Aromatherapy oils can be very helpful for a multitude of complaints and for treating unforeseen events arising in day to day life. It is very helpful to have access to a home kit of aromatherapy oils for accidents, illnesses and emotional stresses. Here are some suggestions for aromatherapy oils to stock your home kit. Effective results from using aromatherapy oils only occur if you are using very high quality oils and never synthetic oils. Find a good quality producer of oils and you will make a wise investment.
LAVENDER
Lavender essential oil has so many benefits from easing emotional stressors and insomnia to healing burns. Make sure that the lavender with which you stock your home kit is of the highest quality you can afford. Here are some uses for lavender:
• Burns
There is a well known story about an aromatherapy researcher called Gattefosse who, when experimenting in his laboratory, burned his hand and accidentally immersed his hand into a bowl of pure lavender oil thinking it was water. He found that it healed remarkably quickly and thus the burn healing properties of lavender became well known. If you are trying to heal second degree burns and beyond, make sure you get medical assistance. For everyday burns around the house, lavender oil can be used neat. Just place a few drops on the burn. Do not use on open wounds without seeking medical advice first.
• Relaxation
Whether you are dealing with a distressed child or the inability to sleep yourself, the linalool/lynalyn acetate molecules inherent in lavender can come to your rescue. Either you may use a few drops of lavender oil in a little carrier oil such as jojoba and apply it in the method of English-style aromatherapy as a massage or you may inhale it by placing a few drops in your hands and cupping it over your nose and inhaling. At nighttime, you may place a few drops on your pillow. Children particularly love the scent of lavender.
EUCALYPTUS
Eucalyptus possesses a scent most people respond positively to. It is unparalleled for respiratory conditions and allergies.
• Respiratory ailments
Most eucalyptus oil on the market today comes from China although a close second now is the essential oil Eucalyptus polybractea CT cineole from the Australian bush. Eucalyptus oil can be very helpful for sinus and breathing difficulties but it is advised not to allow the oil to come into contact with the respiratory mucus membranes in the nose. Therefore it should not be inhaled in a handkerchief or aerosol. The best way to use eucalyptus is in massage oil or applied neat (in concentrated form) on the soles of the feet. For young children, the eucalyptus oil most frequently recommended is the one from the leaves of the Ravensara aromatica as this is less aggressive and can be used closer to the face and neck.
PEPPERMINT
The essential oil of peppermint or Mentha Piperata can be helpful for pain relief as well as for nausea relief and as a general stimulant. It is very versatile and if you buy a high enough quality oil, you can use it in water and ingest it. A strong oil will only require one drop to flavor an entire gallon of water. Please make sure the oil you use can be ingested.
• Pain relief
Peppermint oil is the friend of many massage therapists who use aromatherapy as it is very effective in releasing tight muscles. It can also be used to relieve pain from a blow on a limited area such as the shin or hand or foot. You do not have to dilute the peppermint oil to apply it, just place a few drops on the area requiring pain relief and rub it in. Do not apply to mucus membranes or an open wound. Peppermint oil is also very effective in treating headaches. Apply to the temples or the nape of the neck. Do not get the oil close to the eyes.
• Nausea and digestive issues
Peppermint oil can be very effective for nausea and often all that is required is to inhale it. It can also be used for stomach spasms or for feeling “full” after over eating. If your peppermint oil is of the quality that allows you to ingest it, put a drop in a cup of water or even a drop on the tongue. It is also a great breath freshener!
Three good quality essential oils are a great beginning for creating an aromatherapy home health kit. These essential oils can cover many ailments from accidents, burns, pain to relaxation.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Source
Penoel, Daniel, Rose-Marie Penoel, and Brian Manwaring. Natural Home Health Care Using Essential Oils: an Introduction to the Theory, Practice and Technique of Integral Aromatherapy (Osmobiosis). La Drome, France: Editions Osmobiose, 1998. Print.
Alexandra Clark - Alexandra Clark has always been interested in alternative health and healing. She transferred from a career as a translator of Spanish and ...
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