~Anxiety and Stress One of the healthiest ways to reduce anxiety and stress is to take a bath or receive a massage with essential oils. The oils act to increase your immune system which can be hurt by stress while at the same time relaxing your mind so you can heal. Calmative oils that can be used alone or in combination are chamomile, lavender, neroli, sandalwood and rose. ~Aphrodisiacs Essential oils can be used in massage oil blends and diffusers to help alleviate stress and heighten a person's awareness thereby opening them to their sexuality. You will know what oil works best for you, but some suggestions are patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, clary sage, ylang-ylang and jasmine. These can be used individually or in blends diluted in a carrier oil such as sweet almond or hazelnut. ~Chest Congestion, Catarrh and Stuffy Nose If you have a stuffy nose or chest congestion, you can make yourself a eucalyptus inhalant by taking a large bowl of boiling water and putting about 2 drops of the oil in after it has boiled, not during. Then, get a towel to put over your head and the bowl of water and BREATHE. Do this for about 3 minutes. Repeat as often as needed to clear your nasal passages and chest cavity. Eucalyptus is anti-viral, bactericidal and can stop the spread of the cold virus. It is also a stimulant so its use is not recommended before going to bed. If you would like to do an inhalant then rest, use lavender in the same manner described. It is good to put a drop of eucalyptus on a warm light bulb or in a diffuser so that it will kill the germs in the air contributing to your illness. Try and use eucalyptus radiata as your first choice and eucalyptus globulus as your second. ~Colds Because the common cold is a virus, there is no medicine which can cure it. The virus is always present in our body and when our immune system weakens due to stress, emotional problems or exhaustion, we become ill. The way to treat and fight the cold is to build a healthy immune system. Essential oils can help rebuild your body and spirits when you're not feeling well. What has worked wonders for me is making a blend of lavender and sweet almond oil and then rubbing it all over myself, particularly the chest then taking a hot bath and going right to bed. If you do this a couple times a day for about 3 days, you will get better. ~Depression If you occasionally suffer from depression during menses or the waning moon, clary sage is a wonderful cure. Clary Sage is a hormone balancer. Use this oil in your bath, 4-5 drops, as an oil blend for massage or use a drop or two in a diffuser or on a warm light bulb to fill the room with its scent. Clary Sage is described by Aromatherapist, Maggie Tisserand, as acting like an elevator. Wherever you are emotionally, this oil will take you one level higher. Other oils that also lift the spirits are bergamont (this oil is photosensitive, do not use if going in the sun), lavender, ylang-ylang and geranium. Please note that if your depression is caused by PMS, clary sage will help bring on your menses which can cause menstrual bleeding or cramping. ~The Flu (Influenza) The flu can be warded off at the first sign if you take a bath with ravansara or Tea Tree or a mixture of 3 drops each of lavender and eucalyptus. These oils attack the virus while stimulating the immune system. You need to continue the baths for 3 days and it is important that after the bath you get proper rest. Ravansara is the best oil known to treat the flu. If you have trouble locating this oil at health food stores, you can order it from Sabia. While treating yourself for the flu, it's a good idea to put a drop of eucalyptus or ravensara on a light bulb or diffuser to kill germs in the air. ~Headaches Make a mixture of lavender and peppermint, a drop each, in a small amount of carrier oil (sweet almond or olive) and rub on your temples and areas on your face that hurt. You can also use lavender alone, but do not use peppermint alone. ~Herpes The herpes virus is incurable but using essential oils and herbal remedies can make the disease virtually disappear. As a preventative measure, use Kyolic garlic and the amino acid l-lysine daily. If you have an outbreak Tea Tree or lavender can be applied neat (not diluted) to blisters as they are anti-fungal and antiviral. Baths with bergamot and/or eucalyptus can also ease discomfort. For depression often accompanying the virus, take baths or use massage oil blends with clary sage and lavender. The best remedy is to take care of yourself, get lots of rest, plenty of love and a healthy diet. ~Inflammation Painful swellings can be helped with a chamomile compress. Put 2-3 drops of chamomile in a bowl of warm water and then soak a towel or cloth in the mixture. Use this cloth as a compress over the area that is hurting. Two other oils that can be helpful are lavender and myrrh. ~Insomnia Put a few drops of lavender on your pillow and inhale as you fall asleep. This is also a good method for helping cranky babies get to sleep. ~Menstruation A great help to aid the mind and body during menstruation are nice, hot baths with a few drops of these essential oils alone or in combination. To encourage menstruation: chamomile, clary sage, juniper, myrrh, rose or rosemary To help with depression: chamomile, lavender, clary sage, ylang-ylang, rose To help with cramps: chamomile, clary sage ~Mental Stimulation If you're tired at work and your brain needs a pick-up, smell some basil or rosemary. These oils are great in a diffuser or as drops on a light bulb but may also be smelled straight from the bottle. If you're tired in the morning and need to get going, a bath with a couple drops each of rosemary and gerananium will help get you going. ~Nausea Put a drop or two of peppermint oil in a cup (4 oz) of warm water and drink as a tea. ~Sore Feet This remedy is great for people who are on their feet all day or who done a lot of physical exercise. Warm up some water to where it's as hot as the person would like then add about 3 drops of peppermint oil. Let the feet soak until the water cools. Massage the feet for about 5 minutes. Warm up the water again and submerge the feet. Make sure to have a towel handy for drying. This is a wonderful thing to do for someone you love. ~Sore Muscles and Joints Make a 1oz blend of sweet almond, 2 drops each of rosemary, chamomile and lavender and rub on the sore areas and rest. ~Sore Throat A sore throat is a warning signal and the body's way of fighting off an on-coming cold. Sandalwood oil is a natural antibiotic that works perfectly for a sore throat. If you treat yourself right away, and get lots of rest and Vitamin C, you will be fine in a day or two. Put two drops of sandalwood oil in a warm, almost hot, cup (4oz) of water, add a little honey and drink. Repeat this about once every 4 hours. Make sure the sandalwood oil is 100% pure! It is a little expensive, about $20 for 9ml, but is a natural antibiotic and will heal you without disturbing your natural bacterial flora balance. ~Stomach Cramps, Aches and Pains If you have a stomach ache or cramps caused from overeating or menses, put 2-3 drops of chamomile in a bowl of warm water and then soak a towel or cloth in the mixture. Use this cloth as a compress over the area that is hurting. Clary Sage can also be used. **Please note these oils will encourage menstral flow.** ~Vaginitis Many women occasionally have reoccurring vaginal irritation due to emotional problems, stress and food or detergent allergy. This is something they are familiar with and have experienced before. To help relieve the discomfort, take a bath with Tea Tree, lavender, bergamot, and/or eucalyptus. For yeast related vaginitis, make a bath with 2 drops each of juniper or lavender. Stay in the tub for about 20 minutes allowing the water to enter the vagina. If you are unfamiliar with the cause of your vaginitis or are experiencing cramps or pain, see your gynecologist immediately.

Resources for further study

• Aromatherapy A-Z, Patricia Davis
• Aromatherapy for Women, Maggie Tisserand
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, Julia Lawless
• Getting Started with Essential Oils, Colleen K. Dodt
• The Natural Remedy Book for Women, Diane Stein - exceptional resource!