In my last post I talked about oils to lift your mood and one oil that does that for me is Ginger whose Latin name – Zingiber officinale – reflects it’s zinging therapeutic properties! This pungent, warm spicy oil is perfect for this time of year and I can’t promote it enough, not just as an essential oil but as food too.
Firstly, it’s spicy fragrance gives us that well needed lift of motivation, boosting will power and clearing your mind. Feeling apathetic? A sniff of Ginger will help fight lethargy and warm your nostrils.
Second, it stimulates your circulation too, warming cold hands and feet. It is a detoxifying oil, great for colds and flu so works well in a foot bath. Add up to 8 drops in a bowl and sink your feet into spicy, warm bliss.
Third, it helps joint pain such as arthritis, stiffness, muscular pain so wonderful in a warm, cleansing massage.
Finally, is good for your gut. It can settle your stomach but also stimulate an appetite. It’s wonderfully versatile. It can help with nausea, IBS, colic, motion sickness so works well in a rollerball for pulse points.
Our gut harbours trillions of microorganisms which play an important role in maintaining a healthy immune system and combatting inflammation. I always have the food – ginger – in the fridge and often grate it on stir fries, or use it to marinade tofu or fish, or add it to spicy dahl. It is full of antioxidants similar to fermented foods which can have a positive impact upon gut health from olives in brine to yogurt to wine!
A good way to get ginger into your body as well as using essential oils externally (never ingest essential oils – eating the ginger root is ok, ingesting essential oils is not recommended) is to make a ginger bug. This is fermented ginger so you have the fantastic naturally occurring goodness of ginger and then your ferment it on top to make it a super-super food!
Ginger bug can be used as a base for all sorts of recipes. Here is a recipe for Ginger bug as a base for ginger beer. Or if you haven’t time to make a ginger bug recipe, here is a recipefor ginger beer (without the bug).
So, get Gingering whether it be a foot bath, a rollerball, a deep inhale from the essential oil bottle, or a recipe to warm your bones, lift your mood and prepare you for the winter months ahead.
Remember: do not use Ginger neat on the skin, if you’re on immuno-stimulant medication, or pregnant. Never ingest essential oils.
As the weather changes so does our response to it emotionally and physiologically. For some, Autumn is their favourite season, the smells, the changing colour, the drop in temperature – it’s a sensory pleasure. For others, the change signifies an ending, colder days and darker nights which can often trigger feelings of anxiety or sadness. However we feel about Autumn, the change affects our bodies and minds in different ways and in this post I’m going to talk how we can hydrate our skin which may become dryer in the colder months using what are known as Carrier Oils.
Carrier oils are made in the same way as essential oils, they are extracted from plants such as sunflower, grapeseed, olives, apricots, wheat, soya to name a few. They are not the same as the cooking oils you have in your store cupboard and these oils should not be used on your body or face. Carrier oils produced in the same way as essential oils and like essential oils they have their own therapeutic qualities enriched with vitamins, minerals and proteins. They should only be bought from reputable suppliers.
As a therapist, I use carrier oils in massage, this helps dilute the essential oils I put in when I massage the skin, making the essential oils safe as well as creating moisture and slippage for the treatment. Often, carrier oils do not have an aroma so are perfect for blending your favourite essential oils and massaging into your skin.
Here I recommend three carrier oils to have as part of a skin care routine:
Apricot Kernel (Prunus armeniaca) is extracted from the seeds of the fruit Apricot oil and is rich in Vitamins A and E, and Omegas 3 and 9, so is very nourishing for our skin. It is good for all skin types, light and non-sticky making it a lovely oil for the face. You can buy it in 30ml bottles, with a pipette to massage into your face morning and/or nightly. It can be expensive but you will only need a few drops at a time. Apricot oil is not recommended for people with a nut allergy.
Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) is extracted from the seeds of the evening primrose flower. You may have come across it as a treatment for PMT. I often use it when massaging women as it contains fatty acids which can help alleviate breast pain. Fatty acids are also used to treat inflammation and eczema. If you experience eczema, dab a small amount on the affected area, or if you have dry hands, use it as hand moisturiser. Make sure you wear gloves too as this can help alleviate dry hands! Also, if you are pre-menstrual or menopausal, massage into your abdomen after a warm bath.
Sunflower oil (Halianthus annuus) is extracted from the seeds of the sunflower. It is pale, light and non sticky, good for all skin types. It is rich in vitamins A, B, D and E, containing Omegas making it a healing oil. It is a good oil for the body, to massage into legs, arms, and the abdomen helping rehydrate your skin. Massage just after a bath or shower, when your skin is slightly damp, this will help lock in the moisture for long lasting softness and glow.
