A list of ailments and the essential oils that can help.

Aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy is  a practice that has been around for thousands of years. The basic definition is: healing ones emotional or physical well being through the use of plant oils - or 'essential oils'. There are many different essential oils and all have unique properties to help heal.  There are numerous guides and books on the subject and I would recommend some basic reading to anyone who is new to the practice. Books on aromatherapy

This is the second of my aromatherapy guides. The first looked at some types of oils; this guide looks are everyday ailments and the oils that may help!

Essential Oils.

As defined in my previous guide an essential oil - Essential Oil - is a very concentrated substance that is derived from distilling plant pieces - sometimes  the petals, others may be from the stem or the root. Most often clear, the oils are pure and potent, a little goes a very long way! An essential oil is exactly what is says it is  - the essential part of the plant from which is is derived....it does not contain any additional substance, scent or preservative....which brings us to an important point - there are many items on the market which contain the word 'essential oil' or aromatherapy...however they may contain many other things in addition to that oil - for the purposes of this guide you will need the pure oil!! The best check is the bottle  - it should have the oil listed and nothing else, the price is also another give away as the pure essential oils tend to cost mroe but a little does go a long way! A good way to get going is to purchase a starter kit which you can find on ebay>> starter kit

You will also need a carrier oil - essential oils are strong and should not be applied directly to the skin. You can add a few drops to an unscented lotion or mix a blend with a carrier oil   ..carrier oil.

Using aromatherapy.

There are many different ways it can be used depending on the ailment - you cna massage on the skin when mixed in a base oil, you can scent the air using a diffuser to help you sleep / breath in the event of a cold etc. You can add to a bath, you can add to your water to rinse you hair, use in a car diffuser....it all depends on the ailment .

List of common ailments and the oils that help.

• Acne  -   Tea tree tea tree is the best for acne though lavender can also be mixed in as both an aid and to create a more pleasant scent.  Add a few drops of each to some unscented lotion and you can also create your own toner but mixing a few drops of each into a bottle of rosewater and putting the mix into a spritzer.

• Asthma - this should always be treated medically first but certain essential oils can help including Clary Sage clary sage and Lavender - these can be added to a bath as the warm steam can help relieve the chest and you can also make a mixture using a carrier oil and apply to the chest to help with breathing and tightness.

• Bruises - Lavender Lavender is wonderful for this. I keep a ix of base oil and lavender in a bottle and once applied to bruises it helps swelling , pain and speeds up recovery time.

• Colds and flu - of course everyone has their own symptoms, but try eucalyptus Eucalyptus and tea tree. I like to add a few drops of eucalyptus to a diffuser diffuser to help with breathing and congestion, and you can also mix this with tea tree in a bowl of steaming water and place your head over the fumes under a towel. For a quick remedy, add a few drops of eucalyptus to the base of your shower before getting in - the heat and the steam works wonders and this is much cheaper that some similar products on the market.  

• Dry skin - a great mix begins with your carrier oil, and a few drops of lavender, sandalwood sandalwood and rose.rose oil Make enough so you can fill a lotion sized bottle - dark glass to preserve the life of your oil and use daily or as needed. This really does work!

• Tired feet - after a long day on your feet try soaking your feet (only) in a bowl of hot water and peppermint oil. Peppermint This really soothes your feet and refreshed you all over - I would not bathe in this though as it really can irritate skin - keep to a few drops only for your feet.

• Headaches - Lavender massaged in your temples is wonderful!! Add to your base oil and apply in small amounts. You can also mix with the relaxing properties of chamomile and add to a bath and lavender  / chamomile chamomile on your pillow is also very soothing.

• Sleeplessness - Of course the good old Lavender = try a few dropds in you bath, in your lotion and on your pillow for a triple bam to help you sleep!!

• Indigestion...yes, it can even help this..try your base oil with a few drops of chamomile, fennel - fennel and a touch of peppermint, and rub in a soft circular motion on your tummy. This will help ease the indigestion...try after a big meal!

• Mouth ulcers - this one can be trested in one of a couple of ways - tea tree which has anisceptic properties can be dabbed on with a q-tip...I cannot imagine this will taste good however! An alternative would be to gargle...then spit out DO NOT INGEST - a mix of water - about a cup full - to which you add a single drop of tea tree oil and lemon oil.

• Nausea - peppermint oil and ginger will help here. You can add to the bath or try the same massage trick as suggested for indigestion. You an also inhale over warm steam or add to your burner.

• PMS...the mix of lavender ,  geranium - Geranium and clary sage can tackle both the emotional such as mood swings and physical such as bloating - try adding the mix to your bath, your body lotion, burning in your oil burner or again the massage trick on your abdomen

• Stress - the curse of modern society - lavender and camomile are the obvious but also try adding sandalwood to the mix - this has calming sedative properites which may help you relax.

• Sunburn - for this I like to keep a plain unscented lotion in the fridge, apply a good dollop to the plam of your hand and throw in a few drops of lavender which will help sooth and reduce inflammation and chamomile.

• Toothache - get a cotton ball and apply a drop of pepperint oil and clove - this can be very strong smelling so be warned and press onto the affected area - alternatively you could try the mix for mouth ulcers.

• Wrinkles - now we are not talking about a wonderous cure, mainly something that aids the skin and tackles stress - an emotional cause that can lead to premature skin aging- mix the wonderful neroli  - and frankincense  Frankincense oils in your bath or carrier oil also lavender can help. Mix the three with a base oil and make a big batch for you to use on an regular basis!

And this ends the piece on helping physical ailments with essential oils! Relax, enjoy and eBay has some wonderful sellers who can help you with your essential oil adventure.