LAVENDER (Lavandula vera)
The
Balancer
... the most versatile and useful essential oil
... creates a general state of well being
... from the Latin word "lavare"
which means "to wash"
Properties:
... antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, calmative, sedative
... regulates nervous system, helps high blood pressure and blood sugar levels
... relieves stress, fatigue, and
depression
Common uses:
- Burns, cuts, bites - apply one drop straight as pain demands.
- Headaches, stress,
anxiety, fatigue, insomnia -
inhale, bath, massage.
- Aches and pains - compress, bath, massage.
- Motion sickness - inhale, apply to nose with base oil, can add Peppermint
too.
- Palm blend for massage
- pour base oil in palm, add 1 drop Lavender. Apply to nose first, then
body.
"COMMON
SCENTS"
Every Kitchen Should Contain a Bottle of
Pure Lavender Essential Oil
Aromatherapy is a beautiful
art and science that can be as complex as anything in life can be.
However, there is always the beauty of simplicity. One of the many simple
truths in Aromatherapy is the versatility and usefulness of
Lavender.
In my studies, I read how the
French chemist Gattefosse (father of Aromatherapy) had burned his hands
badly in a chemical explosion. He instantly dipped them in a vat of
Lavender and his hands did not suffer from the burns. All of us read about
"miracle cures" like this. So when I grabbed the oven rack (heated to
450°) with my bare hand, my mind shot to Gattefosse and my hand grabbed
the Lavender. It was a bad burn and it hurt. For about 1 and 1/2 hours, I
kept applying a drop of pure Lavender every ten minutes or so, as the pain
demanded. There was no blister, not even a red mark. Since that time,
there have been several other opportunities to test this. Lavender does
work for burns. Be sure it is genuine and authentic Lavender. Do not use
this method if the skin has been ruptured.
Lavender is anti-inflammative,
antibacterial, and analgesic. It is also excellent for cuts. Place one
drop of pure Lavender on the cut to keep clean and aid healing.
Lavender
deserves a place in our homes.
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TEA TREE (Melaleuca alternifolia)
The
#1 First Aid Oil
... traditional medicine in Australia
... warming and stimulating
Properties:
... antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal
... anti-inflammatory, analgesic
Common uses:
- Cuts, stings, bites, cold
sores - 1 drop straight as pain demands.
- Acne - 1 drop straight, use sparingly and
cautiously.
- Athtmletes foot, nail bed
fungus - 1 drop
straight, or add to foot bath, or massage by adding 1 drop to base oil
in palm.
- Colds, flu - inhale, bath,
massage, steam tent - for extra strength add
Eucalyptus and Peppermint.
- Palm blend for massage and
chest rub - pour base oil in palm, add 1 drop Tea Tree. Apply to nose
first, then body.
"COMMON
SCENTS"
Every Medicine Cabinet Should Contain a
Bottle of Pure Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea Tree oil is steam distilled out of the leaves of the Melaleuca
alternifolia tree in Australia
.
Tea Tree can be referred to as
the #1 First Aid Oil of Aromatherapy. It is hightmly antiseptic,
antiviral, and antifungal. For cuts, bites, and stings, simply use one
drop as often as necessary to relieve pain and clear up infection. It is a
wonderful treatment for red ant and mosquito bites. Tea Tree is excellent
for most all infections, as it can stop the bad bacteria from spreading,
and allows the good bacteria to take over. A drop of Tea Tree can also be
quite effective on cold sores, acne, poison oak and poison ivy.
For sore throats and mouthwash
add 2 drops of Tea Tree to about 1/4cup water (a little honey and/or lemon
is optional) and gargle well. In case of athtmlete's foot or nail bed
fungus, use one drop straight on the pertinent area. Soaking feet or hands
in water with a few drops of Tea Tree is also quite helpful.
Work out of the palm of your
hand to make a chest rub blend, in the case of our common cold. Pour a
base oil in your palm, add 1 or 2 drops of Tea Tree, rub your hands
together and apply the blend to your nose, around ears, on neck and chest.
Breathe deeply and rest quietly. For healthy scalps and hair, add 1 drop
to the shampoo in your palm. This is great for pets too!
