While we’re all getting used to writing the year 2024 on our documents and the holiday season winds down, seasonal threats tend to wind up, knocking us off our feet. Shorter days and lower temperatures just seem to provide an environment in which these nasty offenders thrive, in an apparent attempt to keep us from doing so! Partly for the joy of sharing with you, and partly to remind myself of the practical plant power dōTERRA® places at my own fingertips, I’m about to review a few basic supportive recipes for this winter season.

A throat that feels less than stellar is often where it starts. As I write, I’m in need of this very recipe! To execute the On Guard Gargle, add one drop Peppermint, one drop Lemon, and one drop On Guard™ to a glass of hot water. Add a spoonful of raw honey, for both taste and soothing properties. Let steep until comfortably warm. Gargle, spit, and repeat. After you’ve finished gargling, you can even drink what’s left to maximize your benefits. Could this gargling option be considerably more tasty than the traditional salt water? You’ll have to try it and see for yourself.

To deliver immune support, create your own FOOT Roller Blend. This is a fun acronym: each letter stands for an oil which will contribute to this blend for quick, powerful, and feel-good support through the ever absorbent feet. By the way, do you know why you often hear recommendations to apply essential oils to the bottoms of the feet? It might seem like just a nice way to make them smell better, but it goes much deeper than that. Foot pores are large and unencumbered by things like follicles and sebum. It’s an effective place for oil to move quickly through those skin layers and into the bloodstream to distribute their benefits.

Now for the specifics of that FOOT Roller Blend: follow the acronym by adding 8-10 drops each of Frankincense, On Guard, Oregano, and Tea Tree to a 10 mL roller bottle. Roll onto bottoms of feet for intense immune support. Another benefit of the bottoms of feet is that they’re tough; so an oil like Oregano, which would be wildly hot and uncomfortable when applied topically to other areas, can be applied directly here without a problem. To adapt this recipe to use with young children, reduce oils to 1 drop each, making the supportive mixture extra gentle.

It’s so good to be reminded of these simple, supportive ways to be well this winter. This last recipe is for someone who’s feeling well enough to munch on a fun snack, but who also wants to keep their defenses up. To make Protective Popcorn, you’ll need:

• 1 cup popcorn kernels

• 1/4 cup unrefined coconut oil

• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup

• 5-6 drops On Guard Protective Blend

• 2-3 drops Cinnamon Bark oil

• Ground cinnamon to taste

• Salt to taste

Air-pop popcorn and place in a large mixing bowl. Melt coconut oil, then remove from heat and stir in maple syrup and essential oils. Pour mixture over popcorn, pausing to toss and mix. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon and salt. Mix thoroughly before enjoying.

These protective ideas remind me not to fear those winter bugs. As you suit up for the rest of winter, resolving to be the new you that you hope to be in this new year, you’re going in with support. It’s wise to remember the importance of rest and proper care, and also to rely on the supportive plant power that dōTERRA makes readily available to us when we most need it.