This is the time of year to think about taking care of you — exercising daily, eating well, sleeping restfully, and choosing products to help kick-start better health in 2017.

Getting out of the winter slump can be tough. But there is no better time than now to share the simply amazing benefits of using essential oils to support health, balance energies, and keep our emotions steady in order get us through the often-challenging winter. Using essential oils is another way to enhance our day-to-day efforts for wellness and self-care.

Plants play a significant role in the power of food as medicine.

Essential oils come from plants. They are naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. Essential oils give plants their distinctive smells, as well as protect plants and play a role in plant pollination.

In addition to their benefits to plants and their beautiful fragrance, essential oils have tremendous healing potential.

For over 5,000 years, many different cultures have used these healing plant oils for a variety of health conditions.

They are often used for relaxation, beauty care, home cleaning and most often used as natural medicine.

Aromatherapy

There is good scientific evidence that essential oils are absorbed into the bloodstream when they are inhaled through nasal membranes and the lungs. Using a diffuser can help you experience the benefits of essential oils. A diffuser is a small device that delivers aromatic compounds into the air with a cool, fine mist. Oils can be chosen for their calming, focusing, energising, or other desired effects.

For example, you might use Lavender for relaxation, Peppermint for focus and energy or Wild Orange to lift your mood or Melaleuca can be used to cleanse the air and support the immune system.

Topical application

Essential oils can be applied topically to specific areas of the body. Mixed with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil, they can be applied to even the most sensitive areas of the skin. Oils are absorbed into the system within 20 minutes, and effects may be felt as you inhale the scents right away.

As we age, we need to change the way we care for our bodies, minds, and spirits. Anything from weakened eyesight to weight management to digestive support can be assisted using essential oils – both topically and through diffusing into the air. Certainly people of all ages can benefit from aromatherapy. I now go straight to my oils for support of chronic or minor health issues. It has become a lifestyle choice – using essential oils has become indispensable to my daily care routine.

Essential oils are simply an amazing way to care for yourself, your family, and your home. When investigating oils, be sure that you are using only pure, therapeutic grade oils.