Natural Body Guru

I know some of you may be really tired of me and my aches and pains but I like letting people know what helps me because it might help them too. Yesterday, I went to the grocery store and everything was fine. When I got home, I had to lug all the bags upstairs and when I was done, my knee was was aching terribly. I still had to put away groceries and make dinner so I couldn’t stop and rest yet.

After dinner, my husband saw me limping around and asked me what I had done to my leg. He told me to put some shea butter on it. Well, I said I would but I still had lots to do before I could sit down and rest. He asked me again a couple more times before I actually went to the bedroom and put the shea butter on my knee. By the time I went in there, I was limping badly but the warmth of massaging the shea butter in my skin actually made my knee feel better right away. I didn’t stop limping right away but this morning my knee felt fine and I didn’t have any problems with it today at all. (Does this mean I should listen to my husband more often?)

Yesterday we talked about using cold compresses so today we’ll discuss using hot compresses. Use a hot compress to draw out infection from cuts and wounds. The water in the bowl for a hot compress should be hot but not intolerable to the touch. Put the essential oil drops onto the water’s surface and then lay the piece of cloth over the oils as described for cold water compresses. Immediately remove the cloth and gently wring it out. Place the hot compress to the wounded area for about 20 minutes. Repeat the process 2 or 3 times in a row to draw out the infection. Again, if the injury is acute, seek medical attention. Below are some essential oil blends that will work well for hot compresses.

Synergistic Blends for Hot Compresses

• For grazes and scratches: 3 drops tea tree and 3 drops frankincense
• For deep infected cuts: 3 drops myrrh and 3 drops manuka
• For boils or infected pimples: 3 drops bergamot and 3 drops ravensara

You can use a hot or cold compress to treat such minor injuries as sprains, muscle strains, cuts and grazes. A compress is a few drops of essential oil placed on a cold or warm damp cloth to treat an injury. Simply use a piece of cloth like a muslin square or even a clean dish towel along with a medium sized bowl filled with cold or hot water depending on whether you want a hot or cold compress. Put up to 6 drops of the essential oil of your choice in the water so that it soaks up the essential oils (see below.)

Use a cold compress for sprained ankles or pulled muscles. After you add the oil to the water surface, lay your cloth on the water to soak up the oils without dipping it into the water. This will allow the cloth to soak up the oil and also dilute it somewhat. You can add ice to the water to help reduce swelling and inflammation plus sooth away pain. Wring out the cloth gently and then place it on the injury. Keep the injured area raised with the compress in place for at least 20 minutes.

If your injury isn’t too bad, use the cold compress  process at least 3 times total for relief. If the  injury is acute, please seek medical advice. The cold compress can be in place until you are able to get to the doctor. Below are some some essential oil blends for cold compresses.

Synergistic Blends for Cold Compresses

• To relieve muscular pain: 3 drops chamomile and 3 drops lavender
• To cool and calm inflammation: 3 drops peppermint and 3 drops yarrow
• To ease pulled muscles: 3 drops chamomile and 3 drops marjoram

Blocked sebum become blackheads when surface cells develop sulphides that turn black when they come into contact with oxygen. Blackheads are unsightly and can easily become infected. When you remove them and the opening just fills up again with more sebum; this condition is related to seborrhea, overproduction of the sebaceous glands. Even people with dry skin can develop blackheads, especially on the nose or chin but blackheads can develop practically anywhere on the body, as well as on the face. Wherever they develop, the treatment for blackheads is the same, they need to be removed.

To remove blackheads, get a bowl of steaming hot water with 2 tablespoons of cider vinegar added, put 1 drop of lavender essential oil on the water and cover your head with a towel, being sure to close off the sides too and steam your face for 10 minutes, coming up for air every 3-4 minutes. Rinse the face with 1 teaspoon of cider vinegar mixed in a bowl of hot (but not boiling) water. If the blackheads are loose, squeeze gently taking care not to damage the skin. Then splash the face with a mixture of 2 ounces of mineral water, 2 teaspoons cider vinegar – I like Bragg’s Natural Apple Cider brand, 1 teaspoon witch hazel, 2 drops each of bergamot and cypress essential oils.

