Natural Body Guru

Have you ever gotten a blister on your foot from your shoes rubbing either your toe or your heel? I hate that feeling. Just think about professional dancers, spinning and twisting around on the floor with bare feet! I’m sure they get blisters quite often.

The best thing to do for that type of blister is to cover it with a gauze bandage that has a few drops of lavender or chamomile essential oil on it. If you have a very large blister, it’s best to sterilize a needle and puncture the blister first. Then apply lavender neat and put a gauze bandage on it after that. For those large blisters, you can make a synergistic blend of equal parts lavender and myrrh.

Don’t put the kind of band aid on your blister that won’t let your skin breath. Put a gauze bandage on and hold it on with plaster strips so that the skin can breath as much as possible. Leave off shoes and socks as much as possible or at least wear shoes that do not touch the blister until it has  healed completely. People more likely to get blisters – joggers, hikers, athletes and ballet dancers for example, can use tincture of benzoin painted on their toes, heels or other susceptible parts of the foot. This will prevent and help heal blisters.

If you are bleeding from an open wound, apply a compress that you have added these essential oils:

• 1 drop geranium
• 1 drop lemon
• 1 drop chamomile

If you have a nose bleed, lie flat on your back or lean your head back and pinch your nostrils. Next, inhale the following oils from a tissue:

• 3 drops  lemon
• 1 drop lavender

If your gums are bleeding, make the mixture below and add it to a glass of warm water and use it as a mouthwash but do not swallow it:

• 1 teaspoon brandy
• 2 drops lemon
• 1 drop lavender
• 2 drops eucalyptus

If you get a black eye, no matter what the reason, you have to live with it until it fades away which is usually about a week to 10 days. The eye itself is not really affected, but the fatty tissue and lack of muscle around the eye socket is a good spot for blood to accumulate after a blow to the eye area. When the blood is reabsorbed, different colors are released causing the extreme appearance of a black eye.

Aromatherapy essential oils can soothe and treat your black eye. All you need to do is add 1 drop of geranium and 1 drop of chamomile essential oils in 2 teaspoons of witch hazel and mix well. Then add this mixture to 1 tablespoon of ice cold water, shake well and soak a cotton ball or cotton facial pad in it. Close your eye and apply the cotton pad to the eyelid and surrounding area. Do this once a day during the length of your black eye or until it looks and feels better.

My husband was taking a water aerobics class at a local gym. Although he wore flip flops in the locker room, he somehow contracted athlete’s foot. We treated it quickly with essential oils and it went away. It may take longer if you’ve had this condition for a while or have a very bad case.

Mix together 2 drops of tea tree and 1 drop of lavender. Dip a cotton ball into this blend and smear it between the toes and around the nails. You should also make up the following massage oil and rub it on your feet, especially on and around the toes.

• 5 drops tea tree
• 1 drop lemon

Dilute this blend in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil for your foot massage.

We have discussed the essential oils needed for a basic kit to establish in your home. Now we can start talking about some basic applications for specific problems that can be helped with essential oils. Today’s problem is abdominal pain. Please remember that any physical ailments you have should be checked out by your regular physician if the problem persists or gets worse. It could be a more serious condition such as appendicitis that must be cared for by a doctor.

For pain in the upper abdomen, apply the oils below over the painful area in a clockwise direction.

• 3 drops peppermint
• 2 drops clove

Dilute the oils in 1 teaspoon of your desired carrier oil.

For pain in the lower abdominal area, apply the oils below over the painful area in a clockwise direction.

• 2 drops thyme
• 3 drops eucalyptus

Dilute the oils in 1 teaspoon of your desired carrier oil.

Neuralgia is pain in one or more nerves that occurs without stimulation of pain receptor cells according to Wikipedia. I am interested in it because I have peripheral neuralgia in my thigh resulting from a bulging disk in my spine. I’ve had it for years but I’ve learned to live with it by using essential oils and ice treatments.

First you can numb the area to relieve the pain either with a cold compress or an ice pack. To relieve any inflammation or swelling, follow the ice treatment by massaging with the following essential oils diluted in 2 teaspoons of sweet almond oil, jojoba oil or liquid shea oil.

• 5 drops of lavender essential oils
• 5 drops of chamomile essential oils
• 2 drops of clove essential oils

If your face is the painful area, omit the clove oil and substitute 2 drops of rosemary essential oil. Other essential oils that could be used to treat neuralgia are: peppermint, eucalyptus, thyme, vetiver, and juniper.

Clove has been used as a fragrance and spice for over 2000 years. Several hundred years ago, it was discovered that while some cultures used clove oil as a love potion, it also has a plethora of medicinal properties due to its high antioxidant score. In fact, it is ranked number one among herbs and spices. Clove oil is  composed of 85% eugenol which has been used in dentistry for quite some time. It is a natural alternative for toothaches, has antiseptic properties and its distinct aroma repels insects including mosquitos.

