Move! From winter drab to springtime clean with citrus oils.

Most South Africans don’t tolerate winter well – we love our sunshine and in general just feel better when the sun is out.

By August we’ve had enough, and all our systems suffer from the lack of exercise, heavy foods, red wine and coffee and the use of heaters that accompany winter.

On top of that we are frustrated with the extra weight, often feel depressed, and hate ourselves for procrastinating to start walking and eating healthier.

Depression, lethargy and a dull mind doesn’t help!

In swoop citrus essential oils!

Amazing as nature is, these bright sun-like orbs are available in abundance at this time of year in the form of oranges, grapefruit and naartjies. Apart from eating heaps of these brightly coloured enticing fruit, and drinking their juice, it is also time to use citrus essential oils to bump us into action to get rid of the winter blues.

Most widely used citrus oils.

The most well-known and most helpful oils for this time of the year are:

bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, lemongrass, lemon verbena, lime, mandarin, sweet and bitter orange, neroli, and petitgrain.

Helpful for upliftment and combating depression:

All the above oils assist with this.

Some special recommendations:

·  Bergamot relieves anger and frustration and regulates appetite.

·  Grapefruit is euphoric and balances the central nervous system.

·  Lemon brings clarity and focus.

·  Mandarin is soothing and strengthening when feeling vulnerable.

·   Lemongrass assists logical thinking and helps slow morning starters.

·   Lemon verbena improves listlessness, daydreaming and disinterest.

·   Lime assists when there is apathy, anxiety and depression.

·   Bitter orange & neroli are very calming and sedative and of significant use for anxiety attacks, calming the heart.

·  Petitgrain is very stabilizing and helps with anguish due to solitude.

Helpful for Digestive system.

All the above oils assist with this.

Some special recommendations:

· Bergamot for loss of appetite. If people don’t eat due to grief or depression, Earl Grey tea which contains bergamot, may help to improve appetite.

· Grapefruit, lemon, and mandarin assist with digestion of fats and  support the liver. Eat plenty of the fruit towards the end of winter and use the essential oil in a burner.

Some blends to try

I love using petitgrain as base note for all my citrus blends. It is distilled form the leaves and twigs of the orange tree. The fragrance is therefore slightly woody and earthy. It gives a depth and stability to citrus blends.   

Children

Children in general love mandarin. Its soothing and caring fragrance help children to feel safe and cared for.

Diffuse 3-5 drop in a child’s room from the age of 3.

For tummy aches, blend 3 drops mandarin and 1 drop black pepper on 5ml almond oil and massage clockwise on the tummy.

Jet lag

2 drops lemongrass

2 drops cypress

4 drops grapefruit

2 drops rosemary.

Blend on 10ml massage oil or in a 10ml roller bottle.

Uplifting and stabilizing

5 drops petitgrain

3 drops sweet orange

2 drops bitter orange

 Diffuse or blend om 10ml carrier oil.

All these oils are available at

Mirre & Kaneel

14 Harbour Road

Kleinmond.

Sources:

Battaglia, S.

The complete guide to aromatherapy, 2 nd edition.

The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy, Brisbane, Australia, 2003

P223, 224, 225,

Fischer-Rizzi, S.

Complete Aromatherapy Handbook, English Edition 1990.

Sterling publishing Company Inc. New York USA. pp 130, 131,

Ranger, H.

Everybody’s Aromatherapy. A comprehensive guide for all ages.

Tafelberg, Cape Town South Africa, 2001.

pp. 62-67, 80, 85.

Contact: Carina Falck 060 526 1422

falckcarina@gmail.com

https://www.mirrekaneel.com/

Disclaimer

The use of essential oils must be done responsibly and does not replace any medical treatment. It is used at your own risk.