A Delicious Morning Mushroom Latte [RECIPE]

We love mushrooms in my house. 

I’m not talking about the mushrooms you buy at your local grocer (although, we love those too!)… I’m talking about the superfood variety, such as the chaga mushroom. 

My wife and I often use chaga as a natural morning pick-me-up in the form of tea (yes, mushroom tea), as well as a seasonal remedy for boosting our immune systems. It truly works wonders at fending off straggling germs during flu season.

Haven’t heard of chaga before? It’s one of the most powerful and mysterious natural remedies in the Western world.   

Chaga has been used for centuries by shamanic healers and various cultures throughout Asia, Russia, and other Northern European countries. And for good reason… It’s loaded with antioxidants and healing properties.

The chaga mushroom grows on birch trees throughout the northern hemisphere and is often mistaken for burnt wood due to its dark crusty appearance.

Known scientifically as Inonotus obliquus, chaga is one of the most powerful medicinal mushrooms yet discovered. So much so, it’s been deemed as the “King of the Medicinal Mushrooms”. And in some areas, it’s even been called the “gift from God.” Those are some pretty big titles to live up to, but this fungus is more than deserving.

Here’s why…

Chaga contains one of the highest levels of antioxidants. This alone makes it a powerhouse healer. Antioxidants are vital for fighting off free radicals – the very things that attack our healthy cells and make us sick.

Thanks to its high antioxidant concentration, chaga has shown to be beneficial in fighting many different diseases, including certain cancers, diabetes, and even heart disease.

This is primarily because of its ability to build up and boost the immune system — and a healthy immune system is vital for overcoming any type of illness.

Chaga is referred to as an immunomodulator, meaning it adapts to the needs of the immune system, similar to an adaptogenic herb. It’s able to do this because of its rich abundance of beta-d-glucans – a type of polysaccharide found in a variety of fungi. These compounds help balance the immune system by calming an overactive system or stimulating a slow one. 

When you’re sick, or on the verge, your white blood cells take a beating. Hence, the lethargic feeling you experience. These cells are your body’s first line of defense when trying to ward off infections, whether viral or bacterial.

Chaga works by stimulating the activity of your white blood cells, giving them the strength they need to target viruses and other infections.

And when you add chaga’s anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory properties to the mix, your immune system has the great protective barrier it desperately needs today! 

Chaga is harvested and then either dried or ground into a powder for consumption. It can be made into a tea, extract, or tincture, and can also be taken as a dietary supplement in the form of a capsule.

Brewing chaga tea or adding chaga powder into beverages are quick and easy ways to reap its many healing benefits. And because it has a bitter and earthy taste, it can make a great substitute for coffee.

Here’s a recipe for one of my favorite ways to get my daily dose of chaga. It gives you the boost of energy and vitality you need first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon when you’re feeling a bit drained.

Chaga Latte Elixir

Ingredients: 

• 1 tsp Chaga mushroom powder*
• 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
• Sprinkle of Nutmeg (optional)
• 1 tbsp Coconut butter
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
• 1 cup Hot water
• 1/4 cup Almond milk (warmed)
• 1 tsp Raw honey (More to taste if desired)

(*If you’re using chaga mushroom chunks, brew chaga tea per the brand’s instructions in place of powder and hot water.)

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth and frothy.

2. Pour into a mug and top with an extra sprinkle of cinnamon if desired.

3. Enjoy! 

You can easily find varieties of chaga online at Mountain Rose Herbs, Vitacost, or any other reputable supplement company. Check your local health food store as well, as most carry some form of chaga.

With the wide range of chaga supplements, it’s easy to add this mushroom into your diet.

Give it a shot! 

Stay curious,

Nick Polizzi
Host of Remedy: Ancient Medicine for Modern Illness
& Founder of The Sacred Science

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The Art Of Smudging – A Shamanic Cleansing Ritual

If you grew up religious, you probably witnessed the ritualistic use of smoke in ceremony. For me it was frankincense and myrhh being burned during Sunday mass. For others it might be smoldering incense at their Buddhist Temple, or the spiraling tendrils of bukhoor in a mosque.

There is something primordial within us that connects smoke with spirituality.

