Poor Musette’s bout of the dreaded shingles recently (as well as several other friends) have piqued my interest in essential oils. They seemed to help Musette, and another friend of mine swears by them and even found a specific blend just for shingles that she used and wound up with only a mild case of the painful buggers.
I’ve not used essential oils much at all, save for an anti-stress blend that the above friend got for me, but she also always raves about something called thieves oil as being a great preventative measure for all kinds of stuff. (I don’t think it would prevent a case of shingles, since it is internal and not necessarily contagious — or is it?)
A popular one, lavender, is touted for relaxation and as a sleep aid, but in truth, it really just irritates/annoys me more than anything, so I guess not everything works for everyone. I did read somewhere recently that the scent of jasmine can help with sleep, so I would definitely be on board with that.
When I want to feel happy and uplifted, a bit of orange blossom does the trick. And I do know that the peppermint and/or spearmint ones are supposed to be energizing (and I tend to feel a bit livelier when I pull out my Doublemint gum, ha!).
I need to explore more about essential oils; I should poke around and find some kind of a big ‘ol cool chart that lists many of them and what they do for you.
What about you all? Are there any essential oils that you swear by for various aches, pains, or other conditions, etc.? Or what scents do you reach for first to help you the most when you’re under the weather?
Hey, doll! Thanks for all the great tips! And I’m so, so glad you are feeling better! If you could rewind, would you have gotten the vaccination or not? I also have read that Glaxo something or other (a British pharmaceutical firm) has what some say is a more improved vaccine, but heaven knows when it will get approved for over here. I’m still debating, but I know enough under-60 age folks who’ve gotten the nasty little buggers, that it’s really giving me pause.
I have an entire coffret of EOs, some of which I use daily, others which I am always surprised to find in there. For that horrid bout of shingles I put a few drops of Ravintsara (cinnamon oil), spearmint & eucalyptus in a coconut/black seed oil (with lavender) – this blend helped with the pain. For antiviral, I used tea tree, thymol and lavender, applied topically. I never use EOs internally – ymmv. I always wipe down my ceiling fan blades (and tabletop fans) with a bit of geranium EO on a damp cloth (usually the last pass-through after cleaning the blades). When I make the bed I often sprinkle just a bit of EO (whatever strikes my fancy) on my hands. My favorite EOs are from Florihana (no affiliation).
EOs are great to have around! Sometimes they work, sometimes not – but they always smell great!
xoxoxoA
I use lavender essential oil on minor burns. It lessens the pain considerably and speeds up healing.
Good to know — thanks! But I’d better have a clothes pin handy 🙂
I wish I could use lavender essential oil but it makes me break out, even when it’s mixed in other ingredients. My favorite go-to is always patchouli. Citrus will improve my mood. I’m thinking about a diffuser but haven’t invested yet.
Hi Alison! I think if I put lavender anywhere on my skin, even if it didn’t break me out, my nose would explode, ha! I, too, find citrus very cheering. Btw, what kind of diffuser are you considering? An electric one or one of the stick varieties, or something else?
I have used Rosemary oil on my fans during the summer, very refreshing. I also enjoy Lavender in the tub and massage oil. Lavender also works great in my cold processed soap. I have no idea if they actually help therapeutically but I enjoy their scent and I’m all about the smell of things.
Neat idea about the fans! Do you dab it on the fan blades or put the oil on a cloth and wipe over the blade? And it sounds like you could do that with almost any scent you like.
Clary sage oil for its calming effect; I often put a little on my husband’s temples at bedtime, as he sometimes has a hard time winding down in the evening. Tea tree oil for toenail fungus! I make my own facial toner by adding a few drops each of: lavender, rose, sweet orange, ylang-ylang, and rose geranium oils to about 10 ounces of witch hazel (shake before using). Sometimes I add a little aged patchouli and/or thyme. Eden Botanicals is a good source, and one I have used often. (Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with that company.) I pretty much agree with Shiva-Woman: I use EOs, herbal teas, and perfume! Definitely Shalimar at bedtime! 🙂
Thanks for the good info, dear! I often need help shutting my mind off at bedtime, so I should look into the clary sage. And so cool that you make your own toner.
I love Young Living Calming blend for relaxation. I put it in my diffuser at bedtime. My favorite relaxation/comfort scent is Chanel Coromandel.
Kathleen, that may be the one I have — I know that’s the brand, but gotta go check and see. And a big hurray for Coromandel; it’s a winner all the way around!
I have used a variety of essential oil for fungus, for nasal problems, healing/antibacterial/antimicrobial, burns, and for hand sanitizing, mood, and more. There is a lot that can be done with a variety of essential oils. Rosemary really does increase hair growth for instance, and it’s in Aveda products among others. It works as effectively–if applied in the same manner and as frequently as Nioxin, in part, by acting as a mild irritant. I don’t put all my faith into any one particular “thing”–I see my doctor, but, I also use essential oils and am into herbs. To me, it’s all under a vast, general umbrella. I’m drinking chamomile and lavender tea for some ailments this evening, and I’ll probably slip into a little vintage Shalimar before bedtime; both are great for relaxation. Lavender is all over my pillow, and when I wake up in the middle of the night, it has scented my hair and I get whiffs of it I Love herbs, spices, oils, and of course perfume–all the magic potions.
Wow, that’s a lot of good info! And you’re right — it’s good to have a balance and not rely solely on any one item in the health/medical realm. Glad you and lavender get along so well; I’m envious. 🙂
I have never bothered with essential oils. No time, no patience and no space to do it. I mainly stick with vanilla dominant perfumes like Shalimar or SDV for comfort.
And what great comfort scents they are! Alas, only the Spiriteueuse (sp?) Double Vanille works for me — Shalimar will not have anything to do with me. 🙁
eucalyptus helps a lot with sinus or cough congestion.
Yes, I’ve heard that. Haven’t had any of those issues lately (knock on wood), but when I do, I’ll be reaching for that. Thanks!