Natural Body Guru

Like many people, I am sensitive to certain smells. The usual heinous smells make me gag as well as a few other smells, most notably new car smell. Some people relish the scent because it makes them excited about being a new owner. I try to dispel the smell as soon as possible.

Thankfully, I found a scented air freshener that quickly neutralized the new car smell and replaced it with an aroma I enjoy. All I had to do was take the little air freshener bottle from my purse and give a few quick sprays before entering the car. The scent didn’t just mask the odor, it eliminated the smell. The light citrus scent I sprayed took its place making car rides wretch free.

Aromatherapy essential oil diffusers are the practical, effective, and convenient way to disperse the curative properties of essential oils. In the past, the practice of diffusing essential oils was a difficult procedure but with the development of diffusion accessories and tools it is now a simple process to diffuse your essential oils for aromatherapy. These versatile tools can be used in homes, offices and professional practices for diffusing the healing properties of aromatic essential oils.

There are several models and styles to choose from depending on your preferences and tastes. You can select from a diffuser that emits essential oils into the air using ultrasonic technology or if you desire something with more style you may decide to invest in a carved Soapstone diffuser that simply uses a tea light candle. Either way, an aromatherapy diffuser is a natural alternative to synthetic air fresheners.

If you have ever had an abscess, your white blood cells are rushing to an area of your body where bacteria has collected. The white blood cells are your body’s defense mechanism against bacteria and infection. To treat abscesses, make a compress and use 2 drops lavender, 2 drops tea tree, and 3 drops chamomile. Apply the compress to the swollen area twice each day until it is gone. Other oils you can substitute are eucalyptus, lemon, or juniper.

For a dental abscess, put 1 drop of chamomile on a cotton ball and apply it directly to the abscess. Rub your jaw and cheek with 3 drops of lavender and 2 drops of tea tree diluted in a teaspoon of sweet almond oil. Other essential oils that are good to treat dental abscesses are lemon, geranium, bergamot and myrrh.

If you have a bad case of dandruff and would like to get rid of it for good, stop using dandruff shampoos. Dandruff shampoos are not going to clear up your dandruff because then they wouldn’t have anyone to purchase their products! Essential oils will get to the root of your dandruff problem and make it go away once and for all. There are about a dozen essential oils you can use to treat dandruff, but rosemary, lemon, thyme, sage, lavender, and eucalyptus are easily obtainable and don’t cost a mint. You will also need a good carrier oil like jojoba to treat the little white flakes.

First you will need to make a batch of natural soap by stirring 4 ounces of pure soap flakes (shave the bar using a kitchen grater)  into one quart of simmering distilled or spring water. When the flakes are melted let the mixture cool and store this soap solution in a jar or can. If it gets lumpy beat it in a blender when you make your shampoo.

To get rid of the dandruff, blend 4 ounces of the soap solution with 18 drops of rosemary, 10 drops thyme, and 8 drops sage. Use this shampoo to loosen the dandruff flakes and begin the healing process to prevent more dandruff buildup. Do not go back to harsh shampoos you purchase. This next shampoo will stimulate a healthy scalp and encourage thick shining hair growth. Mix 4 ounces of soap solution with 10 drops of sage, 10 drops lemon, 5 drops basil, and 15 drops of eucalyptus/peppermint. Blend well and shampoo for beautiful hair.

After washing your hair, you can use a vinegar rinse which also works well to treat dandruff. Mix 1 tablespoon cider vinegar, 5 drops thyme, 5 drops eucalyptus/peppermint, 3 drops sage and 5 drops carrot essential oils into one ounce of spring water. Using 1 teaspoon at a time, massage this into your scalp (not your hair) each night before going to bed. If you don’t like the smell of vinegar you can make another scalp conditioner (don’t put this on your hair, only the scalp) by adding 5 drops carrot oil, 15 drops jojoba oil, 15 drops evening primrose oil and 3 drops of cypress. Blend these ingredients together, dip your fingers into the mix and massage your scalp with your fingertips.

Cajeput essential oil comes from the leaves of the evergreen cajeput tree which is in the same botanical family as the tea tree. It is native to Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia where natives believe its leaves are the cure for bronchitis, colds, flu, headaches, muscle and rheumatic problems. Cajeput can support your spirit,  heal your body and also ease your mind .

Supporting the spirit

• cajeput helps you overcome a lack of energy and renews your zest for life
• cajeput restores your sense of inner purpose when you feel lost or alone

Healing the body

• to clear blocked or stuffy nasal passages use the steam inhalation method with  2 drops cajeput and 4 drops eucalyptus
• to ease aching muscles or relieve backache, mix 2 drops cajeput with 4 drops each of nutmeg and cardamom in 4 drops sweet almond oil and massage the area in firm strokes 2 or 3 times a day

Easing the mind

• to clear your mind, diffuse  2 drops cajeput and 4 drops peppermint
• to ease restlessness resulting from mental overload, take a warm bath with 1 drop cajeput and 4 drops sandalwood

Yesterday we talked about body methods you can use to get the maximum effect from your essential oils. Today let’s talk about a different method.