After patting the skin dry, massage the following oils into the skin. This will help to prevent blackheads from coming back and also loosen the ones that are already there:

• Lemongrass – 8 drops
• Lavender – 5 drops
• Clary-sage – 2 drops
• Thyme – 5 drops
• Jojoba oil – 5 drops

Use this massage mixture morning and night. When you wash your face, take care to use a pure natural soap. You can use eye makeup if you like but avoid face makeup and powder.

I used to think that colds and the flu were mostly prevalent in the winter months. There may be more at that time but I notice lots of people with colds and sneezing at all times of the year. Too many people use antibiotics to treat colds and flu but I believe antibiotics may do more harm than good. Why use a synthetic medicine when you can use pure organic essential oils that are natural and have antibacterial and antiviral properties to treat your illness?

To treat a common cold you can use the following oils in a hot bath. Just relax in the tub and inhale deeply.

2 drops – Thyme
2 drops – Tea tree
1 drop – Eucalyptus
3 drops – Lemon

If you would rather use the steam inhalation method, you can use one drop of each of thyme, tea tree, lavender, and clove in a bowl of steaming hot water. Put a towel over your head, lean over the steaming blend and breath deeply for 10 minutes, taking a break whenever needed.

If you are away from home and can’t perform the steam inhalation method, you can take with you a tissue to which you have added one drop each of peppermint, eucalyptus, and clove. Inhale this aroma deeply whenever possible.

Before going to bed, massage the chest, neck and sinus area with the following essential oils diluted in 1 teaspoon of shea oil or another cosmetic grade vegetable oil of your choice:

1 drop – Lemon
2 drops – Eucalyptus
3 drops – Rosemary

Keep your risk of catching the common cold at a minimum by washing your hands frequently.

Jasmine essential oil comes from a beautiful but very delicate flower. It is so delicate that jasmine is not produced by steam distillation as are most essential oils but instead, it is processed using chemical solvents. This method of production gives us an “absolute” rather than an essential oil. Jasmine’s aroma is rich, floral, very heady and sweet.

While jasmine is non-toxic, it can be a potential skin irritant and sensitizer. Do not use jasmine in baths or massage if you have sensitive skin. Also, if you tend to get headaches or migraines, this oil’s strong scent may trigger an attack. Lastly, do not use jasmine absolute during pregnancy, but you can use it during labor.

Jasmine boosts and restores sexual vitality and aids the expression of intimate feelings. To warm the emotions, add to 4 teaspoons sweet almond oil the following essential oils: 2 drops jasmine, 4 drops sandalwood and 4 drops sweet orange oil. To heal constant emotional stress and withdrawal, take a bath with 2 drops jasmine absolute and 4 drops sweet orange.

Besides easing the mind, jasmine can help to heal your body too. To ease pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)  blend jasmine and mandarin essential oil in jojoba oil and apply it clockwise to the abdomen. To help the uterus to contract during labor, blend 2 drops jasmine and 2 drops clary-sage  in 4 teaspoons of a carrier oil and ask your spouse to massage it into your abdomen. To revive mature skin, add 2 drops jasmine, 4 drops frankincense and 2 drops gardenia to 30 Second Face Lift. Apply this mixture to your face every night.

Essential oils can be used in either of two ways: in the environment around you or directly on your body.

Environmental Methods

Diffusers – Room diffusers can be electric or with just a tea light candle. Just follow the directions that come with the diffuser.

Sprays – You can easily make a very effective anti-infectious room spray using water and essential oils. Since water and oil don’t mix, you can add an emulsifier such as a little colorless alcohol or a vegetable oil like red turkey oil to help emulsify them, then shake your spray bottle well before each spray. I keep a bottle at work to spray when sick people come to work. That helps keep me healthy.

Physical Methods

Body Sprays – Body sprays are easy to make and you can keep them with you, either in your pocket or your purse. Blend your choice of essential oils, add water and a small amount of emulsifier. You can use a hydrolat instead of water because they have antibacterial properties of their own. Whichever you use, shake the mixture very well and store it for 24 hours before using. Shake the bottle a few times during the 24 hour wait. When the time is up, filter the blend through and unbleached paper coffee filter and add it to a spray bottle. You can spray this around you in the room and on your body.

