Winter marks a shift in the amount of daylight available to us which creates an imbalance of melanin in our body. Longer nights slow down nature, the skin dries up and a general sense of fatigue sets in. Not just the skin, but for a lot of people, their sinuses and joints also begin to dry out too during winter. The result is that dry mucous membranes can feel irritated. To take care of your overall well-being, both mental and physical, to feel good in these otherwise dark wintry days, and to smell amazing and fresh, we list out some of the most useful essential oils for winters and how you can use them.
1. Lemon oil
Are you a fan of zesty, tangy lemon essence? You will find this in everything from hand soaps to shampoos to cleaning agents as lemon oil is the father of all essential oils for its usability and fruity fragrance. But apart from its commercial value, it is also an excellent ingredient for herbal formulations crafted for your skin. Diluted lemon oil has D-limonene that helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and brightens and evens the look of skin tone. It nourishes skin and has a soothing nature. The fragrance has mood enhancing qualities too. A study showed that among rose, lavender and lemon essences, lemon had the strongest anti-stress effect on the participants of the study.
2. Lavender oil
Lavender oil is:
· Comforting
· Relaxing
· Calming
· Soothing
· Cleansing
· Refreshing
· Purifying
Dry, cracked skin is a real concern during the winter. Lavender is bountiful when it comes to its soothing, mood-lifting properties. Grandmas would reach for lavender oil as a comforting winter staple. Lavender oil is indispensable in winter for its excellent moisturizing and hydrating properties. Lavender oil is also calming and its aroma has been studied for supporting restful sleep and relaxation.
3. Marjoram oil
More commonly used as a spice in the food, marjoram oil is extracted from the flowers and leaves of the plant. It is traditionally used to support digestive comfort, appetite, menstrual comfort, muscle relaxation, restful sleep, and a calm mood. For its stress-relieving and relaxing properties it has even been mentioned in Greek mythology, where Aphrodite, the goddess of love, grew the herb in her garden.
4. Cinnamon oil
A popular antioxidant, cinnamon oil is a gift for your skin when it comes to combatting free-radicals and supporting clearer-looking skin. Sweet, spicy and warm, it is most commonly used in aromatherapy. Its warming, cleansing properties make it a much sought after essential oil for many an herbal formulation, supporting skin care, relaxation, and muscle and joint comfort. Its warming aroma is also valued for helping you breathe easy and feel invigorated.
5. Lemongrass oil
Many vouch for the deeply sensual, sweet and appetizing aroma of lemongrass oil, not the least because it has cleansing and soothing properties to go with the heady aroma it gives off when the oil is extracted from a steam distillation of, as the name suggests, lemongrass. For dryness of scalp and the look of flaky skin, lemongrass oil comes widely recommended for its cleansing properties.
6. Clary Sage
Used by the Egyptians in their traditional formulations, for hormone balancing properties and as a flavor of wine, clary sage has come to become an exotic herbal essence used in various premium herbal personal care products today for its aroma, flavor and wellness values. Studies on postmenopausal women showed, inhalation of the diluted clary sage oil produced a calming effect and supported healthy cortisol levels and mood. It is traditionally used to support menstrual comfort, when combined with essences of marjoram and juniperberries. It contains linalyl acetate, valued for its soothing qualities.
This article was originally published by the Shankara Editorial Team on January 14, 2019 (https://www.shankara.com/) and is reposted here with their permission
Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional. Check with your doctor before taking herbs, herbal food supplements or using essential oils.