Let’s face it: every season is cold season. Try as we might, it’s hard to avoid the sniffles, coughs, and germs that are going around school and the office all year long. There are things you can do to help protect yourself like wash your hands regularly, eat a healthy diet and get enough sleep every night. Essential oils are another fantastic way to help boost your immune system and protect your family from seasonal illnesses. Germ Fighter, Cypress and Manuka all deserve a spot in your medicine cabinet. Let’s find out why!
Germ Fighter
Germ Fighter is one of our favorite blends, and for good reason! This powerful blend combines Lemon, Clove, Eucalyptus, Cinnamon Cassia, and Rosemary for maximum benefit. Germ Fighter supports a healthy immune system and helps you stay healthy when you’ve been exposed to colds, germs, and seasonal threats. But if you’re unlucky enough to get sick (it happens to the best of us), Germ Fighter can also help your body get back to its natural state after sickness has you down and out.
As if this wasn’t reason enough to have this blend in your arsenal, Germ Fighter makes a great addition to your DIY household cleaners. We especially like using it in the bathroom, but it really is a fantastic option for your whole home. We have easy DIYs that use Germ Fighter in an all-purpose cleaner and foaming hand soap.
How to Use
If you’re using Germ Fighter topically, dilute 0.5-2% in a carrier oil or our Aloe Jelly. You can also add 2-3 drops to your Plant Therapy diffuser to help freshen the air and boost your immune system.
Some Things to Know
- Ingredients: Lemon, Clove, Eucalyptus, Cinnamon Cassia, and Rosemary.
- KidSafe: No
- Pregnancy & Nursing Safe: No
- Pup & Pony Approved: No
- Shelf Life: 1-2 years
Cypress
Cypress has a wonderful fresh, clean aroma that is herbaceous, spicy, with a slightly woodsy evergreen scent. Not only is the aroma pleasant, but it also is incredibly helpful when it comes to your respiratory system. It has 50% alpha-pinene which is helpful in keeping germs at bay and shortening the length of your sickness. Cypress is also helpful for relaxing the lungs and opening your airways, which is especially needed when a cold makes it hard to breathe. This offers optimal oxygen intake, allowing you to take nice, deep breaths.
While Cypress is fantastic to have on hand when you’re feeling sick or stuffed up, it has a number of other incredible uses. It can help provide emotional support when you’re feeling sad or down. If you’re dealing with any bumps and bruises, try applying it topically to help relieve swelling and pain and improve blood circulation. Plus, its astringent properties prevent excessive blood flow to promote clotting by tightening the tissues. Cypress can also help combat oily skin! It’s fresh, woodsy fragrance makes it an ideal choice to add to men’s skincare products.
How to Use
When you’re using Cypress topically, whether as a chest rub or in a facial serum, dilute to 2-4% in a carrier oil or lotion. You can also add 3-4 drops to your diffuser to help support a healthy respiratory system or soothe feelings of sadness or grief.
Some Things to Know
- KidSafe: Yes
- Pregnancy & Nursing Safe: Yes
- Pup & Pony Approved: Yes
- Shelf Life: 2-3 years
Manuka
If you haven’t been introduced to Manuka yet, let’s fix that. This wonderful oil is distilled from the Manuka tree in New Zealand. Although often compared to or called Tea Tree, it’s different in composition and aroma. It has a sweet, herbaceous scent that can be calming during times of worry. Manuka is especially useful for when your respiratory system is feeling irritated from pollen or a cold. Try diffusing with Cypress or Pine for a fresh aroma that can help you breathe easier and support your respiratory system.
Perhaps one of the greatest uses for Manuka is in skincare. This fantastic oil helps clear blemishes, calm irritation, soothe a dry scalp and so much more. Whether you’re dealing with oily skin, looking to get your scalp back on track or need to relieve bug bites, Manuka is the oil for you!
How to Use
To add Manuka to your skincare routine, dilute to 2-4% in your favorite carrier oil and apply it to your face to help with blemishes, irritated or oily skin. Diffuse 3-4 drops in your diffuser to help bolster you emotionally or ease breathing.
Some Things to Know
- KidSafe: Yes
- Pregnancy & Nursing Safe: Yes
- Pup & Pony Approved: No
- Shelf Life: 2-3 years
Germ Fighter All-Purpose Cleaner DIY
What you’ll need:
- 1 cup peroxide (the regular kind that you find in a brown bottle)
- 1 cup distilled water
- 45 drops of Germ Fighter
- 1 teaspoon Castile Soap or Sal-Suds
What you’ll do:
Add all ingredients to a spray bottle and shake well. Spray onto surfaces and wipe off to clean. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
