Written by CarrotGreenRoof on November 9, 2011
From Tracey TieF of Anarres Natural Health

Winter means cold and wet weather outside, but often leaves dry and warm conditions inside our homes. While having humidifiers on helps to re-humidify the air, take this simple tip from Tracey TieF of Anarres Natural Health and get some extra life out of those citrus peels after you’ve eaten your lemon or orange worth of Vitamin C. Tracey recommends, particularly for sensitive folks and those with babies/children at home, putting a pot of boiling water on the back burner of your stove and filling it with fresh lemon or orange peels and lavender (Bulgarian Lavandula angustifolia aka officinalis essential oil, or lavender flowers/leaves are best – if you grow lavender in your garden, this is a perfect use for it!). The essential oils are anti-viral, and when released into the air along with the steam they help to invigorate the body and are uplifting to the mood. Tracey warns to be careful when selecting quality essential oils and to avoid fragrance oils, which are made from petroleum. Some essential oils such as peppermint or eucalyptus can be too harsh for kids’ sensitive systems, but the lavender and citrus oils are gentle enough for them to handle while helping to open up airways and relax the body.

I know that I tried this tip of Tracey’s last year when my infant son was having serious respiratory problems, and I felt it making a big difference in his breathing. Now I constantly have a pot of water with herbs in it, simmering away on the stove. If you’re concerned about forgetting about it and having it burn on the stove, you can simply pour boiling water over the lavender and citrus peels and let it sit uncovered. If the effects seem to wear off after a while, simply reheat.

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Tracey TieF is a multi-diciplined Certified Natural Health Practitioner operating Anarres Natural Health in downtown Toronto. She enjoys regularly hosting a wide range of workshops to empower people in creating their own natural body-care products and she loves to work with people who want to learn how to use alternative medicines to heal themselves and others. She also has a full line of handmade natural products from essential oils and body balms to dental care and sun-cream. For more info, visit her website at www.anarreshealth.ca.