Seven Uses for Clove Essential Oil

1. Fungal and yeast balance – due to its anti-fungal properties, studies show that clove is effective in managing yeast imbalances of the mouth. Place 1 drop of clove oil in a capsule or mix it into food or beverage and consume daily for up to two weeks.
2. Oral health – clove is accepted as a reliable solution for dry sockets and to relieve pain and discomfort associated with various dental issues. Dilute 1-2 drops with equal parts of coconut oil and apply it to the affected area.
3. Parasites – take clove oil internally for up to two weeks, either mixed with a carrier oil or in a capsule to relieve the body of unwanted parasites.
4. Oxidative stress – diffuse or dilute clove oil in a carrier oil and apply it topically to the neck and chest to prevent damage caused by free radicals.
5. Acne – due to its powerful anti-bacterial properties, clove can naturally help fight acne and skin issues. Mix 3 drops of clove oil with 2 teaspoons of honey and apply the mixture to the face. Let this sit for a few minutes and then rinse it off and pat dry.
6. Viral invaders – the anti-viral properties of clove essential oil can help boost the immune system. Clove oil can purify blood thus helping keep unwanted viral invaders away. To boost the immune system, diffuse clove oil or apply it topically with carrier oil.
7. Blood pressure balance – To ease stress and unease and to lower blood pressure from stress, diffuse clove oil at home or dilute it with a carrier oil and apply it to the wrists.

Lavender essential oil is the first one I ever used and at first I didn’t like the smell of it because I thought it smelled medicinal. Now I love the smell of lavender and it has so many uses that I always have a supply on hand. It is the most commonly used essential oil in the world because it is gentle and safe, can be used neat (without a carrier oil), promotes relaxation and has great therapeutic properties. Studies have shown that it can lesson the severity of diabetes, improve body weight and protect the liver and kidneys from degeneration.

Seven Uses for Lavender

1. Restful sleep – add 5 drops of lavender oil to a diffuser beside the bed or apply 2-3 drops to the back of the neck as well as the chest and temples.
2. Skin soother – for cuts, burns and other skin irritations, lavender is very soothing. Simply mix lavender oil with coconut oil and apply it to the irritated area twice daily.
3. Stress calmer – to produce feelings of calm, peace and relaxation, either diffuse lavender oil, add it to a warm bath or apply it to the temples, wrists and the soles of the feet.
4. Blood pressure equilibrium  – diffuse lavender close by during the work day to help soothe stressful behaviors and promote healthy blood pressure.
5. Blood sugars balance – studies show that lavender oil can protect the body from increases in blood glucose. Apply it to the back of the neck and the chest, diffuse it or add 1 drop to a glass of water or cup of tea.
6. Headache reliever – For relief from a headache, inhale lavender oil for 15 minutes. You can also mix 2 drops lavender with 2 drops of peppermint oil and apply it to the back of the neck and on the temples as an aid for tension and as a pain reliever.
7. Healthy skin – lavender oil can be applied directly to the skin or mixed with a carrier oil for those with skin sensitivities.

Frankincense essential oil is highly potent and has multiple uses. It has been proven in studies to support the immune system and contains anti-tumor properties due to the high concentration of alpha-pinene it contains.

Seven Uses for Frankincense Essential Oil

1. Healthy cells protocols: Frankincense has been shown to help fight certain types of cancer cells. Take 2-3 drops internally, use as a suppository (under supervision of a health practitioner) or massage the oil onto the affected area to support a healthy immune system response.
2. Joint discomfort: To improve circulation and help relieve symptoms of joint or muscle discomfort, massage frankincense oil onto the area or diffuse the oil into the air.
3. Immune system: Studies have shown that frankincense has immune enhancing abilities. Use it to fight against unwanted germs forming on the skin, in the mouth or in the home. Diffuse it, take it internally or rub it onto your temples, wrists and the soles of your feet.
4. Meditation and prayer: Frankincense oil may help generate a feeling of peace and relaxation, making it wonderful for prayer time and meditation. Diffuse it during meditation and anoint yourself and your family with this powerful oil.
5. Respiratory health: Frankincense oil can help support lung and nasal health. To support respiratory health, add 5 drops of frankincense oil to a diffuser and breathe deeply for 5 minutes or rub 2-3 drops onto your chest.
6. Stretch marks and wrinkles: Frankincense oil can help minimize stretch marks and decrease the appearance of scars. It may even help to reduce or slow wrinkles. Mix 2-3 drops of the oil with equal parts of coconut or jojoba oil and apply to the affected areas.
7. Brain health: Frankincense oil has the ability to support cognitive health and responses so it may be used on people who may be challenged in their brain health. Take it internally, diffuse it or apply it topically to the back of the neck and under the nose.

Using essential oils from plants is not a fad as some would have us think. Instead, it’s a vital form of natural remedies that have been available since the world began. The chemical drugs we are prescribed today often have unwanted side effects that we’re not informed about until they actually happen to us.

Diabetic drugs can lead to B12 deficiency and permanent nerve damage. Instead, try diffusing cinnamon oil, grapefruit oil and ginger oil at your desk at work to support blood sugar balance. To keep your blood pressure in check, combine lavender, ylang ylang and frankincense with lotion or a carrier oil and use it topically daily. If you struggle with mood issues or depression, start breathing in bergamot, lavender and chamomile from an inhaler. These oils have been shown to elevate the mood during clinical trials. Essential oils have been used throughout history and they can give you an alternative healthcare option that will not give you unwanted side effects.