Tea Tree essential oil is
another precious liquid that is one of nature's gifts to mankind. It
supports us along our way in handling all kinds of infections.
Tea Tree deserves a spot up front
in our medicine cabinet.
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PEPPERMINT (Mentha piperita)
The Oil of
Digestion
... general tonic, refreshing and invigorating
... calm vitality
... traditional medicine in British Herbal
Pharmacopoeia
Properties:
... antibacterial, antispasmodic, antiviral
... may irritate skin if applied directly, always blend with base oil
Common uses:
- Stomachaches - blend 1 drop with base oil in
palm, apply to nose and massage abdomen clockwise.
- Headaches - inhale from bottle, blend with base
oil and massage neck, head and shoulders.
- Sinus, cold, flu - inhale from bottle, steam tent, bath, blend with base
oil and massage nose, neck and chest. Eucalyptus and Tea Tree can be
added.
- Motion sickness - inhale from bottle.
- General fatigue -
inhale from bottle, combine with base oil for bath and massage.
"COMMON
SCENTS"
Travel With Peppermint in Your Shirt
Pocket
There are hundreds of kinds of
essential oils, and approximately one hundred are used therapeutically. I
place Peppermint in the top three.
Peppermint is often referred
to as the #1 digestive oil. Restaurants serve us peppermints after dinner,
and peppermint candies often soothe stomach nausea.
So what does one do with an
ill-at-ease stomach? Whether it be from motion sickness, overeating, or a
stomach bug, Peppermint can help. All you need is a little bottle of pure
Peppermint and another bottle of good base oil. Organic Golden Jojaba is
perfect!
Ways to help
yourself:
- Simply inhale from the bottle
of pure Peppermint. (This is easy and practical on an airplane.)
- Pour a little base oil in your
palm, add 1 drop Peppermint, apply this blend to your nose.
- If appropriate, in addition to
#2, rub palm blend over your entire stomach area from ribs to pelvic
bone in a clockwise circular motion.
These same methods can be used
for headache remedies. Peppermint is one of the most valuable oils for
headaches, migraines, and sinus blockage. It smells refreshingly clear and
is antibacterial and antiviral.
So when you can't get to sleep
at night because you ate too much, make the Peppermint oil blend in your
palm, and treat your belly to a Peppermint rub. You might fall asleep with
your hand on your belly!
I travel with a small bottle of
Peppermint in my shirt pocket as part of my
airplane regimen. See The Good Medicine Tin, for more travel
help.
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EUCALYPTUS (Eucalyptus
radiata)
The
Oil of Respiration
... warming and stimulating
... helps to move the rivers of the body
...invigorating and
strengthening
Properties:
... antibacterial, antiviral
... stimulates fluid circulation, expectorant,
mucolytic
Common uses:
- Colds, flu, bronchitis - inhale from bottle, steam tent, baths, for massage
add 1 drop to base oil in palm and apply to nose and use as chest rub.
Before bed put 1 drop straight Eucalyptus on soles of each foot and put
on socks.
- Sinus infection - inhale from bottle, steam tent, combine with base oil
and apply to and in nose, massage head and sinus areas. Add Peppermint
too.
- Joint aches and pains
- combine with base oil and rub areas. Can add Lavender too.
"COMMON
SCENTS"
Eucalyptus Your Way Through the
Winter
There are hundreds of
different kinds of essential oils. Eucalyptus can easily be placed in the
top five for its "good medicine" qualities. It is often referred to as the
oil of respiration.
Eucalyptus essential oil is
the liquid that is in the leaves of the eucalyptus tree and extracted by
steam distillation. Its chemical contents determine it to be antibacterial
and antiviral.
All you need is a little
bottle of pure Eucalyptus and another bottle of good base oil. The
following suggestions can be used as part of your preventive healthcare
program, or as relief from colds, flu, and respiratory conditions.
Ways to help
yourself:
- Simply inhale from the bottle
of pure Eucalyptus.
- Pour a little base oil in your
palm, add 1 drop of Eucalyptus, apply to and in nose, then massage where
appropriate, such as under cheekbones, over eyebrows, on temples, around
ears, neck and chest.
- Fix your bath water and get in
first, then apply #2 palm blend to nose, neck, chest, hands, and feet.
