What I use to support my body through winter, travel, airports, changing environments and the inevitable increase in exposure that comes with being away from home.

It’s that time of year — colder air, more time indoors, airports, recycled cabin air and all the bugs that come with it.

Whether you’re heading away on a trip or simply navigating winter and all the rain we’ve had, there’s another consideration too: humidity levels rise in the home, and mould can become a concern for many of us.

I want to share exactly what I’m using and why.

NingXia Red: Cellular-Level Immune Support

NingXia Red is the foundation of my daily routine, and I don’t skip it when I travel. Those convenient pouches are one of the first things that go into my bag.

This isn’t a standard juice or supplement. NingXia Red is built around Ningxia wolfberry puree, rich in zeaxanthin, polysaccharides and amino acids, and is blended with therapeutic-grade essential oils and superfruits including blueberry, aronia, cherry, pomegranate and plum.

What makes it stand out from a biochemical perspective?

Antioxidant support: NingXia Red has a high ORAC value, meaning it has a strong capacity to neutralise free radicals, which can increase during periods of stress and immune activation.

Wolfberry polysaccharides: These have been studied for their potential role in modulating immune response, supporting both innate and adaptive immunity.

Anti-inflammatory support: Chronic low-grade inflammation can place additional demands on the body. NingXia Red’s antioxidant and phytonutrient profile provides nutritional support during periods when the body is under additional stress.

Blood sugar: Unlike many commercial “immune drinks,” NingXia Red is relatively low glycaemic. That said, blood sugar responses are highly individual, so you really don’t know how something affects you unless you test it yourself.

Mitochondrial support: The blend provides nutrients and phytonutrients that support healthy cellular energy production.

My travel tip

I drink a sachet in the morning and another in the afternoon. On travel days, I might bump it up to two sachets in the morning.

The sachets fit perfectly into a carry-on, and I never skip them in the lead-up to a flight.

Inner Defense: Your Front Line in a Capsule

Inner Defense is a strong tactical tool — the supplement I bring out when we need some extra support.

Think: boarding a long-haul flight, a family member is sick, or the seasons are changing and our bodies are working harder.

Inner Defense soft gels contain a concentrated blend of essential oils, including Oregano, Thyme and the Thieves blend, in a formula designed for internal use.

Here’s what’s happening inside the body:

Oregano oil contains carvacrol and thymol, plant compounds that have demonstrated antimicrobial and antifungal activity.

Thyme oil is also rich in thymol and has demonstrated antimicrobial activity across a range of microorganisms.

Thieves blend adds several complementary essential oils and compounds to the formulation.

Biofilm support: Some of the phenolic compounds found in these oils have been studied for their potential effects on microbial biofilms.

Best practice for travel and winter

I like to rotate it in 10-day intervals — 10 days on, 10 days off — and take it with food if I have a sensitive stomach.

We always have these on hand, and my husband and children know to help themselves if they feel like they’re coming down with something. Right now, my two eldest have been very sick and we definitely don’t want it!

I’ve also used it as recommended by my naturopath to support gut dysbiosis.

I’ll start taking it for a few days before I travel and make sure we have it on hand when we’re away.

Thieves Essential Oil: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science

The legend behind Thieves is pretty fascinating — a blend said to have been used by 15th-century spice traders and grave robbers to protect themselves during the plague.

But it’s the properties of the individual oils that keep it in my wellness kit.

Thieves is a blend of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Radiata and Rosemary, with each oil bringing different properties to the blend.

• Clove contains eugenol, a compound with antimicrobial, antifungal and antioxidant properties.

• Cinnamon Bark contains cinnamaldehyde, which has demonstrated antimicrobial activity and potential effects on biofilm formation.

• Lemon provides d-limonene and other monoterpenes.

• Eucalyptus Radiata contains 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol), a compound widely studied for respiratory support.

• Rosemary contributes compounds including α-pinene and camphor, adding further aromatic and antimicrobial properties.

