For the beginner, the safe use and buying of essential oils is necessary.
Essential oils are not only used for aromatherapy but also in the food and perfume industries and as such there are different qualities of oils. When buying essential oils to use in healing you should only buy 100% pure essential oils.
It is also recommended that pregnant woman should not use essential oils, and those that suffer from epilepsy should be careful with which oils they use.
Although with care and understanding most essential oils are safe to use the list below will detail those that are the best essential oils for beginners.
Lavender essential oil- Botanical name Lavendula angustifolia; probably the most widely known and can be used for so many ailments. Lavender can be used as an analgesic, an antidepressant, and antiviral, an antispasmodic, a deodorant, a sedative, a diuretic, also used for arthritis, rheumatism and decongestant; to name just a few.
Lavender is well known for it's sedative properties and helps in the treatment of conditions such as depression,insomnia,hysteria and stress. It is also helpful in treating headaches and migraines, for coughs and colds, treating bites and small wounds and is undoubtedly a very necessary item for the treatment of superficial burns and sunburn. Salvatore Battaglia, author of The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy writes that because of Lavender's effectiveness with healing burns it is used in the burns unit of European hospitals.
Because of it's low toxicity lavender is considered one of the best essential oils to use safely on children.
Lavender can also be used for skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema and acne.
Chamomile, German- Botanical name, Matricaria recutita. There are 2 types of Chamomile used in Aromatherapy, German and Roman, I am giving the German here as it is non-toxic,non-irritant,non-sensitising and safe to use on children. Chamomiles properties include; anti-allergenic,anti-inflammatory,antispasmodic and sedative.
German Chamomile can be used to help treat inflammation, infected cuts,muscular pain,arthritis and sprains. It can also be used to help treat many skin problems such as eczema,psoriasis and any other itchy dry skin problems.
German Chamomile is most commonly used with a carrier oil in massage, but can also be used in hot and cold compresses.
Eucalyptus The properties of Eucalyptus include; analgesic,anti-bacterial,anti-inflammatory,antiseptic,decongestant and antiviral. Eucalyptus can be used to help with concentration but is mainly used for its antiviral properties in treating asthma,bronchitis,coughs and colds,clearing the airways and loosening phlegm.
Eucalyptus is non-toxic and a non-irritant.
Another good use for Eucalyptus is to add a few drops of the oil to a spray bottle of water and use it around the house as a room spray and also on your kitchen benches. It can also be used when washing your pets bedding.
Tea Tree- Botanical name Melaleuca alternifolia. Tea Tree oils properties include; antiseptic,fungicidal,antimicrobial and stimulant. Tea Tree oil is non-toxic,non-irritant but may cause sensitivity in some individuals.
Tea Tree oil along with Lavender would be a great addition to your First Aid kit.
The oil aids in combating infectious organisms such as bacterial,viruses and fungi. It can be used to clean dirty wounds so they don't become infected, used in a glass of water and gargled for throat infections,mouth ulcers and to help eliminate bad breath, used for athletes foot and thrush. It can also be used with lavender in the treatment of acne and is used on the hair to help control dandruff and head lice.
Use a cotton bud with 1 drop of Tea Tree oil to dab on stings and bites.
The last oil I am going to add to this list is Rosemary and although it is generally non-toxic,non-irritant and non-sensitising it needs to be used with caution as it may not be suitable for people with epilepsy or high blood pressure and pregnant woman should not use it.
Rosemary's properties include; antidepressant,astringent,diuretic,stimulant and tonic.
Rosemary is considered 1 of the best tonics for the nervous system, it also helps with memory. It can be used in a bath or massage to relieve muscular aches and pains, rheumatism and arthritis. Rosemary can also be used in shampoos and conditioners as it helps hair growth.
This list of best essential oils is by no means exhaustive. There are many other essential oils available but for the beginner these are recommended because they are non-toxic,non-irritant and non-sensitising and they have many uses, on their own or blended.
For more information on the best essential oils and how to use them visit http://healingessentialoils.org/ Ramari Tauroa is the Author of a Self-Help E-Book, has had experience with Marriage Counseling and using Essential Oils and Enjoys Helping Others.
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