Don’t miss my next post where I write about essential oils to lift your mood. You can add these oils to any of the carrier oils suggested and apply to your body and face.
One of the ways essential oils enter our body is through skin absorption. In this blog post I am going to talk about how essential oils can help with tissue damage and healing with reference to the chemicals within oils which can relieve pain and inflammation.
When skin becomes damaged, the inflammation process occurs to try to retain homeostasis in the body. Homeostasis means regulation and balance. We can help the body/skin heal by supporting homeostasis using essential oils as they can support the natural healing process which in turn can help reducing unsightly scarring.
A good way to understand how the body retains homeostasis is to think of how we control body temperature. A healthy body temperature is 37 degrees centigrade and this is regulated through our hypothalamus (located in our brain). If we get too hot, signals are sent to our sweat glands to cools us down; if we get too cold, signals are sent to our muscles to contract and shiver, retaining warmth.
These communication processes can occur to regulate other situations like skin damage. The body repairs the skin by replacing keratinocytes (skin cells found in the epidermis). Keratinocytes protect soft tissue as well as preserving us against infection. In addition to this, our skin has many sensory receptors too which respond and interact with the environment and communication to and from the brain. When the skin is healing it is trying to retain homeostasis – balance – through effective communication as well as reducing pain and inflammation. Evidence suggests that the molecules found in essentials can help homeostasis, ensuring effective healing by supporting cell regeneration, reducing inflammation and taking the skin back to its natural state.
Oils rich in Limonene, Alcohols, Pinene, Thymol, Bornel and Terpineol all have wound healing actions. Here are some symptoms and oils to help with skin damage, retain homeostasis and enable healing:
Essential oils can also aid sleep as they have calming and mood enhancing effects, and can easily be introduced as part of a sleep routine whether you add your favourite oils to a diffuser in your bedroom before sleep, or a warm evening bath with oils, or simply a few drops onto your pillow at night.
Studies have shown that essential oils work because we inhale the aromatic molecules via our olfactory system (found in our nasal septum) releasing neurons into our limbic system, the part of our brain that deals with emotion, memory, motivation, and pleasure. We have no conscious control here and so the scent of essential oils can have a profound influence on us, affecting our behaviour. Indeed, prolonged use of oils can create new pathways, new memories and therefore new patterns of behaviour such as enhanced mood, relaxation, calm….sleep.
A lovely combination of oils could be Sweet orange, Lavender and Ylang ylang in your diffuser (2 drops of each).
Another combination could be Bergamot, Chamomile, Vetiver.
Or just use a favourite oil on your pillow at night, such as Lavender, Geranium, or Lemongrass.
Lemongrass
Try just one drop of one the oils onto your pillow (reverse side) every night for a week and see if it makes a difference. I know it will.
Menstruation can leave women feeling bloated, congested and uncomfortable. Essential oils can help with pain and mood and I would recommend adding 2 drops of each essential oil group mixed (6 drops in total) with either body oil or bath salts into a warm bath:
* Clary Sage, Chamomile, Vetiver (2 drops of each) * Lemon, Lavender, Ylang ylang (2 drops of each) * Basil, Juniper, Neroli (2 drops of each) * Thyme, Fennel, Frankincense (2 drops of each)
There are many health benefits of taking a bath and combined with aromatherapy the effects can be enhanced. Water is a natural pain relief which is why it is offered during birth and is used as hydrotherapy. Submerging ourselves in water can support our body and mind whether it is taking an ice bath to relieve muscle pain, bathing in a hot spring for its natural mineral content, or taking to the water for leisure or fitness. Wild swimming is also said to have benefits such as increasing our white blood cell count, stimulating our lymphatic system and boosting blood circulation.
However, just taking a long soak in a warm bath at home can help aid relaxation, restful sleep and help us unwind, taking some time out when life gets busy. Being in warm water can increase our levels of serotonin, the chemical produced by the brain associated with happiness and well being. When we are relaxed, we can breathe deeper, which will lower our heart rate and improve our respiratory system such as our sinuses and lungs. Regular and deep breathing has a positive impact upon our blood flow and is good our immune system too. A strong immune system helps ward off viruses and infections. As well as calming our nervous system, being in water is low impact and can relieve our joints, bones and muscles, alleviating any pain and discomfort we may be experiencing. Water is good for our skin and using essential oils in our bath can help nourish our skin, our hair and nails.
Take some time out, have a warm bath, relax and breathe in the wonderful scent of essential oils. These oils are particularly recommended for women experiencing discomfort due to period pain however, anyone can benefit from the oils suggested.
Stop treatment if you experience skin irritation. Avoid during pregnancy.
