Using Essential Oils for Basic First Aid

Essential Oils can aid in the healing of a wide range of minor ailments such as insect bites, ear and tooth aches, minor burns, minor bruises, minor cuts and sprained ligaments.  Some of the techniques used to apply the essential oils can be bathing (relaxation & remove impurities), compresses (sprained ligaments), massage (aches & pains), antiseptic washes (cleaning out wounds) and steam inhalations (colds & flus).

For safety reasons, especially if you are on medication, please consult your physician before using an essential oil.  Essential oils should never be taken orally or poured directly into your ear.

Here is a list of some simple blends;

Insect Bites:

Lavender Oil (1  drop) and Tea Tree Oil (1 drop) directly to the bite, repeat hourly if necessary.

Ear Ache:

Chamomile Oil (1 drop), Lavender Oil (1 drop), and Olive Oil (1 tsp) warmed, dip the cotton ball in it and insert in the infected ear.

Tooth Ache:

Peppermint Oil (1 drop), Chamomile Oil (2 drops) to hot water (4 cups), and dip the washcloth in it, wring out and place on the face where the tooth ache is.

Minor Burn:

First stop the burn process by running under cold water for a few minutes.  Apply Lavender Oil (1-2 drops) to the affected area and repeat every few hours if necessary.

Minor Bruises:

Chamomile Oil (8 drops), Geranium Oil (8 drops), Marjoram Oil (15 drops), and Sweet Almond Oil (30 ml) and apply to the minor bruise and repeat if necessary.

Minor Cuts:

Clean the cut first and apply Lavender Oil directly to the minor cut.

Sprained Ligaments:

Chamomile Oil (2 drops), Geranium Oil (2 drops), and Cold Water (1 cup), apply a cold compress to the affected area.

Please check out our Clearly Essentials’ website to see our list of essential oils and carrier oils we supply.

What an Essential Oil can do for you?

Have you ever wondered what an Essential Oil can do for you?  How does it work?  Well for one thing, there is well documented evidence that herbs and aromatics have been around for a long time – some 3000-5000 years ago.  Egypt, India and China are just a few of the places that have a long history in the use of aromatics.

Essential oils are volatile substances that evaporate as soon as they come in contact with air.  They are inflammable and do not dissolve in water but dissolve well in alcohol, vegetable oils, fats and waxes.

When the massage therapist rubs your skin with a base oil (containing a small blend of essential oils), your skin absorbs the oil mixture and it is drawn into the body through the skin.  A small concentration of essential oils circulates around the bloodstream and travels throughout your body.   This can lead to a number of physical benefits like muscle relaxation, improved blood circulation, lymphatic drainage and give you an uplifting psychological effect.

When you inhale air during a massage, most of the molecules of essential oils are breathed in and will find their way into your bloodstream from your lungs.  Essential oils can have a powerful emotional, mental and psychological effect on us.

Massage is just one of the ways essential oils are absorbed into your body, things like taking a bath, inhalations, creams and lotions are just to name a few.

Please make sure that you use essential oils safely because they are powerful.  You can visit us at www.clearlyessentials.com for our list of essential oils and carrier oils we supply.

Pregnancy & Essential Oils

pregnantIn a blog I wrote last year called “Handling & Storing of Essential Oils”, I touched lightly on safety precautions to be followed when using essential oils.  Now I would like to give you some guidelines to keep in mind during pregnancy.

Firstly, do not use essential oils during the first trimester of your pregnancy.  Massage blends should contain half the number of drops of essential oils compared to a normal blend. If you have a history of miscarriages, it is strongly recommended to avoid most essential oils.  Also try to avoid essential oils that have a very strong odour and purifying effect like rosemary, sage, yarrow, myrrh, laurel leaf, fennel, juniper berry, sweet basil, tulsi, damiana, angelica root, lovage root, jasmine absolute and agnus castus.

Here is a list of essential oils that can be used in low dosage after the first trimester; geranium, ylang ylang, petitgrain, patchouli, chamomile, lavender, mandarin, grapefruit, bergamot, lemon, ginger, pine, peppermint and orange.

A pregnant woman’s sense of smell is heightened during pregnancy.  Gentle aromatherapy can be comforting and promote a sense of well-being.  A massage on the lower back can give you some pain relief and comfort.   Another common complaint is tired and swollen legs and ankles so a firm pressure leg massage can relieve some of that discomfort.

Clearly Essential’s website contains detailed information on each essential oil we supply.  Please make sure you read the safety precautions section first before placing an order.

New Year – New Anxieties……

no_pictureWelcome to 2010!  It is hard to believe that another year has gone by, but with a new year comes new challenges and expectations.

January is a month where we come down from our hectic holiday schedule, try to pay off our over extended credit cards and feel a little anxious about our jobs.

A little bit of anxiety is normal but when it becomes excessive and prolonged, it can affect you physically as well.  Some of the physical symptoms are tight muscles, migraine, allergies, insomnia and digestive problems.

Aromatherapy is an alternative to medicine that can help you relieve some of that anxiety you are feeling.  Essential oils have a way of influencing our moods and help you regain that positive and energized feeling again.  The best remedy is to have a regular full body massage, or focus your massage directly to where the muscles are most tense like your neck, shoulders, chest, abdomen and feet.  A relaxing bath with the right combination of calming essential oils at night will relax your body and promote sleep as well.  Also diffusing calming essential oils throughout the house or your office can be uplifting.

