Picture this: it’s a postcard-perfect spring day with bright sunshine, a warm breeze, and glorious flora blooming all around.

Stepping outside, you start to feel it:

• The itchy, red, watery eyes.
• The sudden sneezing attack.
• The stuffy nose.
• The piercing headache.
• The utter exhaustion.

Welcome to hay fever season!

Hundreds of airborne allergens exist. When the body comes into contact with these, some people’s immune systems overreact and histamines are triggered.

Why Essential Oils?

The common approach is to reach for over-the-counter relief when symptoms appear, but these treatments can have unwanted side effects.

For little to no side effects, look to the plant kingdom’s gift of essential oils as an alternative or complementary treatment.

Springtime need not be a dreaded time of year for the millions of us suffering from seasonal allergies. Essential oils target allergy symptoms through anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, or antibacterial action.

How to Use Oils for Allergies

There are many mechanisms through which these powerful actions can be delivered.

• Aromatherapy

  Simply breathing in an essential oil’s aroma is one. This is known as aromatherapy.

  Upon inhalation, an essential oil can provide immediate relief since it stimulates the body’s olfactory system.

• Topical Application

  Skin application is another approach. This treatment allows oils to enter the bloodstream.

  Before applying essential oils to the skin, be sure to dilute them with a carrier oil. Five drops of essential oil to one ounce of almond, olive, sesame, jojoba, or fractionated coconut oil is a safe ratio.

Helpful Tips

Other techniques for combating seasonal allergies include:

• diffusing essential oils through an essential oil diffuser
• using essential oils in bath products
• making a room spray from essential oils
• adding essential oils to diffuser jewelry
• placing a few drops of an essential oil in the palms of your hands and inhaling in deeply
• creating a roller blend of essential oil along with carrier oil and applying it to the forehead, temples, and neck

Recommended Oils

Here are some of the essential oils that work well for seasonal allergy relief.

• Blue Tansy

  Blue tansy has potent anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic properties.

  For congestion, sneezing, and non-stop nasal drip, apply a small amount of this essential oil to a cotton swab. Use the swab to gently coat the oil to the inside of each nostril.

  Blue tansy essential oil can also be rubbed on the base of the neck, the bottoms of the feet, or behind the ears to lessen itchy eyes and ease congestion.

• Eucalyptus

  Eucalyptus, when inhaled, provides a cooling sensation that helps improve airflow and circulation. It also lessens inflammation.

  Usage

  Diffuse it, or inhale directly from the bottle to reduce allergy symptoms.

  Another technique is to pour a cup of boiling water into a bowl. Add 1 to 2 drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Drape a towel over your head, and breathe in deeply for 5 to 10 minutes.

  Combine eucalyptus essential oil with oregano and peppermint essential oils for a powerful allergy-fighting blend.

• Frankincense

  Frankincense offers anti-inflammatory properties, but it’s also antibacterial as well as being a powerful antioxidant.

  Usage

  Diffuse this oil during hay fever season to reduce coughing spells and sinus irritation.

• Lavender

  Lavender helps calm and reduce skin inflammation and can reduce the enlargement of mucous cells. It also relaxes the body and helps with sleep issues.

  Usage

  Try adding this essential oil to a bath, or diffuse it in a diffuser.

• Lemon

  Lemon is known for its antioxidant and immune-boosting properties. With its clean and bright scent, it can clear sinuses, reduce congestion, boost energy, and increase alertness.

  Usage

  Lemon essential oil can be applied to the skin along with a carrier oil, or it can be diffused.

  Precautions

  Take care when using citrus essential oils, as skin that’s been treated with them can burn and blister when exposed to the sun.

• Lemongrass

  Lemongrass offers antihistamine actions.

  Usage

  Diffuse this essential oil, or sniff it directly from the bottle.

• Marjoram

  Marjoram essential oil when inhaled can help break up mucus.

• Peppermint

  Peppermint has a stimulating scent that works to clear nasal passages and reduce inflammation. In fact, studies find this essential oil to be one of the best for reducing allergy responses and lowering histamine levels.

  Usage

  Inhale it directly or diffuse it. Diluted with carrier oil, peppermint essential oil can be applied to the skin.

• Our Special Blend

  A blend of ravensara, frankincense, and sandalwood in almond oil was used in a study to treat allergic rhinitis (the medical term for hay fever).

