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The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Disclaimer: The content of this ebook is intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition.
Nothing in this ebook is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician
or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or
delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this ebook or on ANY website.

A Note From Dee: Although there is a TON of information in this mini-course, and I am confident that it will help you learn the basics of
aromatherapy to help heal yourself and your family, it doesn't come close to what you would learn from an in-depth course in aromatherapy.

I've been a certified aromatherapist for many years now and I can honestly say that I have never been sorry that I delved into this healing modality. It
is fun, effective and has terrific results the majority of the time.

If you would like to explore becoming an Aromatherapist, I encourage you to visit the Alternative Healing Academy. That is where we teach courses
such as Basic & Advanced Aromatherapy, Crystal Aromatherapy, ReflexAromatherapy (the combination of reflexology & aromatherapy) as well as
Color/Crystal Aromatherapy, Color/Crystal Therapy, Reflexology and Holistic Beauty Therapy. (Save 10%! Use coupon code: aha10off)

The courses are in-depth, comprehensive, easy-to-understand and sensibly priced. We even offer affordable, easy-to-manage payment plans. Learn
more about your future career in Holistic Healing at the Alternative Healing Academy!

Contents:

Introduction to Aromatherapy Storing and Handling of Essential Oils


Illness in Modern Living Health & Safety
Essential Oils - The Life Force of Plants Blending Your Essential Oils
How Essential Oils Healing Properties, Quality are Oil Measurements & Equivalents
Determined Carrier Oils
Evidence Based Results Shelf Life of Carrier Oils
Energy Fields Organic Oils
Chi Chakra Blending Guide
The Connection Between Essential Oils & Humans Application Methods
The History of Aromatheray Quality of Essential Oils
Modern History of Aromatherapy Affinities of Essential Oils with Crystals
The Sense of Smell Single Essential Oil Profiles
The Sense of Smell and Emotional Response Oil to Symptom List
The Mind Connection Symptom to Oil List
Essential Oils - Exactly What are They? Aromatherapy and Pets
Plant Categories Basic Blends for Common Conditions
What is an Essence, an Essential Oil & a Hydrosol? Basic Candle Making
How Do We Obtain Essential Oils? Basic Perfume Making
Table of Commonly Used Essential Oils Recommended Reading
Evaporation of Essential Oils


The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

INTRODUCTION TO AROMATHERAPY
Aromatherapy is a natural treatment, with the aim of producing a spiritual, physical,
emotional and mental sense of general well-being via inhalation and massage of
essential oils.

Essential oils are derived from plants and are selected for their individual
therapeutic qualities which are stimulating, refreshing and sedative. Massage can
be used with therapeutic oils in order to increase their effectiveness.

Aromatherapy is also knownas the art of utilizing specially selected aromatic oils for
therapeutic purposes. It is one of the fastest growing complementary therapies in
the world and is recognized as one of the most natural and holistic treatments
available today.

It is not the goal of aromatherapy to treat disease. Its goal is to uncover and
encourage feelings of well-being, harmony and better overall health.

Pure essential oils are extracted from the bark, roots, stalks, leaves, flowers and
resins of trees and plants. Early man more than likely chewed many of these to take advantage of their
medicinal benefits.

Later, man pressed various plants and flowers and made that extract into teas, until the distillation process was
perfected. There are plants which are processed in various ways in order to obtain different aromatic
substances..

Today, aromatherapy is one of the most popular complementary therapies, providing a wide range of very
effective treatments to both acute and chronic stages of illness.

At the same time, regular use of aromatherapy treatments and home-use products can help to strengthen the
immune system, thereby establishing a preventative approach to overall health.

One of the reasons that aromatherapy has been so hugely successful is because it uses a holistic approach,
whereby the aromatherapist takes into account a persons medical history, emotional condition, general health
and lifestyle before planning a course of treatment.

The whole person is treated - not just the symptoms of an illness - and this is in direct opposition to the modern
trend of just treating the presented condition.

Backache, irritable bowel syndrome or headaches, for example, are often the result of stress and not actually a
physical problem. Therefore no amount of pill-popping is really going to provide a long term solution since it only
masks the symptoms without addressing the problems.

By looking at the causes of the stress and providing treatments to ease and manage it, the aromatherapist will
alleviate the condition in a much more efficient manner.

ILLNESS IN MODERN LIVING


Due to the pace of modern living, each day sees a further increase in the number of people suffering from the
effects of stress. Noise, air pollution, financial problems, uncertainty about the future, contribute to the general
stress situation from which there is sometimes no escape.

Where we as humans are concerned, stress produces a state of muscular tension - our hearts work harder,
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

valuable energy is burned up unnecessarily, we become fatigued and sometimes depressed. Consequently our
resistance to infection and disease is drastically reduced.

Since the causes of stress are here to stay, we can only deal with the effects
of stress through the administration of treatments, specially designed to relax
tension, restore vitality, and reduce the workload of the heart, nerves, etc.
Such treatments nearly always include massage.

Of all the holistic therapies, perhaps aromatherapy is the one that instantly
connects us to our earliest primeval links with all natural energy forces - the
Earth, the Sun and Moon, the elements of wind and rain, the ebb and flow of
tides, the animals of the land, the sea and the plants that grow upon the
earth.

Each rock and stone, each grain of sand, each animal and plant, has its own
natural vibration and its own energy field. When we use aromatherapy, we tap into these vibrational energy
forces via the essential oils.

ESSENTIAL OILS - THE LIFE FORCE OF PLANTS


Essential oils are the fragrant, highly concentrated natural constituents that are found in plants. They are what
give the plant its characteristic odour and contain the healing power of the plant from which it was extracted.
When used correctly, essential oils bring a wide range of health benefits since unlike modern drugs, they have
no side-effects.

As we use essential oils we are using the energy, essence or 'hormones' of plants - their life force in fact. The
living plants are interdependent for their survival on the earth, the sun, the elements of weather and the
interaction of animals, birds and insects - perfect balance of the vibrational natural world.

Minute oil glands produce the essences of plants in the stems, leaves, flowers, seeds and fruit, wood, bark and
resins of plants and trees. This essence gives the plant its individual scent or smell, in their natural state,
releasing this scent slowly into the atmosphere.

These oil glands can be encouraged to burst by crushing or heating and the resulting harvest of essences can
be collected. A process of distillation can then extract the pure essential oils. When used in aromatherapy, the
essential oils transfer their vibrational energies and medicinal benefits to the person being treated.


The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

HOW ESSENTIAL OIL HEALING PROPERTIES, QUALITY ARE


DETERMINED
by Geoff Lyth: Essential oils possess a wide range of healing
properties that can be used effectively to keep you in the
best of health as well as looking good. These health-giving
benefits include improving the complexion of your skin by
stimulating cellular renewal, balancing roller-coaster
emotions and fighting bacteria, fungi and other forms of
infection. Essential oils have an almost endless list of
therapeutic uses.

But only by using essential oils of the very highest quality


can you be sure of achieving text-book results. Although
cheaper essential oils may appear to save you money, they
will certainly not deliver the results that you are entitled to
expect. Therefore you will have wasted your hard-earned cash.

To meet the high quality for aromatherapy, an essential oil should be extracted from a single botanical species
that has been botanically authenticated, and derived from a known country of origin. To be 100% pure, nothing
should be added or taken away from the oil after extraction.

The process of gas chromatography helps determine what the chemical components of an essential oil are. This
is the most important method used to precisely measure what percentage of specific chemical ingredients the
essential oil holds. It is done on a regular basis on essential oils used for medical purposes. The peaks of the
chromatograph present the level of concentration of specific chemical ingredients. From there, we are able to
determine the healing properties and the 'energy' of an essential oil.

When using Gas Chromatography to test an essential oil, a tiny sample of the oil is injected (pictured right) into
the apparatus which contains a very thin coiled silica tube called a 'capillary column'. This capillary column may
measure up to 100 metres in length and is coated on the inside with a material that has an affinity to different
chemicals at different temperatures. The column is housed within a temperature regulated oven and is
programmed to steadily increase in temperature over a period of time in a very precise manner.

When the sample of oil is injected into the column it immediately vaporises, and an inert carrier gas (usually
hydrogen or helium) moves the vapour along the column to a detector called a Flame Ionisation Detector which
is situated at the end of the column.

The flame ioniser detector responds quantitatively to the vaporised constituents of the oil and converts this
information, via an integrator/computer, into proportional peaks printed onto computer listing paper. The height of
every 'peak' on the graph corresponds proportionally to the level of that component within the oil.

Every individual component of the essential oil can be identified by the time at which the peak elutes on the
trace. The data produced can then be compared to an established 'profile' or 'fingerprint' for that particular
essential oil to finally determine the purity of the oil.

Adulterants can usually be identified by this means of testing, although it does require the expertise of an organic
analytical chemist who is a specialist in this area to fully and accurately interpret the results of the testing.
Variations in climatic conditions, and the type of soil in which a plant was grown will produce natural variations in
essential oils produced from the same species.

EVIDENCE BASED RESULTS


The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

by Geoff Lyth: Research is continually re-affirming the efficacy of aromatherapy treatments, and the results are
now very hard to dismiss. A recent study in the USA has confirmed the long held belief of aromatherapists that
Jasmine is a powerful relaxant and an effective aid to restful sleep. The researcher explained that the purpose of
the study was specifically to investigate some of the beliefs behind aromatherapy.

Dr. Bryan Raudenbush and his colleagues at the Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, West Virginia, found
that people who slept in rooms fragranced with Jasmine appeared to sleep more peacefully and reported higher
afternoon alertness than when spending the night in a Lavender-scented room, or one with no added fragrance
at all. Similar research around the world has proven time and again the wide range of benefits that can be
received from the multifaceted art of aromatherapy.

ENERGY FIELDS
Like all natural things we each have our own energy field and, within us, channels of energy. These energy
channels can become blocked in times of illness, disease or stress. Treatment with the appropriate vibrational
element has the power to unblock the channels, allowing our life-force energies to flow freely again, so restoring
or maximizing our mental and physical good health.

These channels of energy have been known by a variety of names - Chi by ancient Chinese, Yin and Yang
meridians, bio-plasma and others. Nevertheless, vibrational medicines such as Aromatherapy, Reflexology,
Acupuncture and Color Therapy each work in their own way to restore our life-force energies to their balanced,
harmonious healthy state.

CHI
One finds continual references to the terms 'Chi' also known as 'Qi' or 'Ki'. It is simply the Chinese word for
breath, but it also imbibes life force or essential essence. The ancient Taoist masters spent much time observing
the flow of this 'Chi' which they recognized as the breath of the universe that moves through everything. Indian
tradition describes this energy as 'prana'.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ESSENTIAL OILS AND HUMANS


Humans have much in common with essential oils. We are both
alive --chemically and electrically.

Renowned aromatherapist and author Valerie Worwood once


wrote, "Plants and humans both depend on a chelating chemical,
which in humans is red heme and transports the oxygen released
from the plants in the blood, while in plants it is chlorophyll.

Chemically, the only difference between the two is that a


magnesium atom replaces an iron atom. The similar chemical
composition of plants and humans may explain why essential oils seem to act like keys to our physical and
mental mechanisms."

The Electro-Magnetism of Essential Oils

All life has electrical properties. So do essential oils. But what characterizes their polarity is their chemical
composition, or more specifically their chemical compounds. Phenyl propanes, for instance, are positive-or
yang-while sesquiterpenes have a negative energy-or yin.

The Yin/Yang of Essential Oils


The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

As mentioned above, the chemical composition of essential oils helps us determine their polarity, which in turn
helps us determine their Yin or Yang energy and influences. What are Yin and Yang energy in nature?
Inseparable and complementary, Yin and Yang represent tendencies rather than actual phenomena.

Each one possesses a specific dynamic. Yin is "cool," representing the being, inward movement, feminine
energy, the emotional state. Yang is "hot," representing knowing, outward, willpower, action, male energy, the
mental state.

THE HISTORY OF AROMATHERAPY


Aromatherapy literally means, "healing through the senses." Many centuries ago, priests in Egypt, China and
India used herbs infused with oils as a way to heal their patients. They ground the herbs in oil and used the
blends to anoint their patients during prayer and exercise. Then in the 10th century, an alchemist named
Avicenna invented the distillation process, from which aromatherapy was born.

Nobody knows exactly where and when the healing art of aromatherapy began. Nevertheless, it has its roots in
the rites and rituals of earliest mankind. By analysis of fossilized pollens found in ancient habitation and burial
sites of early humans, scientists have discovered traces of plant that have known medicinal properties. At least
some of these properties must have been evident to these early people, who would have made the discovery
either by accident or by observation.

Early man would soon have recognized which leaves, berries, fruit or roots encouraged wounds to heal or
sickness to improve. He would also have observed which plants sick animals sought out and ate. They
discovered startling proof of the early use of plants by Neanderthal man in 1975 at a cave site in Iraq. Scientific
excavation showed signs of human habitation for 60 000 years and the discoveries there have been some of the
most significant and important finds to date.

At this site in 1975, the burial of a Neanderthal adult male was discovered. The subsequent soil analysis showed
pollen evidence that the body had been placed on a bed of a type of woody horsetail plant and that it had been
buried with a wreath of flowers. The plants used for the wreath are all well known today and still used for their
medicinal properties. They include yarrow, groundsel, cornflower, St. Barnaby's thistle, grape, hyacinth and
hollyhock.

As several of these plants are known to have wound healing and fever reducing properties, it is tempting to think
that they were used for those same properties by the Neanderthal man, who, far from being a lumbering
cretinous creature, had now been shown to have been a thinking, feeling being as demonstrated by the care of
the burial ritual.

Early man would also have observed that the smoke from his fire could produce various effects. Some woods or
bushes, when burnt and the smoke inhaled, can produce drowsiness, some excitement and others
hallucinations. Little wonder that smoke and fire were considered magical and formed an integral part of many
rituals. They thought that some wood smoke was beneficial and the 'smoking' by sick people was an early
medical treatment. Fumigation with aromatic plants and woods has been an accepted medical practice for
thousands of years and is still used in some parts of the world today. Until as recent as, early 20th Century
hospitals in Europe burnt rosemary and thyme as a disinfectant.

Deliberate cultivation of plants began with Neolithic man and the plants cultivated included the poppy. It seems
highly unlikely that early man was aware of the narcotic effects. The white spotted red mushroom (Fly Agaric),
beloved of all illustrators of children's fairy tales, was another of the earliest substances used by man for its
hallucinatory effects. Perhaps this explains its connection with fairies and magical tales. The hallucinatory affects
were evident in some of Alice's experiences in Wonderland! Lewis Carroll was known to have studied the effects
of Fly Agaric.
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Evidence of the widespread use of aromatic plant substances was seen in the tomb paintings of the ancient
Egyptians 5000 years ago. Plant substances were used not only for medicinal, but also for perfumes and
cosmetics, in preservation and preparation of food to enhance flavor and aid digestion.

They were also used for their antibacterial and anti-viral properties to stave off illness and epidemic. Some
were even found to have contraceptive qualities.

The ancient Egyptians practiced a sophisticated level of medicine and many of the plants that they used are
today recognized as beneficial in the treatment of certain diseases. Their surgeons even developed techniques
for successful brain surgery. Evidence of this has been found on many mummified remains, which show clear
signs of skull surgery in which the bones of the skull had healed and knitted together some considerable time
before death.

They cultivated fields of fruits and vegetables and gardens of herbs. Plant substances were used extensively in
pills, potions, pastes, ointments, infusions, poultices, powders and suppositories. And when the ancient Egyptian
died, plant substances, bitumen's and resins were used in the most important ritual of all - embalming his body
so that his Ba, or spirit, could live for eternity. The embalming of royal bodies and High Court dignitaries involved
the removal of the internal organs, which they embalmed separately and stored in canopic jars for later burial in
the tomb. The intestinal cavity was cleaned with palm wine and all hollow parts of the body were filled with
aromatics and spices. The body was dry-salted and left for 70 days. They then wrapped the body with gummed
bandages and prepared it for the funeral procession to the tomb.

The famous Egyptologist, Howard Carter, who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen, was profoundly moved
when the sarcophagus of the king, who was 18 years old at the time of his death, was opened revealing the
dried well-preserved flower garlands draped around his neck. These would have been placed in the tomb by the
hands of his young widowed queen, whose footprints were still clearly visible in the undisturbed dust in the tomb.
Three thousand years slipped away and, it seemed to Carter, that the young queen had stepped out of the tomb
only moments before. He was acutely aware that he was, breathing the very air that had last been breathed by
the ancient mourners.

Although Tutankhamen died at a very young age. Many of the ancient people's life span must have increased
considerably if we consider the medicinal properties of the commonly used plants used by the Egyptians and
other ancient civilizations - for example, the Greeks, Romans and Mesopatanians. Noting how very familiar these
plants are to us today is interesting.

Consider this list:


rhubarb juniper
watermelon quince
garlic angelica
coriander marjoram
cedar mint
grapes parsley
cumin radishes
cypress leeks

olives bay
onions tarragon
thyme ginger
mustard cinnamon
apples aniseed
roses frankincense
caraway poppy
fennel yarrow
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

saffron

The valuable herbs and spices they needed were laboriously transported across inhospitable deserts by Arab
merchants for distribution to Assyria, Babylon, China, Egypt, Greece, Rome and Persia. The most sought after
materials were frankincense and myrrh, and because during those early trading years demand outstripped
supply they had a value equal to that of gems and precious metals.

Masters of Perfumery

The Egyptians loved to use simple fragrances in their daily lives and did so at every opportunity. At festivals and
celebrations women wore perfumed cones on their heads which would melt under the heat, releasing their
beautiful fragrance. After bathing, they would anoint their bodies with oil to protect them from the drying effects of
the baking sun and to rejuvenate their skin.

During the period between the 18th and the 25th Dynasty (1539-657 BC), the Egyptians continued to refine their
use of aromatics in incense, medicine, cosmetics, and finally perfumes. Until just a few hundred years before the
birth of Christ, the Egyptian perfumery industry was celebrated as the finest in the whole of the Middle East and
beyond. So great was their reputation as master perfumers, that when Julius Caesar returned home with
Cleopatra after conquering Egypt around 48 BC, perfume bottles were tossed to the crowds to demonstrate his
total domination over Egypt.

As the Roman Empire expanded, their knowledge spread widely and probably arrived in Britain with the Roman
legions.

Enter the Greeks

The richness of the Egyptian botanical pharmacopoeia had already been assimilated by many other cultures
during previous millennia; the Assyrians, Babylonians and Hebrews had all borrowed from their vast knowledge
of aromatic medicine. As the Egyptian Empire crumbled into decline around 300 BC, Europe became the heart of
empirical medicine, where new methods were steadily evolving into a more scientifically based system of
healing.

The earliest known Greek physician was Asclepius who practiced around 1200 BC combining the use of herbs
and surgery with previously unrivalled skill. His reputation was so great that after his death he was deified as the
god of healing in Greek mythology, and thousands of lavish healing temples known as Asclepieion were erected
in his honor throughout the Grecian world.

In the 11th Century Arabia, Avicenna, the famous court physician recorded his use of over 800 plants in his
treatments. Historically, he is an important figure in the later development of Aromatherapy because he used
massage and manipulation as part of his treatment. He was also largely responsible for the refining of distillation
techniques to derive oils from plants.

The Father of Medicine

Hippocrates (circa 460-377 BC) was the first physician to dismiss the Egyptian belief that illness was caused by
supernatural forces. Instead, he believed the doctor should try to discover natural explanations for disease by
observing the patient carefully, and make a judgment only after consideration of the symptoms.

His treatments would typically employ mild physio-therapies, baths, massage with infusions, or the internal use
of herbs such as fennel, parsley, hypericum or valerian. Hippocrates is said to have studied and documented
over 200 different herbs during his lifetime. He believed that surgery should be used only as a last resort and
was among the first to regard the entire body as an organism. Therefore we have Hippocrates to thank for a
concept fundemental to true aromatherapy - that of holism.

Founders of botany & pharmacology


The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

After Alexander's invasion of Egypt in the 3rd century BC, the use of aromatics, herbs and perfumes became
much more popular in Greece prompting great interest in all things fragrant. Theophrastus of Athens who was a
philosopher and student of Aristotle, investigated everything about plants and even how scents affected the
emotions. He wrote several volumes on botany including 'The History of Plants', which became one of the three
most important botanical science references for centuries to come. He is generally referred to today as the
Founder of Botany.

The next great luminary was the Greek military physician Dioscorides (40-90 AD) who served in Nero's army. In
order to study herbs, Dioscorides marched with Roman armies to Greece, Germany, Italy and Spain, recording
everything that he discovered. He described the plants habitat, how it should be prepared and stored, and
described full accounts of its healing properties. His results were published in a comprehensive 5 volume work
called 'De Materia Medica', also known as 'Herbarius'.

This epic publication was the first ever systematic pharmacopoeia and contained 1000 different botanical
medications, plus descriptions and illustrations of approximately 600 different plants and aromatics. His
magnificent work was so influential he has been bestowed the accolade, the Father of Pharmacology.

Of gladiators and emperors

Perhaps the most brilliant and influential of all Greek physicians was Claudius Galen, who lived from 129-199 AD
and studied medicine from the age of seventeen. He began his medical career aged 28 under Roman employ
treating the wounds of gladiators with medicinal herbs. This unique experience provided him with the opportunity
to study wounds of all kinds, and it is said that not a single gladiator died of battle wounds while under the care
of Galen.

Due to his phenomenal success he quickly rose to become the personal physician to the Roman Emperor,
Marcus Aurelius, and since Rome was a thriving academic center during the lifetime of Galen it was the ideal
place for him to conduct further research. Galen was the last of the great Greco-Roman physicians, and within
100 years of his death the Roman Empire would begin to decline, plunging Europe into the dark ages.

As the Romans began pulling out of Britain, much of their medical knowledge was discarded and all progress in
the Western tradition of medicine came to a halt for hundreds of years. During this period, Europe sank into the
lowest depths of barbarism recorded in history, and it would be the turn of another culture to carry the torch of
aromatic medicine forward.

It was the Persians who next made the most enduring contributions to the knowledge of aromatics and medicine.
Al-Razi (865-925) is considered one of Persia's finest physicians, and during his lifetime he penned a
phenomenal 237 books and articles covering several fields of science, half of which concerned medicine. Born in
the town of Rayy near Tehran, Al-Razi was known in the West as Rhazes and he had an enormous influence on
European science and medicine.

His most influential work was a medical encyclopedia covering 25 books called 'AI Kitab al Hawi', which was later
translated into Latin and other European languages, and known in English as 'The Comprehensive Work'. His
medical accomplishments were legion, and he also developed tools such as mortars, flasks, spatulas and phials
which were used in pharmacies until the early twentieth century.

A New Legend

Next came Ibn Sina (980-1037), also a Persian, who was probably the most famous and influential of all the
great Islamic physicians and known throughout Europe as Avicenna. His life truly was the stuff of legend. At the
age of 16 he began studying medicine and by 20 he had been appointed a court physician, earning the title
'Prince of physicians'. He wrote 20 books covering theology, metaphysics, astronomy, philology, philosophy and
poetry, and most influentially, 20 books and 100 treatises on medicine.

His 14 volume epic 'Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb', which means 'The Canon of Medicine' was over one million words long
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

and contained the sum total of all existing medical knowledge. This monumental medical encyclopedia included
the Hippocratic and Galenic traditions, describing Syro-Arab and Indo-Persian practice plus notes on his own
observations, becoming the definitive medical textbook, teaching guide and reference throughout Western
Europe and the Islamic world for over seven hundred years.

Anglo-Saxon remedies

The oldest surviving English manuscript of botanical medicine is the Saxon 'Leech Book of Bald', which was
written between 900 and 950 by a scribe named Cild under the direction of Bald, who was a friend of king Alfred
the Great. ('Leech' is an old English word meaning healer). This early text contains a mixture of herbalism,
magic, shamanism and tree lore, and describes 500 plants, their properties, and how they can be used in
amulets, baths or taken internally.

When the Crusaders returned from the Holy Wars they brought back rose water, perfumes, aromatics and
remedies that were previously unknown. Fragrant plants became more popular, with aromatic herb garlands
decorating homes and rose water being used to wash the hands of those who could afford it. The availability and
range of aromatic medicines continued to increase over the next few hundred years, but the knowledge of the
Eastern physicians had not yet begun to arrive on our shores.

Medieval apocalypse

During the 13th and 14th centuries in Europe, medicine was almost entirely governed by the Catholic church.
They considered illness and disease to be a punishment from God, and the standard form of treatment
administered by the priests was prayer, and perhaps a session of blood-letting. When the 'Black Death' first
arrived in 1347, it was devastating. Almost 50% of London's inhabitants succumbed within the first year, and up
40% of the entire population of Europe would die within 3 years. The basic Anglo-Saxon botanical remedies
such as wearing sachets of dried lavender and amulets of thyme proved no match for this deadly pandemic.

In 1597 John Gerard published ' Herball, or General Historie of Plantes' which is now considered a herbal
classic. Although the very first essential oils such as juniper, lavender, rosemary and sage had arrived in Britain
around this time, he makes no mention of them. Gerards book proved highly influential, and the apothecaries
which had previously only sold the medicines prescribed by doctors, began to to prepare and compound their
own medicines too. New style apothecaries that dispensed medicines and attended to the patient began
appearing throughout England. But not quickly enough.

The second visitation of the Black Death in 1603 hit almost as hard as the first, and virtually every available
aromatic was burned in houses and on the streets to keep the pestilence at bay. Benzoin, styrax, frankincense
and various spice oils were all used to prevent the spread of this deadly disease, but to little effect. It was
reported the only people not to succumb to the plague were the workers involved in aromatics and perfumery,
and this is undoubtedly due to the highly antiseptic properties of the essential oils.

Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654) was one of the most influential herbalists who also introduced the concept of
astrological herbalism. In his most famous work, 'The English Physician' (1652), Culpeper's descriptions of
herbs, oils and their uses were intermixed with astrology. Other notable herbalists such as Joseph Miller and
John Parkinson would also leave a rich botanical legacy, paving the way for later generations to expand upon.
The essential oil industries throughout Europe flourished, providing oils for the pharmaceutical, flavour and
fragrance industries.

Sometimes physicians must have hastened the demise of their patients through "overkill". On 2nd February
1685, Charles B suffered a convulsion while being shaved and collapsed. His doctor prescribed that first they
bleed him and then cause him to vomit. They administered two purgatives and an enema. They treated him with
mallow leaves, violets, beetroot, chamomile, fennel, linseed, cinnamon, cardamom, saffron, aloes, hellebore and
cowslips.

They gave him drinks of barley water, licorice, sweet almond, wine, absinthe, thistle, mint, rue and angelica. The
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

treatment continued with slippery elm, peony, lavender, lime flowers, lily of the valley, melon seeds, gentian root,
nutmeg, quinine and cloves. They rubbed powdered beetles into his head and pigeon droppings on his feet.

Not surprisingly, the king died a week later, after apologizing for being such "an unconscionable time as a dying".
We can only wonder how he survived for as long as a week! As aromatherapists we are very aware that "too
much" can be extremely dangerous when we consider the possible toxic side effects of essential oils incorrectly
used in untrained hands.

THE MODERN HISTORY OF AROMATHERPY


Towards the end of the 19th Century, as a French chemist, Professor Rene Gattefosse, accidentally discovered
the healing power of lavender essence, when he plunged his hand into a bowl of lavender oil after receiving a
bad burn. The burn healed quickly, without forming a blister or leaving a scar. He then began many years of
research into the healing properties of essential oils. His knowledge increased further when he treated soldiers
wounded during the 1914 - 1918 war and in 1928 he gave his treatment the name "Aromatherapie".

A French doctor named Jean Valnet followed the work of Gattefoss, and during World War 2 while working as a
surgical assistant he used essential oils of chamomile, clove, lemon and thyme to treat gangrene and battle
wounds. After graduating as a surgeon at the end of the war, Valnet continued to use essential oils to treat
illnesses, and was the first ever to use them to treat psychiatric conditions. His inspired book, 'Aromathrapie -
Traitment des Maladies par les Essence de Plantes' was released in 1964, and in 1980 translated into English
and released under the new title of 'The Practice of Aromatherapy', putting aromatherapy on the English map.

Madame Marguerite Maury (1895-1968) was an Austrian born biochemist who became interested in what was to
become aromatherapy, after reading a book written in 1838 by Dr Chabenes called, 'Les Grandes Possibilits
par les Matires Odoriferantes'. This was the man who would later become the teacher of Gattefoss. Her
influential book, 'Le Capital Jeunesse' was released in France in 1961 but sadly did not initially receive the
acclaim that it deserved. In 1964 it was released in Britain under the title of 'The Secret of Life and Youth' and
has at last been recognised for the great work that it was.

After her death, the work of Maury continued through her protege, Danile Ryman, who is now herself
considered an authority on aromatherapy. The work of Valnet and Gattefoss stimulated and influenced
Englishman Robert Tisserand, who in 1977 wrote the very first aromatherapy book in English entitled, 'The Art of
Aromatherapy'. This book became the inspiration and reference for virtually every future author on the subject for
almost two decades.

Today we are at last unfolding the final secrets of the Egyptian mysteries, revealing aromatherapy to be one of
the finest ways to combat the detrimental effects of stress, restoring the beauty, tranquility and harmony of
Nature into the lives of everyone.

Essential Oil Study for Today:

Today, work with and study Lavender essential oil.

Smell it and take notes of your first impressions.


Smell it again while taking a bit more time. Write down how your impression of the oil has changed.
Repeat throughout the day. Use it on yourself and note how you feel.


The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

THE SENSE OF SMELL


Disturbed vibrations occur in the body as a precursor of illness.
Vibrational healing restores the body's healthy vibrations. Essential
oils can be used to balance the subtle energy flows in the body.

We are surrounded by vibrations at all times. Our ears are tuned to


receive sound vibrations, our eyes focus on vibrations of light which
allow us to see color, and our noses detect vibrations of aromatic
molecules which allow us to become aware of scents.

The most important ingredient in the Aromatherapy treatment is the


essential oil.

Aromatherapists and perfumeries use musical language to describe scents. We talk of essential oils being a top,
middle, and base note. About a century ago, a perfumery named Piesse arranged scents on a stave, or musical
scale, and this went some way to describing the vibration of scents. Aromas were also described by color Scents
can be described as 'green' or 'blue' or perhaps 'vivid red', and we mix scents as we would, color on an artist's
palette.

Historically, the sense of smell has always been important to man and to his survival. A newborn baby
recognizes his mother mainly by scent until his eyesight improves and he learns to focus. To early man, his
sense of smell was every bit as important as what it is to animals. Humans and animals alike emit pheromones
(from the Greek 'pherein' to carry and 'hormon' to excite) which attract, repel, identify or mark territory. Human
pheromones are chemicals manufactured by the apocrine glands and radiated into the air around us. The scent
of these are detected by the people in our immediate vicinity and play a large part in sexual attraction.

Although we are all radiate pheromones and react to other people's pheromones, this function takes place on a
subconscious level.

As the pheromones we produce are affected by fluctuations in other hormone levels, they can indicate our
emotional state. For instance, the surge of adrenaline produced in times of anxiety can produce a smell of fear.
Animals are highly receptive to scents and can easily detect emotion in humans. Apocrine glands are also
located on the soles of the feet and pheromone molecules can remain on the ground for up to two weeks.
Primitive tribes have, until comparatively recently, detected the proximity of other people by sniffing the ground.
It is only the process of 'civilization' that has blunted our sense of smell and with it our innate knowledge that
scents produce profound responses within us.

We can all accept that animals use scents as a highly important mode of communication - marking territorial
boundaries, signaling sexual readiness, repelling attacks, identifying other members of the pack and mothers
with young identifying each other. The emperor moth has a prodigious sense of smell and the male can detect
the odor of a female from miles away. In the nests of ants and termites, communication is by the use of
pheromones so that, if the nest is disturbed, a change of pheromones by the ants nearest the disturbance warns
the others that there is an invader to be dealt with.

Although early man used his sense of smell for survival and reproduction in much the same way as other
animals, our present culture pays little attention to the sense of smell in its natural, emotional, feeling sense. We
mainly use the sense of smell in a cosmetic way. Spraying and powdering ourselves to remove or mask our
natural scents. We have for so long subdued our senses by the constraints of reason and the rational mind, that
we have lost touch with our spiritual nature. We no longer give freedom to the inner, unseen realms of the mind
and the subtle communications of the psyche.

The importance of the effects of scents on the human psyche has been gradually eroded. At one time, incense
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

was burned on temple altars on a daily basis (it is still used today as an important part of some religious
services); fragrant herbs and flowers were strewn on the floor of a dwelling. Odors were often associated with
illness and disease. An evil smell was so much a part of the plague that it was believed to be one of the earliest
symptoms. It had an odor that was foul and distinctive. The breath of plague victims was described by physicians
of the time as that of 'rotten flesh' or 'corrupt cadavers'.

Because breathing in the foul stench was thought to be one of the methods of contracting the disease, those
who were still healthy carried nosegays and pomanders of highly perfumed flowers and spices. By holding these
to the nose they believed that they were warding off infection carried in the venomous air. In the Middle Ages,
and even later, pleasant smells were considered to be an important part of good health and immunity to disease.
During the 1348 plague, French physicians prescribed breathing in cold aromatics like roses, sandalwood,
renuphar, vinegar, rose-water, camphor and chilled apples for summertime protection. And in the winter, hot
aromatics like aloe, amber, sweetgum and nutmeg.

Another physician prescribed that "The heart must be eased by external bathing and internally with syrups and
other medicines. All such preparations must contain some perfume and some aroma, like the fragrance of the
lemon tree, syrup of apples and lemons and the acid of pomegranate". Another recommended that the house
and the body should be kept clean; the rooms of the house should be ventilated, sprinkled with vinegar and filled
with scented flowers and plants. It should be "perfumed with good smells. So let vine leaves, sweet rushes,
willow and osier, small plants and leaves of the lemon tree and all other green things like flowers and sweet-
smelling pommes be strewn throughout and placed in the corners and on the walls of the chambers".

Unfortunately, the bodily cleanliness did not include the use of water. In fact, washing and bathing was
considered a dangerous practice at times, as it opened the pores and allowed the odorous, plague-ridden air to
enter the body more easily. The hands and face were cleansed with aromatic lotions and frequent changes of
clothing, with abundant use of perfumes, were considered to be indispensable. Physicians recommended that
their bodies be washed in tepid vinegar twice a day.

There was also thought to be an odor of sanctity, saints and mystics were considered to emanate sweet odors of
violets, roses, cinnamon and cloves. This sweet odor was noted even after death and remains of saints were
alleged to have given off sweet floral odors many years after death. Pope Benedict XIV stated "That the human
body may by nature not have an overtly unpleasant odor is possible, but that it should actually have a pleasing
smell - that is beyond nature. If such an agreeable odor exists, whether there does or does not exist a natural
cause capable of producing it, it must be owing to some higher course and thus deemed to be miraculous".
Therefore the pleasant odor of the saint is seen as evidence of sanctity.

In ancient Egypt, the scent of the lotus was identified with the immortal soul. They pressed lotus blossoms to
extract juice which was then added to wine. This produced a perfumed drink which produced visions and
hallucinations. They also believed that the phoenix first brought incense grasped in his claws and that the scent
of incense was its own scent. They saw this phoenix as the soul of the god Osiris, whose breath smelt of myrrh
and incense. The ancient Egyptians believed that, at the end of his life the phoenix builds himself a nest of
frankincense and cassia. In this nest he dies, and from his dead body arises the new phoenix. Thus both the
phoenix and the aromatic scents depicted for the Egyptians, the immortal soul, the vital essence of life itself.

Throughout the ages, scents and odors have had a deep and profound effect on the human psyche. Suskind
says "For scent was a brother breath. Together with breath it entered human beings who could not defend
themselves against it, not if they wanted to live. And scent entered into their very core, went directly to their
hearts and decided for good and all between affection and contempt, disgust and lust, love and hate, the who
ruled scent ruled the hearts of men."

SENSE OF SMELL AND EMOTIONAL RESPONSE


Smell is a specialized chemical sense. It is interesting to note that the olfactory cells are the only place in the
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

human body where the central nervous system is in direct contact with the external environment. When we
detect the smell of something, there is a direct contact between the molecules of scent and our own receptors.
The message regarding the molecule of scent is passed along the olfactory nerve to the nerve center in the
brain. The neurons of the olfactory nerve, control the inner responses, i.e. emotions and memories, as well as
the body's hormones.

The perception of smell consists not only of the sensation of the odors themselves but of the experiences and
emotions associated with these sensations. Smells can evoke strong emotional reactions. In surveys on
reactions to odors, responses show that many of our olfactory likes and dislikes are based purely on emotional
associations.

The association of fragrance and emotion is not an invention of poets or perfume-makers. Our olfactory
receptors are directly connected to the limbic system, the most ancient and primitive part of the brain, which is
thought to be the seat of emotion. Smell sensations are relayed to the cortex, where cognitive recognition
occurs, only after the deepest parts of our brains have been stimulated. Thus, by the time we correctly name a
particular scent as, for example, vanilla , the scent has already activated the limbic system, triggering more
deep-seated emotional responses.

There is no generally accepted classification of the basic types of smells recognized by man. The sense of smell
can be very sensitive, sensing minute concentrations of some substances in the air.

Did you know: Men can distinguish thousands of different odors and women have a more keen sense of smell
than that of man.

There is considerable individual variation in the activity of the sense of smell. Adaptation can occur to pleasant
as well as nasty smells, due to changes in both the receptors and the central connections.

It is important to remember that the inhalation of the aromas of essential oils also has a profound and
instantaneous effect on us today. The limbic lobe of the brain receives information about smell via the olfactory
nerve and this part of the brain is also concerned with our emotional memory. The limbic system produces the
autonomic responses that accompany emotional states and behaviors. Particular scents can trigger strong,
emotional responses which are pleasant or unpleasant according to our own individual experience. Which smells
do you find repellent? What are your favorite scents? Perhaps the perfume of a favorite blossom or newly-mown
grass, the scents of the garden after light summer rain, the smell of your favorite meal cooking or the perfume
worn by a friend, the special scent of a baby or small child.

Although olfactory sensitivity generally declines with age, pleasant fragrances have been found to have positive
effects on mood in all age groups.

In experiments involving stimulation of the left and right nostrils with pleasant and unpleasant fragrances,
researchers have found differences in olfactory cortical neurone activity in the left and right hemispheres of the
brain which correlate with the pleasantness ratings of the odorants. These studies are claimed to indicate that
positive emotions are predominantly processed by the left hemisphere of the brain, while negative emotions are
more often processed by the right hemisphere. (The pleasant odorant used in these experiments, as in many
others, was vanillin.)

When oils are inhaled, micro-molecules of essential oils travel through the nasal passages to the limbic system
of the brain which is the seat of memory and emotion.

The breathing in of essential oils is thought to trigger memories and emotions within the limbic system, which in
turn stimulates a response within the entire system.

With the memory comes instant recall of the associated emotion - pleasure, happiness, laughter, affection or
perhaps sadness, pain, grief.
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

For this reason, it is important to always heed the emotional responses to the aroma of the essential oils you
intend to use. If the scent is in any way repellent to the individual, then it is wise to adjust your choice of oils for
your blend. The subconscious, emotional responses are telling you something of vital importance and you would
be wise to listen. Otherwise, you severely curtail the degree of benefit given. Smell takes a direct, physical route
to the brain because they employ nerve cells as transmitters and receivers. Odors travel directly through the
olfactory system in the nose and the front part of the head into the limbic area of the brain which processes the
smell.

THE MIND CONNECTION


Why is smell so strongly linked to memory and emotion?

It is not fully understood, but this is no surprise as the complexities of brain activity are still far from being
unraveled and understood. The brain holds far more secrets than we have discovered.

What is known is that the sense of smell is registered in a part of the brain which was already developed in our
earliest ancestors. The limbic area of the brain was well developed before man had the power of speech or was
able to make tools. The limbic area is concerned with all those activities vital to survival in a sometimes hostile
world: sleep, hunger, thirst, memory, sexual response and, or course, smell are all affected by the limbic system.

As modern man developed the 'higher' senses and the brain became larger to accommodate development of
speech, intellect and creativity, the ancient knowledge became blunted or buried deep in the unconscious and
the limbic area of the brain lost some of its importance.

But that ancient knowledge is still there and needs only to be reawakened. Essential oils have the power to
reawaken and stimulate the limbic system and the aromas can be used to excellent effect by the aromatherapist.
They also have the power to balance the two hemisphere of the brain. It is known that the left hemisphere of the
brain is concerned with logic and intellect, while the right is concerned with intuition.

When both hemispheres are in harmony and balanced, we experience feelings of calm and well-being. As we
inhale the balancing essential oils, the two hemispheres of the brain come into closer symmetry, while the
stimulating essential oils make us feel mentally alert and the sedating oils promote deeper feeling of relaxation.

The relationship between the brain, the mind and the body is of vital importance in aromatherapy. When we send
pleasing, relaxing messages to the brain during aromatherapy massage, the hypothalamus receives impulses
signaling safety and harmony and, in its turn, the body receives the signal that all is well and that the body and
mind are in balance. The effects of essential oils and massage on the various activities of the nervous system
form a major part of aromatherapy. We use analgesic oils to relieve pain by damping down the activity of the
pain-transmitting nerve endings.

We use sedating oils to calm the overactive nervous system and we use antispasmodic oils to sedate the nerves
which trigger muscle over activity. There is a great deal of overlap in the properties of essential oils and many
sedative oils are also analgesic (these will be covered fully) and where essential oils have more than one
property, this makes them more valuable to the aromatherapist because it increases the range of benefits.

Essential Oil Study:

Today, work with and study Cinnamon essential oil

Smell it and take notes of your first impressions.


Wait a few hours and repeat.
What is its energy: energizing or calming?
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Where on the body do you feel a response?


What color do you relate it with?
What emotion or sensation do you connect it with?

ESSENTIAL OILS - EXACTLY WHAT ARE THEY?


Essential oils are referred to as the basic materials of the aromatherapist.

They are highly aromatic substances manufactured by plants in special cells. At this stage they are referred to as
an essence until they have been extracted by either one of the methods of distillation. They are only then
referred to as essential oils. Not all of the oils are referred to as essential oils; it depends on how the oil is
extracted.

In the early days man obtained the benefit of these oils by chewing various parts of the plant or tree. Later they
made these into teas until they introduced the process of distillation.

Essential oils are obtained from various parts of the plant e.g., bark, flowers, stalks, roots, leaves and resins of
trees and plants. Different essential oils are obtained by using different parts of the plant and these will have
different therapeutic qualities. Take the orange tree - petitgrain from the leaves and twigs, orange essential oil
from the fruit and neroli from the blossom.

Essential oils are flammable and a good example would be the orange. If the peel of the orange is squeezed
onto a flame, the oil will ignite. It is advisable to be careful when using these oils anywhere near a flame or
burner.

In recent years the south of France used to be recognized as the home of the essential oil industry, where acres
and acres of fragrant plants and flowers are visible.

Depending on the part of the plant that the oil is to be extracted from, various methods are used, e.g. steam
distillation, solvent extraction, maceration, expression or efleurage. This also varies from country to country.

Essential oils are different from other types of oil. When dropped onto paper they do not leave an oily mark. They
tend to be lighter than water and evaporate quickly when in contact with air.

Essential oils may either be used in the bath, as an inhalation, in hair care, heated to vaporize or massaged into
the skin.

When applying essential oils they are first combined with a vegetable or carrier which is used to dilute the
essential oils.

Essential oils have a remarkable power to penetrate the skin. Once these oils are applied to the skin, they
infiltrate the fatty parts of the skin then quickly permeate the different layers and are then absorbed into the
blood stream.

It takes anything from twenty to seventy minutes for the oil to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Most essences
are clear, however a few (namely the absolutes) are colored e.g.. blue (chamomile) and yellow (lemon).

Absolute oils are those that are particularly concentrated and heavy. Very little is required as they are so
concentrated (and very expensive) e.g. rose, jasmine and carnation.

There is a negative and positive side to the use of essential oils. Just like plants, some of the essential oils may
be toxic and should be used with extreme caution.

Peppermint is known to cause dizziness and Marjoram can have a narcotic effect. Sage and Rosemary have
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

been known to cause epilepsy in patients who have a tendency towards it.

By a prolonged and exaggerated use of the essential oils a toxic effect may occur, so remember it is vitally
important to keep essential oils out of the reach of children. Essential oils may become damaged if they are
exposed to either heat, light, air or moisture, therefore essential oils should always be kept in cool, dry and dark
conditions.

PLANT CATEGORIES
By Shelley Hess - Guide to Aromatherapy

Knowing from which part of the plant the essential oil has been extracted helps give another dimension to our
custom blend. We will start by categorizing the most common essential oils based on which part of the plant the
essence has been extracted. This is of great importance because it influences the energy of the essence.

Flowers => Emotions


Root => Storage, Grounding
Leaves => Breathing, Assimilation, Freedom
Stems => Circulation, Movement, Release
Seeds => The Spirit of Life, Nourishment
Bark => Protection, Strength
The Fruits => Sweetness of Life, Pleasure, Joy

These are guidelines to help you create your own vocabulary and extend your vision and understanding of the
plant realm. I have categorized the most commonly used essential oils based on what part of the plant the oil is
extracted:

Leaves/Needles

Basil
Clary Sage
Cypress
Eucalyptus
Geranium
Melissa
Patchouli
Peppermint
Pine
Tea Tree
Thyme

Roots

Angelica
Ginger
Lemongrass
Vetiver

Fruits (peel)

Bergamot
Grapefruit
Juniper
Lemon
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Lime
Mandarin
Orange
Tangerine

Flowers

Clary Sage
German
Chamomile
Helycrisum
Jasmine
Lavender
Marjoram
Neroli (orange blossom)
Roman Chamomile
Rose
Thyme
Ylang Ylang

Woods: Bark, Branches, Sprigs

Birch
Cedarwood
Cinnamon
Laurel
Rosemary
Sandalwood

Seeds

Cardamon
Fennel

Resins

Frankincense
Myrrh

Essential Oil Study

Today, work with and study Ravensara essential oil.

Smell it and take notes of your first impressions.


Smell it again while taking a bit more time. Write down how your impression of the oil has changed (or not).
Repeat throughout the day. Use it on yourself and note how you feel.

Exercise 1: Olfactory Test

Have the following essential oils on hand:

Rose and Sandalwood


Orange and Laurel
Peppermint and Rosemary
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Smell each essence and then answer the following questions:

1. What do I feel when I first smell this essence?


2. What color does it make me think of?
3. In what area of my body do I feel the essential oil the most? For instance, sometimes you may feel the energy
of lemon more on the stomach area, which is very interesting because lemon is great for stomach acidity, but
also holistically for opening up the third chakra.

WHAT IS AN ESSENCE, AN ESSENTIAL OIL AND A HYDROSOL?


An essence is contained within the plant, while the essential oil is the end result of extracting the essence from
the plant material through steam distillation, extraction or enfleurage. A hydrosol is the end result of the steam
distillation; it is the condensed water charged in aromatic molecules and on which float the essential oil.

Hydrosols offer wonderful healing properties and are gentler and safer for internal use when the quality is
certified. Hydrosols can be safely used by children even when essential oils have to be avoided. They can be
used into the bathtub to refresh and heal the skin, or even flavor beverages.

HOW DO WE OBTAIN ESSENTIAL OILS?


Handbook of Essential Oils

Distillation

Distillation is done with plants that cannot be damaged by heat. Distillation is most commonly used to obtain
essential oils. The plant material is placed in a large vat. Steam is then passed through the vat. The essences
evaporate with the water. Then the distillate is cooled, and the essences, which are not water-soluble, are easily
separated from the water.

Volatile Solvents

One other common method is the extraction by volatile solvents. The flowers are washed in a suitable solution,
e.g. alcohol, until the essence is dissolved. It is then separated by a process of distillation at an exact
temperature which condenses the oil but not the solvent.

Citrus Fruits

The method of extracting oil from citrus fruits in the early days was carried out by hand. The skin was peeled and
then squeezed over a large container, collecting the oils, but modern mechanical processing has taken over this
earlier method of distillation.

Enfleurage

Enfleurage is another method of obtaining essential oils. This is the extraction of flower essences which tend to
disappear in distillation. A glass plate is placed on a wooden frame. The glass is covered with warm lard or suet.
The petals of the flowers are spread over the layers of grease.
New petals are placed every few days until the grease becomes saturated with the essence from the petals. The
grease is then washed with alcohol to obtain the extracts of the petals. The remaining fat is often used for the
production of soap.

Maceration

Maceration is another method. This method involves soaking the flowers in hot oil, until the cells of the flowers
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

rupture and burst. The hot oils absorb the essence of the flowers.

In some cases a plant is processed in more than one way. The orange blossom is a good example of having
more than one way of extraction of its essences. The blossom is first treated by Enfleurage to obtain neroli
essential oil. When the fruit has ripened, the skin is expressed to produce orange blossom.

The chemical composition of a plant is always changing and the essences move from one part of the plant to
another, depending on the time of the day or what season we are in.
The odors of the essences change with different soil conditions, climates and methods of cultivation.

Different plants have different concentrations of the essences present in them, this may vary from 0.01 % to
10%.

Interesting fact: Rose petals contain very little essence and up to two thousand kg's of petals are required to
produce approximately 1 kg of oil. You can see why some oils are that much more expensive.

TABLE OF COMMONLY USED ESSENTIAL OILS


BASIL
BENZOIN
BERGAMOT
BLACK PEPPER
CHAMOMILE
CAMPHOR
CEDARWOOD
CLARY - SAGE
CYPRESS
EUCALYPTUS
FENNEL
FRANKINCENSE
GERANIUM
HYSSOP
JASMINE
JUNIPER
LAVENDER
MARJORAM
MELISSA
MYRRH
NEROLI (ORANGE BLOSSOM)
PATCHOULI
PEPPERMINT
ROSE
ROSEMARY
SAGE
SANDALWOOD
YLANG- YLANG

EVAPORATION OF ESSENTIAL OILS


Essential oils evaporate at varying degrees. The fastest evaporating oils are the eucalyptus and orange. The
slowest to evaporate are the patchouli and sandalwood. Between these two extremes are other oils which
evaporate at varying degrees.
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

These scales of evaporation have been divided into three sections.

TOP NOTES lightest oils, evaporate quickly

MIDDLE NOTES in between

BASE NOTES heaviest oils, evaporate slowly

In the blending of oils you have a combination of the three. It is therefore very important that the aromatherapist
uses a good balance when mixing the oils. When you first smell a combination of oils or perfume the scent that
you become aware of first will be that of the TOP NOTE.

The BASE NOTES are used to hold back the oils that evaporate the quickest and to make the scent or aroma
last as long as possible.

