Healing With Essential Oils
Ever wonder what essential oils can do? The aromas are beautiful, reminding us of fresh picked flowers, herbs, spices and the woodsy smells of pine trees. And the awakening fresh aromas of orange, grapefruit, bergamot and lime. I traveled without my oils for 2 weeks recently. When I returned and opened my mini fridge full of oils, I felt a comfort, a sense of peace. Truly mentally and emotionally calming and healing. Along with the aromas that lighten our senses, comfort and relax us, essential oils have therapeutic actions that can help ease inflammation as well as aches and pains, clear up stuffiness and ease and relieve the duration of colds and flu. Essential oils have been known to assist in lowering blood pressure and fight off respiratory diseases and rid ourselves of pesky mosquitoes.
Each oil has it's own unique composition of components which affects how they smell, how they absorb into the body and how the affect the body therapeutically. With this quick list, you can choose what therapeutic actions you desire and aromas that are pleasing to your personal needs and senses. This list is not all-inclusive but a starting place to research and expand upon. Locate the action you need. Then choose the oils that appeal to your senses. Start by combining a only a few drops of 2 oils. It may only take two but that is the fun of blending; creating something personal to you. Always keep safety in mind.
Healing Actions of Essential Oils:
Airborne antimicrobial: Cinnamon, Copaiba Balsam, Kanuka, Peppermint, Tea Tree, Thyme ct. linalool
Acne Issues: Bergamot, Juniper Berry, Lavender, Patchouli, Tea Tree, Vetiver
Anti-diarrhea: Cypress, Lavender, Opopanax, Peppermint
Anti-fungal: Juniper Berry, Nutmeg, Ravintsara, Rosemary
Anti-histaminic: Tea Tree, Clove Bud, Oregano, Holy Basil, Thyme ct. thymol
Antimicrobial: Cinnamon, Clove, Thyme ct. linalool, Juniper Berry
Antioxidant: Cypress, Siberian Fir, Juniper Berry, Frankincense, Lemon, Sweet Orange, Rosemary
Antispasmodic: Laurel leaf, Lemon, Neroli, Siberian Fir, Sweet Marjoram, Tea Tree, Thyme ct. linalool, Cypress, Juniper Berry, Nutmeg, Ravintsara, Rosemary
Anti-Viral: Sweet Orange, Ravintsara
Appetite: Bergamot, Cardamom, Fennel,
Astringent: Cypress, Juniper Berry, Lemon, Sweet Orange, Rosemary
Cognitive awareness: Ravintsara
Bacterial Issues:
Central Nervous System sedative: Anise, Basil, Clary Sage, Geranium, Hemlock, Lavender, Neroli, Rose, Sweet Marjoram, Valerian,
Cicatrize (skin healing): Frankincense, Helichrysum, Lavender German Chamomile, Geranium
Circulatory stimulant: Black Pepper, Juniper berry, Rosemary, Nutmeg
Cooling: Lemon, Peppermint
Chronic joint pain: Nutmeg, Rosemary
Decongestant: Cypress, Laurel leaf, Juniper Berry, Rosemary, Opopanax , Siberian Fir, Eucalyptus
Deodorant: Lavender, Neroli, Tea Tree
Depression: Nutmeg, Sweet Orange, Lemon, Neroli, Cinnamon, Clary Sage, Rose, Ylang Ylang
Digestive Stimulant and Aid: Black Pepper, Nutmeg, Sweet Marjoram, Sweet Orange
Diuresis promoter: Cypress, Sweet Orange, Rosemary
Expectorant: Black Pepper, eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Ravintsara, Laurel leaf, Rosemary
Fever Reducer: Black Pepper, Laurel leaf
Flatulence: Basil, Bergamot, Chamomile, Caraway, Cinnamon, Fennel, Laurel Leaf, Lemon, Sweet Marjoram, Nutmeg, Peppermint and Rosemary.
