Are Essential Oils in Your Medicine Cabinet?

These days, between drug stores and TV commercials, we’re inundated with so many choices to relieve pain, colds and flus, diarrhea, upset stomachs, allergies, and so on.How do you know which products are best? And why the heck do we need so many?

We can surely waste a lot of time in the drug store searching for the perfect remedy. Reading label after label and hoping we don’t suffer any funky side effects. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to use natural medicine for almost all of your health concerns without the fear of side effects? Well you can. The solution is therapeutic grade essential oils.

Essential oils have been used as medicine for thousands of years. And today, the rediscovery of true, medicinal aromatherapy is affecting thousands of people in profound ways. I am one of those fortunate people who have experienced, first hand, the medicinal benefits of essential oils. And I will never be without them!

Please know that I’m not suggesting you stop any prescription medications you might be taking. Those are very important for your health. Always consult with your doctor before stopping or lowering your dose.

Here are 3 easy natural remedies for some all-to-common ailments using pure therapeutic grade essential oils:

1. For Fevers: Rub 3 drops of Peppermint essential oil on each foot. This has worked for me and many people I know, and it’s especially good for children. For children under 2, dilute 1 part essential oil with 10 parts organic vegetable oil.

Peppermint essential oil is also great for upset stomachs, headaches, stuffy noses, indigestion, improving concentration and healing insect bites. One bottle of peppermint essential oil could easily replace at least 6 different medications in your medicine cabinet.

2. For Allergies: Rub a drop or two of Lavender essential oil on your cheeks and under your nose to help clear allergic symptoms, such as sneezing, stuffy nose and watery eyes.

Lavender essential oil is a natural antihistamine and it’s also a great stress-reliever. It helps to calm the body and mind when inhaled. It also cleanses cuts and wounds, prevents scaring from burns and helps heal sunburn. Having a bottle of lavender essential oil on hand can replace quite a few common medications.

3. For Joint Pain: Rub a few drops of an essential oil blend called PanAway on sore joints, as needed. This blend has helped me with back pain more times than I can count!

PanAway essential oil blend contains wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum), clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and peppermint (Mentha piperita.) This blend is also helpful to relieve muscle soreness associated with exercising. By using PanAway, you’re able to replace over-the-counter muscle rubs and even common pain reliever pills.

The beauty of using therapeutic grade essential oils is that you are able to get the same results as if you were using common medications, but without the side effects. Please remember that when you are using essential oils as medicine, ONLY use therapeutic grade.

© 2008 Christa McCourt