In Native American tradition, it’s seen as a bridge to the higher realms, a way to bring in good spirits and dispel the negative or stagnant ones. The most common smoke-purification ritual used by the northern tribes is a technique called smudging.

This practice (or some variation of it) is embraced by almost every one of the native cultures we’ve worked with in the western hemisphere.

When we see a unique method used by different tribes across multiple continents or land masses, it’s a strong indication that it yields very real physical and/or spiritual benefits.

Below, I want to show you how to try smudging yourself and also explore some of the wisdom behind this ancestral art.

A Shamanic Cleansing Ritual

Smudging is the ritualistic burning of herbs and plant resins in a shell or clay bowl while prayers of gratitude and wellbeing are said aloud. The smoke is traditionally fanned using the hand or a feather (eagle feathers are treasured for this) and directed over a person or throughout a living space. The purpose is to wash away impurities, sadness, anxieties, dark thoughts and any unwanted energies or emotions that may be clinging to a space or individual.

This is often done before a ceremony or special gathering, after an argument (to literally “clear the air”), when moving into a new home, at the end of the cold season to re-invigorate one’s living space,
and on a variety of other occasions. 

There is much subtlety to this practice, and its potency reveals itself in the experience as you work with it.

Before we get started, it’s important to understand the deep symbolism that underlies each of the objects used in a typical smudge. There are centuries of wisdom woven into this process.

First and foremost, the materials involved each symbolize and honor one of the four elements, a central theme in many Native American rites.

• The shell or clay bowl represents water
• The herbs and resins represent the earth,
• The feather and wind it creates represent air
• The flame used to ignite the herbs represents fire

The herbs:

Sometimes only one specific herb is burned, but often a carefully prepared mixture is created. The Cree people of Montana and Saskatchewan call this botanical blend a kinnikinnick, and it can contain up to 30 different plants, chosen for certain outcomes or to treat a specific illness.

The most common herbs used for smudging in North American traditions are white sage, sweet grass, tobacco, and cedar. Not surprisingly, these are also four of the most sacred plants in this part of the world.

“Sweet grass grows high in the Rocky Mountains. A gift from the creator, it is said this grass never dies. It is one of the great smells reminding us of the mountains and open air. Sage is the cleanest smell of the desert. It is also a present from the Creator. Tobacco is another gift. Our thoughts and prayers are carried on its smoke. It carries the two great smells of the mountain and desert. It is a visual representation of our thoughts and prayers being transported.” 

– John Joseph, Chinook Shaman

A Smudging Practice To Try (with a Native Prayer):

A word to the wise: it’s important to hold pure and focused intention while you perform a smudging.  Before you begin any purification ritual like this, make sure you’re fully present.

1) You’ll need: a clay bowl or abalone shell, a few leaves of your dried herb of choice (or a blend), a flame, and an open hand or feather.

2) Gently separate any stems or buds from the leaves of your dried herbs (only the leaves or blades are used in this process).  Then place the leaves into your smudging vessel – clay bowl or sea shell.

3) If you are inside, open the windows in the space you are in, creating a flow of air from outside.

4) Using a match or lighter, ignite the herbs and let them flame for 20 to 30 seconds before sweeping your hand above them to extinguish any fire. (I’ve been taught that using the breath to blow out the fire is not the proper way.)  Tendrils of smoke should be steadily rising from the smoldering herbs now.

5) It is customary to smudge oneself first before moving on to others and the surrounding space.Using a cupped hand, draw the smoke around you.  Starting from the top, bring the smoke over and around your head, down your torso, all the way to your feet.  Make sure to pay attention to your breathing while doing this.  Slow and relaxed.

6) Once you are finished with yourself, use your feather or hand to waft the smoke gently into the corners of the room and over any plants or pieces of furniture.  My friend Santiago once advised that we need to be present with the smoke and watch carefully how it behaves and flows around specific people and objects. When we are fully aware, we’ll notice that it moves differently as it touches certain things. There is information there.

7) Once you have finished smudging, tradition tells us that the ashes of the spent herb should be brought outside and returned to the soil.  Call it superstition if you’d like, but many tribes believe that the charred residue carries its own energy and must be given back to the earth.

