Ginger is a very well known spice, not only for culinary uses, but also medicinally. It is famous for its use to ease nausea, from morning sickness to travel sickness. Digestion can be helped with Ginger, easing and calming process. Ginger helps to boost circulation and brings warmth to whole body, so is ideal for bad circulation, chilblains and cramps. Arthritis sufferers can find relief in using Ginger. Placing a couple of slices of root in boiling water can make a simple Ginger tea.

Peppermint is a very relaxing herb. It can relieve digestive problems, such as colic and dyspepsia. It can help relieve nausea and vomiting, especially helpful in pregnancy and travel sickness. anxiety and tension can be relieved with a cup of Peppermint tea. It can be useful to use for migraines and headaches that are related to digestive problems. Period pain and tension can be lessened with help of Peppermint. This tea can also be used to alleviate diarrhoea.

Caraway helps to stimulate appetite and ease digestive problems. It is helpful in treatment of diarrhoea. It can be used as a gargle for laryngitis. Period pain can be relieved and it also has a use in increasing milk flow in mothers.

Cayenne is known as a general tonic especially for circulation and digestive systems. It is particularly good when there is a problem with cold hands and feet.

Cloves have an antiseptic quality so can be used when there is toothache. Take a whole clove , place on tooth in question and bite down on this.

Marjoram is useful in treatment of colds and flu. It has antiseptic properties giving it a use in fighting against mouth and throat inflammations and also for coughs. It can be used externally as a wash for infected cuts and wounds, also to sooth stings and bites.

As you can see we already have such a great medicine cabinet in our kitchen, Some of these herbs have similar uses, so mixing two or three together to make taste more pleasant could be way to go.

Herbs used in cooking are not usually at a medicinal dose, so are quite safe. When choosing herbs to use, always look for best quality and preferably organic. These suggestions are for relieve minor symptoms an first aid treatments. If symptoms persist or are more serious, please ask for advice. Pregnant women should always seek advice before taking any herbs internally.

From personal experience, I’ve learned that sniffing an essential oil right from bottle and diluting it with a carrier oil such as sweet almond or jojoba, makes a huge difference. I smelled my favorite, vanilla absolute, a thick balsamic oil derived from pod of vanilla plant. I determined that first whiff brought out usual vanilla scent I was accustomed to, but a millisecond later there was a stronger, harsher scent. I then added a few drops to a bottle of sesame oil and change was magnificent! I had aroma I equated with spicy-sweet scent of a dried vanilla bean pod. The carrier oil had combined perfectly with essential oil!

You should always dilute essential oils in carrier oils when applying directly to skin, or even in bathtub. This is a necessary safety precaution. Essential oils are very strong and need to be diluted. Also, some essential oils may smell good enough to drink, but are for EXTERNAL USE ONLY!

AROMATHERAPY IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT

The methods described here are for those of you who wish to be able to change fragrance environment of a room, car, office, closet, drawer, etc. There are psychological benefits to entering a room that has crisp aroma of citrus, or a subtle scent of fresh blooming flowers.

Aroma Lamps – Aroma lamps are either electric or operated by a tea light or votive candle. There is a small cup shaped portion that is usually made of glazed ceramic and holds a few ounces of water. However, other materials may include glass and stone. Warm or even hot water should be used; as that is less work candle has to do. Only a few drops of essential oil are added to water, thus making it ideal for costlier essential oils. Care should be taken to see that water doesn’t boil away.

Atomizers – Requiring no heat, atomizers, sometimes referred to as nebulizers or nebulizing diffusers, disperse essential oils on a revitalizing current of air as it passes through an intricately engineered blown glass chamber. This course naturally suspends and ionizes oil into extremely fine molecules, causing them to remain suspended in air for longer periods.

Many aromatherapist practitioners and others who utilize finest essential oils choose atomizers. It’s important to be careful with atomizers. Since there is a continuous mist emitted it should not be used for more than a few minutes at a time. Many of models do have built-in timers to avoid any problems like overuse. Also, make sure that this is done in a clear area, away from furniture, [varnish can be worn off] wall hangings and other objects.

Candles – Candles create a more romantic ambiance and do double duty in helping disperse your preferred aroma[s] throughout a room. In spirit of true aromatherapy, it’s advised to use beeswax, palm wax or soy wax candles as paraffin contains carcinogenic chemicals. Wicks should be trimmed, and essential oils need to be added at top of candle, but never on wick itself. You can add essential oils after candle has been lit and there’s a small pool of wax at top of candle. Don’t add oils to flame itself as oils can catch fire.

Diffusers - You can buy diffusers to plug into your car’s cigarette lighter, as you can also find those that plug into any wall socket. The atomizers suspend a fine mist of essential oils into air for aromatherapy is best method of using essential oils for therapeutic treatments. Many aromatherapists believe that this is most effective method of enjoying aromas.

Sachets – If you want your linens to smell clean and fresh, addition of a smell sachet filled with your favorite aroma will create a pleasant smell whenever you open drawer or closet. You can buy them already made, or make them yourself. Highly recommended would be a small muslin or organza bag filled with dried lavender buds and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Not only is lavender a universally pleasing aroma, it also serves as an all-natural way to keep moths away.

Carrier Oils: The most common way to dilute a pure essential oil is with a cold-pressed carrier oil. Carrier oils allow essential oil to slowly permeate skin, protecting it from irritation. Jojoba, sesame, sweet almond, rose hip, refined rice bran, wheatgerm, evening of primrose, grapeseed, kukui nut, sunflower, hazelnut, safflower, avocado or apricot kernel oils are commonly used. Several of carrier oils can be combined and when essential oils are added, this makes for a very nutrient-rich bath oil.

Determining Quality of Essential Oils:

Read label. If purchasing rosemary oil, for example, you would expect to see that name on label. However, here are four facts that you will find on any bottle of essential oil from a reputable supplier/company:

1.Botanical/Latin name. In this case it would be Rosemarinus officinalis. 2.Part. What part of plant has essential oil been extracted from? For rosemary, that is leaf. 3.Method of extraction. Is it an absolute, enfleurage, carbon dioxide [CO2], or has it been steam distilled? In this case it has been steam distilled. 4.Country of Origin. Rosemary comes from many different countries, and in this case Morocco is origin. Location can make a sizeable difference for many reasons such as climate, type of soil, high/low altitude, etc.

Aromatherapy isn’t government regulated. Products can claim to be “natural” when in fact distilled water is only untainted ingredient. Any reputable retailer of essential oils will be very knowledgeable about their product and capable of proving its purity. They will and should be happy to answer your questions.

To learn more about aromatherapy, please get a copy of “The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils” by Julia Lawless, as book features photographs of essential oils themselves, botanical origins, along with several ways to safely use essential oils.