Winter is here and the holidays are over. Once the holiday decorations come down, does your mood come down with them? Maybe opening your mail is part of the downward influence of your mood: Happy cards and wonderful pictures from family and friends have been replaced by unwelcome credit card statements and circulars. How do you feel? Do you miss the excitement and social activities of the holidays?
Winter is here and sunlight and outdoor activities are diminished. The long, dark days of winter and the hours spent indoors can affect the body physically, mentally, and emotionally! The lack of adequate exposure to sunlight results in lower vitamin D levels, changes in sleep patterns and/or mood, and even impacts our immune system.
Winter is here and maybe you notice an appetite for more comfort foods, sugary snacks and beverages, or you are feeling the pinch associated with the extra inches on your waistline.
Our winter moods are a complex interplay of emotional and physical components!
According to Rebecca Linder Hintze, M.Sc. in Essentially Happy, 3 Simple Answers from Mother Nature for Overcoming Depression: “There are millions, even billions, of chemical reactions going on in your brain and body all the time that make up the complex and dynamic system that is responsible for your moods and perceptions, and influences how you experience life.”
In this book, she highlights the importance of proper nourishment, our biological predisposition to sugar and comforts foods, and the effective use of essential oils to overcome physical, mental, and emotional ailments. “Various essential oils not only support cellular communication and oxygenation of the blood, some also improve our neurochemistry by clearing receptor sites in the brain for neurotransmitters…By supporting the production of neurotransmitters they (essential oils) make us feel happier.”
Here are some great essential oils to use daily to uplift your mood and keep your spirits soaring. Combine these essential oils with daily diet and lifestyle choices to support the proper function of the body:
Lavender, Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, and Wild Orange essential oils help the body produce Serotonin, a neurotransmitter which relaxes and soothes the body, regulates sleep, appetite, memory, learning and various emotional activities.*
Rosemary and Lemongrass essential oils help the body produce Norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter and stress hormone. This neurotransmitter plays a role in your fight-or-flight response. In this role, it increases heart rate and blood flow to the muscles, giving you a burst of energy.*
Clary Sage essential oil helps the body produce Dopamine, a neurotransmitter with several different functions.* Dopamine plays a critical role in the function of the central nervous system, and it is also linked with the brain's complex system of motivation and reward. It also helps regulate body movement, attention, learning and mood.
The secret of your success is found in your daily routine. Protocol for daily use:
Apply a few drops topically on the bottom of your feet, back of the neck; dilute as necessary.
Add a few drops to your diffuser.
Make a roller ball bottle: Combine 5 drops of the essential oils of your choice into a 5 mL bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with fractionated coconut oil. Use this roller ball on the bottom of feet, around ears, or on wrists. Use as often as needed.
Managing Winter Emotions
What else can we do to manage winter emotions? Our organs and systems come under assault when emotions are repressed. This can happen when you deny or ignore a feeling, or when our deeply held beliefs are challenged.
Consider how these emotions can impact your wellness:
Anger and resentment impact the function of the liver, as does grief.
When we are grieving, this may also negatively impact how we breathe; notice how certain types of grief literally “take you breathe away”.
Fear, doubt, and/or worry may create digestive discomfort, and cause the release of stress hormones, which can have long-term implications for how our organs and systems function.
In these situations, the aromatic chemistry of essential oils can help us to recognize, validate, and process these emotions and beliefs appropriately. My go-to oils for these situations are a collection of expertly crafted blends that offer just the right influence to manage your emotions AND get your organs and systems humming again:
Cheer® - when a smile seems far away or when you need an uplifting thought
Console® - my go-to when I need to give/get a comforting hug
Forgive® - inspires feelings of charity and acceptance for long-suffering heartache
Motivate® - when you need a dose of encouragement or hope
Passion® - to encourage joy and playfulness when the excitement for life is waning
Peace® - the release value on a pressure cooker, use this when emotions are about to explode, or to restore calm during times of worry
Want to learn more about how to restore or enhance your mood through the winter months? Join our essential oil lovin’ community and connect with other likeminded, like-hearted individuals who live and love a natural solutions lifestyle. Connect with us at in person and online events to learn exactly how simple it is to thrive this winter!
What’s next?
You are invited to experience gifts of the earth in an informal and relaxed way, learning new & easy ways to integrate wellness concepts into your daily life. For more information on our monthly featured topic and to register, visit https://snssharing2024.eventbrite.com
Watch for more articles sharing resources and solutions to help you build your foundation for health, one belief, one goal, one experience at a time! You are invited to follow me on my substack blog to make sure you don’t miss articles as they are published.
Essential oils are safe, effective and very affordable. However, not all essential oils are created equal! Be an educated consumer and use only certified pure, tested grade essential oils for your family!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.