Feeling hot and bothered? A good natural cooling agent is Peppermint (Mentha piperita) with its strong, fresh, menthol aroma. When I imagine Peppermint I think green and herbaceous, which could be because it’s from the same plant family as herbs such as Basil and Marjoram to name a few. Peppermint is a good pick me up, useful for tired minds and bodies as well as any digestive complaints such as nausea or colic. Because of it’s wonderful cooling effect, it is well suited as an inhalation or a spray. Combine 2 drops of Peppermint with 2 drops of Lemon and 2 drops of Grapefruit in your diffuser to calm and freshen up your space. Alternatively, add the same amount to between 15-30ml of water in a small spray bottle for a refreshing face or body mist. Use as often as you need and enjoy the fresh minty, tangy scent which will help you cool down. Avoid during pregnancy, keep away from eyes, use in low dilutions.
A great video for those who want to enhance their face mask using essential oils. Oils I would recommend which support the respiratory system and breathing would be Eucalyptus oils (Citradora, Smithii, Globulus) for a camphor like aroma. Also, citrus oils such as Lemon (Citrus limon) or Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) for a fresh sharp aroma. Or try Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) or Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) for a floral aroma. Do not use in pregnancy, keep away from eyes, do not use on children.
Geranium oil…just writing about this beautiful oil makes me want to take a long, deep inhale of it. Geranium is grown all over Europe, Russia, Egypt, North Africa and can come in different varieties and scents; the one I’m describing here is Pelargonium graveolens.
This photograph is from my garden and is a Zonal pelargonium commonly in most garden centres and in lots of gardens as it is ideal for pots and window boxes. Folklore tells us it was used to ward of evil spirits.
It has a sweet, rose like aroma and can often be a substitute for Rose oil so check the labelling before buying (always buy using the botanical name). Traditionally, Geranium is a regarded as a healing plant and was often planted around houses to ward off evil spirits – it is interesting that we plant them now in our front gardens and pots! It’s rich in alcohols and phenols making it antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and fungicidal therefore excellent for skin conditions such as athletes foot, burns, impetigo. It is a ‘skin balancer’ helping control sebum production (secretion from skin cells) so it is good for all skin types and has cell regenerating properties therefore perfect for mature skin. I always use it in face cream for this reason and because it is carminative, soothing the nervous system, relieving stress and anxiety. It regulates hormones therefore useful for women who are feeling premenstrual, working alongside our circulatory system eliminating waste and congestion. Use it if you experience Raynaud’s disease (myself), it warms cold hands and feet. It is a relatively inexpensive oil and can be found in most health food shops or online.
Put 1-2 drops in an oil burner to lift your mood; mix 2 drops with 5ml of carrier oil to massage into your abdomen if you are feeling bloated or congested; add 4 drops of Geranium and 4 drops of Lavender into a warm bath to help you relax after a long day. I am currently working on a hand cream using this oil so watch this space! Avoid during pregnancy.
This interview from Science Weekly about Corvid-19 discusses how scientists and health professionals are trying to understand the virus and how best to treat it for those who have survived but are still experiencing chronic symptoms such as coughs, colds, muscle pain, lung, heart and kidney issues, and general exhaustion. What has become clear in these very uncertain times is that the virus is diverse and affects different people in different ways. Understanding how to treat the virus is understanding the variety of symptoms people are experiencing, and the effects it has, or has had, upon our bodies and minds.
Last week NHS England launched a “revolutionary on-demand recovery service” which offersrehabilitation treatments for those who have had Covid-19 but still have problems with breathing, muscular pain, coughs, as well as experiencing mental health problems or other complications. As an Aromatherapist listening to this, I believe that some of the symptoms of Corvid-19 – and the focus here is on chronic (long term) – can be treated using Complementary Therapies such as massage, aromatherapy, reflexology as well as physiotherapy and bio-medicine.
Symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, coughs, physical and mental exhaustion, low immunity are treatable using aromatherapy and aromatherapy massage. Indeed, promoting well-being, helping with stress relief and creating an environment for relaxation are very much at the heart of all Complementary Therapies, and although the focus for health professionals treating patients who’ve had Covid-19 may be specific parts of the body such as lungs, kidneys, heart, blood; working on the idea of also treating the whole person, which is a holistic approach, will also help treat specific areas. The reason I say this is because essential oils are multifaceted.
What does this mean exactly? Well, if a client approached me and said they were tired, run down and had a constant cold, one oil I would recommended using is a citrus oil such as Lemon (Citrus limon). Lemon is known to help boost the immune system so is excellent for symptoms of flu and colds such as catarrh, fever, congestion. It can also be used to treat asthma and bronchitis. This is because Lemon has chemical properties that are antiviral, bactericidal – good for fighting infections. However, Lemon is also good for stimulating the circulatory system, it can lower high blood pressure, slow external bleeding such as nosebleeds; it is detoxifying and a diuretic. Furthermore, it has a positive effect upon the nervous system; it is calming, clarifying, uplifting. I would recommend it for skin problems such as acne, oily skin, boils and warts. It’s fungicidal so can treat thrush. It is anti-inflammatory and therefore good in a massage for musculoskeletal pain. All in all, Lemon is a great tonic for both the mind and body.