A Native Prayer you may want to use while smudging:

Creator, Great Mystery
Source of all knowing and comfort,
Cleanse this space of all negativity.
Open our pathways to peace and understanding.
Love and light fills each of us and our sacred space.
Our work here shall be beautiful and meaningful.
Banish all energies that would mean us harm.
Our eternal gratitude.

– The Medicine Wheel Garden, E. Barrie Kavasch

I find smudging to be a powerful way to clear stagnant energies and bring a renewed sense of wellness into my living and work space.  Next week, my wife, son, and I will be creating a special smudge stick from some local sweet grass and sage that grows in our backyard.  Another wonderful way to connect with the earth magic that surrounds us!

Stay curious,

Nick Polizzi
Director, The Sacred Science

The post The Art Of Smudging – A Shamanic Cleansing Ritual appeared first on The Sacred Science.

DIY Natural Skin Care Secrets

There’s an old saying in the Maya cultures of Guatemala, “Don’t put things on your face that you wouldn’t put in your mouth.”

Our mouths are not the only entryway for our bodies to receive nutrients and toxins through. A new study has shown that the pores in your skin can absorb up to 64% of the contaminants in your drinking water alone!

On the hunt for more facts, I recently sought out skincare expert, Rachel Pachivas from Annmarie Skincare and she took me through a few powerful ways to naturally nourish your skin, reverse signs of aging and prevent unwanted toxins from finding their way into your medicine cabinet.

I’ve shared the full video interview below, but here’s a vital warning / tip before we get to that…

A gentle warning that the word “organic” doesn’t always guarantee that your skincare products are 100% toxin-free. After digging into some of the biggest “natural” beauty brands, we found that many have cut corners and exploited loopholes.

When researching your favorite lotions, oils, and shampoos, please be on the lookout for these sneaky intruders:

1.) Parabens – An extremely common preservative that has been shown to disrupt estrogen production and has also been detected in malignant tumors.

2.) Phthalates – Usually hidden under the word “fragrance,” a known hormone disruptor linked to reproductive defects

3.) Benzoyl Peroxide – Known skin and eye irritant; linked to the promotion of tumor growth.

4.) Triclosan – According to the EPA, this is a serious pesticide. Enough said.

Our bodies just don’t know how to process things that aren’t natural, aka from the Earth. Lab-made facial products are prone to cause inflammation, breakouts, scarring and even more serious things like cancer.

Ok, are you ready for some fun, practical and natural DIY beauty tips?

Here is our jam-packed skincare talk with Rachel Pachivas!

Last, but not least, if you resonate with Rachel’s radiant wisdom and would like to try some incredible wild-crafted skin formulas, the Annmarie Skincare team has put together a special gift for the Sacred Science community.

For the next few days, you can try their 7-Day Sample Kit of their best-selling products for a BIG DISCOUNT. Your kit includes: an Aloe Herb Cleanser, an Anti-Aging Serum, an Anti-Aging Facial Oil, a FREE sample of Kaolin Micro Exfoliant, and FREE shipping.

Click here to take a look!

To anyone who is looking for well-sourced, consciously-crafted skin tonics, look no further!

Stay curious,

Nick Polizzi
Host of Remedy: Ancient Medicine for Modern Illness
& Founder of The Sacred Science

The post DIY Natural Skin Care Secrets appeared first on The Sacred Science.

Is The Universe Trying To Tell You Something?

Have you ever noticed certain patterns in your life that keep happening over and over again?

Maybe it’s a number. Like when you see 11:11 on a clock multiple times in a week, for example. Maybe it’s the repeated mention of a book or song.

One of our team members, Maya, was recently contacted by three different friends who had encountered a live bear in the wild – separately – in three different states. At first, she thought, “Oh, how interesting—the spirit of the bear is trying to reach that person…and that one too.”

It wasn’t until the third sighting that Maya experienced the “Aha!” moment.

When she finally sat with it, her intuition took over and gave her the full scoop. She had been so busy in the hustle and bustle of city life that there was no way for the bear spirit to find her via a run-in with an actual bear. So instead, it touched her through her friends.

