Welcome to the Autumn edition of my newsletter. If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive my newsletters, pease fill in the contact form or drop me an email to lucyholtum@yahoo.co.uk - simply stating "subscribe".
It’s the season…. To be poorly!
As I’m sure lots of you probably know first hand (I know I do!!)– the common cold is rife at the moment! A “cold” is actually a complex viral infection of the nose and throat. Over 35 strains of the virus have been identified – and as the virus is constantly mutating, it makes finding a “cure” very difficult. Aside from the grotty symptoms of a cold, sore throat, blocked up nose, headache, generally feeling lousy and tired, the biggest danger is the risk of developing a secondary infection. Inflammation of the mucus membranes in the nose and throat leave you more susceptible to bacteria – so ear infections, bronchitis, sinusitis.. all those delightful things! But here’s the good news… essential oils can help! 2 of the safest essential oils to use at home – Tea- Tree and Lavender, can be very helpful in a number of ways when you have that dreaded cold.
Tea – Tree
With its strong medicinal smell, Tea-Tree is a unique essential oil in that it has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It is also a powerful stimulant of the immune system, so can help to boost the ability of the body to fight the infection. Great ways to use Tea- Tree in the fight against colds:
* Add between 3 and 6 drops to a very hot bath (as hot as you can without burning the skin). Ensure the water is agitated well before getting in (to ensure the tree-tea is mixed into the water). This will promote profuse sweating which helps the body to fight the infection. When used at the very first sign of coming down with a cold, this method can often stop a cold in its tracks… or at least, significantly reduce the length of your cold.
*It can also be a good oil to burn – add a few drops to an oil burner in your “sick room”. Because of the strong anti-viral properties, not only will it aid your recovery, but also it will help to prevent anyone else you live with/ work with etc from picking up your cold!
Lavender
Another fantastic essential oil, with so many uses whole books have been written about it, is Lavender. This is useful for cold symptoms because it is a powerful antiseptic and decongestant.
Suggested Use:
*Use up to 5 drops in a steam inhalation to help clear a blocked nose and foggy head. The decongestant agent of the lavender will help unblock you, and the analgesic agents will help ease a headache. The steam itself also acts to kill off the nasties in your nose and throat. Lavender has a sedative action, so this can be very beneficial when used at night to aid you in getting a good nights sleep… which will itself, make you feel a bit better and aid recovery.
Naturally, there are numerous other essential oils that can be used to ease the symptoms of a cold. These include eucalyptus, rosemary, niaouli, peppermint, pine, marjoram, lemon, thyme, frankincense and many more depending on individual symptoms. Not all of these oils are safe for home use and should only be used by experienced home users or under the guidance of an aromatherapist.
Prevention is better than cure… So how can you try to protect yourself from catching the dreaded cold? Some very simple measures include:
Washing your hands regularly throughout the day. The common cold is not an airborne virus – it is transmitted in “droplet” form. Yes that’s right – from sneezy saliva droplets and snotty tissues! We pick the virus up on our hands from touching other peoples phones at work, keyboards, door handles, money, and pretty much whatever else you can think of. Then we put our hands on our faces – rub our eyes, nose, eat with our fingers and that’s when the virus enters… if that horrible thought doesn’t get you reaching for the soap, nothing will!
Make sure you eat a good varied diet with lots of fruit and veg to ensure you are getting a good level of nutrition. Garlic can help – either in food or in capsule form, as can taking a daily multi-vitamin tablet. Plenty of Vitamin C can also help to fight off a cold which has started (and if you can get a Vit C and Zinc supplement in one, so much the better as the Zinc helps the body to utilise the Vit C more effectively).
Try to manage stress.. easier said than done I know! But taking time to relax and unwind can boost your immune system… As can having regular massages so come and see me for a treatment (did you like the shameless self advertising there??).
Website
I just wanted to thank all the people who had sent me positive comments about my new website. I am constantly updating it and if you have any ideas about things you would like to see on there, please drop me an email. I try to keep it up to date and will post these newsletters on there, along with anything else I find that I think my clients might find interesting.
Gift Vouchers – Give the Gift of Relaxation!
After numerous requests, I have decided to start selling gift vouchers. These are now available in any denomination required – so you can buy a whole treatment for a loved one as a gift, or even for them to use as part payment. Call me for more details on 0789 1017333 or email me on lucyholtum@yahoo.co.uk.
I hope you have enjoyed this newsletter. As always, let me know if there is any topic you would like to see covered in future editions.
Lucy x