Don’t grit your teeth in pain: 6 toothache aromatherapy remedies

Ouch, it hurts! Nothing can be more annoying than a severe pain in the tooth. You would barter anything for it as toothache can be simply irritating and often debilitating to anyone who has been through it. What more, your oral hygiene determines your entire body’s hygiene. If there is something wrong with your oral health, it is an indicator that something is wrong or going to be wrong with your body. Poor tooth and gums need medical attention and nutritional supervision.

Essential oils can be extremely helpful in maintaining oral hygiene. Aromatherapy can help kills germs, treat tooth and gum disorders and aid one in maintaining a sweet smelling breath. Below are a list of remedies on what to do when you have toothache or occasional sore gums or in case of a foul breath.


1. Mouth Rinsing: If you have pain in your teeth, rinse with the following essential oils – Myrrh, Chamomile, Peppermint, Tea Tree oil etc. To prepare a recipe, simply add 1-2 drops of essential oils in 2 oz of warm water and gargle in your mouth. Repeat several times a day to alleviate the pain.

2. Toothache oil: Use the following oils and prepare a toothache oil recipe – 1 tbsp of Carrier oil, 6 drops of Tea tree oil, 4 drops of Chamomile oil, 2 drops of Myrrh and 2 drops of Peppermint. Blend all the oils together and shake well before use. Apply one drop of the blend in the aching tooth and surrounding gum.

3. Clove oil: Clove oil is often used for toothaches. Add a drop of Clove oil to a cotton ball and apply to the pain area or press against the gum of the affected tooth. You can also replace Myrrh if you have mouth sores. To use Myrrh, use 1-2 drops of with warm water and rinse the mouth with it several times a day.

4. Simple Mouthwash: Foul smelling breath can create a bad reputation for you in the society, among your peers, colleagues and friends. To create a simple refreshing mouthwash, add 4 drops of Lemon with 2 drops of Peppermint in 2 cups of distilled water. Shake the blend well and swish a mouthful for about one minute and spit out. You will feel refreshed after this mouth rinse.

5. Therapeutic Gum Mouthwash: This therapeutic gum mouthwash can treat your gums from becoming sore and painful. To prepare this blend, add 6 drops of Myrrh with 10 drops of Tea Tree oil, 1 drop of Peppermint, 3 drops of Lemon oil, 1 teaspoon of Almond oil and mix together. Apply a small amount to the gums once a day and rinse your mouth with it everyday. If the sores in your mouth or pain in your teeth does not heal, check with a  dentist.

6. Breath Refreshing Mouthwash: Add to 8 oz of water 2 drops of Myrrh, 2 drops of Tea Tree oil and 1 drop of Peppermint. Mix everything together and swish in your mouth a small amount of the blend. Keep the blend in a plastic jar or glass bottle away from the reach of pets or children.

Aromatherapy for cuts, scrapes and burns: 8 practical treatment ways

If you have young children at home or are yourself engaged in risky jobs, you can experience a lot of bruises, cuts, scrapes and wounds in your day to day life. Though there are medical remedies to all these, it is better if you take natural remedies instead of the side-effects prone, oral or topical medications. While simple cuts and scrapes can be treated with antiseptic essential oils, minor burns or sunburns can be cured with essential oils like Lavender and Tea Tree oil. This article will explain in detail on the practical treatment options available in aromatherapy for minor cuts, wounds and burns.

Remedies/Tips for cuts and wounds: You can cure your cuts with many antiseptic oils. These oils do not just alleviate your pain, but also heal the wound instantly. You can even use herbal salves containing antiseptic oils to treat your wounds. Below are a few tips and recipes on how to treat cuts and wounds:

1. Resins and Balsams: Resins/Balsams like Benzoin, Frankincense, Myrrh can form a protective covering over the wound, acting as an antiseptic band-aid. This can help in defeating the germs and healing the wound at a faster pace.

2. Lavender oil: Lavender oil and Tea Tree oil are among the less irritating oils available. When applied on wounds, they are soothing and do not produce a burning sensation. You can apply any of these oils directly on a scrape to see quick results.


