After seeing a doctor on a lovely planters wart on my foot, I decided to try putting a drop of lavender oil on the wart every day, just to experiment. Well, this wart, which the doctor exclaimed would have to be burnt off, was completely gone within a week! I was hooked. That was many years ago.
I encourage you to read on and do your own experiments with essential oils. Check your library for books on oils and learn all you can first! I will have many beauty and health receipes following. Women are so much a part of nature! Using what the Earth has already been so gracious to give us to heal our bodies should not be taken for granted. All you need for basic herbal healing may be in your own kitchen cabinets! That is the ulimate goal I am hoping to inspire in you. Never use and Herb or oil until you have read up on it and know it is safe!!! Never use any essential oils if you are less than 5 months pregnant.
Essential oils have been used in perfumery and healing for many thousands of years, even before the ancient Egyptian times. The art of embalming was very dependent upon essential oils, and Greek warriors are known to have anointed themselves with oils before going into battle. Precious gifts in the Middle East 2000 years ago included myrrh and frankincense. In Europe in the middle ages, aromatic plants such as clove, cypress, sage and rosemary were burned in an effort to control plagues. The use of natural oils for both fragrance and healing purposes however started to die out in the early nineteenth century when scientists learned how to synthesize the plant oils for both perfumes and medicines. It was thought that the new synthesized products would take the place of the natural, more expensive substances, which accordingly fell out of favor. Since then of course, we have learned that synthesized drugs do not always provide the best answer and that nature often provides a solution that is more suited to the task and with fewer side-effects.
In the early 1900's, a French chemist named Gattefosse was working in his perfumery laboratory when he suffered a severe burn to his hand. Wanting to immediately cool his burn, but not having any water within reach, he plunged his hand into a bowl of lavender essential oil. A few days later, and to his surprise, he found that his burns were healing very quickly and with minimal scarring. Gattefosse began to investigate the properties of the lavender oil, and then other essential oils, and he eventually became the principal authority on essential oils. Gattefosse is today credited with rediscovering the art of using essential oils from plants for 'health' purposes.
Although serious conditions should always be treated by a qualified practitioner or by a physician, many common ailments can be relieved safely and effectively at home with aromatherapy. You may soon come to regard essential oils as a vital part of your home first aid kit.
Many oils have proven antiseptic properties and can be used as first aid and as an ongoing treatment for cuts, burns, insect bites and bruises. Some other oils are anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antibiotic, etc. Oils with anti-fungal properties can be used in such conditions as athletes foot and other fungal infections. Some can be used as an aid in the overall management of more serious conditions, such as candida, arthritis and rheumatism. In addition, since the oils work through the brain to act on the emotions, they are very useful too not only for stress relief, but in cases of anxiety, overwork, stage fright etc.
Latin name: Eucalyptus globulus. Some traditional uses: for colds, as a decongestant, to relieve asthma and fevers, for its bactericidal and anti-viral actions, to ease aching joints. Avoid if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy. Emotional profile: to help with explosive-heated emotions, irrational thinking.
Latin name: Matricaria recutica. It is no longer grown in Germany despite its name. Some traditional uses: to relieve muscular pain, to heal skin inflammations, acne and wounds, as a sedative, to ease anxiety and nervous tension, to help with sleeplessness. It should be avoided during early pregnancy and may cause skin reactions in some people. Emotional profile: to relieve hysteria, fear, nervousness, grief, worry; promotes patience.
Roman Chamomile - Calm Acceptance
Latin name: Anthemis nobilis. It has a sweet and fruity aroma. Some traditional uses: to relieve muscular pain, as a sedative, ease anxiety and nervous tension, to help with sleeplessness. Roman Chamomile should be avoided during early pregnancy. Emotional profile: to relieve anger, hysteria, fear, spirit disconnection, grief, worry.
Latin name: Citrus paradisi. Some traditional uses: to lift melancholy, relieve muscle fatigue, as an astringent for oily skin, to refresh and energize the body, stimulate detoxification, as an airborne disinfectant. Emotional profile: for use with self-doubt and criticism, dependency, frustration and grief..
Latin name: Lavandula officinalis. Some traditional uses: balancing emotions, relieving stress, tension and headache, to promote restful sleep, heal the skin, to lower high blood pressure, help breathing, for disinfecting. Emotional profile: for panic, hysteria, fears, insecurity, trauma, worry, burnout, addiction, obsessive and agitated behaviors.
Latin name: Mentha piperita. Peppermint Some traditional uses: for energy, and brighter mood, reducing pain, to help breathing, improve mental clarity and memory. Peppermint may irritate sensitive skin and should be avoided during pregnancy. Emotional profile: for shock, overwork, apathy, helplessness.
Latin name: Rosmarinus officinalis. beneficial uses. Some traditional uses: to energize, for muscle pains, cramps or sprains, brighten mood, for improving mental clarity and memory, easing pain, to relieve headaches, disinfecting. Rosemary should be avoided if you are pregnant, if you have epilepsy or high blood pressure. Emotional profile: for disorientation, indecision, burnout.