Aromatherapy - Using Essential Oils for Self Reliant Healing

Great tips on homesteading, frugal living, and self reliance.
	Aromatherapy - Using Essential Oils for Self Reliant Healing Aromatherapy is a great form of self reliant healing. While it is not a miracle cure and will not replace a doctor, it may help ease pain, promote faster healing and uplift your spirits. What It Is Aromatherapy is an alternative medicine using the essential oils of plants to affect your mood or health. You either diffuse it into different oil – known as a carrier oil – such as jojoba or sweet almond oil, or place a few drops on a handkerchief you carry with you. You can also add a few drops of the essential oil to your bath water or add it to your humidifier. How It Came About The actual term “aromatherapy” was first used in the 1920s by Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist who accidentally set his arm on fire while working in his perfume factory. He thrust his arm into the nearest cold liquid available, which turned out to be lavender oil. To his amazement, the pain rapidly eased and the burn healed quickly with little pain and no scarring. After that, Gattefosse devoted his life to researching how essential oils heal the human body. Jean Valnet continued that work and during World War II treated wounded soldiers with essential oils. Aromatherapy is still popular in France and prescribed by many French physicians. Although physicians in other parts of the world may not recognize this form of medicine, it can be a handy tool for the self reliant, and a few bottles of essential oils should be on the shelves of every homesteader. Remember that these oils should never be applied directly to the skin. Always diffuse them. What Essential Oils Can Do Here are some of the more popular essential oils and how aromatherapy can help you: Peppermint Some warnings right up front: Peppermint can antidote homeopathic remedies. Also if you are pregnant or nursing you should not use peppermint. That being said, this essential oil is useful for treating headaches, muscle aches and digestive complaints. It is also great if you are exhausted or suffering burnout. It will give you focus and help with memory and concentration. Eucalyptus This is also something you should avoid if you are using homeopathic remedies. But otherwise, eucalyptus is a powerful form of aromatherapy that will help with respiratory problems such as coughs, colds and asthma. This oil will also relieve muscle tension and boost your immune system. Ylang Ylang This oil is great for releasing anger, which is often a cause of depression. It helps you relax and promotes happiness and feelings of peace. Geranium This is a great aromatherapy for women as it balances our hormones. It eases stress, is relaxing and uplifting and is also great for depression. Geranium is a strong scent so use it sparingly. It calms agitation and eases frustration and irritability. This oil is particularly useful when you are suffering nervous exhaustion due to stress and overwork. Lavender This one is a must-have essential oil for every homesteader. Not only is this oil relaxing, it is also an excellent aromatherapy, useful for treating wounds, burns and skin problems. Lavender oil releases anger and is good for insomnia. It’s also good for relieving panic attacks. Lemon This is a helpful aromatherapy oil for treating wounds and infections. It is also good for house cleaning and deodorizing, and is also useful for easing fear and helping memory and concentration. Clary Sage This wonderful oil is a natural pain killer, great for easing muscular aches and pains. This is aromatherapy at its best. It is also good for insomnia, balances hormones and eases feelings of loneliness. It can bring about a sense of calmness and confidence in stressful situations and is uplifting. It gives you energy and can also induce feelings of euphoria and elation and enhances creative work. Be sure to avoid alcoholic beverages before and after using this oil. Tea Tree This is a natural anti fungal oil and is good for treating vaginal yeast infections, jock itch, athlete’s foot and ringworm, and will boost the immune system. Roman Chamomile This is a great aromatherapy for easing sleeplessness and anxiety, as well as muscle aches and tension. It is also useful for treating wounds and infection. On the emotional plain, it eases anger, depression, fear, irritability, stress and loneliness. Rosemary This essential oil gives you energy – sometimes too much. I put this oil in our humidifier once and couldn’t sleep a wink all night! Talk about energy through aromatherapy! This one definitely gets you pumped and full of energy. This uplifting oil gives you confidence, improves memory and concentration, stimulates both your immune and digestive system and is great for getting the creative juices flowing. Some Precautions Always read about an essential oil and follow the guidelines before applying it, and always dilute the oil before applying it directly onto your skin or inhaling it. You should