Holistic healing

Your essential (oils) first aid kit

Summer’s on its way and while we all love a hefty dose of fun in the sun, it doesn’t come without pesky irritations such mosquito bites and cocktail hangovers. Here is the NH guide on getting through it all…

Summer’s on its way and while we all love a hefty dose of fun in the sun, it doesn’t come without pesky irritations such mosquito bites and cocktail hangovers. Here is the NH guide on getting through it all…

Lavender (Lavandula officinalis)

Lavender

Uses: With a multitude of applications, this oil is a must for a summer kit. Cuts, blisters, insect bites, burns, insect repellent, headaches, insomnia, stress, fear (of flying), sunburn, muscular aches and pains.

Actions: Healing, soothing, sedative and antiseptic.

Methods: Use in baths, room vaporisers and massage oils; may also be applied neat to insect bites and burns. Lavender water makes a fantastic post-sun spritz.

Chamomile Roman (Chamaemelum nobile)

Chamomile

Uses: Another summer essential – this great all-rounder combats allergies, insomnia, stress, anxiety as well as being wonderfully soothing for sunburn, sensitive skin and heat rash.

Actions: Anti-inflammatory, anit-spasmodic effect, anti-allergenic, soothing.

Methods: Use in baths, room vaporisers and massage oils; good for children in low dilutions. Chamomile water makes the perfect soothing and cooling spray on sunburned skin.

Rose Maroc (Rosa centifolia)

Rose Maroc

Uses: Combat pre-flight nerves with this soothing oil that helps combat anxiety and nervous tension.

Actions: Healing soothing and rejuevenating.

Methods: Use in baths, room vaporisers and massage oils and a few drops on a handkerchief before you fly will help combat fear of flying. It’s also a multi-purpose skincare agent as rose water is the classic skin care aid for toning, hydrating and cleansing.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Rosemary

Uses: The classic wake-me-up essential oil – if you’re feeling under the weather, it helps combat joint stiffness, coughs, colds and sinus congestion, flu, airborne viruses, muscular aches, and pains, exhaustion and hangovers.

Actions: Stimulates the blood circulation and nervous system, reviving, invigorating.

Methods: Use in baths, room vaporisers and massage oils.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)

Eucalyptus

Uses: This is brilliant for respiratory and infectious conditions, including colds, chills, flu and fever

Actions: A powerful antiseptic and decongestant

Methods: Use in baths (five drops only), room vaporisers and steam inhalations.

Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)

Geranium

Uses: Great for combating jet lag and any anxiety and stress associated with travelling.

Actions: Balancing, anti-inflammatory and an antispasmodic.

Methods: Use in baths, room vaporisers and massage oils.

Ginger (zingiber officinale)

Ginger

Uses: Another top all-rounder – it helps ease everything from upset tummies and diarrhoea to nausea, stomach cramps, motion sickness, colds, chills, coughs and sinus congestion – so perfect if you’ve overdone it the night before.

Actions: Warming, expectorant (loosens phlegm) and anti-spasmodic.

Methods: Use in baths, room vaporisers and massage oils. One of the best for the joints and digestive upsets. Use it as a massage oil, but only in a very low dilution.