Advice from Dr. Streicher: Which essential oils can help after exposure to wildfire smoke?

Dark clouds of smoke fill the horizon as wildfires devastate parts of the world. The smoke from wildfires carries hazardous particulate which is a threat to our health.* Thankfully, Essential Oils derived from plants have been used for thousands of years to alleviate physical and mental ailments like anxiety or stress brought on by wildfire smoke exposure.* Through aromatherapy you can find resilience in these powerful potent plants that will help you counterbalance the harmful effects of inhaling smoke particles. Get ready to explore with Amrita’s experts what essential oils can help bring balance back into your life following these environmental threats!

What are Wildfires? Why are They Necessary? And What Happens After They Have Been Put Out?

Wildfires are uncontrollable fires that occur in natural areas, such as forests and grasslands. They have been a part of the ecosystem for millions of years and can occur worldwide. These fires can burn in both the ground and above-the-ground vegetation. Ground fires ignite in organic-rich soil, while surface fires burn in dead or dry vegetation close to the ground. Crown fires occur in the upper parts of trees and shrubs. Understanding the different types of wildfires and the environments they occur in is essential for managing their impact and preventing destruction.

When wildfires ignite, the source can be a mere spark or a powerful lightning strike. But what really determines the magnitude of these infernos are the weather conditions. Unfavorable factors like intense winds, scorching temperatures, and minimal rainfall can turn innocent vegetation into explosive tinder waiting to feed the flames.

But did you know that wildfires actually play a vital role in maintaining the health of ecosystems? They act as nature's pest control, annihilating harmful insects and diseases that threaten the survival of trees. Moreover, these fierce fires clear out overgrown shrubs and underbrush, paving the way for the growth of new grasses, herbs, and shrubs that become valuable food sources and shelters for countless animals and birds.

Intriguingly, even at a low intensity, flames perform numerous important tasks: cleansing forests of debris and underbrush, enriching the soil with valuable nutrients, and creating pockets of sunshine that nurture the growth of smaller plants while allowing majestic trees to thrive. Wildfires are a mesmerizing force of nature, reminding us of the delicate balance between destruction and renewal.

But the consequences of wildfires reach far beyond the immediate destruction. These infernos also have a profound impact on our weather and climate. As they rage, they release significant amounts of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and fine particulate matter into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution. This pollution can lead to a wide range of health problems, including respiratory and cardiovascular issues.

Furthermore, the toll on mental health and psychosocial well-being cannot be overlooked. The trauma caused by these disasters affects individuals on a deep emotional level.* In addition to the loss of life, wildfires and the resulting smoke and ashes bring a myriad of other health risks.* Their destructive power can cause burns, injuries, and various irritations in the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.* Lung function can also be severely compromised, resulting in symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and inflammation.* Individuals with pre-existing conditions, such as asthma and other lung diseases, are particularly vulnerable to exacerbations.* Those with cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, also face heightened risks.* Best solution? Turn to Mother Nature for relief from all these concerns!

Top Essential Oil for Battling These Symptoms: Ammi Visnaga

When the air is thick with smoke and ash from the wildfires, there's a good chance that it won't just cause an unpleasant smell in your home - these airborne pollutants can also create significant breathing and allergy woes. But luckily, for those of us seeking a more natural way to battle such symptoms, aromatherapy is here to help! Enter Ammi Visnaga (or "Toothpick Plant") essential oil – a powerful yet underrated all-rounder known for its wide range of therapeutic benefits. Ammi Visnaga Essential Oil has proven especially helpful when fighting the symptoms associated with wildfire smoke such anxiety (which is quite frequent), allergies, asthma or other breathing problems related to the air quality outside.

Ammi Visnaga Essential Oil is in many respiratory blends because it has been found to be a very powerful bronchial antispasmodic. This means it relaxes bronchial spasms while also dilating the bronchial tubes. When steam-inhaled, Ammi Visnaga Essential Oil may help to bring asthma attacks under control and relieve the symptoms of bronchitis by suppressing bronchial spasms.

Ammi Visnaga is also an antihistamine, which means it blocks the allergic response. It also can be used to control allergic reactions, because it prevents the release of histamines. This miraculous oil also contains antibacterial properties to fight bacteria, viruses, and fungi.* This is why Ammi Visnaga is an excellent choice for urinary tract infections and kidney stones.*

Lastly, Ammi Visnaga contains linalool and methylbutyr that relax and widen blood vessels, promoting healthy circulation, and easing heart contraction.* Its antispasmodic effects make it a potent tool in treating angina while also increasing "good cholesterol" levels. Take your health and aromatherapy routine to the next level with Ammi Visnaga Essential Oil!