Grounding: Cedarwood, German Chamomile, Myrrh, Opopanax, Patchouli, Spikenard
Immune System Stimulant: Ravintsara, Tea Tree, Siberian Fir, Thyme ct. Linalool, Sweet Marjoram
Inflammation: Black Pepper, Cypress, Juniper Berry, Nutmeg, Sweet Orange, Opopanax, Ravintsara, Rosemary, Siberian Fir, Sweet Marjoram, Tea Tree, Thyme ct. Linalool, Frankincense, Laurel Leaf, Lemon, Neroli
Liver (Hepatic) Support: Lemon
Pain receptors/reliever: Black Pepper, Cypress, Juniper Berry, Nutmeg, Sweet Orange, Opopanax, Ravintsara, Frankincense, Laurel Leaf, Sweet Marjoram, Tea Tree, Siberian fir, Thyme ct. linalool, Lemon, Neroli, Rosemary
Soporific (tranquilizing): Lavender, Vetiver, Sweet Marjoram, German Chamomile, Myrrh, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, Spikenard
Skincare: Juniper Berry, Neroli, Helichrysum, Lavender, Frankincense
Skin Penetrator: Ravintsara, Lemon
Skin Healing: Tea Tree, Helichrysum, Lavender, Frankincense
Vasodilator: Rosemary, Sweet Marjoram, Tea Tree
Vomiting: Black Pepper, Chamomile, Fennel, Lemon, Peppermint
Warming: Nutmeg, Sweet Marjoram
Clinically Active Oils
Circulation: Black Pepper, Cypress, Lemon, Rosemary
Digestion: Black Pepper, Nutmeg, Opopanax, Laurel leaf
Diuretic: Grapefruit, Lemon, Juniper berry
Dysmenorrhea: Clary Sage, Fennel, Juniper, Rosemary, Sweet Marjoram
Emotional balance: Nutmeg, Neroli, Myrrh, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang, Frankincense
Fluid Retention: Juniper Berry,
Infections: Tea Tree, Thyme ct. Linalool
Immune Boost: Black Pepper, Frankincense, Ravintsara, Angelica
Lymph System: Lemon
Mental Fatigue: Ravintsara, Rosemary
Menstruation: Cypress
Mood Lifter: Sweet Orange, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Neroli, Jasmine,
Musculoskeletal: Black Pepper, Frankincense, Cypress, Juniper Berry, Nutmeg, Opopanax, Rosemary, Laurel leaf, Lemon
Respiratory: Black Pepper, Cypress, Frankincense, Rosemary, Eucalyptus
Shingles: Bergamot, Ravintsara, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree
Skin: Cypress, Black Pepper, Lemon, Neroli, Opopanax, Sweet Orange, Rosemary
Stress and Palpitations: Rosemary, Neroli, Ylang Ylang, Vetiver, Roman Chamomile, Bergamot, Frankincense, Geranium
Safety:
Each oil comes with safety in mind. Having good resources on hand is important. Robert Tisserands’ Second edition Essential Oil Safety is great, if you can maneuver through it and get all related information and understanding on the overall use and individual safe use of oils. Safety issues include age, sensitivity, health (including but not limited to asthma, blood pressure, headaches), drug interactions, and more. Until you know which oils are safe, Tisserand speaks of diffusing in regards to all ages that, “indirect, or ambient inhalation, is safe for young children, and includes any method that vaporizes essential oils into the air.” Do not diffuse longer than 30 minute intervals. We do not promote ingesting or using essential oils undiluted.
Rehne Burge, Certified Aromatherapist
Member of NAHA and AIA
References:
Oils and Plants ~ The Aromatherapy and Herbal Health Website. (n.d.). Retrieved October 05, 2016, from http://www.oilsandplants.com/index.html
All Products in Essential Oils. (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2016, from https://www.aromatics.com/products/essential-oils Review the individual oils for safety concerns
Mojay, G. (1999). Aromatherapy for healing the spirit: Restoring emotional and mental balance with essential oils. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
Tisserand, R. (n.d.). Essential Oil Safety: Second edition (2nd ed.). Inhalation; pg. 658
Essential Oils Directory. (n.d.). Retrieved July 16, 2016, from http://www.oilsandplants.com/oils.htm
(n.d.). Retrieved October 05, 2016, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0024879/
About Essential Oils and Aromatherapy
(n.d.) Retrieved October 6, 2016, from http://www/ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23531112 Aromatherapy and the central nervous system(CNS)
