Yes, it’s still summer. But we all know back to school shopping also means that fall is around the corner. And in case you’ve been living under a rock the last 19 months, there are *bugs* out in the world too. And sometimes, those *bugs* cause things like green goop to fall out of your nose, pressure in your head, a cough…and they don’t even have the number “19” in their name. Some of us still just get the regular old cold, allergies, hay fever….
A few weeks ago I found myself with one such bug. A combo of whip lash weather, camp fire smoke, and major pressure changes going up and down mountains, left me with a sinus infection. When I woke up with my upper jaw in pain, hurting to chew, I knew it was bad. Being stubborn, somewhat lazy, and just generally not wanting to deal with people, I ignored the advice of my people and decided to treat it myself. YOLO. Now, I can’t recommend this route for EVERYONE, but it did work for me. That leads me to the whole point of this particular post.
Steamer Mugs.
If you’re a café regular, you may be thinking a nice warm cup of steamed milk with a pump or two of flavor. Hello Irish Cream Steamers. But in this case, it’s not quite that fancy. All you need is a mug (or bowl) and some specifically chosen oils. The concept is as straight forward as it gets.
- Boil water
- Pour the water into your mug about 1/2 way
- Add your schmacy oils
- Close your eyes (oils like peppermint can cause watering or discomfort)
- Breathe it in
- Let the magic happen
- If the water begins to cool, simply add some more
Steam on it’s own can be extremely helpful to loosen up goop that’s stuck, help relaxation, and even your skin. I can’t be the only kid who ended up in a bathroom with a steaming hot shower going to help soothe a dramatic cough a time or two. The addition of oils not only means hitting your olfactory glands for a lovely aromatherapy session, but the medicinal properties of the oils themselves. In general, if you’re not totally sure what to reach for, here’s a few little rules of thumb:
–For skin, reach for flowers (Lavender, Blue Tansy, Geranium, Helichrysum, Melissa)
–For pain, reach for trees (Frankincense, Cypress, Copaiba, Siberian Fir)
–For illness, reach for herbs (Thyme, Rosemary, Oregano, Peppermint)
-For mental/emotional, reach for citrus (Wild Orange, Green Mandarine, Litsea, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit)
Though there is PLENTY of cross over, and plenty of science to back it up, that is a great place to start whether you’re creating roller blends, diffuser blends, or in this case, steamer mugs. Below are a few of my favorite:
Some things to note…
-Don’t microwave your steamer mug. Regardless of what oils you are using, microwaving them will essentially destroy their properties. No, microwaving is not the same as the hot water thing. If your water is cooling and you’re running out of steam, just add more water.
-If you are doing this to help alleviate an “ailment” you may need to repeat more than once. I found that 3 rounds of the Sinus Mug was enough to kick it. Along with my regular program of vitamins and such, but you get the idea. However, there was immediate relief and a LOT of gross nose blowing. If you’re using the mug to help relax before bed one ‘treatment’ should be just dandy!
-There are MANY combinations of oils you can use, many of which may give you similar or equal results. One such example is Balance & Serenity. My personal preference is Balance as it’s not Lavender/flower based. But some may love the Lavender of Serenity. I feel they provide similar to equal results, but just have different profiles.
As per usual, I am using dōTERRA oils, and only theirs. You can read WHY here.
The Nurtured Bee 