Building Your Own First Aid Kit!

Even during our best moments to live a healthy and toxin free life, there can be times when illness or injury strike. At times your illness could mean that conventional medical treatment is certainly warranted and we should be grateful that medical treatment is available if needed. But what about the times when the illness or injury is merely uncomfortable or limiting? While our first instinct may be to get OTC medication to mediate symptoms, there are often all natural remedies that don’t interfere with the body’s own immune responses and which can help ease uncomfortable symptoms. If you are just starting your journey to a more holistic lifestyle you may be wondering what essential oils one needs to have on hand for such emergencies. Although everyone has their favorite oil, the top oils to have in your First Aid supplies would be: Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) France: (anti infectious, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory) Cuts, grazes, burns, promotes wound healing, psoriasis, eczema, sunburn, insect bites and stings, headaches, insomnia, rashes, nervous conditions, anxiety, and tension. Minor Burns and Bug Bites: Apply neat to the skin or you can blend with carrier oil or the juice of your fresh aloe plant. Insomnia, Stress, Tension: A drop on your pillow before retiring to bed will help you relax you into sleep. A bath taken with 3-8 drops of Lavender mixed with 1/2-1 cup bath salts, carrier oil, or full fat milk will help ease children and adults alike into restful blissful sleep. A drop on your cotton shirt or a tissue placed near you will calm the nerves. Chamomile Roman (Chamaemelum nobile): (anti bacterial, anti inflammatory, anti spasmodic) Pain relief, fevers, skin problems, rashes, eczema, teething pain, muscle spasms, calming, nervousness, insomnia, constipation. Relaxation: Blend with Lavender for a relaxing bath (use above directions) Antispasmodic: Dilute and then use for intestinal cramping (this works well for Colic also) by massaging clockwise onto abdomen. Fevers: In a large bowl of warm water mixed with1/4 bath salts, place 2 drops of oil, mix and then using a cloth, wipe down the body and then let the feet soak for 10 minutes. You may also place 1 drop of Spearmint into the bowl for a cooling effect and also aiding in the reduction of fevers. Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) or Niaouli (Melaleuca viridiflora): Niaouli is a better choice when treating children as it is milder form of Melaleuca. (anti infectious, anti bacterial, anti microbial, anti fungal, anti inflammatory, anti parasitic, anti viral) rashes, insect bites and stings, nail fungus, ringworm, thrush, head lice, boils, bronchial congestion, scabies, ulcers, wounds, cold sores, acne, sinusitis, bronchitis. Scratches, Scrapes & Wounds: After washing, consider a few drops of diluted oil to help keep the abrasion germ free. Boils: Place 2 drops each of Lavender & Tea Tree into a bowl of hot water and wash the area twice a day. If inflammation is severe, add 1 drop of Chamomile. Sinusitis: Place 1 drop of the above oil with 1 drop of Lavender into a cup of hot water, loosely tent yourself( for children do not tent, gently fan steam towards them), close eyes and breathe deeply for 3-5 minutes. Do this 2-3 times daily for 10 days. Eucalyptus Radiata (E. Radiata) (anti infectious, anti bacterial, anti inflammatory) bronchitis, catarrh, coughs, colds, flu, fever, sinusitis, headaches, insect bites, rashes, muscle aches. Coughs: Blend 1 teaspoon of carrier oil with 2 drops of Eucalyptus, 1 drop of Thyme Linalool. Rub over back and chest. You may add 1 drop of Lavender. Colds: Create an Inhaler or place on a tissue and inhale deeply whenever possible 1 drop of each of the following oils: Euc. Radiata, Fragonia, Lemon or Lime, and Thyme linalool. Ravensara (R. aromactica) (anti viral, anti bacterial, anti infectious) colds, flu, bronchitis, diarrhea, fever, cold sores, sinusitis, whooping cough, herpes, chickenpox, measles, shingles, muscular pain, swollen lymph glands. Anti viral Blend: 2 drops Ravensara, 1 drop Tea tree, 1 drop Eucalyptus Radiata. You can place this in a diffuser, tissue, and inhaler. Muscle aches: Bathe in a blend of; 2 drops Ravensara, 2 drops Euc. Radiata, 2 drops Lavender. You may add 1 drop of Chamomile Roman if you also plan on retiring for the evening; using the bathing recipe above. Shingles, Chickenpox, Measles: A massage blend of Ravensara and Tamanu oil has been very effective when dealing with these issues, percentages depend on age; please call a Clinical Aromatherapist for exact instructions. Fragonia (Agonis fragans) (anti microbial, anti bacterial, analgesic, anti fungal) asthma, muscle/joint pain, bronchitis, tonsillitis, COPD, impaired immune system, fatigue, anxiety, jet lag, respiratory issues. Tonsillitis & Sore throats: In a 5ml Roll On glass bottle, place 4.5ml of carrier oil and 2 drops of Fragonia. You can also make a throat/chest rub with 15ml of carrier with a blend of 3 drops Fragonia, 2 drops Ravensara, and 1 drop of either Lavender or Niaouli. Asthma, Lung issues: An inhaler, diffuser or tissue with Fragonia helps to open the air passages to allow for deep breathing to occur. You may blend with Lavender and Lemon or Bergamot. Peppermint (Mentha piperita) or Spearmint (Mentha viridas): Peppermint should NOT be used in children under 6. (Analgesic, anti bacterial, anti spasmodic, cooling, anti microbial) headaches, upset tummies, fatigue/exhaustion, congestion, poison ivy and other itches, sunburn. Headache: Mix 4.5ml carrier of choice with 1 drop each of Peppermint/Spearmint and Lavender. Rub 1 drop of blend on temples and back of the neck and base of skull. Tummy troubles: Simply inhale from the bottle or you can blend 5ml of carrier to 1 drop of Peppermint/Spearmint. You can rub this onto the abdomen in a clockwise manner. You may add 1 drop of Chamomile Roman if cramping is also present. Notes on Thyme, there are many types of Thyme and they all have notable anti viral, antibiotic, antiseptic properties they should be used with care. It should never be applied to the skin undiluted and should not be used on children unless the chemo type is Thyme Linalool. FIRST AID WASHING MIX Put into a dropper amber bottle. 30 drops lavender 30 drops tea Tree 5 drops Ravensara 5 drops Eucalyptus Radiata 20 drops Bergamot (use FCF if outdoors) Use 2-6 drops of the blend in a small bowl of water mixed with ¼ cup aloe juice to wash cuts and grazes. Do not apply neat. Although there is a multitude of essentials oils we can add to this list, I hope you have learned new ways to use those oils in your cabinets in safe, effective and new ways.