Natural Body Guru

The third item for your aromatherapy pharmacy is eucalyptus essential oil which comes from the leaves of the eucalyptus tree originally native to Australia. It has been used for centuries to treat chest and other respiratory problems. Eucalyptus is a very versatile essential oil that is anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibiotic, diuretic, analgesic, and deodorizing. Research has proven eucalyptus has antiviral properties as well.

You may know about its effectiveness against coughs and colds because several over the counter cold medications list eucalyptus as an ingredient, including many cough drops. It is similarly effective in the treatment of cystitis and sunburn and can also be used as an insect repellent for humans and pets. Put several drops of eucalyptus oil on a cloth or in a small bowl of water and place it in the room that you want to be insect free. Do this daily and you won’t have a problem with insects.

The second item I suggest for your aromatherapy pharmacy is peppermint essential oil. It has been used by many cultures (Egyptians, Chinese, and American Indians) for thousands of years because of its healthful properties. It is a superb digestive, it helps the respiratory system, it promotes circulation, it is an anti-inflammatory, and it is an antiseptic. These qualities make peppermint oil excellent to use in the treatment of indigestion, flatulence, bad breath, headaches and migraines, skin irritations, toothache, and fatigue.

When I have a cold, I add 1 or 2 drops of peppermint essential oil to a teaspoon of honey, stir it into a cup of hot and water sip it slowly. It sure does open up the sinuses and it helps soothe the achy feeling of the common cold. Peppermint oil can also help to keep pests like mice, fleas, and ants away! When the ants start trailing into your home this spring, spray peppermint essential oil (use a plant sprayer with 1 cup water to 30 drops oil and shake often) along shelves and wherever you see the ants. You can also put 5-8 drops of peppermint oil on cotton balls and place them wherever you see ants entering your home.

Anyone who wants to use natural products for alternative health care should know a few basic oils with which to begin their aromatherapy pharmacy. The therapeutic grade essential oils I suggest to begin with are lavender, tea tree, peppermint, chamomile, eucalyptus, geranium, rosemary, thyme, lemon, and clove. These essential oils are chosen for their medical properties first and second for their ability to take care of a broad range of health problems. In the next few blogs, we will discuss uses for each of these oils.

The first essential oil I recommend for your aromatherapy pharmacy is lavender. It is the most basic oil to have in your home because it is extremely effective in treating burns and scalds. In both cases, it can be put directly on the affected area right away. Lavender’s properties of antiseptic, antibiotic, antidepressant, detoxifier and sedative allow healing to occur more quickly and prevent scarring. It also accelerates the immune system and speeds the healing process because it stimulates the wound’s cells to rejuvenate more quickly. The next time you burn yourself in the kitchen, put a drop or two of lavender on it two to four times a day until it is healed.

We were entertaining some friends in our back yard where we have several flowering bushes. Some of the children visiting were playing near a bush and one child was stung by a bee. Bee stings can produce an allergic reaction in a small percentage of children. If that happens, the body can swell up, and their breathing becomes labored.

Luckily, the child did not seem to be allergic since we didn’t see any of those reactions. Her mother removed the stinger while I got my essential oil first aid kit. I used a blend of 1 drop of lavender combined with 1 drop of chamomile applied neat. We then put a cold compress on the sting and she went back to playing aftera while. When someone gets a bee sting, be sure to keep an eye on them for any signs of a reaction that might require a visit to the emergency room.

Stress level three has the most complex symptoms including anything from suicidal tendencies to stomach pain, fear, withdrawal from society and despair. Again, use these blends diluted in a carrier oil for massage, in the bath (add 8 drops of your blend to the bath water) or in any of the inhalation methods.

Stress Level Three Blend 1

• 5 drops chamomile Roman
• 15 drops clary sage
• 5 drops lavender

Stress Level Three Blend 2

• 6 drops geranium
• 14 drops eucalyptus
• 10 drops mandarin

Stress level two consists of anxiety/depression, food allergies, persistent infections, sub-acute disease, and hidden weaknesses (such as dormant viral infections.) If your stress is related to one of these problems, please try one of the blends below.

Stress Level Two Blend 1

• 10 drops clary sage
• 5 drops chamomile Roman
• 5 drops lavender
• 10 drops geranium

Stress Level Two Blend 2

• 10 drops chamomile
• 5 drops ylang ylang
• 5 drops petitgrain
• 10 drops sandalwood

Again, use the blend you choose with a carrier oil such as liquid shea butter or sweet almond for a massage or use one of the water methods.

All essential oils can relieve stress because they can be used in massage and baths which are therapeutic procedures themselves but with the addition of essential oils, your stress treatment can go much deeper and of course, some essential oils are better than others in treating stress. There are many essential oils that treat stress but to save money, I would start with lavender, geranium, clary sage, sandalwood, eucalyptus and chamomile Roman. If you are not trying to save money, I would add rose otto, rose maroc, hyacinth, carnation neroli and jasmine. Each of these have proven to be worthwhile in treating stressful disorders.

The best thing to do is to start your own stress kit and simply add essential oils as you go so you can build up a set of oils for any situation. Remember to add your blend to a carrier oil or use it in either a water  or room method.

Essential Oil Blends for tiredness, irritability, aches and pains, occasional depression:

Stress Level One – Blend 1

• 10 drops eucalyptus
• 15 drops geranium
• 5 drops lavender

Stress Level One – Blend 2

• 15 drops mandarin
• 5 drops ylang ylang
• 10 drops petitgrain

When the heat is on, maintaining a regular makeup routine, in addition to using skin care products, gets frustrating, so streamline your beauty regimen. If your skin tends to turn into an oil-slick by the middle of the day, begin with a product to keep shine at bay.

Next, whether your skin is oily or bone-dry, follow with a light-weight moisturizer that contains SPF and is designed for your skin type.

Finally, skip the foundation and simply dot a long-lasting concealer over any problem areas and finish with a light powder to absorb shine.

Blocked sebum become blackheads (medically known as a comedo or comedones) when the surface cells develop sulphides which, in turn contact  oxygen, causing  the cells to turn black. 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, 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. 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, 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.

When I turned about thirteen, I suddenly got hit by puberty and puberty hit me hard. I was plagued by greasy skin and acne and it became very embarrassing for me. I would wash my face constantly with soap and water when I was at home, but my acne didn’t seem to be going away at all and it really lowered my self-esteem, which is tough enough as it is for a teenager.

In my later teenage years, I started to use some different skin care beauty products that I had heard might help me through my long-lasting acne problems. I began to notice a change almost immediately once I picked the right products. As I grew older and continued using these products, I noticed that my skin started to feel better than it ever had before.