It’s time to look at the A – Z of aromatherapy again. Today it is the turn of the letter F. Let’s dive in and see what we discover today.
F
Fennel – often called Sweet Fennel. You my be very familiar with fennel as a vegetable for cooking or as a tea to help with indigestion, constipation and nausea. What can the essential oil do for you? It has an aniseed fragrance and has many different uses. Fennel is a great essential oil to use for detoxifying the body. Fennel can help with weight loss as it can supress the appetite and can help to get rid of water retention, it helps to normalise the appetite. However, proceed with caution or do not use during pregnancy or if you are epileptic and do not use on children. It is great for period pain and muscular spasms as it is antispasmodic as well as being good for helping to regulate irregular periods. A great way to apply this is via a massage on the stomach or abdomen. Mix 5-10 drops of Fennel essential oil with 20ml of Grapeseed oil and massage gently in a clockwise direction. You can use a warm compress on the stomach by mixing fennel essential oil with warm water, rinsing out a cloth and holding it onto the stomach for relief. As an anti-inflammatory it is a good oil to use for arthritis and rheumatism use it in a compress but be sure to move your joints after the treatment otherwise it can have a negative effect, casing congestion.
Frankincense – It has a warm scent. It has been used for centuries to help in prayer and meditation as it helps to slow and deepen the breath and calm emotions. Put a several drops in a vapouriser and inhale the scent as you do yoga or meditation. Frankincense is a great oil to open the chest and if you suffer from asthma it can help you breath deeper. Put several drops in a bath of warm water and relax, allowing the scent to slow your breathing and calm you down as anxiety can be heighted when breathing is challenging. A massage would work well although lying on your front will not be the best if you are struggling to breath. Instead, mix a few drops with 10ml of grapeseed oil and rub into your chest. Inhale slowly and try to relax. If you have concerns about ageing skin then use it on your face mixed with your regularly moisturiser or with a carrier oil to improve the tone of the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Feet – We use our feet all the time and whilst we are good at taking care of the rest of our body, we often neglect our feet. So give your them some love. One of the best essential oils for your feet is tea-tree. It can help with all kinds of feet complaints such as verruca’s, warts and fungal infections. Whilst you can use tea-tree oil neat, proceed with caution. Put a drop on the affected area such as on a wart or verruca, cover with a plaster to keep the oil on. Repeat regularly. For use on athletes foot, mix a few drops of tea-tree essential oil with your regular foot cream and apply. A great way to treat your feet is a footbath. Mix several drops of tea-tree, lemon and peppermint essential oil to a footbath and soak your feet regularly, this should help relieve any itching and help with any fungal infections etc.
Focus – Are you studying for exams or working on a project that really requires you to be focused? Here are some great oils for you to try using a vapouriser. Add several drops of the essential oil of your choice, or reduce the amount of each if using more than one. Rosemary essential oil is a great stimulant for the mind and is good to use when studying for an exam as it helps to improve memory. Peppermint essential oil can help stimulate the mind and help with concentration. Why not mix it with Lemon essential oil for a fresh an invigorating scent to get your mind working.
I hope today’s A – Z has been useful and you have a few new ideas to try. Let me know how you get on.
When buying essential oils, always ensure you buy 100% pure essential oil. Test on the skin first (mixed with a carrier oil) before applying all over to ensure there is no adverse reaction.
Thank you reading and coming on this A – Z journey with the letter F. I hope you have found it helpful.
Have a great week and make sure you look after you.
Love Emma xx
Wellbeing with Relaxing Lavender 