Transcript: *

With the shift of the seasons, I thought it was an optimal time to show appreciation for the various ways that the great outdoors aids our emotional and physical wellness. Last week, I reviewed four ways that aromatics from nature can enhance resiliency for the fall and support healthy immune function. I also provided a summary on the power of essential oils for aiding overall body and mind vitality. Finally, I shared a practical tip to bring it all together.

As a quick review, Mother Earth kindly releases her volatiles, known as essential oils, that (1) support our defense and repair system, (2) calm our stress response, (3) improve our well-being, and (4) shift their composition to suit our physiological needs related to environmental threats.

I also explained how fir oils can be combined with citrus oils and diffused at home to receive these scent-sational benefits indoors. This mixture additionally aids in focus and attention as one works through tasks.

In this tip, I continue with the theme of nature’s nourishing of us through her odorous gifts. Specifically, I highlight the top four essential oils that I recommend to my clients and that I use myself during the chillier seasons. I will explore their uses, applications, and properties. Next, I discuss several supplements and herbs that combine with essential oils to synergize and optimize their results.

As always, all the references can be found in the resource section.

So, let’s get started.

My Four Favorite Essential Oils for Immune Health and Resiliency in the Fall

1. The sweet spice oils of cinnamon bark, clove, and nutmeg are uplifting, foster a feeling of warmth and comfort, and their scent entices abundance. These aromatics are all antimicrobial, high in antioxidant power, and promote our body’s defense and repair processes.

Application:

This trio of oils in a 3:2:1 diffusing ratio creates a divine smelling “fall blend.” The various compounds in these oils merge to deliciously optimize wellness, cleanse the air, and energize the senses.

2. Citrus oils are well-known for their mood and nervous system supporting properties. They have been found to ease anxious feelings and are especially beneficial for calming children. Citrus scents are uplifting and the essential oils enhance overall wellness and immunity.

Orange oil is one of my favorite citrus oils for this time of year. I love the smell, and it is one of the highest sources of d-limonene among the citrus oils. This compound has been shown to improve cellular health, modulate inflammation, support digestion, and act as an antioxidant.

Applications:

• Place a few drops of orange oil into the spicy fall blend above or diffuse it with your favorite tree oil to help you capture its benefits.
• Inhale the oil directly from the bottle to instantly shift mood, calm the mind-body, and improve focus.

3. Tree oils such as fir and spruce oils promote grounding and well-being. They are high in phytoncides (volatile, essential oil compounds) that support immune health, relieve stress, lower cortisol, and promote well-being.

Application:

• Tree oils can be inhaled directly from the bottle or diffused with a citrus oil to take advantage of all their health-promoting properties.

4. Thieves oil blend is a mixture of clove, rosemary, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and lemon. This oil blend is highly effective for optimizing respiratory health and the body’s defense and repair processes.

I find it useful to have Thieves oil blend on hand during the change of seasons; although, it seems to always make my list of favorites for any time of year. This is due to its multiple properties.

This combination:

• contains various compounds which can help to cleanse the air and provide antioxidant support.
• has a synergy of oils that are antimicrobial and can support lung health (e.g., eucalyptus is high in 1-8 cineole).
• improves concentration and aids in alleviating discomfort in the body and mouth. This is due to the presence of various stimulating and anti-inflammatory compounds in the essential oils.

Applications of Thieves Essential Oil:

• This blend can be diffused to decrease environmental triggers and to freshen up rooms. It can also decrease the negative health impacts of moldy areas. Interestingly, a recent study found that Thieves blend can decrease pollen counts as well.
• Diffusing Thieves oil regularly can provide overall body system support and enhance resiliency from exposures.
• For oral care, a small dab of Thieves oil can be placed on a toothpick, or one can use a highly diluted drop of it on their finger, and apply it to the area in the mouth that needs attention.