  Participants inhaled this blend and noted that their runny noses, blocked nasal passages, and sneezing fits improved.

Precautions

Be sure to check with your healthcare provider before beginning any essential oil treatment.

• Always take care when working with essential oils, as they are strong and potent healers.
• Shop for high-quality brands, and use as directed.
• Don’t ingest essential oils.
• Take care when using essential oils around children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and pets (especially cats).

Do a Patch Test

When working with essential oils, perform a skin patch test to check for reactions.

Test each oil you wish to use.

1. Mix the essential oil with carrier oil, and apply to unbroken skin (try the forearm).
2. If there’s no redness, inflammation, or rash after 24 hours, the oil should be safe to use.

It may not have the strong emotional appeal of the heart or the strength and sturdiness of the bones, but the lymph system needs our attention too. Fortunately this is changing, as we learn of its supreme importance in keeping us well.

Located outside the body’s cells, the lymphatic system is a fluid space. Twice as long as the blood network, the lymphatic system circulates right alongside it, acting as a drain for cellular waste. It also acts as a defender, supporting the immune system by trapping pathogens and filtering them out.

Unlike the blood system with the heart, the lymphatic system does not have a natural pump. What it has are series of ducts and nodes that help move fluid along. The lymph nodes are located throughout the body, including under the armpits, in the neck, around the groin, and in the digestive system.

Lymph Problems

When we’re dehydrated, tired, lacking in sleep, full of toxins, or fighting an infection, our lymphatic system struggles. This causes stagnation and results in painful swelling and inflammation, and is an indicator that something’s amiss.

Symptoms of Lymph Issues

Here are some common signs of congested lymph:

• Acne and other skin issues
• Cellulite
• Constipation
• Earaches
• Excess water weight
• Fluid retention
• Food and chemical sensitivities
• Inflamed tonsils
• Insomnia
• Nasal congestion
• Pain
• Sore throat

Self-Diagnosis

Try this easy and quick test: depress the skin on the back of your hand with your thumb.

If it takes three or more seconds for the skin to return to its normal color after being pressed, your lymphatic system is most likely sluggish.

Treating Lymph Issues

What to do about underperforming lymph?

Stimulating Flow

These routines all stimulate lymph flow:

• Physical exercise
• Hot yoga
• Sauna
• Infrared light therapy
• Dry skin brushing
• Rebounding on a trampoline
• Deep belly breathing
• Massage

If you wear underwire bras, consider changing to wireless. Many lymph glands are located in the breast area. Underwires are constricting and limit circulation in breast tissue.

Lymph Massage

Massage is a particularly healing and effective option, as it helps stagnant lymph move through the tissues. A professional licensed lymphatic massage therapist gently massages the areas over the lymph canals and encourages the emptying of the lymph nodes.

You can also try self-massage. But keep in mind that it’s best to work gently when massaging lymph. Use a light, stroking motion.

It’s important to note that if your lymphatic system is too congested and your kidneys aren’t functioning properly, a lymphatic massage may be stressful for your body.

Affected areas are often tender to the touch and the skin may appear overstretched.

Self-Massage Tips

• If swelling is in the arms, gently massage your skin upward toward the armpits.
• If fluid retention is in the legs, stroke upward toward the groin area.
• Major strokes should be directed toward the kidneys to help with waste removal.
• Other areas to concentrate on include along the jawline and down each side of the neck.
• Massage around the bikini line area. This is where the leg creases when you lift it.

Essential Oils for Lymph Issues

Benefits

With antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, essential oils can:

• help with blood circulation
• reduce tissue swelling
• stimulate lymphatic movement
• lessen toxins
• decongest lymph

Essential oils also help open drainage channels in the body, like those in the lymphatic system.

Other ways to obtain essential oils’ benefits for the lymph include adding a small amount to a bath, diffusing in a diffuser, or mixing a few drops into a body wash.

Recommend Oils

Lymph-loving essential oils include:

• cedarwood atlas
• cypress
• frankincense
• geranium
• ginger
• grapefruit
• juniper berry
• lemon
• lime
• rosemary
• spearmint
• sweet orange
• tea tree
• wintergreen

Helpful Tips

• Follow the ratio of one drop of essential oil per one teaspoon of carrier oil, unless a recipe instructs otherwise.
• Dilute the essential oils by adding them to carrier oils such as jojoba, almond, avocado, grape seed, or fractionated coconut.

