Essential Oil Remedies
Like the plants from which they are produced, essential oils are part of the arsenal of home- care remedies. An essential oil diluted in a carrier oil is one of the simplest preparations. Even more so than when mixing scents for perfumes, it is important to keep a record of your remedies. Taking notes will help you determine what adjustments may be needed when repeating a recipe and will help you figure out what works best for you and your family. Whatever type of preparation you make, label it with the date and the ingredients.
As a starting point, Table 8.1 provides general guidelines for a 2% dilution ratio of essential oil to carrier oil. While 2% is considered safe for topical applications, use a 1% ratio for children and older adults as well as preparations for use on the face. People with sensitive skin should always use a few less drops of essential oil in their mixtures.
|
Carrier Oil |
Essential Oil |
|
1 teaspoon |
2–3 drops |
|
1 tablespoon |
6–10 drops |
|
1 fluid ounce |
13–20 drops |
Essential oils can be used in a range of remedies and methods for treating ailments. The recipes given in this chapter are basic guidelines that you may need to adjust for personal preferences or to accommodate any precautions related to the essential oils you use. Also check the information in part seven for details about carrier oils and other ingredients, and any precautions for them. The recipes are given in small amounts, so they are easy to make and allow you to have fresh remedies on hand.
Bath Oils and Salts
In the bath, essential oils help to relieve stress, pain, and muscle aches. A carrier oil provides an even distribution of the essential oil when it is to be used in water. For a healing beauty bath, use milk. The fat in milk acts like a carrier oil to dilute and disperse essential oils. Use 12 to 18 drops of essential oil in an ounce of carrier oil or milk, then add it to your bath.
The milk bath was said to have been a beauty secret of Queen Cleopatra, and modern research has corroborated its effectiveness. Because of milk’s high level of lactic acid, dead skin cells are removed, leaving behind a wonderful complexion—all over. Take care whenever you use oils in the bath or shower, as surfaces may become slippery.
In addition to carrier oils and milk, essential oils can be mixed with salts. Coarse sea salt or Epsom salt can be used for a soothing bath. Refer to part seven for more information on Epsom salt.
Bath Salts
2 cups Epsom or sea salt
2 tablespoons baking soda (optional)
3/4 cup carrier oil or blend
1–1 1/2 teaspoons essential oil or blend
Combine the dry ingredients in a glass or ceramic bowl. Mix the carrier and essential oils, then add them to the dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly.
The optional baking soda in the bath salts recipe helps to soothe and soften the skin. This recipe is enough for one or two baths. Add the salts under the running tap just before getting in the tub. If you make a larger amount, store it in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
Foot Soak
Essential oils diluted in carrier oil or bath salts make a relaxing and therapeutic footbath too. Add 6 to 10 drops of essential oil to a tablespoon of carrier oil and swish into a basin. A warm or hot footbath increases circulation, aids in healing a cold or flu, and helps deal with insomnia. Odd as it may seem, a foot soak helps relieve headaches too. Even soaking your feet in plain warm water helps draw blood down to the feet, which relieves pressure in the head. A cool footbath is a good perk-up on hot summer days when feet can feel sweaty and sore.
Compress
A compress can be hot or cold. Warm compresses relax muscles and soothe aches and pains. They also relieve tension and increase circulation. Cool compresses are used to treat bumps, bruises, sprains, and strains by reducing swelling and inflammation. They also reduce fevers and ease headaches.
Place 6 to 10 drops of essential oil in a tablespoon of carrier oil and add to a quart of hot or cold water. Give the water a good swish before soaking a washcloth in it. Squeeze out the cloth and lay it over the area that needs treatment. Freshen it every ten to fifteen minutes by dipping it in the water again.
Diffusion
Scenting the air is often what comes to mind when we think of aromatherapy. While it is a great way to use essential oils to relieve stress and enhance well-being, there are other benefits. Essential oils with antiseptic properties kill airborne bacteria. Because essential oils in the air are absorbed into the body, oils that fight infection or relieve congestion provide a good way to fight colds and flu or treat asthma and bronchitis. Essential oils can be used to fumigate a sickroom too.
Although a vaporizer works by heating water and creating steam, the terms vaporizer and diffuser are often used interchangeably. In this book, the word diffuser is used for all methods of getting essential oils into the air. Following are details on the various types of diffusers.
