Natural Healing with essential oils
Essential oils are nature’s own healing and perfume garden. They are extracted from the flowers, leaves, wood, bark, roots, seeds, or peel from plants during a distillation process that turns the ‘essence’ of the plants into the concentrated liquid that we call ‘essential oil’ and use for natural healing.
We use essential oils for their wholesome aromatic compounds and medicinal qualities. Many of the oils smell delightful and are perfect to use in natural fragrances. It is the combination of essential oils that really makes the difference when you design a scent though. This involves choosing the top, middle and bottom note essential oils and mixing them in the right quantities to get the most sensational fragrances. The healing benefits of certain essential oils include preventing and treating infections, managing chronic pain, reducing stress, anxiety and depression, treating some cognitive disorders, insomnia and stress-related disorders.
When we inhale natural essential oils, we trigger a part of the brain responsible for our sense of smell. From here the messages reach our limbic system, which plays a part in our emotions and natural healing can begin. Evidence is also accumulating that inhaled essential oils enter the blood stream and have pharmacological effects on the psychological system. There is thus plenty of evidence that essential oils enhance our sense of well-being and natural healing.
Plant remedies, including the use of essential oils, are part of our folk medicine. One of the earliest historical records is that of a physician and chemist, Ibn-al-Baitar, who lived in ancient Spain (Muslim Andalucia) from 1188 to 1248. He recorded the techniques he used to produce natural essential oils. Throughout recorded history, people have attested to the real healing effects that come from the aromatic compounds in essential oils and other plant extracts.
Modern medicine underpins many of the historical claims made about the healing abilities of essential oils. There are many wonderful essential oils to choose from. Here are just a few of our favourites and some of their uses for you to ponder on
Relaxation and a restful night's sleep
Lavender is one of the best essential oils to combat insomnia as it relaxes muscles and calms the mind. Lavender essential oil promotes restful sleep. It is such a potent oil that results in early studies shows it can even reduce labour pains. Another one to note is neroli/orange blossom essential oil. Neroli is beneficial to combat stress, depression, and anxiety and helps you to get a better night’s sleep. Frankincense eases anxiety, calms, and relaxes you so you can rest easy.
Infection and disease prevention and/or control
Two stalwarts that should be in everyone’s first aid kit, are the medicinal tea tree and lavender essential oils. Tea tree is used to fight infections and boost immunity. Its antimicrobial properties make it a powerful sanitizer. Lavender can be used to treat burns, minor wounds, fungal infections, and insect bites. You can apply it to calm sunburnt skin. It is also a safe and environmentally friendly insect repellent – it is the ‘green answer’ to keep the mozzies away! A third one that deserves a mention here is the ylang-ylang essential oil, which is a natural remedy to rid yourself of headaches and nausea. It is calming, therapeutic and soothing.
Mood upliftment and stress reduction
Rose essential oil takes pride of place as one of the top natural mood enhancers. It is believed to reduce anxiety and promote vitality. Frankincense and geranium are vitality promoters too. Geranium’s benefits include relaxation, calming, and mood improvement. The citrus family, especially lemon and orange essential oils, have therapeutic mood uplifting properties. The ylang-ylang essential oil has tension and stress relief benefits and is so potent that it is even being tested for suicide assistance. As mentioned above, neroli is also a calming and soothing essential oil.
Please note that if you have a serious medical condition or are taking medication, you do need to consult with your doctor before using essential oils topically. And remember to never ingest essential oils. Our Fynemists range of carefully researched and chosen essential oil-based pre toilet and room purifying sprays are properly diluted in safe quantities and are to be sprayed in the toilet bowl or in the air. They are not to be used topically. The small amount that may land on your skin when you spray a Fynemist will be minimal and thus will not adversely affect you. Our product warnings include not to spray near pets, and not to be used during the first trimester of pregnancy. Special warnings on our orange blossom and lavender pre toilet and room sprays state that you should not use these two products if you are using blood thinners or have bleeding disorders.
So make sure you benefit from the therapeutic and medicinal natural healing powers of essential oils!
Natural Greetings
Winnie and Barbara