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No matter the need, let essential oils come to the rescue this holiday season and when in doubt, remember to breathe! 28 FOCUS The Magazine November/December 2018 www.focus-info.org We love the holidays. Festive lights. Decorated homes. Gathering of family and friends. Eating good food every chance we get. But the holidays can also be a source of overwhelm and stress as we deal with unexpected guests, last minute gifts, and the in- evitable invitation that requires us to bring an emergency plate of biscuits or treats. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the details and busy atmosphere that we forget we are making memories and it’s supposed to be fun. Enter the magical world of essential oils. I’m sure you’ve heard about them by now. All the yummy mummies are using them. Lavender for calming the kids. Peppermint for an invigorating shoulder massage. In a world where people are becoming increas- ingly concerned about ingredients and side effects, essential oils provide a fast and effective means of supporting family wellness. Derived from plants, essential oils have been used for thousands of years in rituals, perfumes, foods and natural remedies. Today millions of people are using them for everything from a mood boost to immune support. And best of all, a home that has essen- tial oils is equipped to deal with all the surprises of the holiday seasons. Last minute guests? Drop some lemon essential oil on a damp cloth to clean up the house and give it a nice fresh scent. Last minute guest happens to be your mother-in-law? Place a drop of lavender or vetiver in your hands and take some deep cleansing breathes. It will calm your nerves so not even your mother-in-law can ruin your zen. You can also use essential oils in a diffuser to cleanse the air from pet odours or cooking, or to simply create a positive party atmosphere. Need a last-minute gift? Place a cup of solid coconut oil and a few drops of your favourite essential oil in your stand mixer and blend for a few minutes. You’ll get a light, fluffy-whipped body butter. Scoop the mixture into a jar and tie a ribbon around the top. If you don’t have a cute jar, then some reusable plastic storage containers will work just fine. I am a big supporter of using what you have on hand, and if it means one less trip to the shop, even better. Another great gift idea is bath salts. e simplest recipe is Epsom salt and essential oils. Sometimes I add a tablespoon of sodium bi- carbonate to keep it from clumping. If you want to get extra fancy, add a pinch of herbs from your kitchen pantry. My favourite to add is thyme. Stir the ingredients together and put it in a jar. No jars? Pour into a sandwich bag and then place the sandwich bag in a brown paper bag and tie with a ribbon. Stamp the paper sack using whatever stamps you have on hand. No stamps? Ask your kids to decorate it. en it’s a gift from the whole family. No kids? Simply write a thoughtful note across the front. Need a last-minute treat for a party or school event? Grab a box of brownie mix and add a drop or two of peppermint essential oil (make sure you have food safe essential oils). It’s fast and easy, but that punch of peppermint will make it feel festive and deceptively homemade. e last thing to remember is to enjoy the moment. Life never goes exactly as planned. If you are feeling sad or lonely, try breathing a citrus oil like wild orange or lemon for a quick mood boost. If you are feeling overwhelmed or inadequate, try breathing a grounding essential oil like lavender, vetiver or frankincense. No matter the need, let essential oils come to the rescue this holi- day season and when in doubt, remember to breathe! *e Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have not evaluated these statements. is product is not intended to di- agnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please keep essential oils away from children and consult your doctor with any questions. Surviving the Holidays with Essential Oils