Nebulizer
A nebulizer creates a mist or fine spray of tiny droplets. It can put a lot of essential oil into the air quickly. This type of diffuser uses more essential oil than others do. However, most nebulizers have settings and timers that allow you to choose the amount of oil they disperse and set them to run at intervals instead of continuously. Depending on the size of the pump, a nebulizer can be used in large rooms.
Ultrasonic
This type of diffuser creates a fine mist using ultrasonic vibrations. It is basically a humidifier and disperses a smaller amount of essential oil than a nebulizer does. In addition to getting essential oil into the air, the ultrasonic diffuser creates negative ions, which are believed to have health benefits.
Evaporative
Also called a fan diffuser, this type of device hastens the process of evaporation by blowing air over a pad or filter onto which essential oils have been applied. While this works well for dispersing scent, it is not the best choice for therapeutic purposes because the lighter components of an essential oil evaporate first, which means you do not get the complete oil all at once.
The widely popular reed diffuser also disperses scent by evaporation. Although it is effective only in small spaces, when it is placed by a door or window, the scent can be dispersed more quickly. While many reed diffuser kits include chemical-based fragrance oils, making your own with essential oils allows you to choose the scent and decorative container. Details on how to make a reed diffuser are in chapter 11.
Heat
This type of diffuser works by evaporation, using heat to quicken the process. A well-known type called a candle diffuser has a small ceramic bowl with space for a tealight candle underneath. You place a few drops of essential oil in the bowl, which is warmed by the candle flame. A drop or two of water can be added to the diffuser bowl to slow the evaporation process. As with the fan diffuser, all of the components of an essential oil are not equally dispersed with a candle diffuser. Some heat diffusers are electric and can be placed on a table or the floor, and others are small plug-ins that sit at the electrical outlet.
On-the-Go Diffusers
Putting essential oil into the air around you isn’t limited to the home. No matter how you get around town, you can take a remedy with you.
Inhalers
About the size of a lip balm applicator or a tube of lipstick, a nasal inhaler provides relief on the go. It consists of a tube, a cotton wick, and a screw-on lid. Remove the wick from the tube and place it on a plate. Put about 10 to 15 drops of essential oil or blend onto the wick, then put it back in the tube. For children under the age of ten, use 5 to 8 drops of essential oil. To use an inhaler, place the opened tube under your nose and breathe deeply. Keep the tube tightly closed when not in use. Freshen the wick as needed.
A nasal inhaler is also called a personal inhaler or an aromastick. It is especially helpful when dealing with a cold or nasal congestion and headaches. A nasal inhaler is also an aid for motion sickness or to combat stress. In addition to being convenient, it also allows you to use essential oils without disturbing people around you.
Plug-Ins
Although some diffusers for the house are small plug-in devices, others are designed for use when not at home. Some plug-ins are small and convenient enough to take on a trip for hotel use, while others are specifically designed for use in the car. There is also a type of plug-in with a USB connector that uses the power of your laptop.
Gel
The base for a homemade gel is aloe. Aloe is a familiar houseplant that is often kept in the kitchen for first aid treatment of burns. Refer to aloe in part seven for details on what to look for when purchasing the gel and how to harvest it from the plant. Along with the healing power of aloe, essential oils with antiseptic and antibacterial properties work well for making a first aid gel.
Healing Gel
10 drops essential oil or blend
2 tablespoons aloe gel
Add the essential oil to the gel and gently stir until thoroughly mixed. Store in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
Massage Oil
Creating a massage oil is as easy as adding several drops of essential oil to a carrier oil. Table 8.1 provides guidelines for making a 2% dilution, which is generally appropriate for use on the body. Use a 1% dilution for use on the face for rubbing the temples to ease a headache.
Use firm pressure when massaging muscles and joints, but not so firm that it irritates the skin, exacerbates the pain, or causes discomfort. Gently massaging the stomach can help relieve indigestion. Massaging the stomach and abdomen in a clockwise direction (up on the right, down on the left) can help ease constipation.
Ointments, Salves, and Balms
These three preparations are basically the same but differ in the amount of solidifier used to thicken them. An ointment is the least firm, but it has the advantage of being easy to apply. A salve has a firmer consistency, and a balm is very firm. Unlike a cream, these preparations are not absorbed as quickly and form a protective layer on the skin. In the following recipes, beeswax, shea butter, or cocoa butter can be used as solidifiers. Refer to part seven for more details on these ingredients. Beeswax forms more of a protective layer than the butters do, but it’s worth it to experiment to determine what works best for you. As always, keep careful notes so you can repeat a recipe—or not.