3. Oils for cuts/scrapes: A few essential oils you can use for cuts and scrapes are Benzoin, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Myrrh, Rose and Tea Tree oil. Better to spray these oils on to the wound than apply them with hand.

4. Germ Spray: Mix 12 drops of Tea Tree oil with 6 drops of Eucalyptus oil, 6 drops of Lemon oil, 2 oz of distilled water or herbal tincture. Dispense this formula from a spray bottle and spray as needed to minor cuts, scrapes and wounds. This will keep your wound germ free and speed the healing process.

Burns and Bruises: If you meet with a major burn or fire-bruise, treat the burn in water of about 50 degrees F. You can also use a cold compress that can be soaked in the same water if the person feels overheated or sunburned. Below are a few tips to treat burns:

5. Spray always: As you know, burnt skin is very tender to touch and hence should not be touched or dabbed with hands. When you do so, you may spoil or damage the skin further or may cause more pain. To avoid trouble, always spray remedies on to the affected area.

6. Aloe Vera and Lavender: Lavender and Aloe Vera juice are favorites with aromatherapists. This is because, they induce cell regeneration, reduce burning sensation and decrease pain. Aloe Vera can even be used on radiation burns. You can use Chamomile, Geranium, Lavender, Marjoram, Peppermint and Tea Tree oil for treating burns.

7. Vinegar: Adding vinegar to your recipe produces a cooling effect. Since it can be painful on open wounds, use only on wounds where the skin is not broken or where the pain is less severe.

8. Burn wash recipe: To prepare an emergency burn wash or compress, add 5 drops of Lavender oil to 1 pint water at about 50 degrees F. Then, stir well to disperse the oil. When the blend is ready, immerse the burn area in water for several minutes. Then, apply the blend on to the afflicted area and let it stay for several minutes.

The bliss of bathing: 5 ways to use essential oils for bathing

Bathing can be really blissful if you know how to add essential oils to your bath. It not just cleanses of all our accumulated pollution but also heals a lot of ailments, helps cure sleep disorders, smelling bodies and tightened muscles. A bath is a great way to kickstart your day or pamper your fragile ego. You can use bathing to create a perfect evening with your partner or rest in deep sleep at night. The uses of bathing with essential oils are plenty and this article will elaborate on how to make most of bathing using essential oils.

Bathing with essential oils: You need to use essential oils depending on the type of bath you are in need of. This means, if you want to activate your muscles or relax your body, you should use particular essential oils that would invigorate or relax and not otherwise. Here are some ideas to surround yourself in a soothing and relaxing water environment:


1. A morning bath: If you are into the habit of bathing yourself in the morning, you can add a few essential oils like Peppermint, Petitgrain, Rosemary, Fennel, Clary Sage, Black Pepper, Jasmine etc. Your morning bath is to kickstart your day. So, make it as invigorating as possible – keep it at a temperature of 70 to 80 degrees F and then, add 6 to 7 drops of essential oils. If you have bright or sunny plants or flowers in your bathroom, it would be a great boost to your day. Never listen to cheery music or the early news in your morning bath. It would be good if you are focused on only your bath and nothing else.

2. To pamper yourself: If you have a bruised ego or want to get rid of all the bashing you had to go through the day, this should be your ideal bath. Heat the bathwater up to 95 to 100 degrees F and add 6 to 7 drops of the following essential oils – Lavender, Melissa, Frankincense, Cedarwood, Neroli, Bergamot, Juniper etc. Use soft lighting – just a few candles – to make your water environment better. You can listen to songs that would cheer you up. But don’t opt for sad melodies. Since this is about feeling centered, it is better to unplug your phone and other distractions.

3. For relaxing muscles: If you have had a long, tiresome day, a good way to treat yourself is to have a relaxing bath. Better if you take a cooler bath of about 98 to 99 degrees F and take a long soak. Better if you have low lights and remove all sorts of distractions. Unplug yourself from everything when you take this bath. Once the bathwater is drawn, add 6 to 7 drops of the following oils – Basil, Neroli, Marjoram, Ginger, Black Pepper, Rosemary etc.