TOP NOTE OILS These are the fastest acting essences e.g.. Eucalyptus and Lemon.
They are generally uplifting and stimulating oils.
They are effective in conditions of mental exhaustion and where a person
shows a lack of interest in life.
MIDDLE NOTE These are the most commonly used.
OILS Most spices and herbs fall under this category.
They affect the functions of the body, metabolism and digestion.
BASE NOTE OILS These apply to the purely cellular and vegetable domain and the quality of
the tissue is influenced.
Most gums and wood fall under this category.
They are known to act on the mucus membranes.
They are highly valuable in the treatment of conditions that are often referred
to as chronic.
They are some of the essences that man used in the early days.
They are very effective when treating the elderly.

At least one middle note oil should be present in all blends as it is the vital link between the base note and the
top note.

STORING AND HANDLING OF ESSENTIAL OILS


Essential oils need good care, as they are both expensive and perishable. This is why it is important to store
them in dark glass containers. It is not a good idea to keep them in plastic containers as a reaction frequently
occurs between the oils and the plastic. This can cause the plastic container to collapse, thereby destroying the
oils.

Bottles should be kept tightly closed when not in use as the oils evaporate quickly when in contact with the air. It
is a good idea to keep all your oils stored upright in a container, which must be kept dry and clean. A minute
amount of water can cloud and damage your oils.


The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

HEALTH & SAFETY


Today's Aromatherapy "code of practice" advocates the use of essential oils as external
remedies only, and should not be taken internally. These guide lines are in accordance with
the International Federation of Aromatherapy. Taking undiluted pure essential oils internally
can damage the mucous membranes and delicate stomach lining as well as causing severe
irritation. Perhaps mother nature herself dictates their external use by providing oils which
mix readily with base oils and ointments, which in turn are only used externally. Having
applied the oil or ointment, the aroma vaporizes for easy inhalation, thus affecting the mood
of feelings of the individual, while also causing physiological changes in the body.

Health & safety are of paramount importance when working with Aromatherapy treatments. Most oils are volatile
and toxic and it is therefore essential that each recipients' medical history is discussed at length prior to
treatment. Full knowledge should be gained regarding any other forms of medication being taken, be it in the
form of prescribed drugs, herbal remedies or homeopathic remedies. In some cases aromatherapy treatments
can counteract the benefits of these treatments, especially in the case of homeopathic remedies as both are
working not only on the physical body but also on the subtle levels.

ASPECTS OF ESSENTIAL OILS

In the following section are detailed various aspects of essential oils together with relatively named oils.
Common sense should always prevail when using aromatics and one excellent rule is "If in doubt, Don't use it!"

HAZARDOUS OILS

Some essential oils can be hazardous, especially in inexperienced hands, either due to their high toxicity levels
or because they can cause severe dermal irritation. The following oils should be avoided and should not be used
therapeutically.

Bitter Almond Arnica Boldo


Broom Buchu Calamus
Camphor (Brown & Yellow) Cassia Chervil
Cinnamon (Bark) Costus Deertongue
Elecampane Fennel (Bitter) Horseradish
Jaborandi Melilotus Mugwort
Mustard Oregano Pennyroyal
Pine (Dwarf) Rue Sage (Common)
Santolina Sassafras Savine
Savory Tansy Thuja
Thyme (Red) Tonka Wintergreen
Wormseed Wormwood

TOXIC OILS

Because of their toxicity, the following oils should only be used in moderation i.e.. only in dilution and for a
maximum treatment of two weeks.

Ajowan Anise Star Aniseed


Basil (Exotic) Bay Laurel Bay (West Indian)
Calamintha Camphor (White) Cascarrilla Bark
Cassie Cedarwood (Virginian) Cinnamon (Leaf)
Clove (Bud) Coriander Eucalyptus
Fennel (Sweet) Hops Hyssop
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Juniper Nutmeg Parsley


Pepper (Black) Sage (Spanish) Tagetes
Tarragon Thyme (White) Tuberose
Tumeric Turpentine Valerian

NEAT APPLICATION

The safest rule is never to apply essential oils neat to the skin.

Always apply in dilution in a carrier oil or cream. However, there are exceptions to this rule such as lavender,
which can be applied to cuts, spots and burns. Its' healing and antiseptic properties assist in quick healing and
also reduce scar tissue. When used as a perfume, Ylang Ylang and Sandalwood may be applied directly to the
skin but a patch test should be made first to check for the possibility of skin irritation. A patch test is done by
applying two or three drops of the neat oil to the back of the wrist, covering with a plaster and leaving for at least
one hour. If irritation or redness occurs, bathe the area with cold water and refrain from future use.

The following oils are considered safe for children at a 1 % dilution.

0-6 months: Lavender, Roman Chamomile


6-12 months: Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Neroli, Rose
1-6 years: Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Neroli, Rose, Coriander,
Mandarin, Orange, Rosewood, Tangerine, Tea Tree
7-12 years: Most of the adult oils can be used but avoid strong oils such
as Basil.

DERMAL / SKIN IRRITATION

Some oils are likely to cause irritation when used, even at normal dilution. It is therefore advisable to use these
only in a base oil or cream at half the normal addition. I.e.. if lavender is used at 6 drops per bath, the oils listed
below should be used at 3 drops per bath.

Ajowan Allspice Aniseed


Basil (Sweet) Black Pepper Borneol
Cajeput Caraway (Virginian) Cedarwood
Clove (Bud)
Cornmint Cinnamon (Leaf)
Eucalyptus Garlic Ginger
Lemon Parsley Peppermint
Pine Needle Thyme (White) Tumeric

SENSITIZATION

For those individuals who have a known sensitive skin or allergic reaction to skin preparations, the oils listed
below can cause uncomfortable skin irritations. Even the commonly used gentle oils such as lavender, tea -tree
or jasmine may have this effect. It is therefore recommended that a patch test as detailed previously, should be
made.

Basil (French) Bay Laurel Benzoin


Cade Cananga (Virginian) Cedarwood
Chamomile (Rom/Ger)
Citronella Garlic
Geranium Ginger Hops
Jasmine Lemon Lemongrass
Litsea Cubeba Lovage Mastic
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Melissa Mint Orange


Peru Balsam Pine Styrax
Tea Tree Thyme (White) Tolu Balsam
Tumeric Turpentine Valerian
Vanilla Verbena Violet
Yarrow Ylang Ylang

PHOTOTOXICITY

PHOTOTOXICITY means having a sensitivity to sunlight and ultraviolet rays, often causing a pigmentation
change of the skin. It is essential that all oils of the citrus family, together with those listed below, are not applied
to any area of the body that will be directly exposed to direct sunlight within four hours of treatment. Sun-beds
should also be avoided.

Angelica Root Bergamot Cumin


Ginger Lemon Lovage
Mandarine Orange Verbena

PREGNANCY

While it is recognized that Aromatherapy and massage can be very beneficial during pregnancy and delivery,
there are very few oils which can be used with complete safety. Many essential oils are potentially toxic while
some also have emmenagogue properties. I.e.. they stimulate the uterine muscles. Obviously this means that
labor can be induced, especially during the early stages of pregnancy.

These oils are, however, useful during labor It is therefore advisable to use only lavender or neroli during
pregnancy, either in a room fragrancer or in massage. If applying the oils during massage, avoid the abdomen
during the first sixteen weeks, and the soles of the feet, palms of the hands and the ears at all times. During
labor it is often very comforting to burn the oil that was used for massage, giving relaxation and a sense of well-
being.

To assist contractions during a long, slow labor, Clary-sage in half dilution, i.e.. only half the normal
recommended number of drops of essential oil to base oil, massaged gently over the abdomen and lower back,
can assist in labor

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Most oils, especially Ylang Ylang, can be beneficial in cases of high-hypertension. They promote relaxation,
often the cause of stress, and over a period of time, reduce the high blood pressure. The following oils, which
are stimulants, should be avoided in all cases:

Hyssop Rosemary Sage & Thyme

EPILEPSY

Epilepsy is a symptom and not a disease. It is a seizure which causes the rhythmic contortion of the limbs. It is
therefore advisable to avoid all oils that stimulate the nervous system, especially:

Fennel (Sweet) Hyssop Rosemary


Sage (All types)

DIABETES

Most oils are safe when diabetes is present but Angelica should be avoided at all times. When applying
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

essential oils in massage, permission should be sought from the individuals doctor.

HOMEOPATHY

Homeopathy is not compatible with any of the warming, stimulating oils and also several of those of the sedative
family. Sometimes the aromatherapy treatment can counteract homeopathic remedies already being taken.
There are two courses of action which can be taken, one being to consult with the recipients' homeopath, and
the other being to avoid aromatherapy completely. Massage may still be given using only a base oil as a
lubricant.

PRACTITIONERS HEALTH & SAFETY

While Health & Safety are emphasized when applying aromatherapy treatment to recipients, very little is
recorded from the practitioners aspect. Practitioner hygiene is often stressed, being clean hand & short cut nails,
correct dress and personal cleanliness, however, health and safety of the practitioner should also be considered.
Simple rules should be observed in order to avoid exposure to possible dangers.

a. Should the practitioner be applying an oil to an individual through massage, knowing that they (the
practitioner) has an allergy to that oil, they should first carefully wash and dry their hands and then apply a
barrier cream. The hands should also be washed thoroughly on completion of treatment.
b. While it is not recommended for a practitioner having a nasal allergy to a particular oil to wear a face mask,
precautions can be taken. By ensuring that the room they are working in is well ventilated while still being
warm, irritation can be minimized.
c. DO NOT use allergic oils on more than one recipient per day. It is preferable to find an alternative oil,
having the same therapeutic values, that may be used.
d. Always ensure that when using a massage table, it is the correct height to allow you to work comfortably
and maintain correct posture. Remember, if you injure yourself, you will not be able to help others.
e. It is an unfortunate fact that in today's society, not everyone is what they seem. Never put yourself in a
situation where you feel uncomfortable with a patient. Where a practitioner works alone from home, they
are in a very vulnerable position. Try to ensure that there is someone within earshot should you feel you
need help. If you feel very strongly that you do not wish to work on someone, you have the right to say
"No". Better safe than sorry!

Essential Oil Study

Today, work with and study Geranium essential oil.

Smell it and take notes of your first impressions.


Smell it again while taking a bit more time. Write down how your impression of the oil has changed (or not).
Repeat throughout the day. Use it on yourself and note how you feel.

Exercise 1

Prepare an aromatic oil using Peppermint and/or Lemon essential oils and anoint your solar plexus. Pour some
of this aromatic blend into your warm bath water and soak for at least 15 minutes (if you prepare a 10ml bottle,
then pour 1/3 of the blend).

BLENDING YOUR ESSENTIAL OILS


There are two basic ingredients which must be taken into account when mixing your blend of chosen oils for
massage.

Your blend will include your essential oils and a vegetable oil which will be referred to as your carrier oil. The
carrier oil will act as a base in which to dilute the essential oils so that your oils can be diluted to a desirable
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

strength.

It is important that the oils blended together for massage has an appealing smell. Our nose is the best guide for
this. There are no oils that cannot be blended together however; the desired smell will be your guide. It is
advisable to keep away from blending a selection of oils that all have a very strong and distinctive aroma. Certain
oils are more compatible with each other and these will be covered in the next assignment on Essential Oils. By
experimenting with different blends you will find the correct balance of oils that is appealing.

Ingredients should be handled with extreme care when blending. A surface in the kitchen or bathroom would be
suitable so if you do spill any of the oils, they can be easily wiped up.

Your surface should be dry, clean and clear of any other matter not being used at the time of blending.

Utensils

The following utensils are suggested:

Small, dark glass bottles


Measuring utensil or cup
Small funnels
Eye droppers
These should be clean and dry. The same should apply when the utensils are not in use.
Large glass bottles or containers are difficult to handle if your hands are oily.
It is advisable to have a separate funnel and dropper for each essential oil that you are using to avoid the
smell and characteristics of the previous oil being in contact with the next.
As discussed previously, do not keep your essential oils bottles open for longer than is needed as they
evaporate when exposed to air.

Quantities

Six drops of essential oil should be used for two ounces of carrier oil.

A simple blend would include the following ingredients:

Carrier oil
Two drops of a Top note oil
Two drops of a Middle note oil
Two drops of a Base note oil

Essences are very powerful and you need use just enough. Do not think that if you increase the amount of
essential oil you will treat the complaint quicker or more effectively.

We previously mentioned the importance of the middle note oil as being the vital link between the base note and
the top note.

The base note oil plays an important role in "fixing" the blend as it holds back the oils that are the quickest
evaporating. Its function is also to maintain the aroma of the blend. Sandalwood oil would be one of the best
fixatives to use.

Simply add a vegetable oil (carrier oil) to a clean dry bottle. Using a separate funnel (clean and dry) and an eye
dropper, add two drops of the desired top, middle and base note oils to the carrier oil, seal the bottle, then gently
shake the blend.


The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

OIL MEASUREMENTS AND EQUIVALENTS


* 3 teaspoons (tsp) = 1 tablespoon (tbls)
* 2 tablespoons (tbls) = 1 ounce (oz)
* 6 teaspoons (tsp) = 1 ounce (oz)
* 10 milliliter (ml) = 1/3 oz.
* 15 milliliter (ml) = 1/2 oz.
* 30 milliliter (ml) = 1 oz.
* 10 milliliter (ml) = approximately 300 drops

Generally 2 drops of Essential Oil should be used per Tsp of Carrier Oil (but follow individual recipes if
available.
Generally it takes from 1 to 2 oz of carrier oil for a full body massage.
Generally you can use any kind of natural carrier oil except mineral oil. There are lots to choose from and
each has their own properties.

CARRIER OILS
When essential oils are used for massage or to be applied directly to the skin, they need to be diluted in a base
or 'carrier' oil as essential oils are too concentrated and powerful in effect, to be used neat.

A carrier oil can be almost any unperfumed vegetable oil, but the ones used most often in aromatherapy are
avocado, grapeseed or sweet almond oil. The carrier oil also provides the lubrication needed, allowing the hands
to move smoothly, without friction, over the client's skin. Although most carrier oils are used for their dilution and
lubrication qualities, some have therapeutic benefits of their own and can be selected by the therapist to add to
the therapeutic properties of the essential oils used with them.

e.g. Avocado ]
Apricot Kernel ] carrier oils which are rich and nourishing
Peach Kernel ] for use on dry or mature skin.
Wheatgerm ]

Extraction of carrier oils

Vegetable oils are extracted from the nuts or seeds of plants and the carrier oils for aromatherapy should be
extracted by the process known as cold pressing.

Cold Pressing

The nuts or seeds are placed in a horizontal press and compressed. The oil is squeezed out and collected and
the first collection is known as 'virgin' (some commercially produced oil, e.g. olive oil, is pressed for a second
time and is, therefore, available in virgin pressed and second pressing).

Natural heat is generated as the compression pressure increases to force out the oil and careful watch is kept to
ensure that this heat does not exceed 60o. If it does then the oil cannot be classed as 'cold pressed'. After
collection, the oil is filtered through several cotton cloth filters and finally through a paper filter. All cold pressed
carrier oils have specific beneficial effects as they contain vitamins, minerals and therapeutic fatty acids in
varying degrees.

Heat Extraction

After pressing, the residual 'cake' is sold on either as animal feed to the farming industry or to the human food
industry for further pressing at high temperatures (Heat Extraction) to obtain any residual oil. These food

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factories also buy in the original seeds and nuts for oil extraction. The first pressing is carried out at high
temperatures up to 200oC. The remaining cake, together with that from the cold pressing factories, is mixed with
a solvent such as petrol, in order to extract any residual oil.

There follows a complex refining process during which the color is bleached out and all odor and taste are
removed. The natural vitamins and enzymes are destroyed in the process. Standardized color is then added
and, in some instances, vitamins are also added. The surprising thing is that these heat extraction vegetable oils
are called 'pure'!

And so we can see that the 'cold pressed' carrier oils and the 'heat extraction' vegetable oils are very different
and, as their refining processes are also so different, the cold pressing factory is usually completely separate
from the heat extraction factories. Heat Extraction is a much larger industry and has a much higher yield of not
such good quality oil.

SHELF LIFE OF THE CARRIER OILS


The stability of vegetable oil depends on its content of Vitamin E and fatty acids. Those high in saturated fatty
acids are more stable than those high in unsaturated fatty acids. Those containing Vitamin E are more stable
than those containing little or no Vitamin E. Carrier oils are more perishable than supermarket oils so it is
advisable to keep them in the refrigerator once opened.

ORGANIC OILS
Molecules of pesticides and fertilizers used during the growing period of plants can appear in the cold pressed
oil. This is a minor problem as the molecules permeating are so few, but it does create an increasing interest in
the organically produced oils. .

CHAKRA BLENDING GUIDE


20 to 30 drops of Essential Oil to 1/2 oz. (15 ml.) of jojoba oil. (carrier oil)

Chakra Colors Essential Oils Stones


Angelica
Amethyst
#7 Crown Violet Frankincense
Crystal
Rosewood
Rosemary
Lapis
#6 Third Eye Indigo Clary sage
Azurite
Lavender
Roman Chamomile
Turquoise
#5 Throat Blue Sandalwood
Blue lace agate
Myrrh
Geranium
Malachite
#4 Heart Pink/Green Rose
Rose quartz
Bergamot
Neroli
Mandarin Citrine
#3 Solar/Spleen Yellow
Lemon Amber
Grapefruit
Carnelian
#2 Navel/Sacral Orange Jasmine (Absolute)
Gold topaz
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Frankincense
Rosewood
Garnet
#1 Base/Root Red Myrrh
Red jasper
Ylang ylang
Vetiver

APPLICATION METHODS:
Bath:
Add 10-12 drops of a single oil or a blend to 1/2 Cup Epsom Salts or baking soda - or 5 drops to 1 TBS. of
Epsom Salts or baking soda. Pour it into a hot bath while it is filling. Soak until water cools.

Direct Inhalation:
Apply 2-3 drops of essential oil or blend to palm of one hand, rub palms together, cup hands over nose and
mouth and inhale vapors deeply 6-8 times.

Diffusion:
A few drops in a diffuser (for therapeutic use, cold air diffusers do not harm the fragile properties of essential
oils), you can buy electric devices, candle warmed, ceramic rings to place on light bulbs, or just use a bowl of
warm water.

Using heat to diffuse essential oils will destroy essential oils, rendering them therapeutically ineffective. Cold air
diffusers gently break up essential oils into tiny molecules through micro diffusion thus retaining the integrity of
the oils. This process creates a fine mist vapor that floats in the air and can be absorbed gently into the body
through the respiratory system. If you're diffusing an oil only for aroma, an oil burner works perfectly. But, if
you're using an essential oil or blend for therapeutic benefit, use a cold air diffuser.

Compress:
Dilute 1 part essential oil or blend with 4 parts vegetable oil (olive works great) and apply 8-10 drops on affected
area. Cover with moist hand towel or wash cloth. Cover the moist towel with a dry towel and leave in place for
10-15 minutes. If there is inflammation - always use a cold compress. If there is no inflammation, use a warm
compress.

Foot Reflex Points:


Massage oil or blend with the side of your thumb or reflex tool on the corresponding reflex point on the feet. Use
a press and circle motion for 10-20 seconds per point.

Vaporize:
Run hot, steaming water into sink or large bowl. Drape towel over head, covering hot water also. Add 3-6 drops
essential oil(s) or blend to the water. Inhale vapors as deeply as possible several times through the nose as they
rise with the steam. Recharge vapors with additional hot water as needed.

Massage:
Blend 15 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil (Almond, Apricot, Jojoba) and indulge in the power of
touch.

Other Uses:
Facial steams, foot soaks, insect repellent, household cleaning.... and much more... use your imagination


The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

QUALITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS


How does one judge the quality of an essential oil? This is one of
the most frequently asked questions in Aromatherapy but sadly
there is no pat answer. We will do our best to help you know what
to look for in order to get a good quality oil.

One of the first ways you can check if the essential oil is pure is to
get what is called a GC test done on it. This stands for Gas
Chromotography. This is a highly accurate method that separates
the main components of an essential oil and looking at the chemical
Fingerprint.

There will always be natural variations due to growing conditions and climate etc. but it will give a good reading
to see if the oil has been adulterated. GC testing can only pick out the well known chemicals in the oil. There are
many trace chemicals that are in the oils that produce their aromatic scent and these may not be detected.

Once the Essential oil is tested by GC the graph is then checked with another graph which acts as a template to
show if the two are easily comparable. As said earlier, there will always be some variation due to the growing
conditions of the particular harvest but the main peaks should be about the same.

Even though a Gas Chromotography may show that the oils are definitely not adulterated this does not
necessarily mean that it is a quality oil. Quality is more than chemical components which are found, as stated
earlier it is the trace chemicals that give the oil its wonderful aroma and even some GC tested oils do not
measure up aromatically.

The other problem with Gas Chromotography is that it is very expensive. It costs approximately $150.00 for a
single oil to be tested. Considering that a lot of aromatherapy retailers are only small companies this is just way
too expensive for them to go testing all of their oils. Many aromatherapy retailers must rely on the integrity and
knowledge of their suppliers.

Oils can be easily adulterated simply by adding a synthetic chemical to it or a chemical constituent from another
essential oil. Melissa is often adulterated by adding citronella to it.

Lavender is often adulterated by adding more linalool to it to bring it up to the 40/42% content which is often used
in perfumery.

Some aromatherapists believe that removing the foucoumarins from Bergamot or menthone from peppermint is
also a form of adulteration but most of us just consider it just a redistillation to remove these unwanted
chemicals.

Other people may add carrier oil to the oils without saying so on the label. This is adulteration simply because
they have not told you it is a blend. If you see Rose in 5% jojoba, in a sense it is adulterated because it is not
fully rose oil even though the 5% is 100% pure oil some consider it adulteration because the jojoba shouldnt be
in there. This is really an independent decision whether you would consider it adulterated or not. Some people
cannot afford a full bottle of pure rose oil so are quite happy to find it already diluted in jojoba bringing the price
into a more reasonable range. But, as I said, it should be written clearly on the label that this has been done.

What else can we look for when trying to decide if the essential oil we want is good quality?

In which Country was the crop grown? This makes a difference when wanting a quality oil. Sandalwood
from Mysore, India is the best around.
Were Fertilizers used on the crop? Most pesticides dont make it through the steam distillation process but
this would be a major factor when choosing your citrus oils.
Which part of the plant was used? Remember that Neroli is from the flower but Petitgrain is from the leaf.
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

When was it harvested?

The time of harvest makes a big difference in the chemical constituents of the oil. There are specific months
when most Essential Oils are generally harvested and it is good to know which months these are.

We will show this in a later lesson under the particular Essential Oil Profiles.

Here are some things you can look for which might be suspicious:

Are the oils cloudy? Usually steam distilled oils are not cloudy. Remember though that Concretes,
Absolutes and Citrus may very well be cloudy.
Are the oils greasy? Although they are called oils they are not oily. If you find that your oil feels oily it is
probably adulterated with an added carrier oil. Essential oils are not greasy or oily.
Do they evaporate clearly? Drop a drop onto a white piece of paper. If it doesnt evaporate clearly this
could be a sign of adulteration with a carrier. Remember Essential oils are not generally greasy. They are
volatile oils that evaporate very quickly. If you see an oil stain then be suspicious. Note: This is not fool
proof because some oils such as Patchouli and some citrus can leave a bit of an impression.
Are they priced differently? The shelves of oils should not all be in the same price range. It is much more
expensive to distill rose than it is to distill orange. If all oils are for instance, $7.00 an ounce you can bet
your booties that they are fragrance oils and not true Essential Oils. Also check to see which other oils are
on the shelves with them. If you see Essential oils on the same shelf as Rain or Honeysuckle you can
be pretty sure that the Rose is also a fragrance oil.
If the botanical name is not on the bottle, does the salesperson know what it is in the bottle? I know that
many times I have walked into the local health food store or novelty shop and seen oils listed as
Chamomile, or Lavender. When I asked if it were Roman or German Chamomile, she didnt even know and
had no way of finding out. When I asked another store about the Lavender being English or Bulgarian they
had no idea and also did not know where or how to find out the information.
Deal with people who know what they are talking about!!!!

Price Range

As we just mentioned price is a good indication of the quality of the oil. This of course is not set in stone as
people can unscrupulously jack their prices and still give you a mediocre oil

The Pricing of Essential oils depends on the crop yield and the Essential Oil yield.

Crop Yield refers to if it has been a good year and the crops have produced in abundance. Obviously if it has
been a poor crop year then the oils will cost much higher than in a more productive year.

Essential Oil Yield refers to the general expectation of yield from a specific plant material. Essential Oils vary
their production according to which plant is used.

50 kilos of Eucalyptus will give about 5 liters of oils


50 kilos of Lavender will give about 1.5 liters of oil
50 kilos of Rose will give about liter of oil
4 million jasmine flowers will give 1 kg. of oil

We can see from this that Jasmine and Rose should be much more expensive that Eucalytpus. Below is a
generalized list of which oils should be priced according to the availability of their yield.

Price Range Chart

Lowest Medium Higher Highest


Cedarwood Sweet Basil Cardamom Angelica
Cypress Bergamot Chamomile Carnation
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Eucalyptus Black Pepper Frankincense Jasmine


Fennel Cinnamon Galbanum Mimosa
Geranium Clary Sage Sandalwood Neroli
Grapefruit Clove Bud Rose Absolute
Lavender Coriander Rose Otto
Lemon Elemi Vanilla Absolute
Lime Ginger Violet
Mandarin Juniper Berry
Marjoram Myrrh
Orange Oakmoss
Palmarosa Ylang Ylang
Patchouli
Petitgrain
Pine
Rosemary
Vetiver

'Each of us is the sole obstacle to our own perfection.'


