Self-Treatment With Essential Oils

by Robin Murray

(The Gender Centre advise that this article may not be current and as such certain content, including but not limited to persons, contact details and dates may not apply. Where legal authority or medical related matters are cited, responsibility lies with the reader to obtain the most current relevant legal authority and/or medical publication.)

Our friend, Robin Murray, who, along with her delightful practitioners, gave us beautiful healing treatments at the World AIDS Day get ­together, has kindly provided some invaluable information for our readers on the subject of essential oils. (enquiries: Robin phone (02) 9817 2254) Next issue we will have information on Reiki.

This is a very basic list of a few problems which can be treated with some essential oils.

Essential oils can be used in an oil burner (6-10 drops in water in the bowl of the burner), bath (up to 10 drops to start), massage, compress (e.g. essential oils mixed in oil rubbed over liver area and then a hot towel over that area) or mixed into unscented body lotion or moisturiser. Usually 5-10 drops essential oil per 100ml carrier oil (e.g. almond or sunflower cold pressed vegetable oil, or 100mg cream).

Before using essential oils please read the caution list and use essential oils sparingly.

Caution List - use only 1 or 2 drops.

Skin irritants: Basil, fennel, black pepper, lemon, peppermint, tea tree, thyme (not in bath). Bergamot (photosensitive - skin burns in sun).

Epileptic: Don't use fennel, rosemary or only use 1 drop.

Emmenagogues: (i.e. will try to help ovaries menstruate): basil, German chamomile, clary sage, cypress, geranium; juniper, marjoram, myrrh, thyme very mild.

Oestrogen producing/reproductive system tonic: German chamomile (use Roman chamomile smells nicer anyway) clary sage, cypress, fennel, niaouli, rosemary, sage, neroli, vetiver.

Antibiotics: Niaouli helps empower antibiotics, bergamot, thyme, citronella, lemon could hinder.

Acne: Bergamot, cedarwood, juniper, geranium, lavender, niaouli, tea tree, lemon thyme, (dab straight essential oil with cotton bud onto head of pimple; mix essential oils into jojoba oil, which is really a wax not an oil for a face oil.)

Agorgophobia: Juniper, cypress, melissa.

Anger: Bargamot, German and Roman chamomile, orange, lavender, rose, ylang ylang.

Anxiety: Bergamot, cedarwood, jasmine, lemon, patchouli, angelica, ylang ylang.

Aphrodisiacs: Jasmine, ylang ylang, patchouli, rose, neroli, black pepper, cardamon, ginger.

Anaphrodisiac: Lavender, marjoram, chamomile.

Depression: Bergamot, clary sage, geranium, lavender, lemon, lime, orange, mandarin, neroli, peppermint, rose, rosemary, sage, sandalwood, thyme, ylang ylang.

Dandruff: Rosemary, ylang ylang, patchouli, cedarwood, tea tree.

Dermatitis: Chamomile, cedarwood, geranium, jasmine, juniper, lavender, patchouli, lemon thyme. (Jojoba oil best base, or almond, wheat germ, avocado oil, Vitamin E unscented cream or oil).

Grief: Rose, neroli, frankincense (helps release past).

Immune system strengtheners: Eucalyptus, frankincense, thyme, lemon, tea fee, vetiver.

Insomnia: Chamomile, lavender, marjoram, orange, ylang ylang, neroli.

Kidney toner: Birch, geranium, lovage, juniper.

Liver toner: Chamomile, jun Viper, geranium, lemon, birch, fennel, lavender, niaouli.

Low morale & lack of assertion: Thyme, pine, cedarwood.

Memory: Pine, lemon, rosemary, perpermint, palmarosa, bay laurel, basil, birch.

Skin Care: Mature skin - Frankincense, myrrh, patchouli, clary sage, rose, geranium, palmarosa. Dry skin: - Clary sage, jasmine, palmarosa, sandalwood, geranium. Oily skin: - Clary sage, geranium (these regulate), lavender, lemon, ylang ylang.

Tiredness: Peppermint, black pepper, ginger, basil, lemon, rosemary.

Worry /Overthinking: Frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, vetiver, chamomile, lemon.

Polare is published in Australia by The Gender Centre Inc. which is funded by the Department of Community Services under the S.A.A.P. Program and supported by the N.S.W. Health Department through the AIDS and Infectious Diseases Branch. Polare provides a forum for discussion and debate on gender issues. Advertisers are advised that all advertising is their responsibility under the Trade Practices Act. Unsolicited contributions are welcome, though no guarantee is made by the Editor that they will be published, nor any discussion entered into. The editor reserves the right to edit such contributions without notification. Any submission which appears in Polare may be published on our internet site. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, The Gender Centre Inc.I, the Department of Community Services or the N.S.W. Department of Health.