Aromatherapy

Lavender oil is also good for the respiratory system. It will help to ease sinuitis, asthma, influenza, bronchitis, whooping cough and fevers.

For sinus problems use a drop on your finger and massage the sinuses for relief.

For chest problems you can add a few drops of lavender to a bowl of hot water and hold your head over the bowl with a towel over your head and bowl and inhale. You could also put 5 drops of lavender oil in 10ml carrier oil (such as sweet almond) and rub onto the chest.

Combine with tea-tree or eucalyptus and use in a diffuser for relieving congestion at night when sleeping.

Lavender oil is also very helpful for the reproductive system. Using a diffuser during childbirth will help to even out contractions, as a massage oil it also has analgesic properties.

Lavender also helps to harmonise and regulate menstuation. Putting 20 drops in a bath or using it in a massage oil on your stomach are good applications.

Lemon oil, as with all of the citrus oils, does not last as long as the other essential oils.

It is a very uplifting oil and as mentioned above helps concentration so is very good for use on long car journeys. You can purchase aromatherapy diffusers which plug into the cigarette lighter in cars and diffuse oils throughout the car. If you do not have one of these then put a couple of drops of oil onto a tissue and place the tissue over the air vent to let it waft around the car. This will keep you alert when driving.

Lemon oil has incredible bacteriacial and antiseptic properties which ahve been proven by the works of Morel and Rochaix "that vapours of the essence of lemon can neutralise the meningoccocus in 15 mins"
typhus bacillus in 5 mins
staphyloccus in 5 mins
diptheria bacillus in 20 mins.

According to Susanne Fischer-Rizzi in Complete Aromatherapy Handbook it also kills the germs causing pneumonia in 3-4 hours. It's antiseptic properties will last for 20 days. It is perfect for destroying air-borne germs in hospital rooms, waiting rooms and schools. In England, where aromatherapy is extensively used in hospitals, this oil , among others, is used in patients' rooms. It is particularly effective in neutralizing unpleasant body odours of patients suffering from cancer, and it is psyhologically strengthening to usually depressed and fearful patients.

Chamomile has a middle note and a refreshing and relaxing effect.

German chamomile oil with it's primary consituent Azuleme has great bacterial efficiency. Infected wounds have been healed using a concentration of between 1 to 85,000 and 1 to 170,000.

At a strength of 1 to 2,000 it is effective against haemolyptic streptoccocus which is an agent of scarlet fever and acute rheumatoid arthritis.

Tea Tree oil is also handy around the home as part of your cleaning kit.

Add 1 teaspoon of Tea Tree to 1 1/5 gallons of water when washing windows and floors.

Add 2 teaspoon of Tea Tree oil to the washing machine for a fragrant wash, this also helps to reduce the build up of soap scum in the washing machine.

If you need to remove scuff marks from the floor then put a few drops of Tea Tree oil onto a damp cloth and give them a wipe. Easy peasy! Do the same if you have cellotape stuck to glass.

Alot of household pests such as ants and cockroaches detest the smell of tea tree oil. Putting a few drops of the oil at the entry points will encourage them to visit elsewhere. I also make a solution of 5 drops tea tree to 2 1/2 cups of water and use this to wipe out my cupboards regularly.

Peppermint oil can be found in several sports rubs and arthritis creams because it helps with muscular aches and pains. If you are suffering from sore muscles after exercising then put a drop of peppermint oil into a little body lotion before applying it to the area.

As well as helping aches and pains Peppermint oil is very refreshing oil which makes it perfect for tired feet. If you are standing all day then a few drops of peppermint oil in a foot bath will refresh, soothe and cool those feet right down.