Kierkegaard, Danish Philosopher

AFFINITIES OF ESSENTIAL OILS WITH CRYSTALS


BLACK PEPPER: Bloodstone. Courage, physical energy.

CARDAMOM: Carnelian. Sex, overcoming sexual dysfunction.

CEDARWOOD: Lepidolite. Spirituality, sleep, protection.

EUCALYPTUS: Aquamarine. Health, healing, purification.

FRANKINCENSE: Amber. Strength, healing, protection.

GERANIUM: Red Tourmaline. Protection.

GINGER: Rhodochrosite. Physical energy, love.

JASMINE: Moonstone. Love, sleep, psychic awareness.

JUNIPER: Red Jasper. Protection.

LAVENDER: Fluorite. Healing, health, conscious mind.

NEROLI: Chrysoprase. Happiness, joy.

NIAOULI: Imperial Topaz. Protection.

PALMAROSA: Lapis Lazuli. Love, healing.

PATCHOULI: Green Tourmaline. Money.

PINE: Malachite. Magical energy, money, protection.


The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

ROSE: Rose Quartz. Love, peace, happiness.

ROSEMARY: Quartz Crystal. All positive magical changes.

SANDALWOOD: Clear Calcite. Spirituality, meditation.

YARROW: Amethyst. Love, psychic awareness.

YLANG-YLANG: Kunzite. Love, peace.

SINGLE ESSENTIAL OIL PROFILES


NOTE: For more in-depth oil profiles, visit
ReflexAromas.com

Angelica (Angelica Archangelica)


Action: Anticoagulant, sedating to the nervous system, reduces
inflammation of intestinal wall. Emotionally it is calming, assisting
in the release of pent-up negative feelings.
Indications: Bruises, colic, coughs, respiratory infections,
indigestion, menopause, premenstrual tension, loss of appetite,
rheumatic conditions.
Companion Oils: Patchouli, Vetiver, Clary Sage, most citrus oils.
Caution: Photosensitizing, avoid if diabetic.

Anise (Pimpinella anisum)


Action: Antiseptic, antispasmodic, diuretic, stimulant

Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)


Action: Antitumoral, anticancerous, antioxidant, combats respiratory infections, antifungal. It may also ease the
pain of arthritis and bursitis.
Caution: Possible skin irritant

Basil (Ocimum basilicum)


Action: Powerful antispasmodic, anti-infectious, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, decongestant (veins, arteries of the
lungs, prostate), and is antibacterial.
Indications: Migraines, mental fatigue, scanty menstrual periods.
Other uses: Relaxing to both striated and smooth muscles, soothing for insect bites and stimulating to the sense
of smell. It may help bronchitis and chest infections.
Companion Oils: Bergamot, Wintergreen/Birch, Cypress, Geranium, Lavender, Lemongrass, Marjoram.
Caution: Do not use if epileptic

Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)


Action: Antiseptic, antimicrobial, expectorant, mucolytic, anti-infectious, antibacterial (staph, strep, E. coli), and
an anticoagulant.
Indications: Nerve damage, arthritis (rheumatoid), oral infections
Other Uses: May help with loss of appetite, asthmatic conditions, chronic bronchitis, hair loss (after an infection),
lice, scabies, viral infections.
Caution: Use in moderation

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)


Action: Calming, antiseptic, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, provides hormonal support.
Indications: Stress, loss of appetite, indigestion, agitation, depression, infection, inflammation, intestinal
parasites, rheumatism, insomnia, vaginal candida, insect repellent.
Other Uses: May help bronchitis, cold sores, oily complexion, anxiety, nervous tension, coughs, urinary tract
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

infections, respiratory infection, sore throat, thrush, tonsillitis.


Caution: Photosensitizing

Black Pepper (Piper Nigrum)


Action: Toothache pain, expectorant, stimulates digestive secretions, reduces pain, dispels fever.
Other Uses: May increase cellular oxygenation, support the digestive glands, stimulate the endocrine system,
increase energy and help rheumatoid arthritis. It may also help with loss of appetite, chills, cholera, respiratory
infections, indigestion, constipation, coughs, diarrhea, dysentery, influenza, nausea, neuralgia, poor circulation,
poor muscle tone, quinsy, sprains, toothache, vertigo, viruses and vomiting.
Companion Oils: Cumin, Fennel, Frankincense, Lavender, Marjoram, Rosemary CT Cineol, Sandalwood, other
spice oils.
Caution: Possible skin irritant

Blue Cypress (Callitris intratropica)


Action: Anti-inflammatory, antiviral, effective against herpes simplex, herpes zoster, cold sores, human papilloma
virus. This essential oil is also useful as an insect repellent. It also relieves abdominal cramps and minor aches
and pains.

Cajeput (Melaleuca leucadendra)


Action: Antimicrobial, mild analgesic, antispasmodic, antineuralgic, antiseptic (pulmonary, urinary, intestinal),
insecticidal and can be used as an expectorant.
Indications: Arthritis, acne, respiratory infections, asthma, bronchitis, urinary complaints, coughs, cystitis, stiff
joints, toothache, hay fever, bursitis, headaches, insect bites, intestinal problems, laryngitis, dysentery, psoriasis,
rheumatism, sinusitis, oily skin, sore throat, and viral infections.
Companion Oils: Wintergreen/Birch, Eucalyptus Radiata, Juniper and Peppermint.

Calamus (Acorus calamus)


Action: Can be used to help digestive problems, nervous complaints and headaches. It is also used to increase
the appetite.
Other Uses: Calamus can be used to help reduce the desire for tobacco. When rubbed on the feet it may help
with foot odor. It also helps with asthma, bronchitis, colic, memory loss, stroke and depression.

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)


Action: Antispasmodic (neuromuscular), antibacterial, expectorant and anti-infectious.
Indications: Indigestion, loss of appetite, coughs, debility, halitosis (bad breath), mental fatigue, headaches,
heartburn, nausea and sciatica. Cardamom may also alleviate menstrual problems and irregularities.
Companion Oils: Bergamot, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Cistus, Clove, Neroli, Orange, Rose and Ylang Ylang.

Carrot Seed (Daucus carota)


Action: Antiseptic, carminative, diuretic, hepatic, stimulant, vasodilator, smooth muscle relaxant.
Indications: PMS symptoms, dry skin, wrinkles, eczema, psoriasis, tonic to liver and gallbladder, jaundice.

Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia)


Action: Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral
Caution: Possible skin irritant

Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)


Action: Mildly antiseptic and may be effective against hair loss, tuberculosis, bronchitis, gonorrhea and skin
disorders such as acne and psoriasis. It can reduce the hardening of artery walls. It is high in sesquiterpenes
which can stimulate the limbic region of the brain - the center of our emotions. It may also help stimulate the
pineal gland which releases melatonin, an antioxidant hormone associated with deep sleep.
Indications: Bronchitis, anger/hysteria, hair loss, arteriosclerosis, diuretic, tuberculosis, calming, nervous tension,
urinary infections.
Other Uses: Cedarwood may help with acne, anxiety, arthritis, respiratory congestion, coughs, cystitis, dandruff,
psoriasis, sinusitis, skin diseases and fluid retention. It may help open the pineal gland. It also helps to reduce
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

oily skin.
Companion Oils: Bergamot, Cypress, Eucalyptus Radiata, Juniper, Rosemary CT Cineol.

Celery Seed (Apium graveolens)


Action: Antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, diuretic, hepatic, carminative, stimulant.
Indications: Used for bladder and kidney complaints, menstrual problems, digestive ailments. It has been found
to have a liver regenerating effect.

Chamomile, German (Matricaria recutita)


Action: Sedating, calming, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, decongestant. It supports liver, digestive and
gallbladder function, reduces scarring and relieves allergies.
Indications: Insomnia, nervous tension, stress, bursitis, tendonitis, inflammation, carpal tunnel syndrome,
headaches, acne, liver and gallbladder disease, parasites, ulcers.
Other Uses: Cleanser of blood, helps increase liver function and secretion, supports the pancreas. Promotes the
regeneration of skin and can be used for abscesses, burns, rashes, cuts, and dermatitis. It is also helpful for
teething pains, acne, eczema, chronic gastritis, infected nails, cystitis, inflamed joints, menopausal problems,
sores, skin disorders, stress-related complaints, toothaches, ulcers and wounds.
Companion Oils: Wintergreen/Birch, Fir, Geranium, Helichrysum, Hyssop, Lavender, Lemongrass, Marjoram,
Tea Tree, Sandalwood, Spearmint, Spruce

Chamomile, Roman (Chamaemelum nobile)


Action: Calming for pre-anesthesia and tension, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, skin
regeneration.
Indications: May help calm and relieve restlessness and tension. Its anti-infectious properties benefit cuts,
scraps and bruises.
Other Uses: Neutralizes allergies and increases the ability of the skin to regenerate. It is a cleanser of the blood
and also helps the liver discharge poisons. This oil may help with allergies, bruises, cuts, depression, insomnia,
muscle tension, nerves (calming and promoting nerve health), restless legs and skin conditions such as acne,
dermatitis, eczema, rashes and sensitive skin. It can effectively minimize irritability and nervousness in
hyperactive children.
Companion Oils: Clary Sage, Geranium, Lavender, Rose
Caution: Possible skin irritant

Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum verum)


Action: Highly antimicrobial, anti-infectious, antibacterial for a wide spectrum of infections. It is antiviral,
antifungal (candida), a general tonic, increases blood flow when previously restricted and is a light anticoagulant.
Indications: Tropical infection, typhoid and vaginitis.
Other Uses: May be beneficial for circulation, infections, coughs, exhaustion, respiratory infections, digestion,
rheumatism, warts. This oil also fights viral and infectious diseases and may be a sexual stimulant.
Companion Oils: All citrus oils, Frankincense, Cypress, Juniper, Geranium, Lavender, Rosemary CT Cineol, all
spice oils.
Caution: Possible skin irritant; mucus membrane irritant

Cistus (Cistus ladanifer - also known as Labdanum)


Action: Anti-infectious, antiviral, antibacterial, powerful antihemorrhaging agent, helps reduce inflammation and is
a neurotonic for the sympathetic nervous system.
Indications: Bronchitis, respiratory infections, coughs, rhinitis, urinary infections, wounds and wrinkles.
Other Uses: May strengthen and support the immune system (due to phenol action).
Companion Oils: Bergamot, Clary Sage, Cypress, Juniper, Lavender, Lavandin, Patchouli, Pine, Sandalwood,
Vetiver.

Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus)


Action: Antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, insecticidal, insect repellent,
deodorant.
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Indications: Headaches, respiratory infections, neuralgia, fatigue and oily skin.


Other Uses: Can be used as an antiseptic to sanitize and deodorize surfaces. It makes an excellent insect
repellent when combines with Cedarwood.
Companion Oils: Bergamot, Cedarwood., Geranium, Lemon, Orange, Pine.
Caution: Possible skin irritant; possible contact sensitization from repeated use

Clary Sage (Salvia Sclarea)


Action: Antidiabetic, helps reduce high cholesterol, is estrogen-like, supports hormones, anti-infectious,
antifungal, antispasmodic, relaxing, antibacterial, and may help with epilepsy, menopause and PMS.
Indications: Bronchitis, cholesterol, hemorrhoids, hormonal imbalance, PMS, insomnia, intestinal cramps,
menstrual cramps, premenopause, weak digestion.
Other Uses: May be used for menstrual problems, depression, headaches, dandruff, insect bites, insomnia,
kidney disorders, dry skin, throat infections, ulcers, circulatory problems and whooping cough.
Companion Oils: Bergamot, Cedarwood., Lemon, Orange, Cypress, Geranium, Juniper, Lavender, Sandalwood.
Caution: Use caution with infants and children.

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)


Action: Highly antimicrobial, antiseptic, analgesic, bactericidal, powerful antioxidant. It is hemostatic (blood
thinning) and is also anti-inflammatory.
Indications: Infectious diseases, intestinal parasites, tuberculosis, respiratory infections, pain, toothache, scabies
and infected wounds.
Other Uses: Clove oil can help prevent contagious disease and may treat arthritis, bronchitis, cholera, cystitis,
dental infection, amebic dysentery, diarrhea, tuberculosis, acne, fatigue, thyroid dysfunction, halitosis,
headaches, hypertension, insect bites, nausea, neuritis, dermatitis, rheumatism, sinusitis, skin cancer, chronic
skin disease, bacterial colitis, sores (speeds healing of mouth and skin sores), viral hepatitis, warts and
lymphoma.
Companion Oils: Basil, Bergamot, Cinnamon Bark, Clary Sage, Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemon, Nutmeg, Orange,
Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary CT Cineol, Ylang Ylang.
Caution: Possible skin irritant; possible contact sensitization from repeated use; do not use if on blood thinners

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)


Action: Anti-inflammatory, sedative effect.
Other Uses: May help with arthritis, diarrhea, respiratory infections, indigestion, digestive spasms, poor
circulation, rheumatism, gout, general infections, measles, headaches, nausea, muscular aches and pains,
neuralgia, skin conditions (acne, psoriasis, dermatitis), and stress. It may also help during convalescence and
after a difficult childbirth. Because of its estrogenic content, coriander may regulate and help control pain related
to menstruation.
Companion Oils: Bergamot, Cinnamon, Citronella, Clary Sage, Cypress, Ginger, Jasmine, Neroli, Petitgrain,
Pine, Sandalwood, other spice oils.
Caution: Impairs mental function in large doses.

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum)


Action: Antiviral, immune stimulant, helps appetite and digestion and acts as a liver regulator.
Indications: Poor circulation, indigestion, digestive spasms, headaches and migraines.
Other Uses: Calming and a powerful support to the immune system. It may also help wound healing and scars.
Companion Oils: Cinnamon, Frankincense, Jasmine, Myrrh, Patchouli, Rose, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang
Caution: Photosensitizing

Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)


Action: Improves circulation and supports the nerves and intestines. Anti-infectious, antibacterial, antimicrobial,
and strengthens blood capillaries. It also acts as an insect repellent.
Indications: Arthritis, bronchitis, circulation, cramps, hemorrhoids, insomnia, intestinal parasites, menopausal
problems, menstrual pain, pancreas insufficiencies, pulmonary infections, rheumatism, spasms, tuberculosis,
throat problems, varicose veins, fluid retention. May be helpful for some cancers.
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Other uses: May be beneficial for asthma, strengthening blood capillary walls, reducing cellulite, supporting the
circulatory system and strengthening connective tissue. It may help with coughs, edema, improving energy,
gallbladder ailments, bleeding gums, hemorrhaging, laryngitis, liver disorders, muscular cramps, nervous
tension, nose bleeds, ovarian cysts. It is outstanding when used in skin care, lessening scar tissue.
Companion Oils: Bergamot, Clary Sage, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon, Orange and Sandalwood.

Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)


Action: Antitumoral, anticancerous, antifungal, antioxidant and combats respiratory infections.
Caution: Possible skin irritant

Elemi (Canarium luzonicum)


Action: Antiseptic and antimicrobial
Indications: Sluggish glands, scarring, upset stomach, amebic dysentery
Other Uses: Widely regarded today for soothing sore muscles, protecting and rejuvenating the skin, reducing
wrinkles and stimulating nerves. Its fragrance is very conducive to meditation.

Eucalyptus Citriodora (Eucalyptus Citriodora)


Action: Analgesic, antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, deodorant, expectorant, insecticidal agent.
Indications: Asthma, athlete's foot and other fungal infections, respiratory infections, cuts, dandruff, fevers,
herpes, infectious skin conditions, laryngitis, scabs, shingles, sore throat, sores and wounds.
Caution: Do not take internally

Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus Globulus)


Action: Mucolytic, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal (candida), antiviral, antiseptic, expectorant.
Indications: Asthma, candida, coughs, diabetes, herpes, hypoglycemia, lungs, measles, headaches, respiratory
infections, sinusitis, shingles, tuberculosis.
Other Uses: May be used for aches/pains, acne, allergies, arthritis, bronchitis, burns, respiratory infections,
cystitis, endometriosis, gonorrhea, inflammation of the ear, eye and sinus, and as a decongestant. Also for
malaria, rheumatism, respiratory infections, skin and throat infection/sores, ulcers, vaginitis and wounds. Also
helpful for increasing energy.
Companion Oils: Geranium, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Melissa, Pine, Sandalwood, Thyme.
Caution: Do not take internally

Eucalyptus Polybractea (Eucalyptus Polybractea


Action: Anti-infectious, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, mucolytic, expectorant, insect repellent.
Indications: Acne and cystitis.

Eucalyptus Radiata (Eucalyptus Radiata)


Action: Anti-infectious, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, expectorant.
Indications: Conjunctivitis, vaginitis, acne, sinusitis, bronchitis.
Other Uses: This oil, when combines with bergamot, has been used effectively on herpes simplex. It may also
help with acne, bronchitis, ear inflammation, endometriosis, nasal and sinus congestion, sinusitis and vaginitis.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)


Action: Stimulates estrogen production, facilitates birthing, increases lactation, promotes digestion, reduces
indigestion, supports the heart and respiratory system, expels worms, is stimulating to the circulatory and
respiratory systems. It is antiseptic, antispasmodic and analgesic.
Indications: Cystitis, sluggish digestion, fluid retention, gout, intestinal parasites, intestinal spasms, nausea,
menopause, and pre-menopause problems.
Other Uses: May be used for indigestion, stimulating the cardiovascular and respiratory system, for constipation,
digestion, balancing hormones, supporting pancreatic function and PMS. It may break up fluids and toxins and
cleanse the tissues.
Companion Oils: Basil, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Rosemary CT Cineol, Sandalwood
Caution: Do not use if epileptic
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Fleabane (Conyza canadensis)


Action: Stimulates liver and pancreas, antirheumatic, antispasmodic, hormone-like, cardiovascular dilator. Has
been used to treat children with retarded puberty.
This oil is still under study.

Frankincense (Boswellia carteri)


Action: Expectorant, antitumoral, immunostimulant, antidepressant
Indications: Asthma, depression, ulcers
Other Uses: May help with allergies, bites (insect and snake), bronchitis, cancer, respiratory infections,
diphtheria, headaches, hemorrhaging, herpes, high blood pressure, inflammation, stress, tonsillitis., Typhoid,
warts. It contains sesquiterpenes, enabling it to go beyond the blood/brain barrier where it is elevating to the
mind and helps to overcome stress and despair. It also increases the activity of leukocytes in defense of the
body against infection.
Companion Oils: All oils

Galbanum (Ferula gummosa)


Action: Anti-infectious, stimulant, supporting to the kidneys and menstruating, analgesic, and a light
antispasmodic.
Indications: Abscesses, boils, wounds, inflammation
Other Uses: May help with acne, asthma, bronchitis, chronic coughs, cramps, cuts, indigestion, muscular aches
and pains, nervous tension, poor circulation, rheumatism, scar tissue, stress and wrinkles.
Companion Oils: All oils

Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)


Action: Antispasmodic, antitumoral, adrenal cortex stimulant, anti-inflammatory, astringent, hemostatic (stops
bleeding), anti-infectious, antibacterial, antifungal, revitalizes skin tissue, dilates bile ducts for liver detoxification.
Balances the sebum, which is the fatty secretion in the sebaceous glands of the skin that keep the skin supple.
Helps cleanse oily skin and restores and enlivens pale skin.
Indications: Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo), herpes, shingles, bleeding, tumor growths,
hormone imbalances.
Other Uses: May be used for acne, burns, circulatory problems (improves blood flow), depression gingivitis, liver
problems, sterility, digestion, insomnia, menstrual problems, neuralgia (severe pain along the nerve),
regenerating tissue and nerves, pancreas imbalances, ringworm, sore throats, and wounds. Also recommended
for liver disorders and hepatitis.
Companion Oils: All oils

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)


Action: Digestive tonic, sexual tonic, reduces pain, expectorant.
Indications: Arthritis, rheumatism, indigestion, digestive disorders, motion sickness.
Other Uses: May be used for alcoholism, loss of appetite, arthritis, chills, respiratory infections, congestion,
coughs, digestive disorders, infectious diseases, muscular aches/pains, nausea, rheumatism, sinusitis, sore
throats and sprains.
Companion Oils: All spice oils, all citrus oils, Eucalyptus Radiata, Frankincense, Geranium, Myrtle, Rosemary CT
Cineol, Spearmint.
Caution: Possible contact sensitization from repeated use; Photosensitizing

Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)


Action: Diuretic, anti-inflammatory, hepatic, mucolytic, stimulant, tonic
Indications: Arthritis, asthma, candida, colds, cough, hypertension
Other Uses: Helps to thin mucus secretions and relieve congested mucus membranes. It promotes urination,
cleans the kidneys, reduces inflammation and prevents infection.

Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi)


Action: Antiseptic, disinfecting, detoxifying, diuretic. Like many cold-pressed citrus oils, it has unique fat-
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

dissolving characteristics. It is exceptionally cleansing for oily skin. Psychologically, it is an antidepressant and is
emotionally uplifting.
Indications: Acne, cellulite, digestion, fluid retention
Other Uses: May help with depression, drug withdrawal, jet lag, eating disorders, fatigue, liver disorders,
migraine headaches, premenstrual tension, stress. It may also have a cleansing effect on the the kidneys,
lymphatic system and the vascular system.
Companion Oils: Basil, Bergamot, Cedarwood., German Chamomile, Cypress, Frankincense, Geranium, Juniper,
Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary CT Cineol, Rosewood, Ylang Ylang
Caution: Photosensitizing

Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum)


Action: Anticoagulant, anesthetic, dissolves hematomas (blood clots), mucolytic, expectorant, antispasmodic,
stimulates liver, reduces scar tissue and skin discoloration. It also balances blood pressure, chelates chemicals
and toxins.
Indications: Hematoma (swelling or blood-filled tumor), bleeding, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, congestive heart
failure, cardiac arrhythmias, thrombosis, embolisms, liver disorders, phlebitis, sciatica, sinus infection, skin
conditions (eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis)
Other Uses: May help blood circulation, hearing loss, pain (acute), respiratory conditions, scar tissue, and
varicose veins. It may regenerate tissue, detoxify and stimulate liver cell function.

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)


Action: Anticatarrhal, mucolytic, decongestant, expectorant, cleansing, purifying, helps reduce fats in tissue.
Hyssop raises low blood pressure, regulates menstrual flow, increases perspiration.
Indications: Anxiety, arthritis, asthma, bruises, respiratory infections, coughs, cuts, dermatitis, indigestion,
fatigue, nervous tension, parasites (it expels worms), rheumatism, sore throats, viral infections, wounds.
Companion Oils: All citrus oils, Clary Sage, Fennel, Geranium, Myrtle, Sage
Caution: Do not use if epileptic.

Jasmine (Jasmine officinale)


Action: Beneficial for the skin, uplifting, antidepressant, stimulating
Indications: Dry, oily, irritated or sensitive skin, anxiety, stress, depression.
Other Uses: May help with eczema (when caused by emotions), frigidity, labor pains, laryngitis, lethargy
(abnormal drowsiness), menstrual pain and problems, stress. Ideal for skin care.
Companion Oils: Bergamot, Frankincense, Geranium, Helichrysum, Lemongrass, Mandarin, Melissa, Orange,
Palmarosa, Rose, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Spearmint.