The Mould Study

Dr Edward R. Close, an environmental engineer and author, conducted studies examining the impact of diffused Thieves essential oil on airborne microorganisms.

His research reported a reduction in airborne bacteria and mould following diffusion in the tested environment, with some reports citing reductions of up to 82% in mould.

For those of us who are particularly conscious of mould exposure, this is an interesting area to explore.

And honestly, it’s also one of the reasons I love diffusing Thieves at home. It smells incredible and makes the whole house feel fresh.

How I use it

Diffuser: Daily, on its own or combined with Lemon and/or R.C. — especially in the bedroom overnight during winter or when someone in the house is unwell.

Topical: Diluted with a carrier oil and applied to areas such as the chest or feet as part of my pre-travel and travel routine.

Household: Thieves is also incorporated into the Young Living cleaning range, making it easy to bring that same aromatic blend into your cleaning routine.

The Golden Touch I Oils: A Full-Body Wellness Toolkit

Note for our Australian community: The Golden Touch I Kit isn’t available as a bundled kit in Australia, but every oil in it is available individually.

Think of these oils as a collection you can draw from depending on what your body needs.

You don’t need to use everything every day.

Raven

A blend of Ravintsara, Peppermint, Eucalyptus Radiata, Lemon and Wintergreen.

Ravintsara in particular is rich in 1,8-cineole and is one of my favourite oils for respiratory support.

I like to apply it diluted to the chest and neck or diffuse it during sleep.

Thieves

Your immune-support anchor. See above for more on this favourite.

DiGize

A blend I reach for when my gut needs some extra support.

The gut and immune system are deeply connected, so supporting digestive health is an important part of my overall wellness routine.

I use it diluted over the abdomen, or diffuse it when I want that comforting digestive aroma.

Melrose

An underrated gem.

Melrose is a cleansing blend that I love using as part of my topical and household routines.

It’s particularly useful when I want something purifying and fresh.

R.C.

A respiratory-focused blend containing Eucalyptus Globulus, Myrtle, Marjoram and more.

I love diffusing it during sleep when I want that fresh, open-air feeling, and it’s also beautiful in an Epsom salt bath.

EndoFlex

The connection between hormones, stress and overall wellbeing is often overlooked.

EndoFlex is one of the blends I reach for as part of my hormonal wellness routine. I love having it in my water bottle.

JuvaFlex

A blend I associate with liver and digestive support.

I particularly love pairing it with a castor oil liver pack as part of a weekly ritual.

How I use this collection

You don’t need to use all seven every day.

Choose two or three based on what you’re focusing on — respiratory support, digestion, hormonal wellbeing, relaxation or simply creating a supportive environment.

For me, the goal is to support the whole body rather than focusing on one thing at a time.

My Personal Travel Protocol

Here’s what I’m packing and doing:

The week before

• Increase NingXia Red

• Start Inner Defense

• Diffuse Thieves every night

Day of travel

• NingXia Red first thing

• Inner Defense with breakfast

• Thieves diluted and applied before leaving home

In transit

My children complain about how often I apply oils on the plane — but I love it!

I’ll use R.C. or Thieves diluted on the chest and take some time for deep breathing exercises.

On arrival

I diffuse Thieves in the room and always pack my Wanderful diffuser.

I’ll use DiGize if my gut needs settling and maintain my NingXia Red daily.

When you’re travelling somewhere hot and humid like Vietnam, there can also be more potential for mould exposure in hotels, depending on the environment.

Plus, there’s nothing like making your hotel room smell familiar to help you settle in and sleep better.

Staying Well Through Winter & Travel

This is how I plan to support myself and my family this winter and through our travels.

Our bodies have incredible systems designed to protect and support us. These are simply some of the tools I use to give my body a little extra support when I know it’s going to be under additional stress.

And ultimately, preparation is one of my favourite forms of self-care.