Maya then dug into the native wisdom surrounding the bear archetype and realized there was a vital message in what she had experienced. To many northern tribes, the bear represents power and the hunt (amongst other things) – which she was in sore need of right now, as a new life calling had recently found her. She had taken one bold step toward this dream when her bout of bear synchronicity occurred – seemingly showing her that she was on the right path.

We hear of coincidences like this all the time. So often in fact, that we sometimes sweep them under the rug and go about our lives as if they never happened.

But are we missing out on something sacred? A momentary beacon of understanding from a higher power, perhaps?

The prominent Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung, coined the term synchronicity a century ago, believing strongly that we are all intimately connected via a collective universal consciousness. While the term has stuck around, many scientists believe this is just a trick our mind is playing on us via a tendency referred to as confirmation bias.

The gist of this second theory is that the human mind has a knack for seeing designs and making connections in seemingly random patterns. For example, if you subconsciously think bear energy is important, you might begin to notice bears more, even though your daily exposure to these majestic beasts is the same as it always is.

The shamans we work with would tend to agree with Carl Jung, viewing synchronicity as a cosmic sign that you’re headed in the right direction. Personally speaking, the “s” word springs up all over the place when I’m being true to myself and it dries up immediately if I step out of alignment.

What do you believe?

Are these unusual and unexplainable patterns really the universe’s way of trying to communicate with us? When we see something over and over again, is it a message for us to pay closer attention to the infinite amount of information that is right in front of us, just waiting to be acknowledged?

All I know is this – there is something deeply reassuring when these divine beacons show up in your life. It reminds you that our species really knows so little about the complex inner workings of this reality. And anything is possible.

In the spirit of bringing more synchronicity and sacred connection into our lives, I wanted to share a few ways to get clear and make space for more of it to happen.

3 Synchronicity Secrets

1. Remove the word “coincidence” from your vocabulary. If you think of something simply as a coincidence and not divinely tailored for you, you will not look for its deeper meaning, and then the messages may stop coming if they keep falling on deaf ears.

2. Be willing to put something out there to the universe. Maybe a dream or a goal. These are often the times when you’re most open and present. Perhaps all of this is somehow tied to inspiration—which may be a form of synchronicity. For example, when we start creating a new project, we almost have to open ourselves up and start trusting the universe to help bring this thing forward, which helps open the floodgates of synchronistic messages. It’s almost like the universe is telling us, “Okay, now that you’re going to put this out there, you need to start paying attention.”

3. Follow your inspiration. The next time you feel at all curious about something, don’t question it. Take one step forward and see what happens next.

Try the above for a few weeks, and pay close attention. You might find yourself suddenly flooded with all sorts of magical, wonderful synchronicity.

“All of us, whether or not we are warriors, have a cubic centimeter of chance that pops out in front of our eyes from time to time. The difference between an average man and a warrior is that the warrior is aware of this, and one of his tasks is to be alert, deliberately waiting, so that when his cubic centimeter pops out he has the necessary speed, the prowess, to pick it up.”

—Carlos Castanada

Stay curious,
Nick Polizzi
Founder, The Sacred Science

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3 Wild Herbs For Lucid Dreaming

Do you remember what you dreamt about last night?  How about the night before?

For thousands of years, we humans have placed a ton of value on the content of these bedtime reveries, deriving inner wisdom and even premonitions from them. Dreaming feels like a birthright, an extra sense that allows us to process both rationally and spiritually while our body rests up.

They are one of behavioral science’s biggest mysteries, with no agreed-upon theory of their origin and specific purpose. For some, dreams occur nightly, but others never experience them at all.

One thing is for sure – many who don’t dream wish they did.

Since I was young, I’ve had them on a regular basis, but have always known there were deeper places to go in this state of consciousness.  The quest for many is to achieve the lucid dream, or “knowing we’re dreaming” inside the dream.

The lucid dreamers I know are able to navigate their dreamscape with an awakened mind, asking characters they come across pretty insightful questions about their life path. They can run, jump, and fly at will, gaining profound inner wisdom from the experience.

If you would like to dream more at night, and perhaps experience the mysterious lucid dream, there are three wild herbs that have been used throughout time to accomplish just that.

