Christmas can bring more than a few health challenges - from stress and headaches through to sore feet and digestive problems. To help, we thought we'd pull together 10 slightly more unusual aromatherapy tips for the Christmas period and beyond!  Try making them for yourself - or even give them as practical gifts for friends and family.

Warming Pillow For Headaches, Cramps & Muscular Aches & Pains

Firstly, if you’re suffering from headaches, you can dab a little neat Lavender essential oil on your temples for some immediate relief. But, if it’s really bad, and you often suffer, you might want to make this lovely warming pillow!

Get some fabric – or a towel - and 6 cups of rice in a plastic bag. Pop the following headache-busting essential oil blend into the bag of rice:

• 5 drops Sweet Marjoram
• 5 drops Basil
• 5 drops Lavender

Cut your fabric into two long, rectangular pieces and sew it together into a long neck pillow, leaving a 2-3 inch hole at the corner for filling. Pour the rice from the bag and sew up the opening. Heat in the microwave for 20-30 seconds and then apply round your neck to relieve tension. Remember to inhale and exhale as you breathe in the lovely aromas.

• For menstrual cramps use Geranium, Clary Sage and Ylang Ylang
• For muscular aches try Lavender, Black Pepper and Sweet Marjoram.

Eye Gel for Tired Eyes

For tired eyes, try making a soothing Aloe Vera Eye Gel.

• Measure 90ml of spring water and pour into a large bowl
• Weigh 1.25g Xanthan Gum powder into a dry measuring cylinder and sprinkle it over the water a little at a time, before whisking for 5 seconds until there are no lumps (if there are still lumps, blend with an electric whisk – but stop if it gets opaque or goes runny).
• Mix in 10ml Aloe Vera concentrate and 1g preservative (such as Citric Acid)
• Add 10 drops of Peppermint and 10 drops of Lavender essential oil

Alternatively, if you don't want to make this from scratch, try adding the essential oils into Base Formula’s Aloe Vera Gel or buy one of our ready made Aloe Vera Eye Gels.

To use simply pop the eye gel around your eyes and place some cool, wet cotton pads over the top for a really soothing eye experience.

Snore Gel

Perhaps one of the most fun recipes to try – this one relieves tiresome snoring! Whether it’s you or a partner who can’t stop snoring, why not give it a go and see if you can improve your sleep?

Follow the directions as above to make the gel, and add the following essential oils:

• 5 drops Eucalyptus
• 5 drops Thyme
• 10 drops Lavender

Leave by the bed – or apply directly under the nose before bedtime for a blissful night’s sleep! It’s also great for aiding congestion if you have a blocked nose.

Cold Pad for Swelling Injuries

If you are in need of an anti-inflammatory for an injury (maybe from a tumble on the ice) why not try a cooling gauze pad with therapeutic essential oils?

• Use a medical gauze dressing or a small piece of clean cloth
• Run a small bowl of very cold water and add 5 drops of each Peppermint, Sweet Marjoram and Plai essential oils and immerse the gauze in the water
• Remove the gauze and gently wring out the remaining moisture
• Place it on the affected area, securing with some surgical tape on each side, for up to 10 minutes

Tired Feet Gel

Suffering with tired feet from all that shopping or partying? Try mixing 10ml of Base Formula’s Aloe Vera Gel, with 2ml Arnica Infusion, 3 drops Chamomile, 2 drops Lavender and 1 drop Peppermint. Apply to the soles of your feet and relax with your legs in the air, resting against a wall.

Detoxifying Foot Blend

Some people argue that we absorb essential oils best through our feet – we also know that the feet are important in healing because of how reflexology works; there are over 7000 nerve endings in the feet and they send signals round the body to bring about healing. So, if you want to feel at your best, try this detoxifying foot blend to help flush out any impurities in the body. It also helps improve dry, cracked skin on the feet!

• Mix 12ml of carrier oil – such as Grapeseed – with 2 drops Lemon, 2 drops Juniperberry and 2 drops Fennel
• Apply to the soles of the feet, pop some old socks on and sit back and relax
• Ensure you massage in thoroughly or wipe off before you start to move about again, as we don’t want you slipping over!

Digestive Reliever (massage blend for constipation/diarrhoea)

We all suffer with digestive issues from time to time, and this tip is especially useful around Christmas when our diet changes dramatically with all the rich seasonal food and drink! So, if you’re suffering, try these massage blends and massage gently into the abdomen in a clockwise direction:

• For constipation, try a massage blend of 12ml Grapeseed oil with 2 drops Mandarin, 2 drops Juniperberry and 2 drops Fennel
• For diarrhoea, try 12ml Grapeseed oil with 2 drops Bergamot and 4 drops Chamomile

De-stress Pulse Point Oil

It’s not just recipes for physical things you can make at home. If you need to de-stress emotionally, this is a lovely pulse point oil to apply throughout the day as and when required. These make beautiful Christmas Gifts!

• Pop 10ml Grapeseed oil into a Rollette bottle and add 2 drops Neroli, 2 drops Rose and 1 drop Sweet Orange. Shake well to mix
• Apply to pulse points as and when needed

Healthy Hair Shampoo

Suffering with an imbalanced scalp ahead of your Christmas party? Flaky dandruff, or greasy hair is not a good look! Why not try Base Formula’s SLS Free Shampoo with some conditioning essential oils?

• For dry hair: Mix 5ml of SLS Free Shampoo with 1 drop Ylang Ylang and 1 drop Sweet Orange
• For oily hair: Mix 5ml SLS Free Shampoo with 1 drop Lemon and 1 drop Yarrow

Conditioning Hair Mask

You can also try a conditioning hair mask as well!

• Mix 5ml of warmed Extra Virgin Coconut Butter with 5ml of Argan oil and add 2 drops Lavender and 2 drops Ylang Ylang.
• Brush through your hair to detangle first, then use your fingers to massage the mask evenly through your hair and into the scalp. Wrap your hair in plastic (cling film is good or you could use a shower cap), then wrap a towel round your head and leave for 30-60 minutes – or overnight. To remove, add shampoo to your hair before wetting it, and then shampoo as normal – it might take a few shampoos to wash out, but it will leave your hair silky smooth!
• You can also add the Lavender and Ylang Ylang essential oils into Base Formula’s Hair Conditioner to complete the process!

So, as you can see, with essential oils, health and wellbeing can be more fun than it sounds! Give our homemade remedies a go and see how they can help!

Merry Christmas!

Nicole Barton
Consultant Aromatherapist

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