In addition to herbal extracts, formulas, and teas, essential (or aromatherapy) oils offer fast and easy solutions for a variety of day-to-day ailments that you can easily treat at home. Aromatherapy serves double duty by calming you and your family members with an assortment of mostly pleasant scents.

Used for millennia by numerous cultures around the world, aromatherapeutic plant oils foster health and balance. In the last half century, research has begun to validate some of these oils’ healing properties.

Aromatherapy enters the body in several ways. When inhaled, essential oils pass directly from the lungs into the bloodstream. When absorbed through the skin in dilutions or natural beauty products, aromatherapy oils enter the circulatory system. If you carefully follow the guidelines for diluting and suggested uses, you’ll be amazed at the efficacy of these plant-based remedies.

Top 10 Oils for First Aid

Essential oils effectively penetrate skin thanks to their small molecular size and lipid solubility. Here’s what they can help heal.

1. Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens): varicose veins, sore throat, excessive menstruation.
2. German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla): bruises, inflammation, pain, sprains, tension.
3. Eucalyptus (E. globulus): congestion, inflammation, colds, flu, chickenpox, shingles, herpes.
4. Lavender (L. angustifolia): acne, bee stings, bruises, headaches, insect bites, rash, sprains, sunburn.
5. Lemon (Citrus limonum): digestive tonic, sore throat, detoxification, lymphatic congestion.
6. Marjoram (Oreganum majorana): insomnia, menstrual cramps, sore muscles.
7. Rose (Rosa damascena): liver and digestive tonic, vascular tonic, menstrual aid, grief.
8. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): headaches, fatigue, hangover, constipation, muscle aches, circulation.
9. Spearmint (Mentha spicata): indigestion, nausea, headaches, fatigue, fever, sinu-sitis, poison ivy.
10. Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia): athlete’s foot, burns, warts, acne, cold sores, flu, insect bites.

Formulating with Essential Oils

Many of the following massage formulas combine 20 drops total essential oils with 2 ounces of carrier oil. All these combinations are given in drops, and these formulas are suggested for external application only. Follow the guidelines for inhalation or specific instruction as noted, either blending these oils or using as single essences.

• Anxiety or stress: 7 geranium, 5 lavender, 4 lemon, 1 rose
   
• Burns: 20 drops lavender in 1 ounce aloe vera juice or gel
   
• Constipation: 7 marjoram, 13 rosemary (massage abdomen)
   
• Cough: 5 cypress, 5 eucalyptus (as an inhalation)
   
• Fatigue: 15 rosemary, 5 lemon
  
• Hangover: 5 carrot seed, 5 rosemary, 3 peppermint, 2 rose, 5 helichrysum (massage over liver)
   
• Injury: 5 lavender, 5 German chamomile, 3 geranium, 2 tea tree, 5 helichrysum (in calendula-infused oil; best for impact injuries such as bruising)
   
• Insomnia: 15 Lavender, 5 lemon, 5 marjoram (add 8 drops of the blend to a full bath or use as massage oil along spine)
   
• Menstrual cramps: 5 clary sage, 5 marjoram, 5 geranium, 2 rose, 5 lavender (massage abdomen, hips and lower back)
• Sinus congestion: 3 tea tree, 2 rosemary, 3 eucalyptus (as an inhalation or chest rub)
   
• Sore throat: 12 clary sage and 13 sandalwood (massage); gargle with one drop each cypress and lemon in water
   
• Stress: 5 chamomile, 10 lavender, 5 marjoram
   
• Stings or insect bites: 10 tea tree, 10 lavender
   
• Ringworm: 5 geranium, 5 tea tree, and 1 peppermint in oil, applied directly
   
• Muscle Strain: 5 rosemary, 3 eucalyptus, 5 marjoram, 7 lavender
   

For Safety’s Sake

Don’t use essential oils undiluted; always add to a carrier oil (hazelnut, grape seed, almond, olive). Some citrus oils are photosensitizing; avoid sun exposure for 12 hours after application. For skin irritation, dilute essential oil with plain vegetable oil, like olive oil. Do not take essential oils internally.

Also avoid essential oil use in the first trimester of pregnancy. Later in pregnancy, floral oils are best: rose, lavender, ylang ylang, jasmine, chamomile, and neroli. Safe exceptions include geranium, mandarin, orange, frankincense, and spearmint. Use in 1/2 to 1 percent dilutions.

Dilutions

Essential oils must be diluted before application to the skin. Please follow these guidelines:

• 1 percent dilution = 5 to 6 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil (best for babies, the elderly, or those of weak constitution).
• 2 percent dilution = 10 to 12 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil (for general use). Do not exceed 15 drops per ounce of carrier oil.

Methods of Application

Use the following suggestions in applying essential oils topically:

• Massage oil: 2 percent dilution
• Bath oil: 2 to 10 drops per tub (don’t use irritant oils: peppermint, citrus, lemongrass, spice oils)
• Foot bath: 5 to 10 drops per gallon of water or herbal tea
• Compress: 4 drops per quart of water
• Gargle or mouthwash: 2 drops in one cup of water
• Inhalant: 5 to 10 drops in hot water with a towel tent, or sprinkle on a hankie.

To Learn More

Visit these Web sites:

• www.naha.org
• www.holisticmed.com

Author of All about Aromatherapy, Calendula, Natural Perfumes, and coauthor of Aromatherapy, A Complete Guide to the Healing Art, Mindy Green, MS, AHG, RA, is an educator who has worked in the natural products industry for 35 years. She has served as program specialist for the Integrative Resource Center at the University of Colorado Hospital Cancer Center and director of education at the Herb Research Foundation.