Precautions

Always perform a patch test on the skin before using essential oils. Make sure there’s no redness, burning, or irritation on the skin, or any breathing issues upon smelling the intended oil. Avoid if any of these occur.

Recommended Blends

• Toxin Expeller

  For a lymph toxin expeller:

  • Ingredients

    • 7 drops juniper berry essential oil
    • 5 drops lemon essential oil
    • 6 drops black pepper essential oil
    • 1 ounce avocado oil

  • Directions

    • Blend the ingredients in a dropper bottle.
    • Use small amounts when massaging.

• Lymph Stimulator

  For a stimulating massage for the lymph:

  • Ingredients

    • 5 drops geranium essential oil
    • 6 drops wintergreen essential oil
    • 2 drops tea tree essential oil
    • 1 ounce grapeseed oil

  • Directions

    • Blend the ingredients in a dropper bottle.
    • Use small amounts when massaging.

• Lymphedema Blend 1

  From The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood.

  • Ingredients

    • Juniper Berry 5 drops
    • Grapefruit 2 drops
    • Cypress 2 drops
    • Sweet Orange 5 drops

  • Directions

    1. Blend essential oils together.
    2. Dilute 1 to 3 drops per tsp of carrier oil.
    3. Use only as much as required.

• Lymphedema Blend 2

  From The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood.

  • Ingredients

    • Lavender 6 drops
    • Juniper berry 3 drops
    • German Chamomile 6 drops

  • Directions

    1. Blend essential oils together.
    2. Dilute 1 to 3 drops per tsp of carrier oil.
    3. Use only as much as required.

Lavender remains one of our most beloved and medicinal healing aromas, most often enjoyed as an essential oil. But how do you make an essential oil from scratch at home with fresh or dry lavender buds?

Unfortunately, it’s not simple!

How Are Essential Oils Made?

Essential oils are generally made with special distillation equipment such as a still, and a lot of plant material.

Lavender is relatively affordable because it’s easy to grow and “only” requires about 16 pounds of lavender buds to make a single one-ounce bottle of essential oil. I’d estimate that each pound of blossoms is approximately the volume of a throw pillow.

Thankfully, the art of hydrosols allows you to craft aromatherapeutic lavender remedies at home in your kitchen without fancy equipment and a lot less plant material.

What is a Hydrosol?

A hydrosol is the first step of making an essential oil.

Simply put, you place aromatic plants and water in a pot, simmer, then capture and reconstitute the steam back into a liquid, yielding distilled water along with a tiny amount of therapeutic and fragrant essential oil.

How are Hydrosols Different Than Essential Oils?

Compared to an essential oil, hydrosols are gentler, safer, and more affordable.

You can use a hydrosol as a facial toner, linen spray, lightly aromatic air mist, and in culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic recipes.

The only downsides are that the aroma is much milder than an essential oil and the shelf life is relatively short.

Do I Need Equipment to Make a Hydrosol?

While professionals would work with a fancy still, often made of copper, to craft a hydrosol, you can repurpose common kitchen equipment to make your own at home.

The set up seems confusing but once you find the equipment that works with what you have on hand, it’s actually quite simple, and your hydrosol will be done in just a few hours.

Choosing an Herb

Any aromatic herb that retains its aroma through the heating process makes a lovely hydrosol. Lavender (fresh or dry) is a favorite, but you can also work with mint, rosemary, lemongrass, holy basil (divine!), etc.

Fresh-from-the-garden herbs work well, but if the dried herb retains the aroma – like lavender does – you can work with it dried, too.

Most ingredients sold as essential oils that don’t cost a fortune will work well. Unfortunately, many sweet and floral scented flowers don’t come across as nicely in a hydrosol, though it can be fun to experiment to see what works and what doesn’t.

Lavender Hydrosol Recipe

The goal here is that you are going to put plant material and water in a large stock pot, prop an empty heat-safe bowl in the middle. Turn the pot lid upside down and either place ice directly in the upturned lid or in a metal mixing bowl on top of the lid.

As you gently simmer the plant material, the steam of the water and essential oils collects on the top of the lid, turns back to liquid due to the ice, and then drips down the upside-down-lid into the bowl. What you catch in the bowl is your hydrosol.

Working with sanitized equipment and containers is preferred.