Here are a few blend combinations to consider;

Massage:

Calming – chamomile (5 drops), bergamot (5 drops), lavender (5 drops), carrier oil (1 tbsp)                     

Uplifting – rosewood (5 drops), geranium (4 drops), patchouli (4 drops), clove (2 drops), carrier oil (1 tbsp)                          

Muscle Relaxant – geranium (10 drops), ginger (10 drops), cedarwood (5 drops), juniper berry (5 drops), carrier oil (2 tbsp)

 

Bath:

Calming – petitgrain (5 drops), ylang ylang (5 drops), orange (5 drops), carrier oil (1 tsp)                        

Uplifting – bergamot (5 drops), rosemary (5 drops), benzion (5 drops), carrier oil (1 tsp)                          

Muscle Relaxant – cedarwood (4 drops), chamomile (4 drops), lavender (4 drops), lemongrass (3 drops), carrier oil (1 tsp)

                    

Diffuser –   choose from the following:

Uplifting – eucalyptus, lemon, lime, peppermint or pine.

Calming – chamomile, geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, mandarin, orange and petitgrain.

Please check out our website for our list of essential oils and carrier oils that we supply. 

Goodbye to 2009

iStock_000005583808XSmallWell as this year comes to a close, and we take a break over the Holiday Season it’s time to reflect on my past blogs and mention a few things.

Clearly Essentials has been in operation now for over a year and we would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for their support and loyalty.

I have spent a lot of time discussing the various essential oils and carrier oils we supply and have given some ideas on various uses, but I haven’t really mentioned that we do blends as well.

In the New Year we will be offering a number of packaged blends and we will be creating custom blends as well.  So if you are interested please give us a call.

December is a month of eating, drinking and parties, so essential oils can be very helpful:  Fennel, ginger and peppermint have all been found to aid indigestion; while aniseed, basil, fennel, ginger and rose have been used as hangover remedies.  Just add a few drops to a diffuser and allow the essential oil’s aroma to fill the room.

Have a safe and Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year too!

If you haven’t already noticed we have upgraded our website so please take a look – www.clearlyessentials.com

Do you need a little Stress Relief?

iStock_000002334807XSmallEvery day of our lives we are faced with at least a little bit of stress or worrying and most of the time a deep breath will make it manageable or go away.

Unfortunately stress has a way of starting with your emotions and then starts to move down your body to your muscles, affecting your breathing, causing headaches, insomnia and loss of appetite.

Here are 2 ways to help you release that emotion;

  1. Massage – is the best way of releasing the tension that has built up in your body.  It helps to improve circulation and relax your muscles.  All you need to do is add a few drops of essential oil to your massage oil (do not apply directly to the skin) and combined they will help you to achieve an emotional and physical balance again.

Here are a few suggestions of essential oils; lavender, geranium, juniper, ylang ylangrosemary, chamomile, cedarwood, lemon, mandarin, petitgrain, orange, bergamot, and clary sage.

 2.    Bathing – soaking in a bath tub is such a simple thing that can also help relieve stress mentally and physically.  All you need to do is add a few drops of essential oils directly to your bath or dilute it with a carrier oil and soak away! 

Here are a few suggestions of essential oils; geranium, chamomile, thyme, lavender, orange, ylang ylang, marjoram, lemonclary sage, petitgrain, and mandarin.

Clearly Essentials Limited would be more than happy to help your create a blend or offer some blending suggestions.

You can contact us at our website: www.clearlyessentials.com

Essential Oils for Colds and Flu

iStock_000005526471XSmallIt’s that time of year again when the colder weather is approaching that the cold and flu virus starts to spread throughout our neighbourhoods.

It is very important to eat right and exercise but extremely important to wash your hands before you eat or come home from school and work.  Everywhere you look are posters encouraging you to cough and sneeze in your sleeve and hand santizers are being made available in schools, offices and churches to prevent the spread of germs.  Also try to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth because germs can spread that way too.  It seems every day now I read an article in the newspaper or turn on the television and there is information or a news story on the H1N1 virus.

So here is a list of some of the essential oils you should be keeping around the house to help prevent or relieve the symptoms;

Create a blend that can be added to a hot bath, steam inhalation, massage oil, diffuser, or an ointment.

Create a blend to be added to a hot bath, steam inhalation, vapourizer or massage oil which can be massaged into the upper back, chest and throat.

Create a blend and apply it with a cotton swab directly onto the sore.

It is very important to remember that if symptoms worsen and a fever develops you should always see a doctor immediately.

At Clearly Essentials, our team of specialists would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have and provide you with formulas for mixing essential oils for colds and flu.

Please feel free to contact us at (416) 751-0105 or www.clearlyessentials.com

Essential Oils for Health & Wellness

Every essential oil, when properly administered, carries a unique set of properties that can stimulate your senses, cleanse your mind or body, and naturally enhance your health through aromatherapy, massage therapy, and countless other applications.  Regardless of your desired effect, you’ll find an essential oil that meets your health and wellness needs.h2

 

Finding the right fragrance combination of essential oils for the desired effect on your mood or emotion is the first step;

 

Lifting your spiritsbergamot, basilgeraniumsandalwood

Romantic or sensuous indulgence – marjoram, ylang ylang, rosewood

Stimulating rosemary, peppermint, eucalyptus, basil

Calming – stress or tension – chamomile, lavender, bergamot, orange, clary sage

Build confidence or energy Ylang ylangginger, clary sage

Relieve fear, worry, grief, depression, anger, sadness or impatience Lavenderrosemary, pine, juniper, chamomile, marjoramsandalwood.

These are just of few of the essential oils to choose from when making your blend. The next step is finding the right remedy to use, whether it’s through massage, bathing, inhalation, compresses, or a wash.

When you are creating a blend it also reflects your personality and may change as you mature.

Clearly Essentials website contains information on each essential oil and their properties plus our team of specialists can help you build the perfect blend to meet your needs.