The herbs below are all 100% legal, and easy to get ahold of. However, please do your own research before trying any of them – herbs are medicine and they should be treated with proper caution.  These plants each have a variety of other medicinal uses, but we’re focusing solely on their dream-enhancing effects.

Wild Asparagus Root – Asparagus racemosus

The Chinese word for wild asparagus root is Tian Men Dong – or heavenly spirit herb. For millennia, it’s been cherished by shamans, monks, and yogis for its heart-opening effects.

Also known as “The Flying Herb”, it’s believed that wild asparagus root helps one fly through the universe at night, achieving magnificent dreams.  The wisdom schools of ancient China placed much value on dream work, namely lucid dreaming.

In Chinese folk medicine, it is believed that this particular herb has a direct and positive effect on the heart energy, dissolving the dualities that come with our physical incarnation – black and white, left and right, inside and out. This allows our consciousness to blossom into infinite space while we sleep.

Preparation: the best way to use wild asparagus for this particular purpose, is to brew a tea of either the fresh or dried root.  Keep in mind that a tea from the fresh root will be much more potent.

Valerian Root – Valeriana officinalis

This herb has been used in folk medicine for centuries as a calming aid, muscle relaxant, and to promote deep sleep.  Because lucid dreaming usually requires a heightened state of slumber, it has become a commonly reported side effect of valerian root.

Many also report that valerian greatly improves the ability to remember their dreams. Robert Monroe, a famed specialist in Out Of Body Experiences, once said “Most of us dream, and those who don’t simply are not remembering them.”

Imagine an herb that not only promotes deep states of sleep that are fertile ground for vivid dreams, but also boosts our ability to remember what happened the morning after.  Valerian might be just that.

Warning: Because there isn’t enough information available regarding its effects during pregnancy, women who are expecting are better off avoiding it altogether.

Keep in mind: If you already experience extreme dream states, you might think twice before trying valerian.  It can intensify your nocturnal adventures quite a bit – which is wonderful when you’re having a good dream, but not-so-great if you’re having a nightmare.

Preparation: Valerian is most commonly brewed in a tea, but be careful to use water that is hot, but not boiling, in order to preserve the delicate oils in the root. Some also prepare a tincture from the dried or fresh root (this can usually be found at health food stores).

Mugwort – Artemisia vulgaris

Very common throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, mugwort has a rich history of use, both as a medicinal and metaphysical ally.  In the middle ages, it was known as Cingulum Sancti Johannis, because Saint John the Baptist famously wore a belt of it whenever he traveled through the woods.  It is referenced often in Celtic and Norse mythology as a magical plant that can ward off evil, and was hung in doorways and burnt as incense to clear stagnant air and prevent illness.

Mugwort is known as “Molush” by the Chumash Indians of California, and its Paiute name translates literally to “Dream Plant”.  It’s often smoked in indigenous ceremonies, and interestingly, is also hailed by various tribes for its power to ward off evil, bad spirits, and disease.

Known for its dream-enhancing effects, many report that it magnifies the brilliance of color and overall duration of their mid-slumber journeys. On a personal note, I’ve had some lovely experiences with this one 

Mugwort grows just about everywhere. You’ll often find it underfoot, whether in the woods or walking through an overgrown urban environment.  Is it sheer chance that this sacred herb that reportedly heightens consciousness is sprouting up all around us?

Preparation: Like the two plants mentioned above, Mugwort is quite often taken as a tea, but can also be smoked in a pipe. The leaves of the Mugwort plant are what contain the active chemical constituents.

I wish you wonderful and wisdom-packed journeys tonight, and many nights thereafter. Remember, like any good herbalist, we each need to do careful research on the medicinals we choose to work with – this is a central pillar of the plant path.

Everyone deserves to dream,

Nick Polizzi
Host of Remedy: Ancient Medicine for Modern Illness
& Founder of The Sacred Science

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3 Rituals To Calm Your Nerves And Dissolve Pain

At the core of natural medicine is one fundamental belief — our bodies are powerful, and if given the proper support they usually know how to heal themselves.