Water Methods

• Baths – use a maximum of 8 drops of essential oils in the bath or the amount directed for use in a particular recipe. First, close the bathroom door and run the bath, then add the essential oil and swish the water around. Soak in the tub for at least ten minutes while relaxing and breathing deeply. You can dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil before adding it to the water to help your skin feel silky smooth while also relaxing your body.
• Bidet – use 2 – 3 drops of eo diluted in 1 teaspoon carrier oil. Run warm water from the bidet or from the tap, add the essential oil and swish it around so the oils don’t irritate mucous membranes.
• Douche – only use this method if you are under the care of a naturopath. Add the essential oil to boiled and cooled water from the tap or warmed, bottled spring water. Shake the douche thoroughly before using.
• Jacuzzi – use 3 drops per person using the jacuzzi.
• Sauna – use 2 drops per 2 1/2 cups of water. Use eucalyptus, tea tree or pine essential oils. Mix the essential oil in the water  and throw it onto the heat source as usual. Only use one of these three oils because they are the only ones that enter the body with inhalation and exit by perspiration. All three oils are very beneficial as cleansers and detoxifiers.
• Shower – as directed or use a maximum  of 8 drops essential oil. First, wash as usual in the shower. Then add the essential oil to your washcloth or sponge and rub it over your body quickly as you stand under the running water. Deeply breathe in the aromatic steam.
• Sitz bath – as directed in your recipe or 2-3 drops. Run a bath to hip level or use a bowl or pan that is big enough for you to lower your behind into it. Add your essential oil and swish thoroughly so the oils don’t irritate your delicate mucous membranes.
• Hand bath – use 2-4 drops essential oil – soak the hands for a maximum of 10 minutes in a bowl of warm water.
• Foot bath – as directed in your recipe or 2-6 drops. Soak your feet for twenty minutes in a bowl of warm water.

Essential oils can be used in various ways and we’re going to discuss three general methods to make them work for you and your family.

Body Methods

• Perfume – dissolve your essential oil (the strength is up to you) in oil and apply to the body as you would perfume.
• Tissue or handkerchief – apply 1 drop and sniff as needed.
• Inhale as a Vapor – use 2-3 drops  of essential oil. Pour hot water into a bowl, add an essential oil like eucalyptus or thyme, cover your head with a towel and lean over the bowl with your face about 10 inches away and with your eyes closed. Breath deeply through your nose for 1 to 3 minutes, take a break and do it again as needed or until the water cools.
• Massage oil –  use a maximum of 5 drops to each teaspoon of carrier oil or as directed in a particular recipe. Purchase a brown glass bottle and measure out your base oil. You can use sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, shea oil, coconut oil, etc. Add the essential oil and blend it into the carrier oil by turning the bottle upside down several times and then rolling the bottle briskly between your hands. You only need about a teaspoon of this mixture poured into the palm of your hand to massage the whole body.

We will continue tomorrow with water methods for using essential oils.

I am a retired educator and during my years in the schools, I saw many children miss too many school days because of earaches. Recurrent earaches could be a sign of a perforated eardrum or an infection and the child should see a pediatrician. However, for a common earache, use one teaspoon of warm sweet almond oil with one drop of lavender and one drop of chamomile added and blended well. Soak  a small cotton ball in the mixture and use it to plug the ear.

You can also massage around the ear area, up the neck and across the cheekbone with the following mixture diluted in 1 teaspoon of almond oil:

1. Tea tree – 3 drops
2. Thyme – 1 drop
3. Lavender – 2 drops

Use rosemary essential oil during your morning shower because it is a mental and physical stimulant and also during a relaxing bath after a long strenuous day because it is an excellent treatment for all muscular conditions. Rosemary has antiseptic properties and is often used to treat muscular sprains, rheumatism, arthritis, depression, fatigue, memory loss, migraine headaches, coughs, flu, and diabetes. It is also used in beauty treatments, hair care products, and acne preparations.

If you are one of those unfortunate people who has a case of continuous muscle fatigue or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), you may be helped by using this muscle fatigue formula: 5 drops of thyme essential oil, 10 drops rosemary, 5 drops cypress, 10 drops eucalyptus/peppermint essential oil, diluted in 2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil. You can use any other carrier oil but grapeseed oil is very light to the touch.

It is important that ME sufferers get enough sleep but many times, because of their aching muscles, they have insomnia so they are extremely tired and yet they can’t sleep. The essential oils to use for insomnia are valerian, marjoram, chamomile, clary-sage, sandalwood, and lemon. Massage any of these oils into your body before having an oil bath. Use any of the above mentioned oils in a blend of a total of 30 drops to 2 tablespoons of carrier oil. Massage this over your whole body while you run a warm bath. Then put 4 drops of any essential oil from the list into the bath and swish it around before getting in. Rest in the water or read a book until the water starts to cool and then go to bed. Do this nightly to help with your insomnia.