Juniper (Juniperus communis and J. osteosperma)


Action: Antiseptic, astringent, digestive stimulant, purifying, detoxifying, increases circulation through the kidneys
and promotes excretion of uric acid and toxins.
Indications: Acne, dermatitis, eczema, gout, depression fatigue, liver problems, sore muscles, rheumatism,
ulcers, urinary infections, fluid retention, wounds.
Other Uses: May work as a detoxifier and a cleanser, as well as being beneficial to the skin. It may assist with
nerve regeneration.
Companion Oils: Bergamot, all citrus oils, Cypress, Geranium, Lavender, Tea Tree, Rosemary CT Cineol

Lavandin (Lavandula x hybrida)


Action: Antibacterial, antifungal, strong antiseptic (related actions to Lavender)
Indications: There is not a long history of the therapeutic use of Lavandin
Other Uses: Lavandin is best used as an antiseptic. Its greater penetrating qualities make it well suited to help
with respiratory, circulatory and muscular conditions.
Companion Oils: Bergamot, Cinnamon, Citronella, Clove, Cypress, Clary Sage, Geranium, Lime, Patchouli, Pine,
Rosemary CT Cineol, Thyme
Caution: Do not use for burns
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)


Action: Antiseptic, analgesic, antitumoral, anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, sedative. Beneficial for healing
burns, cleansing cuts and wounds. Ideal for skin care since it prevents the build up of excess sebum, a skin oil
that bacteria feed on. Lavender has also been clinically evaluated for its relaxing effects.
Indications: Burns (cell renewal), sunburns (including lips), dandruff, hair loss, allergies, convulsions, herpes,
headaches, indigestion, insomnia, high blood pressure, menopausal conditions, nausea, phlebitis, tumors,
premenstrual conditions, scarring (minimizes), skin conditions (acne, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, rashes),
stretch marks. It may be used to cleans cuts, bruises and skin irritations.
Other Uses: Lavender is a universal oil with many different applications. It may also help arthritis, asthma,
bronchitis, convulsions, depression, earaches, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, hives (urticaria), insect
bites, laryngitis, nervous tension, respiratory infections, rheumatism and throat infections.
Companion Oils: Most oils, especially citrus oils, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Geranium

Ledum (Ledum groenlandicum)


Action: Anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, antibacterial, hepatoprotectant, diuretic, decongestant
Indications: Liver dysfunctions, hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver, obesity, laryngitis, bronchitis, allergies, influenza,
edema, thyroid regulation.
Other Uses: Can be used for all types of skin problems, for coughs, hoarseness, stomach discomfort, prostate
infection, congested prostate, insomnia, allergies.
Companion Oils: Frankincense, Goldenrod, Wintergreen/Birch, Lemon, Sage
Caution: If using topically, always dilute

Lemon (Citrus limon)


Action: Anti-infectious, antibacterial (spores), antiseptic, antiviral, disinfectant. Lemon improves microcirculation,
promotes white blood cell formation and improves immune function.
Indications: Anemia, asthma, herpes, warts, shingles, bleeding, malaria, parasites, rheumatism, throat infections,
ureter infections, varicose veins.
Other Uses: May be beneficial for anxiety, blood pressure, digestive problems, respiratory infections, sore
throats. It helps promote leukocyte formation, improves memory, strengthens nails, cleans the skin and promotes
a sense of well-being. Research has shown lemon to have antidepressant effects. It serves as an effective insect
repellent and works well in removing gum, wood stain, oil and grease spots.
Companion Oils: German Chamomile, Eucalyptus Radiata, Fennel, Frankincense, Geranium, Juniper,
Peppermint, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang
Caution: Very Photosensitizing.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus)


Action: Supports digestion, tones and helps regenerate connective tissues and ligaments, dilates blood vessels,
strengthens vascular walls, promotes lymph flow, anti-inflammatory, sedative.
Indications: Bladder infection, digestive disturbances, parasites, torn ligaments, edema, fluid retention, kidney
disorders, varicose veins.
Other Uses: May help improve circulation, digestion and eyesight as well as combat headaches, infections,
respiratory problems, sore throats and fluid retention. It aids in tissue regeneration.
Companion Oils: Basil, Cedarwood., Eucalyptus Radiata, Geranium, Lavender, Tea Tree, Rosemary CT Cineol
Caution: Possible skin irritant

Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)


Common Method of Extraction: Cold
Pressed/Expressed Color: Light Yellow Green
Consistency: Thin
Perfumery Note: Top
Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium
Aromatic Description: Fresh, citrusy, sweet.
Possible Uses: Acne, asthma, chilblains, colds, dull skin, flu, varicose veins.
Constituents: a-pinene, B-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, limonene, y-terpinene, terpinolene, octanal, nonanal,
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

tetradecanal, pentadecanal, trans-a-bergaptene, caryophyllene, B-bisabolene, geranial, neryl acetate, geranyl


acetate, a-terpineo, linalool.
Safety Information: Phototoxic.

Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)


Action: Light antispasmodic, digestive tonic (digestoid), antiseptic, antifungal, stimulates the gallbladder.
Other Uses: May help acne, digestive problems, fluid retention, insomnia, intestinal problems, skin problems
(congested and oily skin, scars, spots), tones the skin, diminishes stretch marks (when combined with either
jasmine, lavender, sandalwood and/or frankincense), calms nervous tension and restlessness. Recommended
for children and pregnant women because it is very gentle.
Companion Oils: Cinnamon, Clove, Lavender, Neroli, Nutmeg, citrus oils, spice oils
Caution: Very Photosensitizing.

Marjoram (Origanum majorana)


Action: Anti-infectious, antibacterial, dilates blood vessels, regulates blood pressure, soothes muscles, promotes
intestinal peristalsis, tones the parasympathetic nervous system, supports respiratory system.
Indications: Aches, arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, indigestion, constipation, cramps, insomnia, migraine headaches,
neuralgia, rheumatism, sprains.
Other Uses: May be relaxing and calming to the muscles that constrict and sometimes contribute to headaches.
It may help anxiety, nervous tension, bruises, burns, sores, cuts, circulatory disorders, respiratory infections,
fungal and viral infections, menstrual problems, ringworm, shingles, shock, sores, spasms, sunburn, fluid
retention.
Companion Oils: Bergamot, Cedarwood, German Chamomile, Cypress, Lavender, Nutmeg, Orange, Rosemary
CT Cineol, Rosewood, Ylang Ylang

Melissa (Melissa officinalis)


Action: Calming, sedative, hypotensive (lowers blood pressure), fights against cholera, anti-inflammatory
Indications: Allergies, anxiety, asthma, bronchitis, chronic coughs, respiratory infections, cold-sore blisters,
indigestion, depression, dysentery, eczema, fevers, hypertension, indigestion, insect bites, insomnia, menstrual
problems, migraine, nausea, nervous tension, palpitations, throat infections, vertigo
Companion Oils: Geranium, Lavender, other floral and citrus oils

Mountain Savory (Sauterne Montana)


Action: Strongly anti-infectious, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, immunostimulant, general tonic
and stimulant.
Indications: Acute pain, sluggish nervous and circulatory systems.
Other Uses: Due to its high phenol content, mountain savory is a very strong antiseptic and has been used to
hasten the formation of scabs and to help with abscesses, burns and cuts. It is also known to stimulate the
adrenal gland. Recent research suggests that the extract may have anti-HIV activity.
Caution: If used topically, always dilute; possible skin irritant.

Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha)


Action: Anti-infectious, antiviral, antiparasitic, hormone-like, anti-inflammatory, soothes skin conditions, anti-
hyperthyroid, supports immune system.
Indications: Bronchitis, diarrhea, dysentery, hyperthyroidism, stretch marks, thrush, ulcers, vaginal thrush, viral
hepatitis.
Other Uses: May be used to help asthma, athlete's foot, candida, coughs, eczema, digestion, fungal infection,
gingivitis, gum infections, hemorrhoids, mouth ulcers, ringworm, sore throats, wounds and wrinkles.
Companion Oils: Frankincense, Lavender, Patchouli, Sandalwood, and all spice oils

Myrtle (Myrtus communis)


Action: Expectorant, anti-infectious, liver stimulant, prostate decongestant, light antispasmodic, regulator for
thyroid and ovary, tonic for the skin.
Indications: Bronchitis, coughs, hypothyroidism, insomnia, sluggish thyroid, prostate congestion, respiratory tract
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

ailments, sinus infection, tuberculosis, ureter infections.


Other Uses: May help anger, asthma, respiratory infections, cystitis, diarrhea, dysentery, impaired digestion,
hemorrhoids, hormonal imbalances. It may support the immune system, fight infections, sinusitis, infectious
diseases, and pulmonary disorders, aid skin conditions (acne, blemishes, bruises, oily skin, psoriasis, etc.).
Useful on children for chest complaints and coughs.
Companion Oils: Bergamot, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Tea Tree, Rosewood, Rosemary CT Cineol,
Spearmint, Thyme

Naouli (Melaleuca quinquenervia)


Action: Male hormone-like, anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic (kills amoeba
and parasites in the blood)
Indications: Mucous in respiratory passages, the urinary tract and genital organs; also good for high blood
pressure.
Other Uses: May help with respiratory allergies, infections and hemorrhoids.
Caution: Possible contact sensitization with repeated use

Neroli (Citrus aurantium)


Action: Anti-infectious, antibacterial, antiparasitic, digestive tonic, antidepressive, hypotensive (lowers blood
pressure).
Indications: Anxiety, depression, digestive spasms, fear, headaches, heart arrhythmia, hysteria, insomnia,
nervous tension, palpitations, PMS, poor circulation, scars, shock, stress-related conditions, stretch marks,
tachycardia, thread (spider) veins, wrinkles.
Other Uses: May support the digestive system and fight bacteria, infections, parasites, and viruses. In support of
the skin, neroli works at the cellular level to help shed the old skin cells and stimulate new cell growth. It is
particularly beneficial for mature and sensitive skin.
Companion Oils: Cedarwood, Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Rose, Sandalwood

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)


Action: Antiseptic, antiparasitic, reduces pain, promotes normal menstruation, improves circulation.
Indications: Loss of appetite, chronic debility, digestion (helps with starchy foods and fats), gallstones, halitosis,
rheumatism
Other Uses: This oil has adrenal cortex-like activity which helps support the adrenal glands for increased energy.
It may also help treat arthritis, bacterial infection, frigidity, gout, impotence, menstrual problems, nausea, severe
nerve pain.
Companion Oils: Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Cypress, Frankincense, Lemon, Tea Tree, Melissa, Orange, Patchouli,
Rosemary CT Cineol
Caution: Do not use if epileptic. Dilute when applied topically.

Orange (Citrus aurantium)


Action: Calming, sedative, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, anticoagulant, improves circulation
Indications: Angina (false), cardiac spasm, insomnia, menopause, tumor growth.
Companion Oils: Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Cypress, Frankincense, Geranium, Juniper, Lavender, Nutmeg,
Rosewood
Caution: Photosensitizing.

Oregano (Origanum compactum)


Action: Powerful anti-infectious agent (for respiratory, intestines, genital, nerves, blood and lymphatics) with
large-spectrum action against bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. It is a general tonic and
immune stimulant.
Indications: Asthma, bronchitis (chronic), mental disease, pulmonary tuberculosis, rheumatism (chronic),
whooping cough.
Other Uses: May help respiratory infections, digestion problems, viral and bacterial pneumonia, respiratory
system problems, balance metabolism and strengthen the vital centers.
Companion Oils: Basil, Fennel, Geranium, Lemongrass, Myrtle, Pine, Rosemary CT Cineol, thyme.
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Caution: High phenol content can burn the skin - dilute 1 drop essential oil to 50 drops vegetable or massage oil
for topical application other than the bottom of feet. Use extra caution to avoid contact with all mucus
membranes. Skin irritant.

Palmarosa (Cymbopogon margin)


Action: Antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, uterine tonic, cardiotonic
Indications: May be beneficial for rashes, candida, the cardiovascular system, digestive and nervous systems,
fighting infections. It is valuable for all types of skin problems because it stimulates new cell growth, regulates oil
production, moisturizes and speeds healing.
Companion Oils: Basil, Fennel, Geranium, Lemongrass, Myrtle, Pine, Rosemary CT Cineol, Thyme

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)


Action: Soothing to digestion, decongestant, anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, antimicrobial, antiseptic, soothes
wrinkled or chapped skin.
Indications: Allergies, dermatitis, eczema, hemorrhoids, tissue regeneration.
Other Uses: Helps the body eliminate toxic material. It may also curb appetite; it helps with acne; soothes insect
bites, helps with cellulite, congestion, dandruff, depression, helps with weight control, relieves itching from hives,
helps with skin conditions (chapped and loose skin), fluid retention and weeping wounds.
Companion Oils: Bergamot, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Geranium, Ginger, Lavender, Lemongrass, Myrrh, Pine,
Rosewood, Sandalwood.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita)


Action: Anticarcinogenic, supports digestion, expels worms, decongestant, anti-infectious, antibacterial,
antifungal, mucolytic, stimulant, hypertensive, cardiotonic, stimulates the gallbladder, is a pain-reliever,
expectorant, anti-inflammatory for the intestinal and urinary tract. It can heighten or restore the sense of taste by
stimulating the trigeniminal nerve.
Indications: Asthma, bronchitis, candida, diarrhea, digestive problems, fever, nausea, halitosis, heartburn,
hemorrhoids, hot flashes, indigestion, menstrual irregularity, headaches, motion sickness, tumor growth,
respiratory infections, shock, itchy skin, throat infections, varicose veins.
Other Uses: May help arthritis, depression, skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis), food poisoning,
headaches, hives, hysteria, inflammation, morning sickness, nerve regeneration, rheumatism, elevate and open
sensory system, ease the pain of toothaches, kills tuberculosis bacillus (according to recent research).
Caution: Possible skin irritant; always dilute when using on children's or sensitive skin; do not apply neat to fresh
wounds or burns; avoid contact with eyes, mucus membranes or sensitive skin areas.

Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium)


Action: Antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, antibacterial.
Other Uses: May help reestablish nerve equilibrium. It may also help with acne, fatigue, greasy hair, insomnia
and excessive perspiration.
Companion Oils: Bergamot, Cistus, Clary Sage, Clove, Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Neroli, Orange,
Palmarosa, Rosemary CT Cineol

Pine (Pinus sylvestris)


Action: Hormone-like, antidiabetic, cortisone-like, sexual stimulant, hypertensive (high blood pressure), anti-
infectious, antifungal, antiseptic.
Indications: Asthma, pulmonary infections, bronchitis, diabetes, severe infections, rheumatoid arthritis, sinusitis.
Other Uses: May help dilate the respiratory system, particularly the bronchial tract. It may also help with
respiratory infections, coughs, cuts, cysts, fatigue, gout, lice, nervous exhaustion, scabies, skin parasites, sores,
stress, urinary infections. Pine oil may also help increase blood pressure and stimulate the adrenal glands and
the circulatory system. Pine oil is a good ingredient for any first aid kit.
Companion Oils: Cedarwood, Eucalyptus Radiata, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon, Marjoram, Tea Tree, Rosemary
CT Cineol.
Caution: Avoid oils adulterated with turpentine - be sure to get organic/therapeutic grade oil.
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Ravensara (Ravensara aromatica)


Action: Anti-infectious, antiviral, antibacterial, expectorant, antimicrobial, supports the nerves and respiratory
system.
Indications: Bronchitis, cholera, herpes, infectious mononucleosis, insomnia, muscle fatigue, rhinopharyngitis,
shingles, sinusitis, viral hepatitis.
Other Uses: May help asthma, cystitis, burns, cancer, respiratory infections, cuts, pneumonia, scrapes, viral
infections, wounds and it strengthens the respiratory system.

Rose (Rosa damascena)


Action: Anti-inflammatory, prevents and reduces scarring, balances and elevates the mind.
Other Uses: May help asthma, chronic bronchitis, herpes simplex, impotence, scarring, sexual debilities, skin
diseases, winkles.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis CT 1,8 cineol)


Action: Antifungal, antibacterial, antiseptic, antiparasitic, general stimulant, enhances mental clarity, supports
nerves and endocrine glands balance.
Indications: Rheumatism, arthritis, myalgia, hepatitis, liver conditions, menstrual disturbances, hypertension
(weak doses), hypotension (strong doses), indigestion, bronchitis, respiratory and lung infections, hair loss
(alopecia), asthma.
Other Uses: Improves concentration and stimulates the scalp.
Companion Oils: Basil, Eucalyptus Radiata, Lavender, Marjoram, Peppermint, Pine.
Caution: Do not use if epileptic.

Rosemary Verbenon (Rosmarinus officinalis CT verbenon)


Action: Mucolytic, expectorant, antispasmodic, antibacterial, antiseptic, balances endocrine glands.
Indications: Respiratory infections, bronchitis, viral hepatitis, nervous tension, cardiac arrhythmia, cystitis,
arthritis, rheumatism.
Other Uses: Because of its lower camphor and higher verbenon content, this chemotype of rosemary is milder
than the cineol chemotype and so is especially well-suited for chest, lung and sinus infections. It is ideal for skin
care and can be used to combat hair loss.
Companion Oils: Basil, Eucalyptus Radiata, Lavender, Marjoram, Peppermint, Pine.
Caution: Do not use if epileptic.

Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora)


Action: Anti-infectious, antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antifungal, soothing to the skin. It has been
researched for its inhibition rate against gram positive and gram negative bacterial growth.
Indications: Acne, candida, depression, eczema, oral infections, dry skin, vaginitis.
Other Uses: May create skin elasticity and is soothing to the skin. It is recognized for its ability to get rid of
candida of the skin and slow the aging process. It may also be beneficial for cuts, nausea, tissue regeneration
and wounds. It helps to create a synergism with all other oils.

Sage (Salvia officinalis)


Action: Expectorant, mucolytic, anti-infectious, fights against cholera, estrogen-like, supports menstruation,
prevents and reduces scarring, regulates circulation, soothes skin conditions and is a balancer and detoxifier of
the body. Sage contains camphor, which balances estrogen levels, providing support during PMS and
menopause.
Indications: Asthma, chronic bronchitis, sluggish digestion, gingivitis, glandular disorders, menstrual irregularity,
menopause.
Other uses: May help improve estrogen, progesterone and testosterone balance. It activates the nervous system
and adrenal cortex and may help with illness that is related to digestion and liver problems. It may also be
beneficial for acne, arthritis, bacterial infections, dandruff, depression, eczema, fibrosis, hair loss, low blood
pressure, mental fatigue, metabolism, respiratory problems, rheumatism, skin conditions, sores, sprains. Sage
strengthens the vital centers of the body, balancing the pelvic chakra where negative emotions from denial and
abuse are stored.
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Companion Oils: Bergamot, Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Lemongrass, Pine, Rosemary CT Cineol
Caution: Sage is an oral toxin due to thujone content - do not take internally. Do not use if epileptic. Do not use if
you have high blood pressure.

Sandalwood (Santalum album)


Action: High in sesquiterpenes that have been researched for their ability to stimulate the pineal gland and the
limbic region of the brain, the center of emotions. The pineal gland is responsible for releasing melatonin, a
powerful antioxidant that enhances deep sleep. Sandalwood is similar to frankincense oil in its support of nerves
and circulation.
Indications: Bronchitis (chronic), herpes, cystitis, skin tumors.
Other Uses: Helps with cystitis and urinary tract infections. It may also be beneficial for acne, depression,
meditation, pulmonary infections, menstrual problems, nervous tension, skin infection. It helps dry or dehydrated
skin.
Companion Oils: Cypress, Frankincense, Lemon, Myrrh, Patchouli, Spruce, Ylang Ylang.

Spearmint (Mentha spicata)


Action: Anti-inflammatory, calming, astringent, antiseptic, mucolytic, stimulates the gallbladder, promotes
menstruation.
Indications: Bronchitis, candida, cystitis, hypertension.
Other Uses: May balance and increase metabolism, may aid glandular, nervous and respiratory systems. May
help with acne, stimulate a poor appetite, help bad breath, promote easier labor in childbirth, help with
depression, digestion, dry skin, eczema, headaches, intestines (soothes), menstruation (to slow heavy periods),
nausea, sore gums, vaginitis, excess weight.
Companion Oils: Basil, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary CT Cineol

Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi)


Action: Antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, deodorant, relaxing, skin tonic.
Indications: Known for helping in the treatment of allergic skin reactions.
Other Uses: May also help with allergies, candida, indigestion, insomnia, menstrual difficulties, migraine, nausea,
rashes, bacterial infections, stress, tachycardia, tension and wounds that will not heal. Strengthens the heart and
circulatory system.
Companion Oils: Cistus, Lavender, Patchouli, Pine Vetiver

Spruce (Picea mariana)


Action: Antispasmodic, anti-infectious, antiparasitic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, hormone-like, cortisone-like,
general tonic, stimulates thymus.
Indications: Arthritis, candida, hyperthyroidism, immune-depression, prostatitis, rheumatism.
Other Uses: May be beneficial for bone pain, glandular imbalances, aching joints, sciatica pain. May help support
the nervous and respiratory systems, can be stimulating to the pineal, thymus and adrenal glands.
Companion Oils: Wintergreen/Birch, Eucalyptus Radiata, Frankincense, Helichrysum, Ravensara.

Swamp Paperbark (Melaleuca ericfolia)


This oil is still under study. It is somewhat gentler than Tea Tree and has been found beneficial for bronchitis,
asthma, respiratory infection, cynitis, sinus infection.

Tangerine (Citrus nobilis)


Action: Promotes happiness, helps with anxiety, nervousness.
Other Uses: May help dissolve cellulite, improve circulation and help digestive system disorders, dizziness,
anxiety, insomnia, irritability, liver problems, parasites, stretch marks (smoothes when blended with lavender),
and fluid retention.
Companion Oils: Basil, Bergamot, German Chamomile, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit,
Lavender, Lemon, Orange.

Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)


The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Action: Analgesic, antitumoral, believed to help stop bleeding, immune stimulant.


Indications: Respiratory infections, stomach conditions, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, aneurysm, bruises,
diarrhea, freckles, gout.
Companion Oils: Wintergreen/Birch, Clary Sage, Elemi, Hyssop, Myrtle, Pine, Valerian, Vetiver.

Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)


Action: A neuromuscular antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, antifermentation, reduces allergies.
Indications: Colitis, hiccups, intestinal spasms, parasites, rheumatic pain, sciatica.
Other Uses: May be beneficial for abdominal discomfort and spasms, arthritis, digestive complaints, genital and
urinary tract infection, nausea, premenstrual discomfort, wounds. It may also balance the autonomic nervous
system.
Companion Oils: German Chamomile, Clary Sage, Balsam Fir, Juniper, Lavender, Pine, Rosewood, Orange,
Tangerine.
Caution: Do not use if epileptic.

Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)


Action: Anti-infectious, antibacterial (large spectrum action of gram positive and gram negative bacteria),
antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulant, cardiotonic, decongestant of
the veins, reduces phlebitis, neurotonic, analgesic, protects against radiation.
Indications: Athlete's foot, fungal infections, bronchitis, respiratory infections, gum disease, rash, sore throat,
sunburn, tonsillitis, vaginal thrush
Other Uses: May help acne, burns, candida, cold sores, inflammation, viral infections, ingrown nails, warts and
wounds (promotes healing).
Companion Oils: All citrus oils, Cypress, Eucalyptus Radiata, Lavender, Rosemary CT Cineol, Thyme
Caution: Possible contact sensitization from repeated use

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris CT thymol)


Action: Highly antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, uterine tonic, cardiotonic.
Indications: Asthma, bronchitis, colitis, cystitis, dermatitis, anthrax, fatigue (general), pleurisy, psoriasis, sciatica,
tuberculosis, vaginal candida.
Other Uses: A general tonic for nerves and stomach. It may also help with bacterial infections, respiratory
infections, circulation, depression, digestion, headaches, insomnia, rheumatism, urinary infections, viruses along
the spine.
Companion Oils: Bergamot, citrus oils, Cedarwood, Juniper, Tea Tree, Oregano, Rosemary CT Cineol.

Thyme Linalol (Thymus vulgaris CT linalol)


Action: Highly antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, uterine tonic, cardiotonic (just as Thyme CT Thymol - but is
gentler)
Indications: Asthma, bronchitis, colitis, cystitis, dermatitis, anthrax, fatigue (general), pleurisy, psoriasis, sciatica,
tuberculosis, vaginal candida.
Other Uses: A general tonic for nerves and stomach. It may also help with bacterial infections, respiratory
infections, circulation, depression, digestion, headaches, insomnia, rheumatism, urinary infections, viruses along
the spine.
Companion Oils: Bergamot, citrus oils, Cedarwood, Juniper, Tea Tree, Oregano, Rosemary CT Cineol.

Tsuga (Tsuga canadensis)


Action: Analgesic, antirheumatic, astringent, blood cleanser, stimulant.
Indications: Treats coughs, respiratory conditions, kidney ailments, skin conditions, urinary infections, venereal
diseases.
Caution: Possible contact sensitization from repeated use

Valerian (Valerian officinalis)


Action: Sedative and tranquilizing to the central nervous system. Its warming properties can help with
hypothermia.
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Indications: Because of its effect on the nervous system, it may help with insomnia, nervous indigestion,
migraine, restlessness and tension.
Companion Oils: Cedarwood, Lavender, Mandarin, Patchouli, Petigrain, Pine, Rosemary CT Cineol.
Caution: Possible contact sensitization from repeated use

Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides)


Action: Antiseptic, antispasmodic, calming, grounding, a rubefacient (locally warming), sedative (to the nervous
system), stimulant (circulatory, production of red corpuscles).
Indications: Used traditionally for arthritic symptoms.
Other Uses: May help acne, anxiety, arthritis, cuts, depression (including postpartum), insomnia, rheumatism,
stress, skin care (oily, aging, irritated).
Companion Oils: Clary Sage, Jasmine, Lavender, Patchouli, Rose, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang.

Vitex (Vitex negundo)


Indications: Extensively researched in Europe for its effects on Parkinson's Disease and other neurological
disorders.

Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)


Action: Antifungal, antibacterial, antiparasitic, hair follicle stimulator, insect repellent.
Indications: Used traditional by Native Americans to help them enter a higher spiritual realm. Used to stimulate
the scalp and as an antimicrobial and antiseptic agent. It is an ingredient of cold-remedy salves used to clear the
nose and chest.

White Fir (Albies concolor)


Action: Antitumoral, anticancerous, antifungal, antioxidant, and combats respiratory infections.
Caution: Possible skin irritant

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)


Action: Anti-inflammatory, reduces indigestion, reduces or prevents scarring, promotes healing of wounds.
Indications: Acne, lack of appetite, bladder or kidney weakness, cellulite, respiratory infections, poor digestion,
menstrual problems, eczema, gallbladder inflammation, gastritis, gout, poor hair growth, headaches,
hemorrhoids, hypertension, liver and menopause problems, neuritis, neuralgia, pelvic and urinary infections,
prostatitis, rheumatism, sprains, sunburn, thrombosis, ulcers, vaginitis, varicose veins, wounds.
Other Uses: Yarrow is a powerful decongestant of the prostate and helps to balance hormones.

Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata)


Action: Antispasmodic, balances blood pressure, regulates heartbeat. It is used in hair preparations to promote
thick, shiny, lustrous hair (it is also reported to help control split ends).
Indications: Heart arrhythmias, cardiac problems, high blood pressure, anxiety, impotence, arterial hypertension,
depression, mental fatigue, hair loss, labored breathing, insomnia, palpitations, insect bites, tachycardia.
Other Uses: May help balance male-female energies so one can move closer to being in spiritual attunement
and allowing greater focus of thoughts, filtering out the ever-present negative frequencies. It may help lower
blood pressure, calm rapid breathing, balance equilibrium, ease frustration, balance heart function, help
impotence and intestinal problems, shock and skin problems.
Caution: Possible contact sensitization from repeated use

OIL TO SYMPTOM LIST


The following oils may assist in alleviating the complaints featured. This is not a comprehensive list nor is it
considered to be a prescription for the named complaint.

