Recommended Reading

Neals Yard Covent Garden Remedies – Healing Foods

Grow Your Own Pots in Crops – Kay McGuire

 

Essential Oils and their Uses

These are only the oils I have and use personally.  Always check with your doctor if you have any medical conditions, always do a test patch and please be aware if you use this information you do so at your own risk.  I realised I forgot Tea Tree, antiseptic, anti viral, we all know it’s good 🙂 

Aromatherapy Oils
Oil	Uses	Warnings
Benzoin	I use this neat on burns, I think it works wonders, however it has many uses and is often found in prescription medecines, you can use it for sores, cuts, swollen gums etc.	You need to ensure you have the right benzoin from the styrax family.
Bergamot	analgesic, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-spasmodic, deodorising.	Can cause sensitivity to sunlight, use caution in skin preparations.
Black Pepper	I use this for muscle aches, other uses are pain relief, rheumatism, chills, flu, colds, increase circulation,  increases the flow of saliva, stimulates appetite, aids digestion.	Can cause skin allergies, should not be used when pregnant.
Camphor	Pain relief, increased blood flow	I tend to not use this often, you need to be very careful with camphor and the quantities used need to be researched very well.
Carrot Seed Oil	Antiseptic, calming, natural sun screen (low factor, I combine it with shea butter and raspberry seed oil)	Do not use when pregnant
Cardamom	It works as a laxative and soothes colic, wind, dyspepsia, coughs and nausea	It’s fairly safe, it is also safe to use for morning sickness.
Chamomile	analgesic, anti-spasmodic, antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, anti-viral, anti-neuralgic,  antiseptic, antispasmodic, bactericidal,  sedative and digestive.  I use it in facial products.	Do not use when pregnant
Citronella	Bug repellant (I don’t really like this, but neither do bugs)	Can cause skin irritation.
Clary Sage	Anti depressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, eases headaches, dizziness, night sweats and anxiety.	Do not use with alcohol.
Coriander	analgesic, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic, deodorant, calming and some say lowers glucose levels.	Do not use large doses
Eucalyptus	Cooling, deodorising,  helps with fevers, migraine,coughs, asthma, throat infections, sinusitis and catarrhal conditions. It soothes inflammation and eases mucus, is excellent in a bathroom deodorising spray.	People with high blood pressure and epilepsy should avoid this.
Lemon	Lemon is antifungal, antibacterial, cleansing, anti anemic and anti microbial, making it an excellent addition to cleaning products	Can cause photo sensitivity to skin, use caution using in skin preparations.
Lemongrass	analgesic, anti-depressant, antimicrobial. antipyretic, antiseptic, astringent, bactericidal,  deodorant, diuretic,  fungicidal, insecticidal,  nervous system sedative and tonic.	Can cause skin irritation.
Mandarin	Sleep aid,
Myrrh	gum disorders, mouth ulcers, sore throats, skin ulcers, bed sores, athletes foot, eczema, diarrhea, flatulence, hemorrhoids, colds, catarrh and coughs.	Large doses are toxic, use with caution.
Niaouli	uplifting, clears sinuses, analgesic, anti-rheumatic and antiseptic	Safe, always test first though.
Orange (Sweet)	antiseptic, anti-depressant, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and cleansing.	Can cause photo sensitivity to skin, use caution using in skin preparations.
Patchouli	antidepressant, antiphlogistic, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, astringent	can cause loss of appetite in some
Peppermint	anitseptic, antibacterial, good for headaches, colds, healthy hair, gallbladder, aches and pains and asthma.	Can cause skin irritation.
Pine Needle	antiseptic, anti-viral, can ease muscle pain, sinus pain and respiratory issues.	Can cause skin irritation.
Raspberry Seed Oil	Natural SPF, high levels of vitamin E, eczema, rashes, anti oxidant, good for lip balms and sun creams	Considered safe
Rose	antidepressant, antiseptic, reduces wrinkles in skin preparations, moisturising.	Not to be used during pregnancy
Rosemary	analgesic, antidepressant, astringent, headaches, migraines, good for hair	Not suitable for people with high blood pressure or epilepsy.
Sandalwood	antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, sedative and calming	Considered safe