Your body is so wise, in fact, that at the first indication that anything is wrong it calls in the cavalry! The first hero on the scene is your immune system — which is made up of white blood cells, beneficial microbes, and antibodies that can correct any imbalance that may be occurring.

But sometimes the body’s natural protective response creates inflammation and swelling that can push on your nerves…  This can cause pain — which nobody wants.

Fortunately, there are a number of safe and natural ways to eliminate this discomfort while your body continues to do its vital work!

Here are 3 rituals that you can easily implement into your everyday life to calm your nerves and dissolve pain:

Ritual #1 –  The Body Scan Meditation

Meditation has been all the rage in recent news — not just with yogis, but with businessmen, athletes and entrepreneurs alike. One thing’s for sure – it’s extremely helpful when it comes to inflammation and pain.

In 1999, doctors declared pain to be the 5th vital sign, along with: temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and breath rate.

This embodiment ritual will help you gain awareness of the location and intensity of pain throughout your body.

Here’s how to do it:

Start by laying flat on the ground or sitting in a cross legged position. The goal of this practice is to quiet your mind and focus on the sensations of the body. You may find it helpful to grab pillows to support your tailbone, lower back, or head.

Once you are situated in a desired position, take at least 5 deep breaths and begin to focus on your body.

Allow the trunk and branches of your body to grow heavy.

Relax any immediate tension you feel.

Now, start by noticing your face and head. Are you clenching? Do your eyes hurt from staring at your phone all day? Is there aching anywhere? Throbbing?

If any sensations present themselves, take deep breaths and focus on understanding the specific discomfort in that area. Sometimes simply acknowledging a feeling that we’re experiencing can dissolve it.

Once you feel that area is relaxed, move on to your neck. Then to your shoulders and arms. To your torso. To your legs. And finally to your feet and toes.

I find it helpful to practice this ritual right before bed, and before I start work in the morning. Starting and ending with bodily awareness helps you stay in tune with yourself throughout the day.

Ritual #2 – Epsom Salt Bath Soak

Self care is another term that has been trendy lately, but for good reason! Living in modern times means constant exposure to news, heightened expectations due to the comparative nature of social media, and a greater amount of overall mental strain. To counter this, we as a people are prioritizing balance.

The pinnacle of self-care is an epsom salt bath soak.

Long practiced by the sports industry, an epsom bath relaxes your muscles, calms inflammation and helps you sleep more readily — which gives your body more time to recover.

If you incorporate herbal remedies, like essential oils or dried petals, you also gain their healing properties through the pores of the skin.

How to Draw a Self Care Bath:

1. Run hot water into a plugged bathtub.
2. Choose your bath soak blend: usually this is 1 cup of salts and any desired herbs. I suggest the following herbs for maximum analgesic and relaxing actions: lavender, chamomile, clove.
3. Pour mixture into the tub and shut off the water when it’s full.
4. Wait 5 minutes: allow the salts to dissolve and herbs to release their medicine.
5. Ease in and relax!

Ritual #3 – Anti-inflammatory Foods

Food is medicine.

When you’re in acute or chronic pain, it might be time to make bigger changes and focus on eating nutrient dense and anti-inflammatory foods.

Sticking to a mindful, anti-inflammatory diet is a great first defense here and can sometimes be the best medicine.

Try to plan your meals to include:

• leafy greens
• grain-free carb substitutes, like potatoes and quinoa (which is a seed!)
• snacks like berries and nuts
• olive oil, instead of butter
• garlic, ginger and turmeric

Incorporating even one of the 3 rituals above can ease aches and pains with immediate results. Remember, our bodies are what keep us going every day – and we owe it to ourselves to take care of them!

Stay curious,

Nick Polizzi
Host of Remedy: Ancient Medicine for Modern Illness
& Founder of The Sacred Science

The post 3 Rituals To Calm Your Nerves And Dissolve Pain appeared first on The Sacred Science.

An Essential Oil Blend To Open Your Sinuses

With cold and flu season now in full swing — as well as the lingering pandemic — there are a lot of stuffy noses and scratchy throats. And if you have young, school-age children like me, you’re even more susceptible to these common seasonal symptoms…

Congestion is no fun, and can actually be painful. However, you may be able to find relief with something as simple as essential oils. They may be “small,” but they are mighty.

