Aromatherapy 4 Common Ailments

I haven't been around much as my computer had a virus, but It's all up & running again, & I will be back to add more info in the near future. 

Hope you are all well.

Asthma                                                                                                                                                               Asthma causes difficulty in breathing due to airway obstruction. A person who suffers from asthma is experiencing muscle spasms in their bronchial tubes. These spasms make it more difficult for air to make its way out of the lungs. This results in wheezing attacks so commonly associated with asthma. This obstruction to the airway causes the build- up of mucous, a breeding ground for bacteria, which may result in an attack of bronchitis, asthma attacks can be triggered by allergens, eg dust mites, animal fur or feathers. Stress and anxiety can also trigger an attack as can the common cold. Asthma is a condition that needs to be treated medically. However, a number of essential oils can assist in opening air pathways, assisting ease of breathing.     

Recommended oil: Eucalyptus, Lavender, Marjoram, Frankincense, Cypress, Geranium, Juniper, Pine and  Cedarwood.      

Recommended methods of use: Create a blend and rub over chest and back for a three week period. Light your oil burner approximately one hour before retiring and keep doors and windows closed so you create a therapeutic environment to enhance a rejuvenating and restful sleep. Steam or direct inhalations prior to, or during an asthma attack will relieve the symptoms.

Cedarwood Cedarwood used in an oil burner or inhaled is a great help with chest complaints such as catarrh and bronchitis. One of the oldest known essential oils, Cedarwood may be used to release chronic anxiety and stress. The fragrance of Cedarwood brings emotional support; you can call on Cedarwood to provide a more harmonious atmosphere to a tense situation.

Pine Inhalations of Pine oil are good for relieving chest colds and catarrh. It also has a stimulating effect on the circulation. This essential oil is particularly good for adults who suffer from asthma or as a tonic to the lungs of those who smoke. Use in an oil burner. It can also be used as a liver tonic, aiding the maintenance if a healthy digestive system. It provides temporary relief from muscular aches and pains and bronchial cough. Pine needles are strong by nature. The pine tree exudes strength and purpose and these are the qualities your body drinks in as you absorb the aromatic molecules.

 Geranium Geranium has uses in skin care, particularly when the skin is dry, as with dermatitis, eczema and severe cases of dandruff. It provided relief from pre-menstrual symptoms and is beneficial during times of stress and mild anxiety. Geranium is a good balancer for mood swings or emotional highs and lows during those ‘mid-life’ experiences and through times of change. It has a calming and relaxing effect if you’re feeling uptight.

Eucalyptus Eucalyptus is an excellent decongestant and its anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties can help to stop the spread of infections. It is an outstanding respiratory antiseptic and decongestant. You can use it to stop the itching of chicken pox, shingles and cold sores. Eucalyptus can be massaged into the chest, back and throat to provide temporary relief from bronchial cough. A few drops sprinkled on the pillow will ensure ease of breathing whilst asleep.

My 10 month old niece was just visiting from Queensland, & she got a bit of a rash on the flight over. I have a cream  that cleared the rash in 3 days.

This is what I use for any kind of rash or sore spot. I use jars of homebrand (Woolies) skin repair cream. I take out 2 tablespoons, (I use that for another mixture) then I add 20 drops of Calendular, 10 drops of Tea Tree, & 10 drops of Lavender. Mix it all up with a spoon & that's it! Use it at every nappy change & leave a slight white smear (Don't rub it all in)

Calendular: is a soothing oil, with great healing qualities. It is highly germicidal making it a great antiseptic for cuts, grazes, nappy rash & skin irritations.  Soothing to rough, dry & chapped skin. Calendular keeps tissue supple & is a non-irritant to babies skin.

Tea Tree: is a wonderfully healing oil, it is prized for it's antiseptic properties. It is a broad spectrum antifungal. Use for cuts, abrasions, skin infections & insect bites. It will promote strong healing & give relief from the symptoms of acne, cold sores, boils & pimples. It has a warm feeling as it first touches your skin, but soon subsides to a calming feeling. Apply directly to the spot. Also use in a blend. (This is a super healer for cold sores. Apply at the first tingle.)

