot of us are likely to spend the holiday season in a cold environment. This can then increase the risk of sinus problems and respiratory issues. Thankfully, the use of clove essential oil can help to protect you during the flu season.
As clove can help to strengthen your immune system, using clove essential oils during the holiday season can help reduce the risk of you falling sick during the holidays.
5. Cypress essential oil
The holidays are meant to be a joyful celebration with those closest to you. Unfortunately, not everybody has the opportunity to spend the festive period with the ones they love.
That said, research published in the Natural Products Communications journal found that cypress essential oil can help in terms of emotional regulation. For those battling with their emotions, cypress essential oil can be used to help you better manage your emotions, especially if you’re having a difficult time processing them.
6. Lavender essential oil
If the holiday season has you down and stressed, then lavender essential oil is exactly what you need.
According to research published in the Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal, lavender oil contains strong sedative effects that can help to reduce anxiety as well as alleviate any stress that the holiday season may bring.
Using essential oils
When choosing an essential oil for the holiday season, it’s important to select a high-quality oil, as these have been proven to be most effective, and less harmful as they are often free of any additional chemicals and solvents.
When it comes to their actual application, it’s important to know that you cannot directly apply essential oil onto the skin. They are incredibly potent, and direct application can cause adverse reactions.
Firstly, you need to mix the essential oil with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or jojoba oil. Secondly, it would be advisable to use a diffuser as inhaling their scent can often provide the fastest relief. Additionally, you can also place a few drops of your chosen essential oil into the bath, and round off your day in the perfect way.
References
Abdullahzadeh, M., Matourypour, P., & Naji, S. A. (2017). Investigation effect of oral chamomilla on sleep quality in elderly people in Isfahan: A randomized control trial. Journal of education and health promotion, 6, 53. doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_109_15
Choi, D. W., Chun, S. Y., Lee, S. A., Han, K. T., & Park, E. C. (2018). Association between Sleep Duration and Perceived Stress: Salaried Worker in Circumstances of High Workload. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(4), 796. doi:10.3390/ijerph15040796
Kasuya, Hikaru & Hata, Erika & Satou, Tadaaki & Yoshikawa, Masaki & Hayashi, Shinichiro & Masuo, Yoshinori & Koike, Kazuo. (2013). Effect on Emotional Behavior and Stress by Inhalation of the Essential oil from Chamaecyparis obtusa. Natural product communications. 8. 515-8.
Koulivand, P. H., Khaleghi Ghadiri, M., & Gorji, A. (2013). Lavender and the nervous system. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2013, 681304. doi:10.1155/2013/681304
Navarra, M., Mannucci, C., Delbò, M., & Calapai, G. (2015). Citrus bergamia essential oil: from basic research to clinical application. Frontiers in pharmacology, 6, 36. doi:10.3389/fphar.2015.00036