Baths – Aromatherapy baths are excellent for relieving the symptoms of colds and flu or for sore and achy muscles. When my muscles are sore after a strenuous workout, I like to use 8 drops of rosemary and lavender blended in my bath and I’ll soak until the water starts to cool.

Body Oils – For body oils, use a carrier oil like sweet almond oil or jojoba oil blended with no more than 30 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. Choose oils that work for you symptoms and apply the body oil before bed so the essential oils can work while you sleep. You can also apply the body oil before taking a bath so the body absorbs the oil by osmosis and inhalation.

Inhalation 

Paper Tissues -Use 1 or two drops of your choice of essential oil on a tissue and inhale as needed. I like to use this method at work since I don’t need anything special – except my essential oil. I like to keep a bottle of peppermint oil at work for those times when I get sleepy, a couple of whiffs of peppermint and I’m good to go again.

Disposable Face Masks

If you are traveling via train or plane, it is good to wear a disposable face mask. Don’t wet the mask because that negates its purpose. Simply add a drop of either eucalyptus, lavender or tea tree on a tissue and place the folded tissue inside the face mask. Let the oil disperse on the tissue before placing it inside the mask.

Stress is a part of everyone’s life in one way or another. Your body, mind and soul will benefit greatly from the use of pure, safe, natural and effective essential oils. Aromatherapy essential oils may be exactly what you need if you are trying to reduce the mental stress caused by tests at school, your job, financial worries and family matters.

There are specific essential oils that can be used for mental stress and they can be used alone or in a synergistic blend. The oils to use are geranium, lavender, sandalwood, basil, bergamot, grapefruit, cardamom, and patchouli. A specific synergistic blend to use is equal amounts of geranium, lavender and bergamot but you can blend others or simply use just one of the above mentioned oils. After blending the essential oils, add 2 drops to a teaspoon of sweet almond oil and massage your temples, forehead and the back of your neck.

In this strange time of social distancing, stay at home orders and a whole new normal, I hope you are staying safe. Please remember loved ones lost and have a memorable Memorial Day 2020.

If Geranium essential oil owned a skin care spa, one of its most popular packages might be the “Flower Feet” package!

It would include a foot soak, foot scrub, and foot massage. Geranium is good at soothing feet that are sore from standing or walking all day, or due to joint and muscle pain. It also encourages swelling to go down, enhances circulation, and cools excessive heat.

Geranium essential oil can help you feel “pampered” while deeply supporting your health.

Here are the services geranium includes in its Flower Feet package . . . a foot soak, scrub, and a massage, all in one! It includes essential oils that are good for skin, sore muscles, preventing the proliferation of fungus, and (of course!) smelling beautiful.

Flower Feet

First, soak your feet in a warm bath with some essential oils. Combine:

• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) jojoba
• 1 drop geranium 
• 1 drop palmarosa
• 1 drop tea tree

Add the jojoba and essential oils to a tub of warm water, and relax while you soak your feet!

When you’re ready, use 1 oz (28 g) of pink Himalayan salt to scrub your feet. It helps to add about 1 teaspoon (5 ml) or so of jojoba to the salt, just to make it a little more manageable. (You already have jojoba in the tub of warm water, so you don’t need to add it to the salt to care for your skin—adding it to the salt just helps the salt “stick together” a bit so it doesn’t sprinkle out of your hands when you’re trying to rub it on your feet.)

You don’t have to use pink Himalayan salt for this blend. I just love the color of it! You can use any kind of salt you like. I prefer a small grain salt for blends like this (as opposed to a fine grain, like sand, or a coarse grain, that might be too big to offer much scrubbing effect). But again, that’s all up to you! Feel free to make this blend your own.

If you prefer to make a sugar scrub (rather than a salt scrub), you can simply make this recipe with sugar instead of salt. You can also try this Coconut Sugar Scrub blend I created for YouTube, made with coconut sugar, avocado oil, and Tea Tree.

Thanks to the jojoba in this Flower Feet package, you may not even need to use moisturizer after you’re done. Please be careful when stepping out of the tub though—both the jojoba and the water will be slippery! Dry off well with a towel.

Enjoy your Flower Feet!

Thanks to Andrea Butje, Aromahead Institute