Lavender: is a rapid healer. It gives relief to the symptoms of eczema, psoriasis & dermatitis. Is soothing & pain relieving. Lavender can be used in many medical situations. For headaches, stress, insomnia, insect bites/stings. Lavender is very relaxing oil.                                                                                                  

                         I'll give more Lavender information later, it has many uses.

MUSCULAR SORENESS

Muscle soreness occurs when tiny tears appear in your muscles after demanding exercise, or sudden strain. It is thought that lactic acid builds up in surrounding tissue, producing painful symptoms. It's nothing to be concerned about, & although it's uncomfortable, it's important to keep moving until such time as the soreness & stiffness clear. It's best to 'move' the pain away from you. There are other ways to reduce muscle soreness, for example, hot & cold showers: two minutes of hot followed by two minutes of cold. Of course massage is always helpful, so is a spa. But as always, warming up before exercise will reduce any painful muscles, reduces injury & encourages flexability.

Make up a massage blend of 10ml carrier oil then add 5 drops of Wintergreen, or Black Pepper.  Chiropracters  will quite often use Wintergreen in their massage creams.

Wintergreen is a native herb to North America & it has amazing cooling actions. Wintergreen has a characteristic, deeply penetrating, sweet minty aroma. It has cooling mentholated power giving temporary relief to the symptoms of muscular, arthritic & rheumatic aches & pains. Simply massage well into the painful area. It's beautiful smell will remind you of a football change-room!!! Or a chiropracter!!

Black Pepper oil is a wonderfully warming oil. It's distinctively the spice of life! It can be used by way of massage as a muscular warm up before a dancers performance, or an athletes training session. Black Pepper may assist blood circulation bringing warmth to fatigued and stiff muscles whilst giving temporary relief to cramping & muscular pain. May also be used to give tempoary relief of indigestion and flatulence by massaging the abdominal area in a clockwise circular motion.

COMMON COLD:

 The common cold can be defined simply as a highly contagious infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by any one of over 200 viruses. Coughing & sneezing spread the infection. Symptoms may include fever, aching muscles & joints, production of mucous, prickly eyes, sore throat and cough. Symptoms can be treated with vitamin C, echinacea, chicken soup, honey & lemon drinks, garlic & ginger. Recommended oils - Ginger, Vetiver, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, Pine, Marjoram, Peppermint, Eucylaptus, Lemon & Bergamot. All are beneficial in some way.

The common cold usually lasts 7 - 10 days, & medicines do nothing to 'get rid of' it. The only thing you can do is treat the symptoms. Too many people run to the doctor for antibiotics, which are a waste of time. All they do is weaken your immune system, then your less likely to absorb the antibiotic when you NEED them.

Make a massage blend of 20ml carrier oil - (Maccadamia, Avacado, Jojoba or Apricot) add 3 drops Eucylaptus oil, 2 drops Thyme oil & 2 drops Pine oil. Massage a small amount onto chest, upper back & neck area to ease breathing. Also massage your feet before bed then wear socks to bed. It works!! Make a fresh batch of oil for each time you need it, or make in bulk - I'll go through this in detail further along.....

Eucylaptus is the best oil to use for a cold, it is outstanding used in a vapouriser for steam inhalation, as it is a decongestant. It gives welcome relief to head colds. A few drops on a pillow ensures a good nights sleep. It is a POISON. DO NOT SWALLOW. Main ingredient in drops for eletrical vapourisor (EG vicks vapourisor). You can also add a few drops to your bath to ease breathing.

Thyme oil is another great oil for colds, it's a great infection fighter. Add to oil vapouriser to breathe during the day. Thymes warming touch helps eliminate phlegm. This is a very potant oil & only the smallest amount - sometimes half a drop, is all that is required to produce results. If you could call Tea Tree oil the 'soldier' for fighting infection, then Thyme is the 'ARMY'!!!! Avoid topically during pregnancy.

I also love the brand Tixilix for my kids when they are sick with a cold. It's much safer for children as it's in the right dilution & you can't stuff it up!! It's mainly made of essential oils anyway - Thyme oil, Eucylaptus oil, Rosemary oil & Wintergreen oil. (Menthol) I think it also has Pine oil in it...... From memory. That's perfect for rubbing on little chests, backs and soles of the feet. (Add socks to keep the sheets clean!)

great idea for a group.
But can i give you some advice?
How about putting each topic in a conversation or blog so people can find what they need.
Or i could just butt out.