Today, we have an essential oil blend to share with you that can help open your respiratory passages and have you breathing a bit more freely.

They might seem like a fairly modern remedy, but they’re actually quite ancient. Dating back as early as 4500 BC, ancient Egyptians were recorded as having used these oils for cosmetic and medicinal purposes – they were clearly on to something.

Essential oils are produced by distilling oil from a plant, usually via steaming or pressing. The therapeutic oils are typically found in the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, or fruits. And now these essential oils are being used to combat various conditions including anxiety, depression, nausea, insomnia, and even cold and flu symptoms like that congestion we talked about above.

Many different oils can be used to help relieve signs of congestion but a recipe I like to use consists of peppermint, oregano, tea tree, and lemon.

And here’s why…

Peppermint Oil

Seems kind of fitting to use peppermint during the winter months, doesn’t it? (Think candy canes…) But in all seriousness, peppermint essential oil gets an A+ when used for respiratory conditions.

This is because of its main component: menthol. That’s right, the same component you find in most over-the-counter throat lozenges and chest rubs. 

Peppermint oil helps to soothe the throat by relaxing the muscles of your windpipe while having a cooling effect on sore throats.

And further earning it the A+ in grading, peppermint (mentha piperita) has natural anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial properties — all the things you look for and need when battling infections.

Oregano Oil

Similar to peppermint oil, oregano oil also has antimicrobial and antiviral properties that help your body fend off those unwanted germs.

But along with fighting infection, oregano oil, when used in aromatherapy, can ease your breathing respiratory tract by suppressing coughing fits and loosening up a buildup of phlegm and mucus. That alone will do wonders when suffering from congestion.

Tea Tree Oil

One of the most widely used essential oils, tea tree oil is nature’s antiseptic. It gets to the root of the infection and works to inhibit the growth of bacteria that causes sinus and respiratory issues.

What makes tea tree oil so effective as a remedy for cough and colds is that it can kill airborne viruses and bacteria. It becomes your body’s first line of defense, killing potential germs before they even have a chance to enter and attack your body.

**Note – Use caution when using tea tree oil around children and pets.

Lemon Oil

A popular essential oil because of its fresh, clean scent, lemon oil is often added into aromatherapy blends to help act as a bronchodilator by relaxing the air passageways and increasing airflow to the lungs. Lemon oil is a natural, potent anti-inflammatory that reduces stress and eases breathing and overall respiratory function.

When you blend these four healing oils together, you get one powerful remedy to help treat respiratory and nasal congestion.

Here’s a recipe for you to make your own respiratory-opening essential oil blend:

Natural Essential Oil Decongestant

Ingredients:

•   15 drops of Peppermint
•   15 drops of Oregano
•   15 drops of Tea Tree
•   15 drops of Lemon

Instructions:

Essential oils can be dispensed in a variety of ways. The easiest way to use essential oils is to put a few drops on your palms, rub or clap your hands together, cup your hands over your mouth and nose, and take a few deep breaths.

You can also inhale them using steam. Add a few drops to your steaming shower, or add them to a bowl of hot water, cover your head with a towel and inhale the steam for several minutes.

Using a diffuser is a great way to safely enjoy the oils over a longer period of time. Simply follow the manufacturer’s directions for water to oil ratio. The diffuser will disperse the essential oils into the air of a room. You can also make your own air diffuser by adding essential oils to a spray bottle with water. Spritzing into the air will create a similar effect as a store-bought diffuser.

If congested, add a couple of drops to your pillowcase and place the essential oil-side down before going to sleep.

If you want to use topically, it’s best to dilute with a carrier oil such as coconut or avocado oil before applying to your skin. Once diluted you can apply to your wrists, neck, or other pressure points.

Essential oils are natural and safe; however, it’s important to listen to your body. Everyone reacts to essential oils differently. Pay attention to how they are making you feel. Remember… a little goes a long way!

It’s truly amazing what these simple yet complex oils can achieve.

Stay curious,

Nick Polizzi
Host of Remedy: Ancient Medicine for Modern Illness
and Founder, The Sacred Science

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