The A – Z Of Aromatherapy – T

This week is the continuation of my A – Z of Aromatherapy series. Today we are looking at the letter T. Let’s take a look at the essential oils and the ailments they can treat.

T

Tea Tree Essential Oil – With a medicinal smell, it will likely suit those who dislike the floral or fruity smells often found with essential oils. As there are so many uses for Tea Tree oil, I thought it would be easier to list them below:

• Acne/Spots – Whether you get them all the time or every so often tea tree oil can be great for dabbing onto spots, to help clear them up. You could always add a couple of drops of this oil to your regular moisturiser and mix well. This will help to keep breakouts at bay.
• Warts and verruca’s – If you find yourself suffering from these then dab tea tree oil onto the area, and over time they will disappear. But please do not mix with any other treatments you are using. Use one treatment at a time.
• Athletes foot – To help soothe your feet you can dilute a few drops in a foot bath, or dab some on the affected area. You will enjoy the relief that this brings from that annoying itch!
• Fungus Nail infection – Never pleasant if you are unfortunate enough to get one. If you have tried everything then give this a go to see if it helps. Mix a few drops in a carrier oil and put onto the nail and surrounding area.
• Bites or stings – When you are relaxing on holiday and all of a sudden get bitten by a bug or mosquito or even a pesky midge if you are in Scotland and the itch starts. Mix a few drops of tea tree oil in a carrier oil or with a body lotion and dab onto the affected area a couple of times a day, it will reduce the need to itch and will also give it a good clean.
• Hair – Do you suffer from dandruff? Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo or find a shampoo that has tea tree oil in it. Another way to help is to add a couple of drops of tea tree oil to some jojoba oil and massage it into your scalp. Leave for around 10 – 15 minutes and then use your shampoo to wash out. You may wish to do this regularly, depending on how dry your scalp is.
• Cold sores – Rather than putting it on neatly mix a few drops of tea tree oil with a small bit of vodka and dab it on. It may sting a bit so be careful, but it will soothe and help in the long run. Perhaps look to buy a special topical solution that already has tea tree in it. Please do not ingest the oil.
• Clean your kitchen – You can use tea tree oil on surfaces provided you dilute it, why not give your sink a good clean too. Mix several drops in a bowl of water and vinegar and then pop your cloth in and wipe down your surfaces or scrub your sink. Perhaps get a spray bottle to fill it.

Thyme – We all know the herb and have likely used it in our cooking. It does have a lot of benefits, but what about the essential oil. It has antiseptic and antiviral properties and is a great essential oil to use as an inhalation if you are suffering from throat or chest infections. Put a drop or two in with water to use in a vaporiser and allow the scent to engage your senses and get to work or mix 2 drops with 10-15ml of carrier oil like grapeseed and rub onto your neck to help. It can help to balance your sleep patterns if you suffer from Insomnia. Just like Tea Tree it can be used as a household cleaner, add it to a spray bottle with distilled water. Shake up and spray, wipe clean.

Please note: never ingest essential oils, use them internally or use them undiluted on your skin. If you are epileptic or pregnant, there are some oils you should avoid entirely, always check first. If you suffer an allergic reaction please discontinue use. Always proceed with caution and if in doubt, do not use or seek advice in the first instance. Always buy and use 100% pure essential oils, there are many imitations out there so please be aware.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this months A-Z series. Join me next month when I’ll be looking at the letters U & V.

Thank you for reading. Have a great week and look after you!

Love Emma xx