Therefore, essential oils contain many different and diverse chemical components with many different indicators and when used for one particular treatment, they also help other symptoms too. Sometimes those symptoms may not be outlined by the client in consultation. But as most symptoms are interrelated, treatment for one, is treatment for all. For example, a client may not be sleeping due to stress at work and they may also have sore neck and shoulders due to working at a computer for long periods. After consultation they may opt for an aromatherapy massage after which they report feeling more relaxed which results in them sleeping better; because they sleep better they are less tired have more energy for exercise, spending time doing something they enjoy; they may be more rested so are eating better as they have more energy to home-cook, and generally, they report feeling better all-round in terms of health and well-being. Understanding which part of the treatment ‘worked’ could be impossible, but one thing this is for sure, the client reports feeling less congested, well rested and generally ‘better’.
My proposal would be for NHS England to embrace Complementary Therapies for treating the long term effects of Covid-19 and become part of the package of care for those suffering with chronic symptoms.
Here are some oils combinations and how you can use them to address particular symptoms relating to Covid-19:
Coughs: Thyme, Peppermint and Cedarwood
Sinusitis: Lemon, Tea tree and Lavender
Catarrh/mucous: Lemon, Lavender and Ginger
1 drop of each in an oil burner (or 2 drops of each in a diffuser), or 1 drop of each on your pillow at night. Make sure you turn the pillow over so the oils do not touch the skin.
2 drops of each in a warm bath before bed. Mix with some bath salts or carrier oil such as sunflower or grapeseed.
Muscular problems and tension: Grapefruit, Black pepper, Benzoin
2 drops of each in 15 ml of carrier oil (Grapeseed, Sunflower, Coconut) and massage into tired muscles.
2 drops of each in a warm bath before bed. Mix with some bath salts or carrier oil such as sunflower or grapeseed.
2 drops of each in a warm bath before bed. Mix with some bath salts or carrier oil such as sunflower or grapeseed.
Fatigue: Basil, Sweet orange, Rosemary
Add 3 drops of each into a rollerball mixed with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or sunflower oil. Use as often as you need to.
Insomnia: Bergamot, Chamomile, Sandalwood
1 drop of each on your pillow before bed
2 drops of each in a warm bath before bed. Mix with some bath salts or carrier oil such as sunflower or grapeseed.
Safety: do not use direct onto the skin, do not ingest, keep away from children, store bought oils in a cool dark place, buy from a reputable supplier (ATA approved), check with a qualified aromatherapist or your GP before treatment if you have any health issues or have questions or concerns.
I was exploring the garden after the rain as is full of surprises; raindrops clinging to stems, snails galore and summer fruits gleaming, freshly washed and ready to pick. I noticed the Thyme nestled against Sage and Mint in a pot near my back door, it had flowered and it got me thinking of the essential oil – Thymus vulgaris. This oil is extracted from the flowers and leaves, and can have a powerful, medicated herbaceous odour or a soft, sweet, woody aroma depending upon which variety you use. There are many different types of Thyme – red, white, sweet, Moroccan, wild – and they have different chemical compositions. I’m focussing here on Red Thyme (Thymus vulagris thymoliferum) which is rich in PHENOL making it a powerful antiseptic and pain killer. Folk tradition sees Thyme being used by ancient Egyptians during the embalming process and in ancient Greece against infectious diseases. In fact, the Greek word Thymos means ‘to perfume’ and it has traditionally been used to preserve meat. Thyme is a good painkiller, it can be used for tooth ache, gum infections as well as musco-skeletal conditions such as arthritis and sports injuries. Thyme is also described as ‘wound healing’ and can be used for most skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, insect bites, acne and burns. Having said that, it can cause skin irritation so should be used with care and diluted properly; if you have concerns, consult a qualified Aromatherapist before use. It is a stimulating oil, it gets things moving in your body, boosting your immune system, increasing blood flow so great for poor circulation, raising your blood pressure. It is an expectorant, mucolytic, and decongestant so good to use if you have asthma, bronchitis, coughs, sore throats. Who knew such a humble herb had such a big personality! It blends beautifully with citrus oils such as Grapefruit, Lemon, Mandarin as well as Rosemary, Lavender, Tea tree, Marjoram, Juniper. It should not be used in pregnancy, and avoided if you have sensitive skin, low blood pressure or taking immunosuppressants.
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