4. For a perfect evening with loved one: If you want to have a perfect romantic evening with your loved one, aromatherapy can be one of the best ways to get into mood. A bath can be an interlude to an intimate evening and you can even ask your partner to join you in the bath. Add the following oils to your bathwater at a lukewarm temperature – Geranium, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Petitgrain, Sandalwood and Carnation. Keep the lighting very low and scatter rose petals in your bath tub to make the environment more romantic.

5. Get ready to sleep: You can use bathing to even induce sleep. If you have a nice bath, you will surely  not only take care of your hygiene, but also be gifted with a relaxing bath. Make your bath at about 98 to 105 degrees F and add the following essential oils – Melissa, Lavender, Chamomile Roman, Clary sage, Petitgrain, Frankincense, Neroli etc. Wallow in water for about 15 minutes and then, go to sleep. You will experience a deep sleep after this relaxing bath.

Let the steam off: 6 aromatherapy recipes for hypertension

If we look at our lives closely, we will understand that we are using aromatherapy daily. Yes, we practice aromatherapy when we inhale the freshly baked bread, the scent of ground coffee bean, the smell of roses or other flowers. Almost everywhere, there is a streak of aromatherapy. These scents (if we like them) make us happy and pleasant and relieve our stress for a while. This is exactly what clinical aromatherapy does – it lifts us from stress. By doing this, it monitors and controls high blood pressure or hypertension.

Aromatherapy for high blood pressure: It has been found out that after the age of 55, about 30% of White American men, 20% of White American women, 50% of African American men and 40% of African American women suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension. The condition is a scary one as it leads to a lot of ailments and even turns fatal when you least expect it. The worst part is, most of this group do not know that they have high blood pressure, until they have a stroke or a kidney problem. Hypertension affects/leads to kidney failure, hardened arteries, strokes and other problems. Aromatherapy can be used as a remedy to cure this condition as essential oils used in the process alleviate one from stress and other hypertension symptoms.


Essential oils recipes for hypertension: There are many recipes to reduce stress/tension from the body. The best way out is to adopt a healthier style of living through regular exercises, massaging and stress relief remedies. Below are a few of tips and essential oil recipes to be used for treating high blood pressure:

1. Basic oils to be avoided: A certain list of essential oils are to be avoided during hypertension. These include Hyssop, Rosemary, Sage and Thyme.

2. Essential oils to be used: Clary Sage, Lavender, Marjoram, Melissa and Ylang Ylang are some of the oils to be used for reducing blood pressure. These oils can either be inhaled directly or mixed in recipes that can be massaged on to the body.

3. Blue Chamomile cure: Blue Chamomile oil is one of the best cures for aromatherapy. Carry the essential oil with you wherever you go. If you feel flushed or agitated (that is, over-tensed), use the essential oil for inhaling or diffuse it in your room and then, experience the scent.

4. Everlast massage: Everlast oil is a great massage oil and can be used this way – mix one drop of  Everlast oil with 2 drops of Blue Chamomile, 10 drops of Lavender in an oz of Olive, Almond, Sunflower or other carrier oils and massage the blend on to the area under the collarbone at bedtime. This would ease your stress and reduce your blood pressure to normal levels.

5. Hydrosol baths: You can take hydrosol baths if you feel very agitated or stressed. To do this, you need to shower and clean first, and then, fill the bath tub with lukewarm water. Add 2 cup of Melissa hydrosol to the water and soak for 20 minutes. Dry yourself and then, drink tea (mostly Hypertension tea blends) and go to bed. You can also use Lavender, Rose and Geranium hydrosols for this purpose.

6. Solar Plexus massage: Use the following recipe to prepare an aromatic blend and massage on to the  solar plexus and sternum. Add 20 drops of Lavender with 5 drops of Marjoram, 5 drops of Ylang Ylang, 5 drops of Lemon/Bergamot. Then, add this synergy to 2 oz of Lavender or Yarrow infused oil. You can even ask someone to massage this into your back from tailbone to neck bone.

