Essential oils are my first stop for all sorts of ailments, for preventing
illnesses and lifting your mood. They are little bottles of nature. There are a
huge range of oils that can be used for a wide variety of different purposes.
All these oils are very powerful and must be diluted before use. In most
cases they should not be applied directly to the skin.
The book, the Fragrant Pharmacy .
is my indispensible guide to using oils and you should consult this or an
aromatherapist before using them. Some oils are contraindicated for pregnancy
and other conditions. Do not use on children without proper advice.
Two other shorter books on essential oils are "Aromatherapy a Guide for Home Use"
and "Aromatherapy Workbook"
Oils can be used in a variety of ways, one of the nicest is to perfume the air
using a Oil Burner. They come in lots of different shapes and sizes.
But, to get you started, here are my top 5 oils, Lavender, Tee Tree, Eucalyptus,
Frankincense and Geranium
.Lavender
Is useful for minor scalds and burns and is also a natural antibiotic and
antiseptic. It has great relaxing qualities, add a few drops to your bath or get
a special Oil Burner for Lavender and others. Two drops on your pillow will help
you sleep better
Tee Tree
A general all round antiseptic. It can be used for all sorts of infections such
as athletes foot and minor cuts and grazes. A retreat I know uses a few drops of
Tee Tree oil in the final rinse when washing up by hand.
Eucalyptus
Get rid of that blocked up feeling by steaming yourself over a bowl of hot water
with a few drops of Eucalyptus Oil. Put the bowl on a table first, fill with
almost boiling water, add a few drops of oil and cover your head and bowl with a
towel and breath in.
Frankincense
A warm spicy oil that will help you relax or meditate when used in an oil burner
or mixed in base oil and rubbed into the skin.
Geranium
An oil for the emotions plus one of the most fragrant of oils.