Angelica Herb Seeds Roots Cough, Cold, Fever, Flatulence, Indigestion.

Aniseed Herb Seed Pod Indigestion, Coughs, Bronchitis, Catarrh.


The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Apricot Kernel- Oil From the kernel premature skin aging, inflammation, dryness use 100% minerals and
vitamins.

Avocado Pear Oil From the fruit dry skin, eczema Add 10% to base oil vitamins, protein, lecithin, fatty acids.

Basil Herb:- Whole Plant Bronchitis, Fatigue, Colds, Loss of concentration, Migraine, gout, Aches & Pains,
Depression, Fainting, Mental Fatigue, Migraine, Nausea, Nervous Tension, Stimulating.

Bay Tree, Leaves Sprains, Colds Flu, Insomnia, Rheumatism, Antiseptic, Decongestant, Tonic.

Benzoin- Tree, Trunk Coughs, Itching, Arthritis, Colds, Sedative.

Bergamot Peel of fruit Fevers, Acne, Tension, Wounds, Coughs, Stress, Anti-depressant, Uplifting.

Birch Tree, Bark Gout, Rheumatism, Eczema, Ulcers.

Black Pepper- Vine, Berries Colds, Aches, Influence, Flatulence, Rheumatism.

Bois de Rose Tree, Wood Tonic, Coughs, Headaches, antidepressant.

Borage Seed, Oil PMT, MS, Menopause, Heart disease, Psoriasis, Eczema, premature aging, regenerates
skin, 10% dilution gamma acid, vitamins, minerals.

Cajeput -Tree Antiseptic, Pain Reliever, Lung Congestion, Neuralgia, Acne.

Carrot Root Seeds Gout, Ulcers, Flatulence, Eczema, Psoriasis, Diuretic.

Carrot Oil Carrots Premature Aging, itching dryness, psoriasis, 10% in base oil vitamins, minerals, beta-
carotene.

Cedarwood Tree, Wood Bronchitis, Catarrh, Acne, Arthritis, Diuretic Lung Congestion, Eczema,
Encourages Sexual Response.

Chamomile Nervous conditions, Insomnia, antibacterial, disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, teething, sunburn,


psoriasis, eczema, asthma, hay fever, diarrhea, sprains, nausea, fever, depression, Contain azulene, (Uplifting),
Toning.

Chamomile Mataricaria Chamomile Herb, Flowers, Leaves Nerves, Migraine, Acne, Inflammation,
Insomnia, Menstrual Problems, Dermatitis Eczema, Psoriasis, Inflammatory Diseases, Burns, Nervous Tension,
Neuralgia, Insomnia, Contains Azulene.

Chamomile Roman Athemis Nobilis Herb Flowers Leaves Nerves, Migraine, Acne, Inflammation, Insomnia,
Menstrual Problems, Dermatitis.

Champhor Tree, Wood Coughs, Colds, Fevers, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Stimulating .

Cinnamon Anti-viral, Antiseptic, Circulatory, Heart, Digestive, Respiratory Stimulant. Antispasmodic,


Aphrodisiac, anti-venom eugenol antiseptic.

Cinnamon Tree, Twigs Leaves Flu, Rheumatism, Warts, Coughs, Colds, Viral infections

Citronella Grass, Insecticide, Deodorant, Tonic, Stimulant.

Clary-sage Herb, Flowering Tops Depression, Nerves, Sore Throat, Aches and Pains, Debility, Sedative
Uplifting.

Clove antibacterial, antiseptic, analgesic, toothache, digestive problems, muscular disorders, asthma, nausea,
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

sinusitis, sedative, nerve tension, general weakness, Antispasmodic do not use undiluted on skin.

Clove Tree Flower, Buds Nausea, Flatulence, Bronchitis, Arthritis, Rheumatism, Toothache, Diarrhea,
Infections, Analgesic, Antiseptic.

Coriander Herb Seeds of ripe fruit, leaves Indigestion, influenza, Fatigue, rheumatism, Flatulence,
Nervousness, Analgesic.

Corn Oil Corn Soothing on all skins 100% protein, vitamins, minerals.

Cumin Herb Seeds, Fruit Indigestion, Headache, Liver Problems, Stimulant.

Cypress Leaves & Shoots anti-viral, Astringent, antispasmodic, Coughs, rheumatism, Flu, Wounds,
Muscle, Nerve, Tens Veins.

Cypress Tree, Leaves Twig Menopausal Problems, circulatory Conditions, Rheumatism, Colds, Whooping
Cough, Nervous Tension, Hemorrhoids, Wounds, Astringent.

Dill Herb Seeds, Fruit Flatulence, Indigestion, Constipation, Nervousness, Gastric Upsets, Headaches.

Eucalyptus distilled Cooling, protecting, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibiotic, diuretic, analgesic,


deodorizing, coughs, cystitis, candida, diabetes, sunburn.

Eucalyptus Tree,Leaves, Twigs Sore Throats, Coughs, Bronchitis, Sinusitis, Skin Infections, Ulcers, Sores,
Rheumatism, Aches & Pains, Antiseptic, Anti-inflammatory .

Eucalyptus Lemon Tree, Leaves, Twigs Dandruff, Scabs, Sores, Candida, Asthma, Fever, Fungal
infections, Skin Infections, Sore Throats.

Eucalyptus Peppermint Tree,Leaves, Twigs Ulcers, Sores, Coughs, Colds, Fever, Respiratory Problems,
Viral Infections, Headaches, Flu, Rheumatism, Arthritis.

Eucalyptus Radiata Tree, Leaves,Twigs Viral Infections, Colds, Coughs, Bronchitis, Whooping Cough,
Rheumatism, Muscular Strains. Antiseptic.

Evening Primrose Oil PMT, MS, menopausal problems, heart disease, psoriasis, eczema, prevents premature
aging 10% gamma lineolenic acid, vitamins, minerals.

Fennel Herb Seeds Digestive Problems, Menopausal Problems, Obesity, Constipation, Kidney Stones,
Nausea, Diuretic.

Frankincense Tree, Bark Sores, Wounds, Fevers, Coughs, Colds, Stress, Bronchitis, Laryngitis, Nervous
Conditions.

Geranium -chilblains, cosmetic, endometriosis, menopause, diabetes, throat infections, nerve tonic, sedative,
uterine & breast cancer, frostbite, infertility, antiseptic, astringent, skin Skin toner, Adrenal, Hormones, Relaxing,
Uplifting, Moisturizing, Toning.

Ginger Root Stimulating, Rheumatism, Muscular Aches, Pains, Sprains, Broken Bones, Colds, Nausea,
Diarrhea, Alcoholism, Digestive Disorders.

Grapefruit Tree Rind Lethargy, Tonic, Obesity, Kidney & Liver Problems, Migraine, Antidepressant, Aid in
Drug Withdrawal Treatment .

Grapeseed Oil all skins 100% base oil vitamins, minerals, protein.
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Hazelnut Oil from the kernel slight astringent base oil 100% vitamins, minerals, protein.

Hops Plant Buds & Flowers Neuralgia, Bruising, Menstrual & Menopausal Problems, Rheumatism, Nerves,
Diuretic, Sedative Analgesic.

Hyssop Herb leaves & Flowering Tops Bruises, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Coughs, Colds, Sore Throats,
Viruses, Blood Pressure Circulation, Nervous Tension, Asthma, Tonic.

Immortelle Flower Flowering Tops Bacterial Infections, Rheumatism, Muscle Aches, Weakness, Lethargy,
Depression, Respiration, Colds, Flu, Fever, Fungicide.

Inula odorata anti-viral.

Jasmine Bush, Flowers Nervous Tension, Depression, Menstrual Problems, Laryngitis, Anxiety, Lethargy,
Relaxant.

Jojoba Oil from the bean inflammation, psoriases, eczema, acne, hair care, penetrates 10% protein,
minerals, waxy collagen like substance.

Juniper Tree/Bush Berries Tonic for nervous system, digestive stimulant, Diuretic, Acne, Coughs, Ulcers,
Fatigue, Rheumatism, Sores, Urinary Infections.

Lavender Burns, prevents scarring, antibiotic, antidepressant, sedative, immunoactive, Wounds, relaxing,
Moisturizing, Antiseptic, Toning, Eczema, Tension, Insomnia, Asthma, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Bacterial
Conditions, Headaches, Dermatitis, Fainting.

Lemon Grass Grass, Whole Plant, Antiseptic, Infections, Headaches, Sore Throats, Respiration, Fevers,
Tonic, Insect Repellent .

Lemon Oil Tree,Rind of Fruit water purifier, antiseptic, antibacterial oil, verrucas, insect bites, tension
headaches, lymphatic tonic, digestive stimulant, disperse cellulite, slimming, anti wrinkle, Diuretic, Stimulating,
Anxiety, Astringent, Antiseptic, BP Vitamin C, Carotene (A) Bioflavonoids.

Lime Tree,Rind Fevers, Rheumatism, Sore Throats, Headaches, Anorexia, Alcoholism, Depression,
Anxiety Astringent, Tonic.

Mace Tree Peel of Fruit Indigestion, Weakness, Bacterial Infections, Gout, Rheumatism, Arthritis,
Circulation.

Mandarin Tree, Rind Insomnia, Nervousness, Liver Problems, Digestion, Anxiety, Tonic, Tranquilizer.

Marjoram Herb Flowering Tops Relaxing, Sprains, Bruises, Colds, Rheumatism, Intestinal, Cramps,
Menstrual Problems Anxiety, Asthma, Bronchitis, Insomnia, Circulation, Muscular Disorders.

Melissa Herb,Leaves Relaxing, Nervousness, Bacterial & Fungal Infections, Diarrhea, Eczema, Sedative,
Cardiac Tonic.

Myrrh Tree, Bark/Resin Antiseptic, Astringent, Tonic, Healing Agent, Dermatitis Coughs, Mouth and skin
ulcers, Bacterial & Fungal Infections.

Neroli Blossoms Bitter Orange Tree Antidepressant, Aphrodisiac,Antiseptic, Digestive Aid, Sedative,
Bacterial Infections, Bronchitis, Diarrhea, Fungicide, Insomnia, Relaxing, Moisturizing.

Niaouli Leaves and stems- Melaeleuca Tree Antiseptic, Soothing Agents,Pain Reliever, Decongestant

Gomenol Bush Leaves, Twigs, Anti-viral, Wounds, Infections, Bacterial Disease, Sore Throats, Burns,
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Respiration, Acne.

Nutmeg Tree,Seed Nausea, Vomiting, Muscle Aches, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Nervousness, Insomnia,
Cardio Stimulant.

Olive Oil rheumatic conditions, hair care, soothes 10% protein, minerals, vitamins.

Orange Tree Rind of Fruit Depression, Anxiety, Constipation, NervousConditions, Muscular Spasm, Tonic,
Sedative Antiseptic.

Oregano Herb,Leaves & Flowering Tops Anti-viral, Bronchitis,Rheumatism, Respiration, Muscle Pain,
Digestion.

Palma Rosa Grass Skin infections, Anorexia, Tonic.

Parsley Herb, seeds Nervous Conditions, Kidney Problems, Menstrual and Menopausal Problems,
Sedative, Diuretic.

Patchouli Plant Antidepressant, Sedative, Aphrodisiac Anxiety, Acne, Eczema, Herpes, Ulcers (Skin) Tired
Skin .

Patchouli Plant,Leaves Skin Inflammations, Fungal infections, Acne,Eczema, Dandruff, Antiseptic, Diuretic
Insecticide.

Peanut Oil 100% base oil protein, vitamins, minerals.

Peppermint Herb, Whole Plant Inflammation, Nausea, Indigestion, Fevers, Flatulence, Headaches
Migraine, Liver Problems, Arthritis, Stimulant.

Peppermint digestive, respiration, circulation, anti-inflammatiory,antiseptic, gas, flu, migraine, Fatigue,


Migraine, Asthma, Bronchitis,Stimulating.

Petitgrain Tree,Leaves, Twigs Anxiety, Insomnia, Depression, Antiseptic, Tonic, Aids Convalescence.

Pimento Tree,Berries, Twigs Flatulence, Indigestion, Cramps, Intestinal Problems, Colds, Rheumatism,
Muscular Strains, Depression, Tonic, Tranquilizer.

Pine Needles, Bark, Berries Antiseptic, Diuretic, Stimulant adrenal glands, Bladder, Kidney, Chest
infections, Infections, Fatigue, Rheumatism, Gout, Flu, Bronchitis, Muscle Pain, Diuretic, Respiration Sore
Throats,Colds, Circulation, Muscle pain, Turpentine.

Ravensara Bush, Leaves Viral Infections, Liver Infections, Lung Infections, Respiratory Problems,
Antiseptic.

Red thyme anti-viral.

Rose Flower Depression, aphrodisiac, Female organ regulator, astringent,Sedative, Heart tonic, Stomach
Liver, Uterus, Nausea, Headache, Insomnia, Skin Care, Relaxing, Toning Moisturizing, Antiseptic.

Rose Bulger (Bulgarian) Bush Flowers Petals, Anxiety, Depression, Circulatory Problems, Menopausal
Problems, Antiseptic, Tonic.

Rose Maroc (Morocco) Bush, Flowers, Petals Menstrual Disorders, Depression, Stress, Tension, Circulatory
Conditions, Tonic, Sedative.

Rosemary Herb Physical & Mental stimulant, muscular conditions, antiseptic, sprains, arthritis rheumatism,
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

depression, fatigue, memory loss, migraine, flu, diabetes, hair care, Antiseptic, Stimulating, Toning.

Sage Herb,Plant Tonic, Antiseptic, Diuretic, Blood Pressure, Female Reproductive System, Sores, Fatigue,
Nervousness, Asthma, Bronchitis, Low Blood Pressure, Bacterial Infections, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Sprains,
Fibrosis, Astringent.

Sandalwood Tree Antiseptic, Tonic, Aphrodisiac, Fatigue, Impotence, Relaxing, Uplifting, Acne, Cystitis,
Moisturizing, Menstrual Problems, Skin Infections, Fungal & Bacterial Infections, Sedative.

Sesame Oil psoriasis, eczema, rheumatism, arthritis 10 % dilution vitamins, minerals, proteins, lecithin, amino
acids.

Soya Bean Oil 100 % base oil protein, minerals, vitamins.

Spearmint Herb,Leaves, Flowering Tops Flatulence, Indigestion, Intestinal Cramps, Fevers, Nausea, Colic,
Hemorrhoids.

Sunflower Oil base oil 100 % vitamins, minerals.

Sweet Almond oil From the kernel itching, soreness, dryness, inflammation use 100% Glucosides,
minerals, vitamins, protein.

Tagetes Plant,Flowers Fungal Infections, Skin Infections, Cuts, Sprains, Strains, Wounds, Circulation
Antiseptic.

Tangerine Uplifting.

Tea Tree Tree, Leaves, Twigs anti-viral, anti-fungal, antibacterial, Antiseptic, Colds, Influenza, Cold Sores,
Warts, Verrucas, Inflammation, Acne, Burns, Candida, Shock, Hysteria.

Thyme Red (Vulgaris) Herb, Leaves, Flowering Tops Bacterial Infections,Urinary Infections, Rheumatism,
Lethargy, Sores, Wounds, Stimulant Tonic, Raises Immunity.

Thyme Red (Vulgaris) Thyme linalol anti-viral, eliminates toxic wastes, whooping cough, warts, neuralgia,
fatigue, acne, Hair & skin care, cooking, antiseptic powders, Fatigue, Skin Inflammation, Antiseptic, Only diluted,
overuse causes thyroid problems.

Valerian Plant Roots Sedative, Calming, Nervous Conditions, Trembling, Neuralgia, Insomnia, Palpitations,
Sedative, Tranquilizer .

Vetiver Roots of Grass Calming, Anxiety, Nervous Tension, Insomnia, Rheumatism, Muscle Relaxant,
Antiseptic, Tonic.

Violet Leaves, Plant Inflammations, Kidney Problems, Obesity, SkinInfections, Fibrosis, Rheumatism,
Analgesic and Liver Decongestant.

Wheat germ Oil eczema, psoriasis, premature aging, 10% dilution protein, minerals, vitamins.

Wintergreen Herb Stimulating.

Yarrow Herb,Leaves, Flowering Tops Inflammations, Cramps, Constipation,Circulation, Rheumatoid


Arthritis, Menstrual Problems, Astringent.

Ylang-Ylang Tree,Flowers Sedative, Antiseptic, Aphrodisiac, High Blood Pressure, Intestinal Infections,
Impotence, Uplifting, Moisturizing, Anxiety, Depression, Sedative, Tonic.
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

SYMPTOM TO OIL LIST


ABCESSES Lavender, Tea Tree, Thyme, Myrrh, Frankincense, Birch

ABDOMINAL CRAMPS Lavender, Clary Sage, Rosemary, Ginger, Basil, Peppermint, Anise, Fennel

ACCUMULATION OF TOXINS Birch, Carrot Seed, Juniper

ACNE Bergamot, Chamomile, Geranium, Lavender, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Tea Tree, Vetiver,
LemonGrass, Rosewood, Cedarwood, Eucalyptus Radiata, Orange, Neroli

AGING SKIN Frankincense, Helichrysum, Cypress, Rose, Lavender, Patchouli, Sage, Geranium, Rosewood,
Sandalwood

ALLERGIES Chamomile, Lavender , Melissa, Patchouli, Ledum, Nutmeg

AMENORRHOEA (Missing or scanty periods) Basil, Fennel, Clary Sage, Marjoram, Myrrh

ARTHRITIS Benzoin, Birch, Black Pepper, Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Juniper, Helichrysum, Balsam Fir,
Rosemary, Oregano, Clove, Nutmeg, Tansy, Elemi, Peppermint

ASTHMA Clary Sage, Cypress, Frankincense, Lavender, Marjoram, Hyssop

ATHLETES FOOT Tea Tree, Myrrh, Balsam Fir, Lavender, Peppermint, LemonGrass

BOILS Lavender, Tea Tree, Thyme, Myrrh, Frankincense, Birch

BRONCHIAL INFECTIONS (Including Colds, Flu & Bronchitis) Basil, Benzoin, Cajeput, Cedarwood, Eucalyptus,
Frankincense , Ginger, Immortelle,Lavender, Marjoram, Myrtle, Peppermint, Pine Needle, Sandalwood, Tea
Tree, Thyme

BRUISES Fennel, Lavender, Parsley Seed, Helichrysum, Cypress, Balsam Fir, Clove, Nutmeg, Amyris

BURNS Lavender, Balsam Fir, Helichrysum, Melissa

CATARRH Eucalyptus, Lavender , Pine Needle, Thyme

CELLULITE Birch, Fennel, Geranium, Grapefruit

CHILBLAINS (Cold extremeties poor circulation) Black Pepper, Lemon, Marjoram, Goldenrod, Helichrysum,
Cypress, Myrtle, Orange, Grapefruit, Clove, Peppermint, Geranium, Nutmeg

CHILDRENS TUMMY UPSETS Mandarin, Chamomile

COLD SORES Bergamot , Eucalyptus, Tea Tree

COLIC Black Pepper, Chamomile, Marjoram, Peppermint

CONGESTED SKIN Geranium, Grapefruit

CONSTIPATION Black Pepper, Ginger, Peppermint, Fennel, Tarragon, Anise

COUGHS Benzoin, Cedarwood, Eucalyptus , Ginger, Immortelle, Marjoram, Myrtle , Pine Needle,Tea Tree ,
Thyme
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

CRACKED & CHAPPED SKIN Benzoin, Myrrh, Patchouli, Roman Chamomile, Neroli, Rose, Palmarosa,
Sandalwood, Rosewood, Lavender, Spikenard

CUTS Lavender, Tea Tree, Rosemary, Eucalyptus Globulus, Cypress, Birch, Thyme, Oregano, German
Chamomile, Lavandin, Mountain Savory, Peppermint

CYSTITIS Oregano, Mountain Savory, Tea Tree, Thyme, Cistus, Juniper, Rosemary, Clove

DANDRUFF Lavender, Tea Tree, Cedarwood, Balsam Fir, Western Red Cedar, Rosemary, Sage

DERMATITIS Lavender, Juniper, Ledum, Kaffir Lime, Celery Seed, Cistus, Roman Chamomile, German
Chamomile, Geranium, Rosewood, Thyme

DIARRHEA Peppermint, Ginger, Mountain Savory, Oregano, Clove, Nutmeg, Lemon

DRY SKIN Roman Chamomile, Neroli, Rose, Palmarosa, Sandalwood, Rosewood, Lavender, Spikenard, Myrrh

DYSMENORRHOEA (Painful periods/menstrual cramps) Clary Sage, Rosemary, Hops, Sage, Lavender, Roman
Chamomile, Cypress, Tarragon, Vitex

DYSPEPSIA (Indigestion) Peppermint, Fennel, Cumin, Ginger, Spearmint, Nutmeg, Orange, Grapefruit

ECZEMA Lavender, Juniper, Ledum, Kaffir Lime, Celery Seed, Cistus, Roman Chamomile, German Chamomile,
Geranium, Rosewood, Thyme

FLATULENCE Peppermint, Tarragon, Nutmeg, Anise, Fennel, Ledum

GREASY SKIN Bergamot, Chamomile, Geranium, Lavender, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Tea Tree,
Vetiver, LemonGrass, Rosewood, Cedarwood, Eucalyptus Radiata, Orange, Neroli

HEMORRHOIDS (Piles) Cypress, Helichrysum, Myrrh, Lemon, Spikenard, Basil, Peppermint

HAIR CARE Birch, Rosemary, Ylang Ylang

HEARTBURN Peppermint, Fennel, Cumin, Ginger, Spearmint, Nutmeg, Orange, Grapefruit

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (Hypertension) Lavender, German Chamomile, Goldenrod, Clove, Roman
Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Cypress, Helichrysum

INDIGESTION Peppermint, Fennel, Cumin, Ginger, Spearmint, Nutmeg, Orange, Grapefruit

INFLAMED JOINTS Birch, Spruce, Cypress, Peppermint, Mountain Savory, Marjoram, Rosemary, Oregano,
Helichrysum, Thyme, Nutmeg

INFLAMMATION Birch, Helichrysum, Clove, Nutmeg, Lavender, Ravensara, Thyme, German Chamomile,
Cypress, Myrrh, Hyssop, Peppermint, Spruce

INSECT BITES & STINGS Lavandin, Eucalyptus Globulus, Citronella, Tea Tree, Peppermint, German
Chamomile, Rosemary

LARYNGITIS AND SORE THROATS Cypress, Eucalyptus Radiata, Lemon, Frankincense, Ravensara, Thyme,
Oregano, Peppermint, Myrrh, Sage

LEUCORRHOEA (White vaginal discharge) Bergamot, Lavender, Myrrh

LUMBAGO (Lower Back Pain) Marjoram, Nutmeg, Basil, Birch, Helichrysum, German Chamomile, Elemi,
Peppermint
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

MENOPAUSAL PROBLEMS Cypress, Geranium, Clary Sage

MENORRHAGIA (Heavy periods) Cypress, Basil, Fennel, Clary Sage, Marjoram, Myrrh

METRORRHAGIA (Bleeding between periods) Frankincense, Basil, Fennel, Clary Sage, Marjoram, Myrrh

MUSCULAR ACHES AND PAINS Basil, Black Pepper, Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Grapefruit, Immortelle,
Lavender, Marjoram, Rosemary, Peppermint, Myrrh, Birch, Clove

NAUSEA Tansy, Nutmeg, Peppermint, Patchouli, Ginger

NEURALGIA Chamomile, Marjoram, Helichrysum, Peppermint, Juniper, Nutmeg

OBESITY Birch, Fennel

EDEMA/WATER RETENTION Ledum, German Chamomile, Cedarwood, Birch, Pepprmint, Lavender,


Grapefruit, Juniper, Orange, Fennel, Geranium, Clove

PMT/PMS Hops, Clary Sage, Sage, Fennel, Anise, Vitex, Geranium, Blue Yarrow

POOR CIRCULATION Black Pepper, Ginger , Pine Needle, Rosemary

PRURITIS (anal itching) Bergamot, Myrrh, Tea Tree

PSORIASIS Roman Chamomile, Tea Tree, Patchouli, Helichrysum, Rose, German Chamomile, Lavender

PYORRHOEA (Bronchial Asthma) Clary Sage, Cypress, Frankincense, Lavender, Marjoram, Hyssop, Basil,
Benzoin, Cajeput, Cedarwood, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Immortelle, Myrtle, Peppermint, Pine Needle, Sandalwood,
Tea Tree, Thyme

RASHES Chamomile

RHEUMATISM Benzoin, Birch, Chamomile, Eucalyptus , Ginger, Juniper,Lavender, Marjoram, Rosemary

RINGWORM Myrrh

SCARS Frankincense , Petitgrain, Lavender

SINUSITIS Pine Needle

SKIN CARE Carrot Seed, Cedarwood, Palmarosa, Rosewood

SORES Eucalyptus, Lavender

SPOTS Lavender, Tea Tree

SPRAINS & STRAINS Chamomile, Lavender

STOMACH CRAMPS Clary Sage, Peppermint

STRETCH MARKS Mandarin, Lavender

SWEATY FEET Cypress

TEETHING PAIN Chamomile

THRUSH Tea Tree


The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

TOOTHACHE Cajeput, Chamomile, Clove

URETHRITIS Cedarwood, Tea Tree

VAGINITIS Tea Tree

VARICOSE VEINS Cypress, Helichrysum, Basil, Peppermint, Lemon

CORNS & WARTS Lemon, Tea Tree

WEEPY SKIN CONDITIONS Myrrh

WOUNDS Chamomile, Lemon, Myrrh, Tea Tree

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL ANGER Ylang Ylang

ANXIETY Bergamot, Petitgrain

BOREDOM Lemongrass

DEPRESSION Basil, Bergamot , Immortelle, Lavender , Lime, Sandalwood

DULL DAYS Grapefruit, Lemongrass, Lime , Orange

GRIEF Melissa

HEADACHE Chamomile, Lavender

NERVOUS EXHAUSTION & FATIGUE Basil, Peppermint, Rosemary

INSOMNIA Chamomile, Lavender, Marjoram

LOSS OF APPETITE Bergamot

MIGRAINE Lavender

NERVOUS TENSION & STRESS Benzoin, Bergamot, Chamomile, Clary Sage,Cedarwood, Frankincense,
Lavender, Sandalwood, Vetivert.