A Note on Diffusing Essential Oils:

These oils are powerful. There is no need to over-diffuse. To get the best mood benefits, my favorite way to diffuse is through intermittent exposure, with 20 to 40 minutes on and a few hours off. This will decrease the chance of your brain and nervous system building a tolerance to the aroma.

Also, I prefer to aromatize in a cold-air, atomizer diffuser. This is to maximize the aroma and enhance the therapeutic properties of essential oils through keeping their delicate constituents intact.

Herbal and Supplement Support for Immune Defense and Vitality

I find that combining essential oils with herbs and supplements synergizes and optimizes their effects. In a recent post on Today’s Practitioner, the author reviewed the research on many of my favorite supplements for their ability to enhance immune function and evade infections.

Due to the current regulation of claims on health blogs, I can’t go too much into detail on these nutraceutical’s mechanisms. Therefore, I will list my top four choices. All of them have one thing in common, they help keep you healthy. If you want to dig into it further, I have a link to the article in the resource section.

My top four supplements for supporting a healthy immune system include:

• Vitamin C
• N-acetyl cysteine
• Zinc
• Garlic

Herbs for Adapting to Stressful Times

I also love to incorporate adaptogenic herbs to support the adrenal glands and hormonal system during times of stress.

My top four adaptogens for resiliency and stress support include:

• Withania – This adaptogen, also known as Ashwagandha, can aid in better sleep, alleviate stress, and help to balance hormone levels.
• Bacopa – This is one of my favorite herbs for improving brain health, focus, and concentration.
• Gingko – This herb is known for enhancing circulation to the brain and body and aiding memory.
• Schisandra – This botanical can support the stress response. It also assists with liver detoxification.

These herbs and supplements are best prescribed and dosed based on your specific needs by your healthcare provider. Please check with them for a quality brand that has been third-party tested and that would work best for you.

So, there you have it.

I hope you found this clinical tip useful.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on which essential oils and natural supplements you use during the chilly seasons. Comment below.

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Resources

• Four Ways Essential Oils to Enhance Resiliency for the Fall – The Power of Aromatic Molecules to Support Healthy Immune Function (My clinical tip with references)
• Nature’s Intelligence Makes Scents in the Fall: How Essential Oils Enhance Resiliency with the Change of Seasons (My article with references)
• Four Essential Oils to Relieve Stress and Enhance Physical Resiliency During the Fall
• Essential Oils for a Healthy Fall: Part II (My article with references)
• Naturopathic Medicine Scents for a Day of Gratitude: Joy and Abundance Essential Oils Blends (My article with references)
• Before the Bugs Hit: Protect Your Patients with Science-Backed Supplements Shown to Enhance Immunity (Today’s Practitioner)
• Celebrate Spring Blooming with Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil (My article with references)
• More on the Amazing Power of Clove Oil (My article with references)
• The 10 Reasons Why You’d Be Nutty & Crazy To Ignore Nutmeg (My article with references)
• Effects of citrus fragrance on immune function and depressive states (Neuroimmunomodulation. 1995 May-Jun;2(3):174-80.)
• The “Out of This World” Applications of Orange Oil: Four Bright Benefits of Using This Favorite Citrus Oil Now Revealed! (My article with references)
• What Big Pharma Doesn’t Want You To Know About An Ancient Oil Invented By Four Robbers (And 10 Modern Ways To Use It). (My article on Ben Greenfield Life with references)
• Role of Antioxidants and Natural Products in Inflammation (Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2016; 2016: 5276130)
• The Mold- Health Connection (My article with references on essential oils and mold)
• Using Diffused Essential Oils to Remove Airborne Pine and Pecan Pollen: A Pilot Study (Applied Science. 2022. 12(19), 9917)
• Feeling Fatigued? My Favorite Naturopathic Herbs and Essential Oils to Boost Focus, Energy, and Cognition (Part 2: My Six Favorite Rejuvenating Herbs) (My article on adapatogens)

*Transcript has been edited for grammar and ease of reading.