Put warm wet washcloth over chest, close your eyes and rest in the
water.
- Make a steam tent for
inhalation. Pour boiling water in glass Pyrex bowl, add about 3 drops
Eucalyptus. This will be very strong at first. Close eyes and bring face
over bowl while inhaling. After first few breaths, put towel over your
head and the bowl. With hands under towel, massage face and back of
neck. Rest here for 15-20 minutes. This can be done 3 times a day.
- Put 1 drop of Eucalyptus on the
sole of each foot, put on your socks and tuck yourself in for the night.
Life can be busy and noisy. Take
time to rest in the quiet.
Essential oils can help take you
there.
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ORANGE
(Citrus aurantium)
The Natural
Tranquilizer
... promotes a feeling of well being
... sweet and warming, makes one smile
... always combine with base oil before applying to skin
Properties:
... antiseptic, antidepressant, anti-anxiety
... harmonizing to the body and mind
... may irritate skin if applied directly, always blend with base oil
Common uses:
- Anxiety, depression,
nervous conditions -
inhale from the bottle, combine 1 drop in base oil in palm and apply to
nose and massage neck, abdomen, low back.
- Children (wonderfully
calming at bedtime, also combined with Lavender) - pour base oil into palm
of hand, add 1 drop Orange (or 1 drop Orange and 1 drop Lavender), apply a
little to nose and massage abdomen, feet, hands, or back.
"COMMON
SCENTS"
Nurture "The Child" With Sweet Orange
All essential oils are precious liquids extracted from some part of a plant
or tree. Pure essential oil of
Orange
is cold
pressed from the rind. It has a very sweet, warming aroma, which promotes
a feeling of well-being, and tends to make one smile.
Orange essential oil is known
for its antidepressant, anti-anxiety, and antibacterial properties. It may
irritate the skin if applied undiluted. As true for all citrus oils, it
should not be applied to the skin before sun bathing even when diluted
with base oils.
Orange is
also quite effective for digestive problems. It is most helpful as an abdominal
rub with Peppermint. This is an extremely soothing way to fall asleep at night.
It calms the stomach and soothes the nerves. Lavender and Peppermint enhance
the properties of Orange.
Ways to help
yourself:
-
Simply inhale from the bottle
to enjoy the sweet aroma.
-
Pour a little base oil in
your palm, add 1 drop of
Orange
and 1 drop
of Lavender. Rub palms together, apply to and in nose, rub temples,
neck, chest and abdomen. This is very calming.
-
Make the palm blend as above
with
Orange
and
Peppermint for an upset stomach, overeating discomfort, or insomnia. Lie
down on back, apply to and in nose, and slowly rub belly in clockwise
circles.
-
Children's health and
disposition react very favorably to
Orange ,
or
Orange
and Peppermint. Make the palm
blend in #3, apply to their nose. Then rub their hands, feet, belly, or
back. This makes a wonderful night time activity, creating a nurturing
environment for conversation or quiet time together. To give is to
receive.
Essential oils give us their antiseptic qualities to enhance our health.
Their intense aroma gives us an additional gift by effecting our thoughts and
emotions. They trigger our memory bank. So even if the chemistry of Orange oil
is one of tranquility, it will not create this effect with someone who does not
like the smell of Orange.
Get out of the mind and into the
nose. The nose knows what the body needs.
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Frankincense (Boswellia carteria)
The Oil of Protection
... strengthening, protection
... slows and deepens the breathing process
... traditional medicine in Egypt, India, China
Properties: antiseptic, anti-inflammatory,
expectorant,
sedative, tonic
Guide: Use for skin care, immune system, anxiety,
nervous tension and mental concentration. Inhale
straight from bottle, put 1-2 drops on cotton ball or
use in diffuser. Mix in base oil to apply to skin.
Apply blend to nose, temples and back of neck.
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Geranium (Pelargonium roseum)
The Yin Balancing Oil
. . . soothes nervous tension and nerve pain
. . . nourishes mature, congested or bruised skin
. . . nurtures entire system
Properties: antiseptic, anti-inflammatory,
antifungal,
analgesic, astringent, tonic, supports adrenal
cortex
Guide: Use for
nervous tension, neuralgia, shingles,
stress, anxiety, menopausal imbalances, and
circulation. Inhale straight from bottle, put 1-2
drops on cotton ball or use in diffuser. Mix in base
oil to apply to skin. Apply blend to nose, temples
and back of neck.