Breathe easy: How essential oils help relieve asthma (without side effects)

Asthma can be very debilitating. There are about 20 million asthma patients in the United States and every year, the record of asthmatics keeps growing. Blame it one pollution like dander or dust, blockage or inflammation of lungs can make breathing difficult for asthma patients. In order to avoid an asthma attack, asthmatics avoid smoke, cold air, strong smells and other dust. To cope with such asthma attacks, asthma patients adopt to drugs and oral medications that help treat the symptoms and cure the condition. Through dilation of bronchial valves, the drugs help patients breathe easy too. But all these come with a heavy price – side effects. Using aromatherapy for asthma will avoid all these side effects and research has proven that essential oils can also allow people to let go of prescription drugs.

Aromatherapy for asthma: Essential oils have a calming and relaxing effect on the body. They are also antispasmodic which help asthmatics gain emotional balance and breathe easy through bronchodilation. But what makes aromatherapy more special? It is has NO side effects, whatsoever. If you worry about how asthmatics (who react to drugs) can use scents, massage the oils on to the body. Massaging helps in fast absorption of the oils and also, helps in relaxation of the respiratory muscles. But never practice any of these therapies before asking your doctor or without consultation from a trained aromatherapist.


Below are a few oils which can be used to treat asthma:

1. Clary Sage oil: This is one of the best oils which has a warming and sedative effect on the body. It has anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties to help treat asthma quickly.

2. Ginger oil: With the scientific name Zingiber Officinale, Ginger oil lends a warming effect. It also has expectorant and stimulant properties.

3. Frankincense oil: An uplifting oil, Frankincense helps with its anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties.

4. Geranium oil: This oil is known for its antispasmodic properties. It is also comforting and uplifting to asthmatics.

5. Lavender oil: Lavender is known for its calming and relaxing effects. Anti-inflammatory and sedative properties of the oil help a lot with asthmatics.

6. Marjoram oil: The warming effect and antispasmodic properties of the oil aid help in relieving asthma symptoms.

7. Peppermint oil: Peppermint is extremely useful on account of its refreshing, antispasmodic, decongestant and expectorant properties.

How to make the essential oil recipe:
Once you have finalized your list of essential oils, you need to prepare a recipe with essential oils and carrier oils. Make your choice of carrier oil, like Sunflower oil, Sweet Almond oil, Soy oil, Grapeseed oil and others. Then, combine the selected essential oil with one of your carrier oils and rub it on to the chest to relieve congestion and tightness. Use 20 ml of carrier oil with 10 drops of essential oil (at a ratio of 2.5 percent solution).

If you like it, you can add 5 drops of the following into your essential oil blend – Thyme Linalol, honey myrtle, ravensara, Roman Chamomile – in a carrier oil of 10 ml of Echinacea-infused oil and 15 ml of cold-pressed peach kernel oil. Rub this blend on to the neck and chest twice a day. It will alleviate the symptoms and remove the blockage in the lungs.

All brawn, no brains? 4 reasons to improve memory with aromatherapy

Aromatherapy, as all know, uses essential oils to cure ailments, subside chronic symptoms and alleviate pain or stress. Ok, aromatherapeutic use of essential oils can improve your physical health and well-being through the nose-limbic system. But, does it help with gaining mental clarity or minimizing memory loss? It does, if you know how to use essential oils in the right way. This piece will focus on how aromatherapy helps in boosting brain power and establishing one’s happiness, productivity, creativity etc.

Essential oils and fragrances: Fragrances have the power to influence the physical functions of a body. Like every other cell, they add to the vitality of the body, making it more alert and active. Researchers have found out that essential oils connect to the nose-limbic system faster than injections or drugs. This approach is a quicker and more beneficial medicinal approach than engaging in a series of blood-sucking drugs. Since the limbic system is the seat of hippocampus or the memory engine of the brain, smells can also affect our memory. A smell has in fact, the potential to raise memories and emotions, stirring up even a distant past.


Below are a few reasons are on why we should use aromatherapy to cure brain ailments or improve memory:

1. Essential oils feed the brain: Unlike regular drugs, aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine which feeds the brain with a great supply of nutrients. A simple inhalation or massage can do wonders to clear your mental tension or problem.

2. Cross the blood-brain barrier: It takes a lot of time for other medications or drugs to reach the mainstream of blood. Since the odor molecules are both a mixture of tiny and large compounds, they find it easy to overcome the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain directly.