1. Prop an Empty Bowl in the Middle of the Pot

   Some people use a clean brick to prop the bowl up in the water so it doesn’t float around nor come in contact directly with the bottom of the pan.

   I personally use a bowl that’s heavy enough to stay put. One of my colleagues, Jessica LaBrie of Blackbird’s Daughter Botanicals, uses a tempered glass measuring cup propped on a mason jar lid.

   See what works for you with what you have on hand.

2. Add Water and Plant Material

   The water and plant material goes outside of the bowl in the middle (about 2 inches of water and a few cups of fresh or dried lavender blossoms) – the bowl should remain empty so it can capture the finished hydrosol.

3. Cover with an Upturned Lid & Ice

   If you can put ice directly on the upturned pot lid, that will more rapidly condense the steam. However, it also creates a sloshy mess that’s difficult to handle as the ice begins to melt.

   You can use a turkey baster to remove the liquid and will need to do this throughout the hour or two that your hydrosol is distilling.

   I prefer to put ice in a large metal mixing bowl and then place that on top of the lid or simply directly on the open pot – it’s so much easier to handle! And I can step away and just check on it periodically.

   For the pot lid, I prefer to use a metal lid because it will be exposed to heat and ice simultaneously, which might break glass or ceramic lids. That said, you might be ok with a tempered glass lid if that’s all you have.

   I also prefer a lid without the steam vent hole (but if your lid has a hole, you can try taping it over or simply put a metal mixing bowl on top).

4. Gently Simmer

   Bring your water to a gentle boil then turn it down to a simmer so that it’s releasing steam but not boiling vigorously. Let this simmer for 1-2 hours.

   Keep an eye on the ice/melted water situation to remove water and replace ice as needed.

5. Remove the Hydrosol

   After 1-2 hours, remove the pot from the heat, gently remove the lid. The hydrosol will have collected in the bowl, which you can remove with a measuring cup, spoon, or ladle – be careful not to burn yourself.

   Pour this into spray bottles to enjoy!

Shelf Life

Hydrosol is best enjoyed within a few months since it can grow microbes if introduced (water is not a good preservative) and over time, which can appear as white, grey, or green floaties.

I sometimes make an aromatic alcohol extract in good quality vodka and then add some of that to the hydrosol to extend the shelf life – you can make it just like a medicinal tincture (learn how at wintergreenbotanicals.com/tinctures); however, often it’s ready within just a day or two.

You can also keep extra hydrosol in the freezer to extend the shelf life.

Aromas are one of the most integral parts of our sensory experience for creating comfort in our space. The sense of smell, more so than any other sense, can dramatically shift the mood of a space, and how we feel about it.

Scent, Memories, and Feelings

When we call up memories of influential places or people in our life, we often associate those memories with smells.

Think back to the aroma of cookies baking in a loved one’s kitchen, a favorite perfume or aftershave. Experience how this smell association transports us back to when we first established that core memory.

This is called odor-evoked autobiographical memory, and studies have shown these memories are more vivid than memories cued by other senses.

We can use essential oils in our home airspace to help build an ambiance and create memories through scent-association by season, time of day, and even down to specific rooms.

Think about what feeling you want your visitors to experience when they step into your home—crisp and clean with citruses, or warm and cozy with spices?

Selecting the Perfect Aroma for Your Space

We often decorate rooms in our homes based on the mood we wish to evoke. The essential oils you use in your home can amplify that effect.

• Bedroom

  The bedroom is like our sanctuary, where we go to unwind, relax, and leave the stresses of the day at the door.

  Calming floral aromas like lavender, geranium, and rose, as well as grounding scents like frankincense and sandalwood help seal out the world and create a feeling of privacy and peace.

  Try this recipe for a relaxing nighttime diffusion.

• Kitchen

  Kitchens like to feel bright and sparkly. They are often built with large or many windows to provide the space with natural light and a feeling of openness.

  Citrus essential oils like sweet orange, mandarin, lemon, and grapefruit contribute to that bright, cheery experience, and can also help fight odors to keep kitchens clean.

  Add a sparkle to your kitchen with this grapefruit surface cleaning spray.

• Family Room

  Family rooms tend to be the epicenter of home life, so we want these rooms to have an aroma that can build the happiest of memories.

  Calming floral or resinous aromas like lavender, frankincense, bergamot, and sandalwood help create a relaxed atmosphere for conversations or movie nights, while oils like sweet orange, tangerine, rosemary, peppermint, and eucalyptus are energizing and invigorating for fun game nights.