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Jasmine (Jasminum officinale)
A Sensual Oil
. . . promotes feeling of optimism, confidence, euphoria
. . . native to China, India, West Asia
Properties: antiseptic, antidepressant,
aprodisiac,
sedative, tonic
Guide: Enjoy the
sensual aroma of Jasmine to lift the
spirits. Use for stress, apathy, lethary, depression,
nervous exhaustion, frigidity, overwhelm. Inhale
straight from bottle, put 1-2 drops on cotton ball or
a dab on the wrists. Mix with base oil for massage.
Apply blend to nose, temples, back of neck.
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Lemon (Citrus limonum)
The Good Morning Oil
. . . energizing, refreshing, awakening
. . . uplifting to mental and physical state
Properties: antiseptic, vasoconstrictor,
tonic,
anti-rheumatic do not apply directly on skin,
sensitive to sun exposure
Guide: Use
for fatigue, concentration and immune
system. Helpful with coffee/cigarette withdrawal.
Good in diffuser to cleanse air. Inhale straight from
bottle, put 1-2 drops on cotton ball or use in diffuser.
Mix in base oil to apply to skin. Apply blend to
nose, temples and back of neck.
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Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
The Rich Ruby Oil
. . . thick, dark ruby oil native to tropical Asia,
especially Indonesia and Phillipines
. . . soothing, calming, warming influence
. . . possible aphrodisiac
Properties:antiseptic, antiviral,
antifungal, tonic,
anti-inflammatory, astringent
Guide: Use for
aging or inflamed skin, nervous
exhaustion, frigidity, stress, hair care. Inhale straight
from bottle, put 1-2 drops on cotton ball or use in
diffuser. Mix in base oil to apply to skin. Apply
blend to nose, temples and back of neck.
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Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
The Memory Oil
. . . one of the earliest plants used for medicine, magic,
food and in fumigations against infectious diseases
. . . in British Herbal Pharmacopoeia for general debility
and cardiovascular weakness
Properties: antiseptic, antirheumatic,
stimulant for
adrenal cortex, circulation and lymph, general tonic,
hypertensive
Guide: Use
for, mental stimulation, memory, respiratory
ailments, muscular aches and pains. Inhale straight
from bottle, put 1-2 drops on cotton ball or use in
diffuser. Mix in base oil to apply to skin. Apply
blend to nose, temples and back of neck.
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Rose otto (Rosa damacena)
Oil of The Heart
. . . nurturing, calming, cooling, regulating
. . . promotes an overall sense of well being and peace
Properties: antiseptic, antispasmodic,
aphrodisiac,
antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, sedative, tonic
Guide: Use for the sheer joy that true Rose
oil brings
to your heart and spirit. Good for nervous tension,
stress, grief, overwhelm, impotence and skin care.
Inhale straight from bottle, put 1-2 drops on cotton
ball, or dab on wrists. Mix in base oil to use for
massage. Apply the blend to nose, temples, back
of neck and heart.
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Sandalwood (Santalum album)
The Yang Balancing Oil
. . . warms, soothes frazzled nerves
. . . antidepressant, sedative
. . . traditional medicine in India
Properties: antiseptic (urinary & pulmonary),
antispasmodic, helps tighten connective tissue
Guide: Use
for nervous tension, depression, stress,
insomnia, dry skin, and urinary or respiratory
infections. Inhale straight from bottle, put 1-2
drops on cotton ball or use in diffuser. Mix in base
oil to apply to skin. Apply blend to nose, temples
and back of neck.
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Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata)
The Exotic Fragrance Oil
…regulatory effect on rhythms of body and mind
…sedative, calming, euphoric effect on nervous system
Properties: antiseptic, anti-depressant,
hypotensive,
possible aphrodisiac, uplifting
Guide: Use
for hypertension, stress, depression,
frustration, overwhelm, frigidity, and hair care.
Inhale straight from bottle, put 1-2 drops on cotton
ball or use in diffuser. Mix in base oil to apply to skin
Apply blend to nose, temples and back of neck.
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