VERTIGO Lavender, Peppermint

SHOCK Peppermint, Petitgrain

FEVERS Eucalyptus, Lemongrass

INSECT REPELLENT Lemongrass; Citronella, Lavender

AROMATHERAPY AND PETS


by Franoise Rapp: The trend toward natural health consciousness in humans is gaining popularity in the animal
world too. Many vets are beginning to introduce natural therapies in their practice, including osteopathy,
homeopathy, acupuncture, flower essences and more recently aromatherapy. It's just been a few years since
aromatherapists and vets have begun to recognize how animals can benefit from this therapy.

For humans and animals alike, essential oils are powerfully antiseptic, detoxifying and revitalizing, thus
increasing resistance to disease while strengthening the immune system. Essential oils can also be used to
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

control pet odors and to purify the air from dust, dander and allergens. For example, mix 50 drops of lemon
essential oil in a 2-oz spray bottle filled with water. Shake very well several times and spray the room. You'll
notice immediately that it refreshes and cleanses the air!

But aromatherapy offers more than just fragrance. Their remarkable actions upon animals -- most notably dogs,
cats and horses -- are immediate, profound and long-lasting, positively affecting their overall health and
emotional well-being.

Pets can enjoy the therapeutic effects of aromatherapy as much as humans can. Aside from possibly eliminating
bad odors and giving your pet a pleasant perfume, essential oils also serve many practical functions such as
boosting your pet's immune system, fighting off bacteria and viruses, preventing the growth of yeasts and molds
and repelling insects.

Aromatherapy is used by enthusiasts, groomers and pet salons to trea mild ailments such as skin inflammations,
itchy skin ear infections, rashes, bad breath, flatulence and motions sickness. Psychologically, certain oils also
have a calming or relaxing effect on animals. For example lavender oil not only helps kitties repel insects but it
also makes them feel sleepy or content. Roman chamomile can be used to treat an ear infection as well as
soothe the nerves of a dog in pain.

Essential oils are also frequently used as home remedies. However before you attempt to use aromatherapy on
your own pets, keep in mind that essential oils are always diluted before they are applied to a pet's skin or
sprayed on their coat. Almond oil, olive oil and jojoba oil are common base oils to which a few drops of the
essential oil is added. Usually all that is needed is about one ounce of the base oil combined with two to three
drops of the essential oil.

Essential oils can also be diluted in a spray bottle and misted onto the pet or the pet's bedding. You can simply
dilute a few drops in distilled water or you can use water and a mixture of aloe, witch hazel or cider vinegar. The
traditional recommendation is to use 20 to 30 drops of oil per eight ounces of liquid. Any less might not be
effective and any more might be toxic to the pet.

Oils can also be diluted in vodka or brandy and dabbed on the bottom of the pet's paws or on an acupressure
point such as the tips of the ears. This is the technique to use if you are dealing with a panicky pet. Never feed
your pet alcohol or essential oil directly.

Essential oils are also effective flea and tick repellents and are nearly as effective as sprays and powders that
contain a lot of toxic chemicals. Oils such as peppermint, citronella, lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, geranium, bay
and myrrh have been components of herbal flea sprays and flea collars for many years. You can easily make
your own flea and tick spray by combining about 25 drops of any of these oils into eight ounces of water. Shake
the mixture well and spray it on your pet, being careful to shield its eyes from mist. This mixture can also be
sprayed anywhere that you suspect there may be a breeding bug infestation.

When using essential oils it is also essential for you to remember that a dog or cat's sense of smell is much more
acute than our own. Signs that an aromatherapy treatment is too overwhelming for your pet are tearing eyes,
sneezing, pacing or whining. Cats may lick themselves excessively and dogs may rub their head on the ground
in order to escape the smell. Many pets also have allergies to essential oils. For instance, chamomile is related
to the ragweed plant, which is a common allergen for both pets and humans. This is why it is so important to use
a mild solution at first and use your powers of observation the first few times you use an essential oil mixture on
a pet.

Today we will focus on recipes and tips for Fido. As faithful friends, dogs bring affection, pure joy and loyalty into
our lives. Most breeds thrive in the outdoors, running and playing in the freedom of nature. In fact, dogs will
naturally purge their system in the wilderness, carefully choosing specific plants their systems need, such as
blackberries, raw carrots, etc. Now a domestic animal, most dogs have lost this natural instinct, and are
becoming less resistant to illness in general.
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Dogs have a predictable set of physical ailments that may occur during their life span. Today I'll share
aromatherapy blends that will soothe and heal skin problems, remove and prevent fleas and ticks, relieve the
pain of rheumatism and arthritis, revive energy and control pet odor.

Blend to Relieve Skin Problems

Pour the following essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and fill with Calendula oil. Apply to afflicted area.

-5 drops Lavender
-6 drops Geranium

Blend to Relieve Itching

Pour the following essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and fill with Calendula oil. Apply to afflicted area.

-4 drops Lavender
-5 drops Geranium
-3 drops Roman Chamomile

Blend to Combat Fleas

Fleas are nuisances for man and animal alike. This sinister pest hides within your pets' fur as well as in our
carpets, parquet and window coverings.

Prepare the following blend by pouring the following ingredients into a 1-oz spray bottle:

-7.5 ml Mint essential oil


-22.5 ml rubbing alcohol

Fleas absolutely dislike mint! Spray the affected areas of your home. Don't forget your dog's bed. Spray directly
onto your dog, holding the bottle about 10 inches from him. Avoid spraying on the head and eyes.

Blend to Combat Ticks

Check your home and pet for ticks - look in his bed, window coverings, walls, etc. Burn the ones you find to
prevent them from coming back.

Prepare the following blend by pouring the essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and adding organic vegetable oil to
fill.

-10 drops Tea Tree


-10 drops Lavender

Apply 1 drop of Lavender and 1 drop of Tea Tree undiluted essential oils before extracting ticks from your pet.
This will disinfect the inflamed area. It may sting a little bit (as alcohol would) but it works great!

Blend to Ease Rheumatism

Like humans, many dogs suffer from rheumatism as they age. Your veterinarian may treat him with specific
medications or natural therapies. But locally, you can apply and massage the following blend in the morning and
night to alleviate pain.

Prepare the following blend by pouring the essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and adding organic vegetable oil to
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

fill.

-8 drops Birch
-8 drops Juniper
-7 drops Rosemary

Blend to Ease Arthritis

As recommended by some veterinarians, soften your dog's bed to make it very cozy and warm. If your dog is an
"outside" pet, allow him to sleep inside. A little moist heat, applied directly over painful joints, can be a great
comfort to arthritic pets. Get him a warm sweater, or apply a moist heating pad. And massage the area twice a
day with the following blend to soothe the pain away.

Prepare the following blend by pouring the essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and adding organic vegetable oil to
fill.

-12 drops Birch


-8 drops Juniper
-7 drops Rosemary

Blend to Boost His Energy

Prepare the following blend by pouring the essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and adding organic vegetable oil to
fill. Massage the spine gently. Use in the mornings only.

-5 drops Rosemary
-6 drops Lavender
-2 drops Peppermint

Blend to Control Pet Odor

Try this natural and aromatic spray. Pour the essential oils into a 1-oz spray bottle filled with water. Shake very
vigorously several times before each use. Spray directly onto your dog, holding the bottle about 10 inches from
him. Avoid spraying on the head and eyes.

-10 drops Lavender


-10 drops Geranium
-6 drops Lemon

Blend to Relieve Emotional Stress

Pour the following essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and fill with vegetable oil (such as jojoba, sweet almond, etc.).
Pour a small amount of the blend into your hand. Anoint the spine and head lightly. Repeat as necessary.

-6 drops of Lavender
-1 drop of Neroli
-4 drops of Marjoram

Blend to Relieve Anxiety & Loneliness

Pour the following essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and fill with vegetable oil (such as jojoba, sweet almond, etc.).
Pour a small amount of the blend into your hand. Anoint the spine and head lightly. Repeat as necessary.

-1 drop of Rose otto


The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

-5 drops of Cypress
-5 drops of Marjoram

Blend to Reduce Nervousness & Hyperactivity

Pour the following essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and fill with vegetable oil (such as jojoba, sweet almond, etc.).
Pour a small amount of the blend into your hand. Anoint the spine and head lightly. Repeat as necessary.

-6 drops of Lavender
-2 drops of Roman Chamomile
-4 drops of Petitgrain

Essential Oil Study

Today, work with and study Rosemary essential oil.

Smell it and take notes of your first impressions.


Smell it again while taking a bit more time. Write down how your impression of the oil has changed (or not).
Repeat throughout the day. Use it on yourself and note how you feel.

Exercise 1

Prepare an aromatic oil using Ravensara and/or Eucalyptus essential oils and anoint your solar plexus. Pour
some of this aromatic blend into your warm bath water and soak for at least 15 minutes (if you prepare a 10ml
bottle, then pour 1/3 of the blend).

BASIC BLENDS FOR COMMON CONDITIONS


For Children

by Liz Santher:Keep in mind that most doctors don't recommend the


use of aromatherapy on babies that re less than three months old. This
is because the nasal and skin tissues of an infant are very sensitive
and easily irritated by anything but the blandest of substances. Once
your baby is past that age consult with your doctor to make sure that
the use of essential oils is right for your child.

Traditionally essential oils are used to purify the air in a nursery and
calm and relax the infant. The safest and gentlest way to introduce
essential oils into the nursery is to put the oils in a diffuser so the
molecules of the oil are dispersed through the air. You can also dilute
about ten drops of the oil in a bottle of distilled water and mist that
around the nursery and the baby's bedding. Remember always that if
your baby starts sneezing, tearing or fretting that it may not be time to
introduce aromatherapy into your baby's life.

For best results try to choose high quality oils. The inexpensive stuff is
cut with crude substances and alcohols and can be overwhelming to
the delicate system of a baby.

Try to choose oils that are organically grown as they are usually of the highest quality. Avoid purchasing oils in
plastic or clear bottles as light and other factors can cause the oil to degrade and lose efficacy. The highest
quality aromatherapy oils are usually sold in dark brown bottles that protect them from disintegrating light rays.
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

There are several oils that are highly recommended for use with babies. Some are mood enhancers, some are
room disinfectants and many are a combination of both.

Lavender and roman chamomile are the best two oils that you can use in a mist or a diffuser to calm a fussy
baby. A blend of vanilla and orange oils is a favorite blend for mothers who just want to keep the baby in a happy
mood as both oils have the reputation of being mood elevators for children. Peppermint or spearmint oils are
stimulating to the brain. and may help babies learn faster.

You can also add a few drops of chamomile or lavender oil to a baby's bath to help prepare them physically and
psychologically for naptime. Keep in mind though that all oils added to a bath must first be generously diluted in
carrier oil such as almond or olive oil. Never pour essential oil drops directly into a bath as that can irritate a
baby's sensitive skin.

The safest aromatherapy oils to use as disinfectants and purifiers for the air are geranium, lavender and
eucalyptus. Lavender sprayed directly onto your babies bedding and allowed to dry before placing the baby back
in the crib also helps get rid of allergens and dust mites. Eucalyptus is best used for babies who have a cold or
respiratory problems.

Used in a cautious manner, essential oils can not only help you calm and cheer your infant, but they can also
mask any unpleasant odors that are always a part of a mother's life.

There are few rules of thumb when it comes to aromatherapy for children. First of all, since children are much
more sensitive than adults, the concentration of essential oils in their blends should be at least three times less
than adult blends. I also recommend that children under the age of 5 should not use aromatherapy directly (bath
or massage). Instead, use the essential oils in a nebulizer and run it for just 10 minutes in the room. The other
option is to use hydrosols or floral waters instead of essential oils in their bath.

Children can safely use the following essential oils: Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Orange, Lemon, Neroli,
Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Grapefruit, Marjoram, Dill, Cardamom, Rose, Basil and Melissa.

So what are the most common childhood ailments, and how can you safely use aromatic blends on your
children? Try creating the following recipes at home for a natural healing alternative. In future Health and Beauty
editions, you will learn more about the holistic aspects of aromatherapy for children and teenagers.

To create these blends, pour your essential oils into a 10-ml bottle, and fill will organic vegetable oil.

Colds and Flu

2 drops Rosemary 1,8 cineole


2 drops Eucalyptus

Rub blend on the chest and middle back. Add a few drops of the aromatic blend to your child's warm bath water
and let him/her soak for at least 15 minutes. Pour 4 drops of the aromatic blend on a tissue and have your child
breathe it in deeply.

Wounds and Burns

Dab 1 drop of pure, undiluted Lavender essential oil on the afflicted area. Do it just once.

Immune System Booster

2 drops Rosemary 1,8 cineole


3 drops Ravensara
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Massage the solar plexus and lower back, chest and middle back. Add a few drops of the aromatic blend to your
child's warm bath water and let him/her soak for at least 15 minutes. Pour 4 drops of the aromatic blend on a
tissue and have your child breathe it in deeply.

Sweet Dreams

1 drop Roman Chamomile


2 drops Lavender
2 drops Orange

This is a wonderful blend for story time! Massage the forehead and temples, neck and back. Add a few drops of
the aromatic blend to your child's warm bath water and let him/her soak for at least 15 minutes.

Toothaches

2 drops Roman Chamomile

Rub the essential oil directly on the cheek.

Joy and Laughter

3 drops Orange
2 drops Lemon

Massage the solar plexus and abdomen, friction the back. Pour 4 drops of the aromatic blend on a tissue and
have your child breathe it in deeply.

Tummy Aches

2 drops Basil
2 drops Dill

Massage the tummy clockwise with the blend as needed.

Lack of Appetite

2 drops Cardamom
2 drops Dill

Massage the solar plexus and abdomen. Pour 4 drops of the aromatic blend on a tissue and have your child
breathe it in deeply.

Motion Sickness

4 drops Lemon
1 drop Ginger

Massage the solar plexus. Pour 4 drops of the aromatic blend on a tissue and have your child breathe it in
deeply.

Newborn babies

Coming into the world is a pretty huge thing for such a little human being. It is a very different environment than
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the last 9 months or so, so keep things simple. Everything used on a little one is so easily and readily absorbed.
Use base products with tiny amounts essential oils initially you can just use base oils initially if you are
concerned. If using essential oils only use dose when necessary. A lovely idea is to mix some nice base
vegetable oils together and add just a couple of drops of one of the following oils.

Base oils: rosehip, apricot kernel, calendula, jojoba or sweet almond Essential oils: lavender, tangerine, german
chamomile, neroli, mandarin or rose

Bruises

Little ones run and bump and smash into things all the time. It is a common problem. However some essential
oils are wonderful at helping to bring out the bruise and recover quickly (ready for the next one!).

If you feel your little one seems to bruise excessively, go see your local GP, naturopath or homoeopath (some
wonderful people that have been recommended over the years are in the back of the book). Remember to try
the good ol cold pack from the fridge too!

Base Oils: Arnica Infused Oil make sure the skin is not broken. Essential Oils: Ginger, Black Pepper,
Rosemary, Lavender, German Chamomile

Confidence for little ones

As a young person we go through so much, some of us just seem to take it in our strides and others seem to
struggle a bit more. Remembering that they are just little ones and giving them encouragement is a wonderful
way of helping. Positive talk is one rule that should be in every house, if you cant say something positive about
the situation, dont say anything at all! essential oils are so wonderful for helping with this, mix up a special blend
of a couple of the following oils and put into a spray or a vaporizer or a massage oil.

Essential oils: Ylang ylang, Sandalwood, Juniper, Pine, Grapefruit, Bergamot or Frankincense

Colic

Colic is the wind pains that a little baby can suffer from. Use the following blend in a gentle massage on the
abdomen. (look baby at for some baby massage techniques) Be very gentle as colic can be very painful. If breast
feeding, mums can try some natural remedies like drinking fennel tea and chamomile tea.

Choose from the following essential oils for a gentle tummy rub. Essential Oils: Mandarin, Blue Chamomile,
Roman Chamomile, Sweet orange or Tangerine

Cranky toddlers

Some little ones go through some trying times, usually it is not joy to be around them at this stage and usually
they are fairly miserable too. Using essential oils to pick them up and lift their mood is a superb way of helping
everyone around. Many mums have a spray bottle of a fresh blend in the side door of the fridge, when everyone
gets hot and bothered, she takes it out and sprays everyone with the cool and fresh spray.

A blend of the following oils in a bubble bath would be a great idea too. Essential oils: Bergamot, Grapefruit,
Lime, Tangerine, Sweet orange, Geranium or Pine

Cuts and scratches

We have the biggest adventure as children, often involving climbing trees and cubby houses and running full pelt
into things. Make sure you clean the area to prevent any infection and then use a dilution either a light cream or
a compress to help the area get better quickly ready for the next big adventure!
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Essential oils: Tea tree, Palmarosa, Lemon, Lavender, Rosewood or Eucalyptus

Eczema and dermatitis and sensitive skin

There has been a lot of research competed on the effect of diet towards eczema and dermatitis. It is always a
great idea to see a nutritionist or naturopath to see if they can help with elimination diets. If you only introduce
one new food at a time and see after a few days whether there is a reaction you can sometimes identify it
quicker. Some essential oils are wonderful at soothing and calming the skin, taking the redness and the itchiness
out of the skin.

Base oils: evening primrose oil, rosehip oil, coconut oil or jojoba oil Essential oils: German Chamomile, Roman
Chamomile, Lavender, Neroli, Sandalwood or Frankincense

Growing pains

Someone once said they thought growing pains were just an old wives tale. Tell this to the little ones aching all
over from the growth spurts they are going through. These pains are commonly in the legs, from rapid growth
spurts in short amounts of time. Use this as a gentle massage over the painful area.

If it is too painful to even touch, use a compress. Essential oils: Ginger, Rosemary, Spike Lavender, Sweet
marjoram or Vetiver

Heat rash

Using some essential oils in a compress or in a bath is a nice way to help sooth heat rash. Running a luke warm
bath or use the same in a compress is better for the bub then putting them straight under cold water. The
essential oils listed are soothing and calming. Essential oils: German chamomile, Yarrow, Roman chamomile,
Lavender or Patchouli

Diaper rash

Diaper rash can be caused by a number of things, bowel movements, pee, sitting in a wet nappy for too long,
irritant substances and excessive sweating. It is really important to keep an eye on it and if it hasnt cleared up by
5 days or so or the skin is broken, you should check in with your doctor. It is also great if you can let the little one
lay in the sunlight (not in the heat of the day or for too long just a few minutes) and have some air and natural
light on the area she would probably love the freedom. Making a cream or using some of the oils in a bath
dispersing oil would be a great idea to help too.

Base oils: Calendula oil, rosehip oil, coconut oil Essential oils: German Chamomile, Lavender, Tea tree,
Patchouli or Roman Chamomile

For Aspiring Moms to Be & Pregnancy

Trying to fall pregnant is such an exciting time. Some women just have to think pregnancy and it seems they can
fall, others it is a lot more difficult. If you are have been trying for some time with not very much luck it is a good
idea to seek some advice from a qualified practitioner. If you want to take a natural approach initially, in the back
of this book has some names in the therapist section. Otherwise look up your local Natural Fertility Counsellor.
As for aromatherapy it is good to try to reduce the stress that is going on, make sure you are feeling grounded.
And try not to feel overwhelmed with anxiety of the whole thing. The following properties are considered useful;
relaxation, calming, menstrual regulators and encourage love and joy.
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Choose from these essential oils to make a beautiful blend of essential oils: Neroli, Melissa, Sandalwood, Ylang
Ylang, Rose, Bergamont or Vetiver

Morning Sickness and Nausea

It is said that to have morning sickness is a good sign; however the effects are less than comforting. Some
people suggest. Eating small regular meals as a great way to prevent morning sickness. Having a weak black
cup of tea and dry biscuit in bed before you even get up (you must have a helpful partner to obviously do this
one!)

Stretch marks

Aromatherapy has a wonderful reputation for help in the prevention of stretch marks. Use the blend oil, lotion or
cream depending on what you prefer. Remember to use the blend daily and massage all areas that stretch
beyond normal belly, breasts, thighs, bottom and hips. Properties you are searching for: Promoting skin
elasticity, nourishing and moisturizing.

Base oils: Avocado oil, Rosehip, Vitamin E, Coconut oil, Apricot kernal or Wheatgerm (if no allergies) Essential
oils: Tangerine, Mandarin, Lavender, Patchouli, Neroli, Frankincense or Ylang Ylang

Birth

Aromatherapy is successfully being used by an increasing number of health professionals involved in childbirth.
A recent study cited by Buckle (2003) used lavender, geranium, frankincense and clary sage essential oils during
labour and childbirth. Lavender was used for relaxation, to relieve backache and to expel the placenta. It was
successful on all counts. Geranium was used to decrease perineal swelling and to relieve haemorrhoids; it was
also successful. Clary Sage was used to stimulate contractions but was not successful. Frankincense was used
successfully for extreme anxiety between transition and the second stage of labour.

Some women really enjoy massage during their labour; other women dont want to be touched at all. Prepare
yourself a blend of oils, pop it in your bag and if you want it its there! If you dont use it for the birth, you have a
beautiful massage oil for when you go home. Another very good option is to prepare yourself a face and room
spray to use all around the room, it can give you an instant pick me up (for all involved!)

The following properties are considered useful: antispasmodic, uterine tonics and parturients, also include some
claming oils, yet refreshing oil blends to keep the spirits up and it all in perspective! Essential oils: Lavender,
Jasmine, Clary sage, Lemon, Geranium, Nutmeg, Frankincense, Peppermint,
Rose.

Essential oils: Ginger, Peppermint, Cardamom, Spearmint or Patchouli

For Emotional Issues

The following aromatherapy blends will support you during your drive to overcome your insecurities. These
blends will help you gain a profound sense of inner peace and healthy detachment, allowing you to feel secure
by eliminating any unhealthy needs you may have for validation and attention.

Prepare each of these blends by pouring the essential oils into a 10ml bottle, and then adding organic vegetable
oil to fill. I recommend sweet almond, jojoba or safflower vegetable oils.

Inner Peace & Balance

This blend will help you to gain more insight about your needs and wants, and achieve the balance you need to
become more self-accepting.
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-7 drops Sandalwood
-3 drops Juniper
-3 drops Cypress
-3 drops Cedarwood

Massage the solar plexus and third eye. Pour one-third of the blend into your warm bath water and soak for at
least 15 minutes. Pour a few drops into the palm of your hands and inhale deeply as needed throughout the day.

Emotional Security

This blends helps you become healthily detached from negative feelings like neediness, codependence and
insecurity, and become emotionally independent and self-sufficient.

-5 drops Sandalwood
-4 drops St. John's Wort
-2 drops Rose otto

Massage the solar plexus, heart chakra and third eye. Pour one-third of the blend into your warm bath water and
soak for at least 15 minutes. Pour a few drops into the palm of your hands and inhale deeply as needed
throughout the day.

For Teens

If you are the parent of a teen, you are certainly aware of how much your family dynamics have changed in
recent years. It doesn't seem all that long ago that you were the center of your children's universe. Remember
when you were the one they came to when they had bruised shins and broken hearts? Well your once-little baby
is now approaching adulthood, testing his or her independence, and at times your patience.

You may find yourself struggling with many dichotomies. For instance, while you are aware of and respect your
teen's growing demands for privacy, you may have concerns about his or her friends and interests. Or you may
want to establish strong boundaries, and yet at the same time you want to help your teen become independent.

So while your teenager is facing a profound transition in life, you as a parent are as well. Now is the time to
evaluate issues not only with your children, but also with yourself. What are your boundaries? Are you a secure
and trusting person? Are you someone with whom your teen can and wants to communicate?

If you feel you need guidance with some of these issues, there are many great books on the market about
raising teens. Establish a support system with other parents in your community. You can also find wonderful
support systems via online parenting communities and chat rooms.

Meanwhile, the use of aromatherapy on a daily basis will help you stay balanced, gain more insight, open
yourself to trust your teen, and communicate your feelings and life perspective in a compassionate and calm
manner. Below are several aromatherapy recipes to help you survive the teen years!

Each recipe below should be prepared in a 10ml bottle. Pour the essential oils first and then add organic
vegetable oil to fill.

Blend for Tranquility

This blend will help you to remain balanced. It will calm your mind and emotions when you experience symptoms
of stress and nervous tension.

-6 drops Sandalwood
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-7 drops Lavender
-5 drops Marjoram
-2 drops Rose otto

Massage the solar plexus and abdomen. Pour one-third of the blend into your warm bathwater and soak for at
least 15 minutes. Pour a few drops into the palm of your hands and inhale deeply as needed throughout the day.