Ointment, Salve, and Balm with Beeswax
1/2 ounce beeswax
3–8 tablespoons carrier oil or blend
1/4–1 teaspoon essential oil or blend (2% dilution)
Place the beeswax and carrier oil in a jar in a saucepan of water. Warm it over low heat, stirring until the wax melts. Remove it from the heat and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature before adding the essential oil. To test the consistency, spoon a little onto a plate and put it in the refrigerator for a minute or two. If you want it firmer, add more beeswax. If it’s too thick, add a tiny bit of carrier oil. When you are happy with the consistency of your mixture, let it cool completely, then store in a cool, dark place.
If you like to think in terms of ratios, a 3:1 or 4:1 carrier oil to beeswax ratio tends to work well for a balm. For a salve, try 5:1 or 6:1, and 7:1 or 8:1 for an ointment. Keep in mind that the consistency of your mixture also depends on the viscosity of the oils you use.
Ointment, Salve, and Balm with a Butter
1–3 tablespoons cocoa or shea butter, grated or shaved
1–2 tablespoons carrier oil or blend
12–40 drops essential oil or blend (2% dilution)
Boil a little water in a saucepan and remove it from the heat. Place the butter and carrier oil in a jar in the water. Stir until the butter melts. Remove the jar from the water and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. Boil the water again, then remove the pan from the heat and place the jar in the water. Stir until any small particles that may have formed have melted. Remove the jar from the water and let the mixture cool again. Add the essential oil and mix thoroughly. Place the jar in the refrigerator for five or six hours. After removing the jar from the fridge, let the mixture come to room temperature before using or storing it.
Again, if you prefer to think in terms of ratios, 1:2 or 1:3 carrier oil to butter works for a balm. Although it usually needs to be scraped up with a fingernail, it begins to melt on contact with the skin. A 1:1 or 1:1 ½ ratio works for a salve, and 1 ½:1 or 2:1 works for an ointment. The salve and ointment can be scooped up with a finger. As with beeswax, experiment to find the consistency you like.
Sprays
Whether you want to repel insects or cool menopausal hot flashes, the spray method of topical application works well. It is especially helpful to soothe sunburn or rashes when you don’t want to touch your skin. For information about witch hazel and different types of water, refer to part seven.
Healing/Cooling Spray
1 teaspoon carrier oil or blend
1 teaspoon essential oil or blend
6 ounces water
1 tablespoon witch hazel
Combine the carrier and essential oils in a spray bottle. Add the water and witch hazel. Shake well before each use.
Steam
Because steam and the antiseptic properties of some essential oils help clear respiratory airways, this is a good way to treat congested sinuses and chest infections. Following are several ways to use steam.
Inhalation Tent
In addition to relieving the congestion of colds, flu, and sinus infections, facial steams are also good for the complexion because they help to deep-clean pores and add moisture to the skin. When adding essential oil to steaming water, use a dropper to avoid getting water vapor in the bottle.
Steam Inhalation
1 quart water
5–8 drops essential oil or blend
Bring the water to a boil. Remove it from the heat and add the essential oils.
Place a bath towel over your head to create a tent above the steaming water. Keep your eyes closed and don’t move your face too close to the water. Stay under the tent for about three minutes or until the water cools. If it feels too hot, lift the towel to allow cool air into the tent.
The combination of steam and essential oils can also be used to clean the air of a sickroom or to humidify or freshen a room in winter. Place the steaming saucepan in the room where it is needed. When it cools, reheat it for more steam and add a few more drops of essential oil. To help ease asthma, instead of tenting your head with a towel, use your hand to waft a little of the steam toward your face.
Easy Vapors
A quick way to use steam and essential oils is as easy as making a cup of tea. This also works well if you have asthma.
A Cup of Vapors
1 cup water
1–2 drops essential oil or blend
Boil the water, then pour it into a big mug. Add the essential oil or blend and hold the mug near your face to inhale the vapors.
Shower Steam
Using essential oils in the shower is another quick and easy way to create a steam inhalation. Refer to chapter 11 for details on how to make shower melts. As when using oils in the bath, be careful that the floor of the shower doesn’t become slippery.
Simple Steamy Shower
1 washcloth
40–60 drops essential oil or blend
Fold the washcloth in half, sprinkle it with the essential oil, then fold it in half again. Place the washcloth on the floor of the shower under the water stream.
The next chapter contains a quick reference guide to ailments and which essential oils and applications to use to treat them.