November 17, 2007
Other Methods Of Using Essential Oils
Aromatic Ointment
You can make a healing ointment for all manner of problems, including cuts, grazes, insect bites and stings, athlete's foot, ringworm, cold sores and chilblains. Simply doctor 30 g of an unperfumed shop-bought cream (preferably a natural product) with up to 20 drops of essential oil. For example: ten drops of lavender, five drops of geranium, five drops of tea tree or five drops of eucalyptus. For a cooling foot balm (which also heals athlete's foot) add two drops of peppermint instead of the five drops of tea tree or eucalyptus.
Put the cream into a little sterilised glass pot, and stir in the essences with the handle of a teaspoon. Cover tightly and store in a cool dark place. The ointment will keep for at least three months, depending on how often the jar is opened.
If you cannot find a suitable base for the ointment recipe, a bland purpose-designed cream can be obtained by mail order from most essential oil suppliers.
Neat Application
Provided that the skin is cooled first under cold running water for at least five minutes, lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree or geranium can be applied neat to minor burns and scalds. Larger burns and scalds are best treated with a cold compress. While lavender is the most popular essence for treating burns, in my own experience geranium is even better. The only drawback is that neat geranium (also eucalyptus and tea tree) may irritate very sensitive skin. Lavender is much more benign in this respect.
Oral Doses
Although essential oils are employed as internal medicines by European aromatherapy doctors, the home user (and non-medical aromatherapist) is advised against this method of treatment. Essential oils are highly concentrated, and therefore potentially toxic if taken internally. Without a thorough knowledge of the condition for which the oil is being administered, combined with an incomplete understanding of the oil's mode of action, the consequences could be serious.