Blend for Boundaries

This blend will help you feel more grounded, centered and assertive when a need arises to establish new
boundaries with your teen.

-6 drops Rosemary
-5 drops Cypress
-6 drops Cedarwood
-4 drops Sandalwood

Massage the solar plexus and lower back. Pour one-third of the blend into your warm bath water and soak for at
least 15 minutes. Pour a few drops into the palm of your hands and inhale deeply as needed throughout the day.

Blend for Emotional Security and Acceptance

This blend soothes your emotions and enhances a profound sense of emotional security and comfort while
accepting the natural steps of your teen's growth.

-3 drops Rose
-5 drops Sandalwood
-5 drops Orange
-4 drops Pine

Massage the solar plexus and abdomen. Pour one-third of the blend into your warm bath water and soak for at
least 15 minutes. Pour a few drops into the palm of your hands and inhale deeply as needed throughout the day.

Blend to Open Communication

This blend supports and opens communication with others while releasing any anger, resentment, guilt or
frustration held within the body and mind.

-4 drops Lavender
-5 drops Sage
-4 drops German Chamomile

Massage the throat, neck, and shoulders. Pour one-third of the blend into your warm bath water and soak for at
least 15 minutes. Pour a few drops into the palm of your hands and inhale deeply as needed throughout the day.

For Arthritis

Aromatherapy is one form of arthritis treatment, using a variety of essential oils. They can be added to the bath,
massaged into the skin, inhaled or applied as compresses. The right mixture of essential oils will help to relax,
promote pain relief and alleviate fatigue. Essential oils can also provide psychological benefits like improving the
mood and reducing anxiety.

Some of the more suitable arthritis oils are Lavender, Juniper, Thyme, Rosemary, Benzoin, Eucalyptus,
Chamomile, Pine Scotch, Camphor, Angelica Root, Ginger, Origanum, Black Pepper and Lemon.
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One of the most effective ways to use aromatherapy for relieving pain and reducing inflammation are hot
compresses:

1. Fill a medium size bowl with hot, but not scalding water.
2. Add 3 to 6 drops of essential oil.
3. Fold a piece of sterile cotton cloth and dip it into the bowl.
4. Squeeze out excess water, but not too much.
5. Place the wet, hot cloth onto the affected area until it has cooled down to body temperature.
6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 at least two to three times.
7. Wrap the treated area in a dry and warm towel or blanket and leave the patient to rest for a while.

Another good way to use aromatherapy for arthritis relieve is to rub diluted essential oils (see above for dilution)
onto pulse points and affected areas during the day. Applying essential oils throughout the day can help to
alleviate pain and tension. The essential oils on the skin are quickly absorbed and enter the bloodstream. This is
an excellent form of arthritis relief and works also well as a preventative measure.

For The Cold Bug

It seems that nearly everyone I know has been either fighting or recovering from a cold or flu these last few
weeks. And many of my clients have been asking how essential oils can help them prevent or heal their
illnesses. There are a few things you can do to prevent yourself from catching a bad cold:

Diffuse eucalyptus essential oil at home to clean and purify the air.
Take a "winter bath" once or twice a week with the following aromatherapy blend to boost your immune system
and keep you healthy during the chilly winter!

In a 10-ml bottle, pour the essential oils first and then add an organic vegetable oil to fill:

15 drops of Ravensara
8 drops of Rosemary
6 drops of Thyme officinalis

Pour a big package of Epsom Salts into the bathtub and add your aromatic blend. Make sure you allow at least
20 minutes to breathe in the vapors, adding more hot water as needed to keep steaminess at a maximum. Wrap
yourself warmly when you get out, and enjoy a hot herbal tea prepared with Echinacea and Ginseng.

Do you already feel a cold coming on? Have you been experiencing chills, mild fever, headache, stuffy nose, dry
sore throat, and fatigue? To help you battle your cold or flu, take a hot bath with the following aromatic recipe
once or twice a day if necessary.

In a 10-ml bottle, pour the essential oils first and then add an organic vegetable oil to fill:

15 drops of Ravensara
10 drops of Rosemary
8 drops of Thyme officinalis
8 drops of Eucalyptus

Pour a big package of Epsom Salts into the bathtub and add your aromatic blend. Make sure you allow at least
20 minutes to breathe in the vapors, adding more hot water as needed to keep steaminess at a maximum. Wrap
yourself warmly when you get out, then treat yourself to a good hot soup such as Miso Green Onion, Hot and
Sour (Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai), or good ol' Chicken Soup.

Don't underestimate the power of soup! In one study, participants who consumed chicken soup experienced an
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increase in the flow of nasal secretions (when compared to just plain hot and cold water). The taste and aroma is
believed to be part of the therapy, as well as the inhalation of the vapors. In another study, researchers found
that chicken soup had anti-inflammatory properties, even when extremely diluted.

Also, drink plenty of orange juice (rich in Vitamin C) and purchase echinacea-goldenseal tincture that you will
take according to the directions on the bottle.

But foremost...rest, rest, rest!

For Stress and Tension

Try one of these combinations when you feel the hassle of modern day living getting to you.

To begin: Fill a mist spray bottle with purified water and then add the essential oils.

Tighten the cap well and shake the bottle. The longer the mixture remains in the bottle, the more the scent
strengthens and improves in potency.

Essential Sunshine

50 drops of Lime essential oil


50 drops of Grapefruit essential oil
10 drops of Orange essential oil
10 drops of Patchouli essential oil
Mix with 4 ounces of pure water

Essential Flower Garden

75 drops of Ylang-Ylang essential oil


25 drops of Orange essential oil
20 drops of Clove essential oil
Mix with 4 ounces of pure water

Essential Rain Forest

40 drops of Pine essential oil


40 drops of Cajuput essential oil
20 drops of Cypress essential oil
20 drops of Sandalwood essential oil
Mix with 4 ounces of pure water

When you feel particularly stressed and need a little extra boost, place the following blended oils into an aroma
lamp with a small bit of pure water. Inhale the vapors deeply for best results.

Essential Breathe Easy

5 drops of Lemon essential oil


5 drops of Pine essential oil
5 drops of Lavender essential oil
5 drops of Peppermint essential oil

Essential Room Freshener

5 drops of Lemon essential oil


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5 drops of Tea Tree essential oil


5 drops of Sage essential oil
5 drops of Cajuput essential oil

Headache Inhalant

1 d. rose oil
1 d. basil oil
1 d. orange oil
1 d. rosemary oil.

Psychological Complaints

Aromatherapy is very therapeutic when it comes to healing emotional and psychological conditions. This is
because the essential oils from plants contain all kinds of compounds, phytoestrogens and phytochemicals that
have the ability to subtly alter brain chemistry for the better.

Given the stressful demands of today's busy schedules, anxiety is a very common problem. There are scores of
essential oils that can be used to combat this common psychological complaint. To achieve the best results try to
buy high quality or organic oils as they contain the highest concentration of compounds, phyto estrogens and
phyto-chemicals.

For anxiety you can try companioning a few drops of any of these oils in a base carrier oil such as olive or
almond and applying them to your pulse points or temples. You can also disperse the oils through the air using a
diffuser or candle oil warmer or add a few drops of the oil to eight ounces of distilled water and mist your
surroundings. You can also shoot a mist straight up into the air and walk through it so that the plant's healing
molecules cling to your clothing, skin and hair.

For acute anxiety, you can try applying the oils to a hanky or Kleenex and sniffing the aroma whenever you feel a
panic attack setting in. The best aromatherapy oils to use for anxiety are balsam fir, bergamot, cedar wood,
frankincense, lavender, jasmine, neroli, rose and ylang ylang. Linden blossoms, in particular are excellent to use
to stop a full-blown anxiety attack and geranium is the oil to use if menstrual or menopausal issues cause the
anxiety.

If you have been overworking (also a common problem in this hectic society) and feel like you are on the verge
of burnout warming oils such as basil, bergamot, cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, ginger, lavender, orange, neroli
(orange blossom) and patchouli can help revitalize your senses and raise your spirits. Essential lime oil is known
as a brain chiller and alleviates cases of obsessive thoughts or racing mind.

Some essential oils have been known to be specifically beneficial for depression. Balsam Fir, basil, cedar wood,
neroli and lavender have been known to level out mood swings. Lemon, orange, peppermint and vanilla scented
oils help lift "brain fog" and put you in a cheerier mood.

If insomnia is keeping you up at night try misting your bedding or diffusing any combination of the following
essential oils through your bedroom: chamomile, clary sage, frankincense, lavender, neroli, rose or sandalwood.

Basil, clary sage or rose oils can also be used to aid those who have suffered a sudden shock or who are
overwhelmed with unbearable grief. Apply one or a mixture of these oils immediately to the pulse points to calm
and pacify the sorrowful individual.

Essential oils can also be used to help enhance your mental performance. If you need to stay awake while
driving or be as sharp as possible while studying any oil from the mint family (peppermint, spearmint) can help
you burn the candle from both ends.

Physical Complaints
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy can be used to relieve the discomfort of a wide range of minor physical complaints including
burns, colds, flu, sinus problems, cold sores, eczema, headache, indigestion, menopause, menstrual
irregularities, muscle aches, nausea and toothaches.

Diluted in healing carrier oil such as aloe vera, essential oils can relieve the pain of minor burns. Just add a few
drops of chamomile, geranium, lavender, neroli or peppermint oil to eight ounces of aloe vera to make your own
healing salve. Of course if you are suffering from a serious third degree burn that exposes blisters, pus or red
and raw bleeding skin you should immediately take yourself to a hospital!

Aromatherapy can also be used to ease the discomfort of suffering from colds and flus. Oils such as peppermint,
eucalyptus, ginger, clove, juniper and rosemary can help relieve congestion. Warming oils such as clove,
frankincense and pine can help relieve aches and pains. Diffusing lavender or eucalyptus through the air can
help purify the sick room of any viruses as well as soothe sore sinuses.

Mixing a few drops of geranium, lavender or tea tree oil in healing carrier oil such as jojoba or aloe vera can also
help remoisturize dry cracked lips and heal annoying cold sores. Applied to the face the same oils can help clear
up acne and blackheads.

If eczema is a problem then gently applying a couple of drops each of any combination of chamomile, geranium,
lavender, neroli, patchouli or tea tree oil can help soothe the pain as well as reduce the angry red appearance of
the skin.

Aromatherapy has proved to be so effective at relieving headaches that there are now many commercial
aromatherapy preparations on the market concocted especially for this purpose. Applying oils such as basil,
eucalyptus, lavender, linden blossom or peppermint (in a commercial cream based mixture or prepared yourself
in eight ounces of a carrier oil) is thought to be as effective as aspirin and anti- inflammatories at relieving a
headache.

If nausea or indigestion is a problem you can try rubbing a blend of orange, ginger or peppermint oils (in a carrier
oil) with a circular motion onto your stomach or you can put a few drops on your pulse points or a hanky and
inhale whenever your tummy feels cranky.

If irregular periods or cramps are a problem the inhalation or application of the following oils may provide you
with some relief: chamomile, clary sage, jasmine, lavender, neroli, rose, sandalwood, tangerine, ylang ylang and
peppermint. Geranium is thought to be particularly soothing for women going through menopause as it can
relieve hot flashes.

If you need an oil to relieve the discomfort of muscle aches and pains try rubbing a lotion made of arnica oil,
almond oil or jojoba oil and a few drops of any of the following essential oils: balsam fir, clove, ginger,
chamomile, peppermint or rosemary.

One of the best kept secrets of aromatherapy is using a dab of clove oil to relieve a toothache. Apply the oil
directly to the affected tooth and it will be numbed and disinfected until you have time to book that all-important
appointment to the dentist!

Essential Oil Study

Today, work with and study Ylang Ylang essential oil.

Smell it and take notes of your first impressions.


Smell it again while taking a bit more time. Write down how your impression of the oil has changed (or not).
Repeat throughout the day. Use it on yourself and note how you feel.

Exercise 1
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Prepare an aromatic oil using Geranium and/or Lavender essential oils and anoint your solar plexus. Pour some
of this aromatic blend into your warm bath water and soak for at least 15 minutes (if you prepare a 10ml bottle,
then pour 1/3 of the blend).

BASIC CANDLE MAKING


by ElmStreetYoga.com: It is really not that difficult to make your own basic
candles!

If you are going to be performing any spells or rituals using candles, then to
make your own is a good idea, as the candles will pick up your vibrations &
will be more pure than ones you buy in a shop, as no-one else has handled
them.

But always remember, Safety first! Never leave hot wax unattended, always
use heat proof gloves when handling container/pot that wax is in & make
candles at a time when young children are not around.

Always ensure that you have a good amount of working space as well, to
minimize the danger of accidents.

What you'll need:

Wax - Paraffin wax is good, Color dyes or a cheap alternative is Childrens crayons ( the thicker one are better!
)

Wick - you can buy these or make your own by dipping thick string or thin cord into warm wax. Leave to dry on
grease-proof paper.

Mold You can buy these from craft stores, or use an old can, as a cheap alternative!

A Container for the wax A double boiler is best to heat the wax in, but failing that, put the wax into an old
coffee tin, then into a saucepan filled with water to heat it ( make sure the water doesnt come up further than
your tin though! )

A Thermometer You have to keep the temperature of the wax below 375 degrees, as to over-heat wax is very
dangerous indeed, the fumes from over-heated wax can lead to illness as well as the danger of severe burns
from boiling wax! Ideally for safety, try to keep the wax under 200 degrees, as this is more than sufficient!

Mold release agent This is necessary to easily & safely remove your candle from the mold. You can use a
silicone spray or cooking spray oil for this. Wooden spoon to stir the wax Scissors Pencils You will need one
for each candle you are making to hold the wick.

Making the candle

Heat the double boiler or saucepan of water to a high enough heat to melt wax & add the wax to your carrier.
Start to melt the wax, ensuring with the thermometer that it is well within the temperature guidelines!

Stir the melting wax with a wooden spoon. While the wax is beginning to melt, spray the mold with the silicone
spray or the cooking oil spray.Leave the mold to one side for later use. Keep stirring the wax with the wooden
spoon softly until it is completely melted.

Add coloring, one drop at a time until you build up to a color that you like ( you can always add more color, but
not so easy to take color away, so one drop at a time!) or if you are using crayons, dip the crayons into the wax (
be very careful as you do this! ) .
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Now get your wick/wicks. Tie one end of the wick to the middle of the pencil, & gently drop the wick into the
mold containing, trying to get the wick to be in the center of the mold if possible, resting the pencil on top of the
mold.

If you are using a candle mold, then sometimes there is a little hole at the bottom to feed the wick through, this
centers the wick, but you must remember to seal the whole after the wick has been threaded through.

Use a small piece of putty or Blu-Tak to do this! & ensure that the wick is taut! ) It is now time to pour the HOT
wax into the mold/molds. Use oven gloves or other suitable safety equipment to lift the wax carrier from the
water, & take great care to gently pour into the mold / molds.

Fill the mold until it comes up to 1 inch before the top of the mold. You must leave this space. Leave the wax to
harden for at least several hours, preferably over-night, in a safe place out of the reach of children. Do not try to
remove the candle from the mold until you are absolutely sure it has hardened completely! Once it is ready, tip
the mold upside down & thanks to the release agent, it should then slide out easily.

Other candle ideas

While you are adding the coloring, you could also try adding a scent to your candle! Herbs & Spices are good for
this as are the Vanilla & mint oils usually used as cooking ingredients! You can also drop hings into the wax
when it has melted & before pouring into the mold.

Leaves are very good for this, as are sea shells, this adds a nice touch to candles you may wish to give as
presents!

BASIC PERFUME MAKING


by ElmStreetYoga.com: The strength of your aromatic liquid
depends upon the ratio of essential oil to water and alcohol.

Perfume is the strongest formulation and should comprise 15 to 30


per cent essential oil with the remaining 85 to 70 per cent being
between 90 to 95 per cent alcohol and 10 to 5 % water. This is
shown more clearly on the chart that follows:

Type of Aromatic Liquid / % of Oil / % of Alcohol

Perfume / 15-30 / 90-95


Eau de perfume / 8-15 / 80-90
Eau de toilette / 4-8 / 80-90
Eau de cologne /3-5 / 70
Splash cologne / 1-3 / 80

The essential oils should be used neat that is to say, they shouldnt be diluted in vegetable oils or anything
else. Perfume always contains a percentage of water, even if this is as little as 5 per cent of the whole, and you
should use distilled water (available from pharmacies)

Here is the recommended list of base notes for feminine perfumes or colognes. As you can see, these are
usually roots, gums or resins:

Feminine Base Notes: Balsam de Tolu, Balsam de Peru, Benzoin, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Frankincense,
Guaiacwood, Heliotrope, Labdanum, Melliot, Myrrh, Oakmoss, Olibanum, Opoponax, Patchouli, Sandalwood,
Styrax, Tonkabean, Vanilla, Vetiver
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Next we have the oils which are found in either base or middle notes; they could make good bridges between
the two depending upon your overall formula, of course.

Feminine Oils Base or Middle Notes: Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Frankincense, Heliotrope, Myrrh, Patchouli,
Sandalwood, Styrax, Vetiver

Feminine Oils Middle Notes: Carnation, Cassia, Clary-sage, Clove bud, Geranium, Ginger, Hyacinth,
Jasmine, Jonquil, Lemongrass, Linden, Marjoram, Mimosa, Narcissus, Neroli, Nutmeg, Orchid, Oriental rose,
Pahna rosa, Pimento berry, Pine needle, Rosa cendfolia, Rose Rosewood (Bois de rose), Thyme, Tuberose,
Violet flower, Ylang-Ylang.

Feminine Oils Middle or Top Notes: Bay, Cassis, Clary-sage, Hyacinth, Marjoram, Mimosa, Nutmeg, Neroli,
Palmarosa, Rosewood, Thyme.

Top notes are the most volatile that is to say, they evaporate the most quickly and are, therefore, the ones you
smell first of all. They gradually evaporate and leave the middle notes which eventually fade and reveal the base
notes. You could think of the whole process as a love affair: the top notes represent the excitement of love at
first sight, the middle notes (or heart notes as they are known in the perfume trade) grow on the heart, and the
basic notes make it a long-lasting affair.

One reverses this order when actually making the perfume, so that the top notes are your final flourish, so to
speak. Use several essences, or just one, from each list to formulate your own perfume and, we hope, love
affair!

Feminine Top Notes: Angelica, Anise, Armoise, Basil, Bergamot, Cardamom, Chamomile Roman, Coriander,
Cumin, Estragon, Galbanum, Juniper berry, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Mandarin, Marigold, Neroli, Petitgrain,
Tagetes, Spearmint

The exact formulas of the worlds most famous perfumes are a dosely guarded secret but we do know a little
about them. Joy, from Jean Patou, advertised as the costliest perfume in the world, contains rose and jasmine
but what else and in what proportions remains a fact locked away in a Swiss bank.

Arpege, by Lanvin, is a blend containing rose, jasmine, iris, lily of the valley, vetiver and sandal-wood and more
besides. Jicky, a perfume that suits both men and women with its sporty scent, contains lavender, lemon and
bergamot and thats as much as we know.

But perfumes are usually composed of several ingredients and their base, middle and top notes are themselves
quite complex concoctions.

When making colognes for men follow the same procedures as for making perfume, although the concentration
of essences will be far less.

Male Oils Base Notes: Bay, Benzoin, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Frankincense, Moss, Myrrh, Oakmoss,
Olibanum, Sandalwood, Styrax, Tonkabean, Vanilla, Vetiver

Male Oils Base to Middle Notes: Bay, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Myrrh, Patchouli, Pimento berry, Sandalwood,
Vetiver.

Male Oils Middle Notes: Angelica, Anise, Artemisia, Basil, Caraway, Cardamom, Carnation, Carrot, Clary-
sage, Clove, Coriander, Cumin, Galbanum, Geranium, Ginger, Jasmine, Juniper, Lavender, Mandarin,
Marjoram, Neroli, Nutmeg, Oregano, Orris root, Pepper (black), Peppermint, Pettigraine, Pine, Rose, Rosemary,
Rosewood, Sage, Tarragon, Thyme, Ylang-ylang.

Male Oils Middle to Top Notes: Angelica, Basil, Bay, Caraway, Clary-sage, Coriander, Lavender, Marjoram,
Nutmeg, Oregano, Pepper (black), Pimento berry, Rosemary, Rosewood, Tarragon, Thyme.
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

Male Oils Top Notes: Anise, Artemisia, Bergamot, Cedar leaf, Cumin, Galbanum, Juniper, Lemon,
Lemongrass, Lime, Mandarin, Neroli Orange, Peppermint, Pettigraine, Sage Verbena.

You can see from the preceding lists that fragrances one might consider to be exclusively feminine actually
feature very strongly in male preparations. The difference between male and female fragrances does of course
depend largely on the ingredients, and by scanning the male and female lists you can see where these
differences lie.

But another important factor is the proportion of each oil used, and to come to a fragrance that perfectly suits
you will be a matter of experimentation.

Although the marketing of male products relies heavily on macho images such as the martial arts and predatory
animals, the fact of the matter is that the products themselves contain delicate ingredients such as lavender,
bergamot, lemon, lime, orange, jasmine, carnation and geranium.

As with the female products, these are, of course, used in addition to synthetic and animal products, which by
making our own we are going to do without.

First make your concentrate using the information that has gone before or following one of these formulas:

Eau de Cologne Formulas

FORMULA 1

Bergamot 10drops
Rosemary 2 drops
Lemon 10 drops
Orange 2 drops
Orange 20 drops
Neroli 2 drops<

FORMULA 2

Rose 4 drops
Lemon 2 drops
Orange 2 drops
Basil 1 drop
Neroli 1 drop
Pettigraine 1 drop
Bergamot 2 drops

FORMULA 3

Palma rosa 10 drops


Orange 8 drops
Pettigraine 3 drops
Lime 2 drops
Geranium 1 drop

Pour your essential oils into 70ml of 100 per cent proof vodka, stirring slowly but long enough to ensure
complete dispersal. Leave it to stand for forty-eight hours and then add 30ml spring water and, again, stir slowly
but enough to ensure a thorough mixing is taking place.

The mixture should be left to stand now for at least another forty-eight hours, but the fragrance will be much
stronger if you follow the procedures of the perfume trade and leave the liquid for four to six weeks.
The Healing Art of Aromatherapy

After letting the liquid mature, for however long you decide that shall be, pour it through a paper coffee filter and
bottle. If you find the aroma too strong, the eau de cologne can be further diluted by adding more spring water
and mixing well.

RECOMMENDED READING
Aromatherapy : To Heal and Tend the Body - by Robert Tisserand
Practical Aromatherapy : How to Use Essential Oils to Restore Vitality - by Shirley Price
The Fragrant Heavens - by Valerie Ann Worwood
The Encyclopedia of Aromatherapy - by Christine Wildwood, Chrissie Wildwood
Essential Aromatherapy : A Pocket Guide to Essential Oils and Aromatherapy - by Susan E. Worwood, Valerie
Worwood
Aromatherapy : A Holistic Guide : Balancing Body and Soul With Essential Oils - by Ann Berwick
Aromatherapy for Mother and Baby : Natural Healing With Essential Oils During Pregnancy and Early
Motherhood - by Allison England, Lola Borg
Aromatherapy : An Illustrated Guide - by Clare Walters
The Autonomic Nervous System and Aromatherapy - by Jennine Stromkins, Trent Stromkins (Illustrator)
The Book of Massage and Aromatherapy - by Nitya Lacroix, Sharon Seager (Contributor)
Practical Art of Aromatherapy : Create Your Own Personalized Beauty Treatments and Natural Remedies - by
Deborah Nixon
The Ancient and Healing Art of Aromatherapy - by Clare Hill
Aromatherapy (Naturally Better) - by Anna Selby (Editor), Peter Albright (Editor)
Aromatherapy : For Health, Well-Being and Relaxation - by Joanne Rippin
Aromatherapy : The A-Z Guide to Healing With Essential Oils (The Essential Healing Arts Series) - by Shelagh
Ryan Masline, Barbara Close
Aromatherapy During Your Pregnancy - by Frances R. Clifford, Carol Schiller (Contributor)
Aromatherapy for Sensual Awareness : Care for the Body and Mind With Nature's Essential Oils - by Judith
White, Karen Day (Contributor), Karen Downes
Aromatherapy for Travellers : How to Use Essential Oils for Health and Well-Being While Travelling - by Jude
Brown
Aromatherapy Made Easy : Simple Step-By-Step Guide to Using Essential Oils - by Christine Wildwood
Aromatherapy Oils : A Complete Guide - by Jeffrey Schiller, David Schiller, Carol Schiller (Illustrator)
The Art of Aromatherapy : A Guide to Using Essential Oils for Health and Relaxation - by Pamela Allardice
The Book of Practical Aromatherapy - by William H. Lee, Lynn Lee, Lynda Lee (Contributor)
The Complete Book of Partner Massage and Aromatherapy - by Brian Green, Royston Scott-Green
Frankincense & Myrrh : Through the Ages and a Complete Guide to Their Use in Herbalism and Aromatherapy
Today - by Wanda Sellar (Contributor), Martin Watt, Lyn Greenwood
Comforting Scents: Your Personal Aromatherapy Journal - by Doug Corcoran (Editor), Valerie Gennari Cooksley
Portraits in Oils : The Personality of Aromatherapy Oils and Their Link With Human Temperaments - by Philippe
Mailhebiau
Practical Aromatherapy : Understanding and Using Essential Oils to Heal the Mind and Body - by Robyn M.
Feller
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils -Lawless, J.

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