Oils to the
RESCUE
Isn’t it funny how, just when you want to relax on holiday, along comes a bee to sting you, or germs to bung up your nose? Fortunately, having essential oils in your first-aid kit will get you back up and running before you can even say, “Eina!” TIPS! Always have lavender and tea tree oil on hand – they are truly indispensable. Dab a drop of either one onto insect bites, small cuts, scrapes, burns, pimples, fever blisters, bruises and splinters. Summer cold or hay fever causing your nose to clog up? Add one drop eucalyptus essential oil to half a cup of hot water in a mug, and inhale the vapour. Sore throat? Rub one drop of tea tree or lavender essential oil over your throat area, and gargle with water containing one drop of either. Repeat as needed. It can also be used as a mouth rinse for ulcers and sore gums.
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Bloated from a bit of overindulgence? Mix two drops fennel, peppermint or geranium into a carrier oil or cream, and massage over your tummy in a clockwise direction. Pranged the car on a lamp post because the kids were fighting over space? Take a whiff of lavender oil, and then rub a drop onto your temples to calm your nerves. Stinging sunburn? Mix four tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda (or baking soda) and one drop lavender essential oil into a cup of cool water. Dab gently onto skin with cotton wool.
In 1910, a French cosmetic chemist, René-Maurice Gattefossé, burned his hand severely in a laboratory accident while researching essential oils. He’s said to have started developing gas gangrene, and immersed his hand in lavender essential oil. He described how, “just one rinse with lavender essence stopped the gasification of the tissue.” We wouldn’t attempt to treat serious conditions like gangrene using essential oils today, but this does remind us of the real power of essential oils. Keep a bottle of lavender essential oil in the kitchen in the event of an accidental burn – just dab one drop immediately. (Remember: severe burns must be seen by a doctor straight away.)
RECIPE CORNER
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UNT O C DIS UPON CO
Products available from Dis-Chem, Find discount selectedcoupon pharmacies, on health shops and our pull-out back cover. online shop.
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22 vitalise
Headaches and migraines 2 drops lavender essential oil 1 drop peppermint essential oil 1 heaped teaspoonful cocoa butter, solid natural balm, Vaseline or a very thick cream Small glass jar Soften the cocoa butter using low heat. Mix in your essential oils and put it into your jar. Allow the mixture to cool and set if you have heated it, then seal. Massage a few dabs lightly into the temples, back of the neck and forehead at the first sign of a headache or migraine. Alternatively, mix into oil or cream (three drops oil to one teaspoon carrier oil/cream).
Website: www.burgessandfinch.co.za
E-mail: aromatherapy@vhf.co.za ISSUE 4 | 2013