  Set the mood with this sandalwood and lemon diffusion.

• Bathrooms

  Keeping a clean bathroom often feels like one of the most important aspects of home care, especially when you’re expecting guests.

  Herbaceous and evergreen aromas like rosemary, pine, eucalyptus, peppermint, and tea tree go a long way to cover unwanted odors and keep your bathrooms feeling spotless.

  Learn how to make your own reed diffusers that are perfect for a clean-feeling bathroom.

Set the Mood with Aromas by the Season

Diffusing different essential oils each season is a great way to bring some of the outdoor vibe into your home space.

• Spring

  Citrus essential oils, especially lemon and sweet orange, are a go-to cheery spring aroma.

  Diffusing them in your home can help clear away the dark, dreary winter gloom, and making your own DIY cleaning products is a great way to be both health- and environmentally conscious when tackling your spring cleaning.

  This lemon and palmarosa diffusion is perfect for welcoming the spring.

• Summer

  Exotic floral aromas and light, bright citruses are the way to go for mimicking the sunny, beautiful outdoors during the summer.

  Middle notes like jasmine, neroli, and rose blended with uplifting tangerine, lime, bergamot, and mandarin can make your home feel like a summer garden in full bloom.

  Make your own summer floral room mist.

• Fall

  Fall is the season of citrus and spice; sweet orange blended with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger creates a cheering and cozy atmosphere in any room.

  A few drops of cinnamon added to fall decorations like pinecones and wreaths adds to the ambiance of autumn décor.

  Nothing says fall like mulled cider.

• Winter

  Winter can be mentally and emotionally challenging with the colder, darker days and the stresses of the holiday season.

  Herbaceous and evergreen essential oils are soothing and peaceful, reminiscent of walking through a beautiful forest, and can bring that winter peace inside without all the cold.

  Peppermint, pine, cedarwood, and juniper are perfect winter aromas.

  Spread the holiday cheer throughout your home with this wintertime diffusion.

Further Reading

Looking for inspiration for how to enhance your space with aroma? Find recipes, tips, and tricks at auracacia.com or at @auracacia on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook!

Humanity has always faced troubling times, but a modern life that keeps us tuned in 24/7 allows little reprieve.

Signs of Stress

Do you experience any of the following?

• An inability to make decisions
• A short temper
• Anger
• Anxiousness
• A negative outlook on life
• Feelings of overwhelm
• Depression
• Nervousness
• Constant worry

If so, you may be experiencing high levels of stress in your life.

While small amounts of acute stress can improve performance and alleviate boredom, most of what we experience these days is chronic and damaging.

Using Your Senses to Relieve Stress

Living life means there will be stressors no matter how much we try and avoid them. We can’t realistically expect to eliminate all stress, but we can employ certain tips and tools using our five senses. Here are some to try to help calm body and mind.

• Taste

  Food as therapy is a common but frequently ill-fated practice. When we eat that slice of chocolate cake, it may give us momentary satisfaction but we’re left with a sugar low and empty caloric intake. That’s not to say we should never enjoy a treat. But if our food choices are consistently unhealthy, they can lead to more irritability and depression and may impact stress levels as well.

  Food affects mood, so choose healthy, whole-food options.

  • Enjoy the taste and crunch of slices of raw carrots, bell peppers, jicama, and cucumbers. Dip veggies in vinaigrette or hummus for added flavor.
  • Awaken your senses with fresh herbs and exotic spices. They add flavor and brightness to any dish.
  • The key to eating healthier is to notice and appreciate a food’s texture, color, flavor, and fragrance.
  • Make a bowl of warm and nourishing oatmeal or other hot cereal to start the day. Top with crunchy nuts and a drizzle of sweet honey or maple syrup.
  • Sip a cup of steaming herbal tea. The ritual of making tea is relaxing in itself, and taking the time to slowly enjoy it encourages relaxation.

• Touch

  The skin is the body’s largest organ and is extremely tuned to external stimulus. Imagine the cloudlike feel of a freshly laundered soft towel or the warm touch of a loved one’s hand, and you can see how powerful a tool touch can be to help us relax.

  • Massage and Stretching

    Massage is a time-honored technique to help the body unwind. Consider trying some yoga or tai chi to stretch the muscles and alleviate tightness.

