In today’s post I am looking at the letter E in my A – Z Of Aromatherapy series. Lets take a look and see what we can discover today.
E
Essential oils – Without these we wouldn’t have aromatherapy. Essential oils come from plants, but firstly the essence is extracted from the plant through distillation. From here it becomes an essential oil. These essential oils are very potent so should not be used undiluted. They are volatile which means they evaporate quickly, ensure you replace the lids after use and store in dark glass bottles as keep out of sunlight. Whilst they don’t dissolve in water, they do in base oils such as sweet almond oil, grapeseed, jojoba to name but a few. The oils vary in colour but are usually light yellow or clear. Essential oils have been used for centuries, helping to treat a variety of ailments and conditions.
Earache – If you have ever had this you will know how excruciating it can be. Ensure you consult your doctor if symptoms persist. To help ease the pain use a hot compress. Fill a bowl of hot water (but not boiling as you have to be able to put your hand in it), add in several drops of lavender and camomile and swirl your cloth around. Rinse out and hold against your ear. This will help to draw out the infection. Repeat regularly, rinsing your cloth in the water until the water cools.
Eczema – The cause of the eczema can vary so it is important to ensure you understand the root cause of it as this will affect the treatment for it. You have to be very careful as you don’t want to irritate the skin further, causing inflammation. Please proceed with caution. For example, if you know your eczema is caused by stress, then we need to look at lowering your stress levels. For this I would suggest using neroli, lavender and bergamot. Use one or two of them in a vaporiser in your home and breathe in the calming scent. If you want to use a cold compress directly onto the itchy or inflamed area, use a drop of camomile oil mix with a cloth in a bowl of water and rinse. Ideally this will soothe the skin but if irritation occurs stop using.
Epilepsy – If you suffer from epilepsy then you must avoid the following essential oils: Rosemary, sage, hyssop, and fennel. Do not use these. If you are going for a massage or an aromatherapy treatment always ensure you let the person treating you know you suffer from epilepsy. They should always ask you about any medical conditions anyway, but ensure to highlight this.
Exhaustion – Whether you have pushed yourself too hard and have been working too much or running around after everyone else and neglecting yourself. If you are in an exhaustive state then I would suggest the following to help. Go for a bath and mix in a few drops of lavender essential oil with a few drops of clary sage essential oil, mix with a little vodka to dilute it before putting it into the bath or ensure you swirl it around in the bath before climbing in. Using the same oils in a massage will also be effective in combating exhaustion, the clary sage is a great muscle relaxant and helps with restlessness. Do not use clary sage during pregnancy.
Eyes – Never ever use essential oil in or near your eyes.
Eucalyptus – This essential oil is widely used in products used to treat colds and coughs as it is a decongestant. It is likely you will have used it as a chest rub pre bought as it is great for clearing catarrh. You can use eucalyptus essential oil as an inhalation. Mix a few drops in a bowl of hot water and breathe in the scent to clear your nose and help ease your chest. It is great for headaches too. Eucalyptus oil has anti viral and bacterial properties so is great at inhibiting the growth of viruses and bacteria. Use in a vaporiser around the home to help kill germs during cold and flu season.
Please note: Always ensure you follow any instructions regarding essential oils or treatments. Never ingest oils or use them internally. Seek advice before using any essential oil or treatment as some are not to be used during pregnancy or if you suffer from epilepsy. Proceed with caution. Never use essential oils neat on your skin as this can cause irritation. If any irritation occurs whilst using the oils, even with a carrier oil, then rinse the affected area and discontinue use.
I hope you have found it useful. Essential oils are great for helping a number of different ailments as seen in the above list. Thank you for reading.
Have a great week and look after you.
Love Emma xx
Wellbeing with Relaxing Lavender 