obviously keep these oils away from your eyes and out of the reach of children. Stop using it if you get an allergic reaction. If an essential oil does come into direct contact with your skin, apply any vegetable or carrier oil to the area. The essential oil will then be absorbed into your skin and in a few minutes, the irritation will ease. Citrus essential oils increase photo sensitivity. If you plan to use any of the citrus oils, stay out of the sun. Stressed Out With the High Cost of Conventional Medicine? You can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars per year by turning instead to time-tested natural cures using herbs. Herbal remedies have been relied on for centuries to ease the discomfort of all sorts of ailments from the common cold, to hormonal troubles, to even blemishes. Buy these herbs in bulk, along with your own infuser or reusable tea bags, and you save even more money. Learn more here. To learn what the different herbs can do click here. More Information on Self Reliant Healing Stress and how we deal with it plays a crucial role in how well we combat disease and remain healthy. Here are some tips for relieving stress. Essential oils don't just smell good, they can also help balance your emotions and contribute to your well being. Learn more about aromatherapy - both what it is and how it can help you. Home remedies are self reliance at its best, looking to the pantry rather than an expensive doctor visit for a cure. Here are some simple items you have at home that can help promote healing. Another gentle, low-cost form of healing is Homeopathy, promoting healing by stimulating the body's own immune system. Learn how homeopathy can help you Other Helpful Links For more information about using essential oils for healing, contact the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy. Return to Home	Build Your Own Chicken Tractor! *You Can Build a Chicken Tractor* Provides you with step-by-step instructions on how to build a chicken tractor and also provides helpful information on how to get free wood and how your chickens can pay for themselves. Click Here learn more. Search This Site: Subscribe to my free ezine! Successful Homesteading is a bi-weekly e-zine covering everything about self-reliance and the healthy, frugal life. Imagine! Great tips on organic gardening, self reliance, frugal living and frugal recipes on a regular basis and sent straight to your ebox! Click here to subscribe. Simple Remedies at Home That Save Money Did you know... Herbal remedies can be used to treat a wide range of minor ailments including: Bladder infections Canker Sores Coughs Depression Eczema Fatigue Headaches Menopausal symptoms Insect bites Influenza Menstrual cramps Sore throat Warts *And many more!* *Learn more by clicking here. Subscribe to my free ezine!* Successful Homesteading is a bi-weekly e-zine covering everything about self-reliance and the healthy, frugal life. Imagine! Great tips on organic gardening, self reliance, frugal living and frugal recipes on a regular basis and sent straight to your ebox! Click here to subscribe. Make Your Own Tortillas For a Delicious Taste and Great Savings! Eliminate chemicals and preservatives from your diet and save money when you make your own tortillas at home using this cast-aluminum tortilla press from Norpro. Now you can make flour or corn tortillas for your own authentic-looking and tasting burritos and enchiladas. Cast Aluminum Tortilla Press Available from the Homesteading Shopper Just $14.59 Subscribe to my free ezine! Successful Homesteading is a bi-weekly e-zine covering everything about self-reliance and the healthy, frugal life. Imagine! Great tips on organic gardening, self reliance, frugal living and frugal recipes on a regular basis and sent straight to your ebox! Click here to subscribe. Build Your Own Chicken Tractor! *You Can Build a Chicken Tractor* Provides you with step-by-step instructions on how to build a chicken tractor and also provides helpful information on how to get free wood and how your chickens can pay for themselves. Click Here learn more. Search This Site:
Important Information What's New? Table of Contents Contact Me My Free Ezine Visit My Store You Can Build a Chicken Tractor About Me Country Critters Goats Chickens Beekeeping Cattle Pigs All Things Frugal Frugal Living Frugal Cooking Make It Yourself Homestead Passions Find a Community Urban Self Reliance For Moms Off the Grid Homeschooling Self Reliance Natural Healing Live Off the Land Being Prepared Organic Gardening Medicinal Herb Garden Enjoy This Site? Then why not use the button below, to add us to your favorite bookmarking service? [?] Subscribe To This Site
\| Return to Top \| Homestead Goats \| Homestead Chickens \| The Homestead Beekeeper \| Frugal Living Tips\| \| Frugal Healthy Recipes\| Make It Yourself \| Find Homesteaders \| Urban Homesteading \| Homesteading Moms \| Off the Grid \| Natural Healing \|\| Live Off the Land \| Being Prepared \| Organic Gardening \| \| Copyright \| Disclaimer \| Terms Of Use\|
Copyright© 2008-2012.