Let’s take a closer look into each of the concerns: Allergies, Breathing Problems (Asthma and Bronchitis), and Anxiety

Feeling the Sneezing, Coughing, and Full Congestion? Let’s Battle Your Allergies!

With uncontrollable wildfires raging from Canada to through California, the resulting smoke is a double-edged sword – it may be providing a breathtaking sight to behold from time-to-time, but its noxious particles are leading to an abundance of coughing, sneezing, and full congestion symptoms in many individuals.* But don’t let these pesky allergies stop you from living your life: aromatherapy can be the answer! Packed with soothing goodness that helps calm adverse reactions towards toxins and pollutants, this ancient remedy can help turn your turbulent allergies into smooth sailing.* Let’s take a look at three levels of care: diffusion, topical, and ingestible:

• Allergy Ease Synergy Blend: This formula was designed to give relief to symptoms that arise from seasonal environmental allergies such as pollen, dust, and smoke.* You will feel your mood be uplifted with this relieving, wonderful, and synergistic aroma of these oils. Enjoy the freedom that comes from having a secret weapon for allergies on hand.* Increase your confidence to enjoy the great outdoors with the most soothing essential oils to give you support and relief in a natural, healthy way.* Easiest way to use this product would be with a nebulizer or nasal inhaler.

• Allergy Easer Roll-On Relief®: Using the same ingredients from Allergy Ease, this product was made to be a convenient solution to always carry with you!* When you feel your allergies acting up, take a moment to sit, close your eyes, and focus your attention on where the symptoms are manifesting in your body. After you become aware of where the discomfort is located, generously roll Allergy Easer directly on and around those areas. Allergy Easer was designed to deliver relief directly to the areas where it is needed. You will feel relief quickly, and the wonderful scent of aromatic oils will magnify the effect.*

• Allergy Relief Tri-Essence® Power Blend: This ingestible product helps your body maintain and strengthen its own natural immune system responses in the face of allergens and environmental pollutants like dust, mold, animal dander, pollen, and many more, by toning the mucus membranes throughout your body.* As part of a balanced treatment plan, the ingredients in Allergy Relief can help you manage acute allergy attacks and prevent histamine release during high-risk times for the year.* This Tri-Essence® Power Blend contains botanicals that harness and enliven the body's own immune system.*

If you would like to know more about symptoms of allergies, check out Amrita’s Allergies page.

Maybe Your Chest is Tight and You Can’t Breathe…Let’s Battle Your Asthma-Like Symptoms!

For many of us, the smoke from recent wildfires has been blocking out the sun and creating an overwhelming sense of discomfort.* We’ve all experienced it — that tightness in our chest almost like we can’t catch a breath!* But don’t despair because aromatherapy may be able to help give you some relief from your asthma-like symptoms.* Today, let’s look into how essential oils and other natural ingredients can bring a sense of balance back to your airways with their calming aroma and therapeutic effect. So, if you are feeling overwhelmed by the smoke, allow yourself to relax and find freedom with these powerful healing agents — together we can break away from those bothersome breathing troubles!*

• Breathe Easy Synergy Blend: Breathing is an essential physical task for the body's survival.* While human beings can go without food for days, we cannot survive without oxygen for more than a few minutes. Breathing properly is essential to a good quality of life.* Breathing not only takes in oxygen to nourish all the body's organs but also removes toxins from the body.* Breathe Easy is a synergy blend that can help you improve your well-being by helping you improve the quality of your respiratory system.* Easiest way to use this product would be with a nebulizer or nasal inhaler.

• Respiration Synergy Blend: This blend increases the oxygenation of cells throughout the body, infusing the whole body with life-giving oxygen and making breathing more efficient.* Respiration Synergy Blend may help strengthen overall lung health.* Prepare to be surprised at what this little bottle can do. All you have to do is add a few drops to massage oil and apply topically where there is discomfort.* If you have issues with your respiratory system or just want to optimize your breathing for overall wellness, then Respiration Synergy Blend that will do wonders for you, particularly when steam-inhaled.*

• Respiratory Health Tri-Essence® Power Blend: This ingestible product helps your body strengthen its respiratory system: reducing respiratory infection, increasing breath capacity, assisting the bronchioles in maintaining their elasticity and helping with chronic inflammation of the mucosae.* The ingredients in Respiratory Health can help you maintain your respiratory system being able to breathe fully will help you to live a more happy life.* This Tri-Essence Power Blend contains botanicals that harness and enliven the body's own respiratory system.*

If you would like to know more about breathing concerns, check out Amrita’s Asthma and Bronchitis pages.