  • Spend Time with a Pet

    If you have a fur baby, spend time petting or grooming their coat. You will both benefit from the exchange.

  • Try Tapping

    Tapping, also known as Emotional Freedom Technique, is an effective tool based on ancient Chinese acupressure and modern-day psychology. The fingertips are used in a repetitive pattern on specific meridian points of the body to calm the nervous system and help eliminate stress, limiting beliefs, and phobias.

  • Weighted Blankets

    For a powerful form of touch, some individuals turn to weighted blankets to help with their stress, insomnia, and anxiety.

    These therapeutic coverings can weigh anywhere from five to 30 pounds.

    How do Weighted Blankets Work?

    When this extra weight is placed over the body, it creates a therapeutic technique known as deep pressure stimulation. This type of pressure relaxes the nervous system and is used when working with support animals and receiving massage treatments.

    Weighted blankets get their heft from small beads or tiny crystals such as quartz or amethyst sewn right inside. Look for blankets that are five to 10 percent of your body weight.

    Precautions

    Weighted blankets work well for many. But keep in mind they may not be for everyone.

    • Avoid their use on children under two, due to possible suffocation risk.
    • Those who experience claustrophobia may not appreciate the blanket’s tightness.
    • Individuals with breathing issues such as asthma and sleep apnea may find them unsuitable.

• Sight

  We view the world through our eyes. Change your viewpoint by focusing your attention on something beautiful and uplifting.

  • Enjoy the Visual Arts

    Works of art, both modern and ancient, can lift our spirits. If you have a coffee table book of an artist you love, take time to browse through it again. Visit a local museum to find beloved works from sculptors, designers, and painters.

  • Look at Photos and Memorabilia

    Some people find that revisiting happier times boosts their moods. Whether you have photos stored on a computer or in an album, remembering past vacations and fun times can bring a smile to your face.

  • Try Color Therapy

    Color therapy can change a person’s mental and emotional well-being.

    • Gaze upon violet, green, and blue shades, which are known to soothe and have anti-inflammatory abilities.
    • Pink has also been shown to calm within a few minutes of exposure to it.
    • In contrast, red, yellow, and orange hues are stimulating, and are ones you may want to avoid unless you want to feel energized.

• Smell

  • Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

    Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants. They affect parts of the brain associated with behavior and emotion.

    Aromatherapy is the inhalation and use of essential oils to help with depression, insomnia, stress, anxious feelings, and more.

    Working with ylang ylang, lavender, bergamot, and vanilla essential oils has proven to lower stress levels.

    Inhaling an essential oil directly from its bottle encourages us to take deep breaths, which regulates the stress response. You can also use a diffuser to add healing scents to your indoor environment.

  • Fresh Flowers in Bloom

    Another option for stress-reducing scents is to visit a local flower shop. Browse the aisles and take time to inhale the scents of various blooms. If flowers are growing outside, partake in these short-lived beauties.

• Sound

  • Relaxing Music

    Listening to calming and relaxing music has been found to be effective for reducing stress and boosting mood.

    • Stay away from energetic music. It is less likely to lower stress levels.
    • Try music tuned to 432 Hz. It’s believed to be brighter and clearer with beneficial effects on the body and mind.
    • Playing a musical instrument is another powerful choice for lowering stress levels, as is song. Sing along to the radio or even to yourself!

  • Affirmations

    Our voices are powerful tools. Do not underestimate the mind’s ability to respond to positive affirmations. Say them out loud for more self-encouragement.

  • Natural Sounds

    Go outdoors and absorb the sounds of nature.

    • Birdsong

      • If the weather’s warm, enjoy morning’s birdsongs. The chirps and calls of birds have been found to help with stress recovery in adults.
      • If the birds have flown south for the season, try pre-recordings of nature sounds.

    • Weather Sounds

      • If it’s raining, open the window and enjoy the sound of water hitting the earth.
      • In winter, enjoy the sound of silence as snow falls.

Relieve Stress Using All Five Senses

For the ultimate healing experience that engages all five senses, look to nature to lift stress levels. Experience the sight of a bright blue sky, the smell of wild flowers, the feel of sand beneath your feet, the sound of wind rippling through the leaves, and the tasty crunch of a freshly picked apple.

Whether you enjoy outdoor sights and sounds by visiting the country or going to an urban park, spending time outside greatly benefits concentration, mood, and creativity and, ultimately, relieves stress.