Essential Oils for the Holidays

The holiday season is upon us again, and with all of the joys also come the stresses to both mind and body. Here are a few of my favorite essential oils for the holiday season. Note that many of these oils can not only be used for health and wellness, but also in cooking. Of course at the top of the list are frankincense and Myrrh. With a warm , woody, sweet balsamic, spicy fragrance with just a hint of lemon, frankincense was highly prized in ancient times. It was as valuable as gold and was presented as one of the three gifts of the Magi to the infant Jesus. It may slow down breathing and produce a sense of calm. This tends to bring about an elevating and soothing effect on the mind. Perfect for that holiday stress. Myrrh has been an integral part of religious ceremonies, beauty treatments, and perfume for thousands of years. Both frankincense and myrrh have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Myrrh is applied to the mouth and gums and makes an excellent toothpaste. Myrrh unites the physical and the spiritual and is very grounding. It may be used in an oil burner or inhaled directly. It is said to improve with age.

Another Biblical oil, Cinnamon, is ant-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral. Cinnamon was one of the oils that was used by grave robbers during the 15th century plague. Cinnamon, Clove, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and Lemon made up the "Four Thieves Vinegar" that was used to protect the robbers from contracting the plague. Cinnamon, clove, rosemary, and lemon can all be used in cooking. Add them to a tea to sooth a sore throat. Break off a bit of a pure cinnamon stick and chew on it to freshen breath. A "nail" of clove can also be used for the same purpose. The Buddhist monks chew on a piece of clove to purify their breath and sooth their throats after long hours of chanting.