Heart Racing? Feel Like You are in a State of Panic or Stress? Let’s Battle Your Anxiety!

As the world burns from one wildfire to another, it can leave us feeling helpless and overwhelmed.* The thick smoke lingering in the air can take a toll on our physical and mental health, making us feel anxious or even triggering panic attacks.* But that doesn't mean there isn’t something you can do! Aromatherapy is a powerful tool proven to bring relief from feelings of anxiety and stress — so why not experiment with essential oils like Lavender Oil or Clary Sage Oil? Allow these products to envelop your senses, providing an oasis away from the chaotic external world around you! Even small rituals like diffusing calming oils or applying a soothing blend to your pulse points can create a sense of control and comfort amidst the uncertainty.

• Anxiety Free: Anxiety is a normal human emotion of fear or dread that can grip anyone from time to time due to certain stressful events.* However, when anxiety becomes chronic, the mind and body overreact to mild stressors.* This may cause an out-of-proportion stress response.* This is why managing symptoms of anxiety is often more complex than it seems.* Many reports have shown that exercise, nutrition, behavior modifications and sometimes psychotherapy can help calms these uneasy emotions.* The unique blend of essential oils in Anxiety Free is a formula that can help you relax and soothe away tension.* Immediately when you open the bottle, Anxiety Free emits the unmistakably luscious floral scent of Ylang Ylang. This aroma supports the nervous system by sending signals of relaxation and emotional peacefulness.*
  • On the subtle level, the synergy of these three powerful oils helps dissolve the inner stress and reduces irritability that keep us from fully enjoying life.*. When you experience anxiety, take a moment to sit, close your eyes, and focus your attention on where it is manifesting in your body. After you become aware of where the anxiety is located, roll Anxiety Free Roll-On Relief® directly on those areas. Anxiety Free was designed to deliver relief directly to the areas where it is needed, to soothe and balance the anxiety.* You will feel relief very quickly, and the wonderful scent of aromatic oils will magnify the effect.* This process helps you create body awareness.* You will develop a better relationship with your body, and your body will create more harmony in your mind.* Anxiety Free comes in both Roll-On Relief® and Synergy Blend.

• Stress Free: These essential oils work together to create a synergy that builds on the strengths of each individual oil to reduce stress and tension and give you a happy glow.* Stress Free is a versatile blend that can be used in diffusion, in the bath, or as a luxurious massage.* If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, pressured, and stressed on a daily basis, the people around you most certainly are also affected.* No matter how stressful your environment or your lifestyle may be, there is no better time than now to take a deep breath and begin to incorporate Stress Free into your daily self-care regimen.*
  • Stress can come in many different forms, such as anxiety, insomnia, emotional stress, physical stress, or muscle tension.* When you experience stress, take a moment to sit, close your eyes, and feel where the stress is affecting your body.* After you become aware of where the stress is located, roll Stress-Free Roll-On Relief® directly on those areas. The Stress-Free blend was designed to deliver relief directly to the areas where it is needed, to soothe and balance the anxiety.* You will feel relief almost immediately, and the wonderful scent of aromatic oils will magnify the effect.* This process helps you create body awareness.* You will develop a better relationship with your body, and your body will then work in harmony with your mind.* Stress Free comes in both Roll-On Relief® and Synergy Blend.

• Blissful Balance Tri-Essence® Power Blend: This ingestible product helps create centeredness amidst the stresses in daily life, especially for those who are high-strung.* This blend relaxes and soothes the nervous system with a balancing, sedative effect.* The ingredients in Blissful Balance help you maintain a peaceful center.* Staying grounded and being able to stay cool in stressful circumstances requires equal cooperation from both the mind and the body.* This Tri-Essence® Power Blend contains botanicals that harness and enliven the body's own nervous system.*

If you would like to know more about symptoms of anxiety, check out Amrita’s Anxiety page.

Final Thoughts from Dr. Streicher and Amrita’s Experts

Aromatherapy is a powerful tool in helping us manage difficult parts of life. It can help bring peace and harmony through its natural fragrances, as it has done for centuries.* But today, using aromatherapy may be more important than ever before. Now, after being exposed to smoke due to wildfires or any other reason that you feel like the air around you isn't safe — you have the power of aromatherapy at your fingertips! Aromatherapy helps improve your health by creating an environment with pleasant scents which can relax and refresh mind, body, and soul.* Through its calming properties, aromatherapy can aid with physical ailments such as headaches, breathing problems, or allergies, to the mental ailments such as anxiety, depression, or stress.* In times like these, aromatherapy offers a simple way to feel grounded and supported. Know no matter the problem, Amrita is here for you always!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.