3. Clear toxins: Essential oils are great toxin killers and eliminators. It cleanses the body and brain of toxins and heavy metals like aluminum that maybe lodged in the brain. Usually these toxins and metals  can cause heavy duty damage to the brain and can contribute to memory loss and lack of mental stability.

4. A visit to the past: Essential oils bring to memory all that you forgot before. It triggers areas that are emotional, involves memory growth and stores trauma/pleasure. This is because the limbic system is associated with memories about past. Some of the oils are used to release fears, change belief systems and recall a number of buried information. Usually the ‘amygdala’ is triggered for the above purposes.

Essential oils for memory loss and mental clarity: There are several oil blends for improving memory and enhancing mental clarity. Here are a few:

  • Frankincense oil stimulates many items in the limbic system as well as the hypothalamus, pineal and pituitary glands and has been treated for cancer and depression.
  • Rosemary oil is said to increase alertness, according to a study conducted in 2003.
  • Eucalyptus and Peppermint oils are used to enhance your cognitive performance and have a muscle-relaxing effect on the body
  • Lavender is a great anti-anxiety oil. High on relaxation quotient, lavender reduces stress that may get in way of studying improve concentration
  • Ginger oil stimulates cognition,  while Citrus is highly energizing. You can even use Lemon oil to nullify the post-lunch sluggishness in your office.
  • Vetiver is a rich oil which can provide grounding and stability to the mind. A tonic to the mind, Vetiver helps treat depression patients and children with ADD and ADHD to learn again. Stress-relieving, Vetiver oil can be used to calm aggressive children and bring in mental clarity while dealing with day to day affairs.

Love to Fido, from Mr. Pet-Conscious: 7 aromatherapy blends for dogs

Your Fido’s (dog’s) health is one of the most important things for your in life. As faithful friends, dogs bring with them love, joy, affection and fun into our lives. They become integral part of ourselves, that we consider them as members of our families. These days dogs are losing their wilder instincts and becoming very tame and domesticated. This makes them less resistant to illnesses that are caused by dust, dander and allergens. Though you may have your Vet to advice you on the treatments for dogs, some basic essential oil recipes maybe of great help in times of need.

Essential oil remedies for dogs: Only recently, doctors, vets and researchers have realized the significance of essential oils in treating human and animal ailments. Aromatherapy has grown up as an alternative medicinal system after centuries of years in hiding, under the label of quackery. Recent research reveals that dogs can be relieved of their doggy lives if treated with aromatherapeutic blends made from herbs, plants and plant oils. This article will detail on the essential oil recipes that can be used to heal skin problems, prevent fleas and ticks, relieve the pain of rheumatism and control odor in dogs.


Dogs have a predictable set of ailments that occur at various stages in their lives. The essential oil blends given below will address the most prominent of such ailments:

1. Dog skin problems:
Add 5 drops of Lavender with 6 drops of Geranium in a 10 ml bottle of Calendula oil and shake the mixture well. After the blend is perfect, apply on the affected skin area.

2. To kill fleas: Fleas are a real nuisance. They not just harm your pet, but infect your carpet, parquet and window coverings as well. To combat fleas, add 7.5 ml of Mint oil with 22.5 ml of alcohol (rubbing one) in a 1 oz spray bottle. Since fleas do not like the smell of Mint, they eventually die at  first contact with the oil. Spray all over your house – in your bed, carpets, living room etc. Also, spray on your dog, holding the bottle at a distance of about 10 inches away. This would avoid him from sniffing too much of Mint.

3. To relieve itching: Dogs can get scratchy when they have an itching somewhere in their body. They keep on itching, causing a wound in the area. To avoid this, apply the following recipe on to the affected area: 4 drops of Lavender, 5 drops of Geranium and 3 drops of Roman Chamomile to a 10 ml bottle of Calendula oil. This will not just reduce the itching but will also heal the wound.

4. To combat ticks: Ticks maybe all over your house or your pet’s area – his bed coverings, carpets and doormats. Use a blend comprising of 10 drops of Tea Tree oil, 10 drops of Lavender oil and mix them with 10 ml of organic vegetable oil. Spray the blend in the infected areas to combat ticks. You can also apply 1 drop of Lavender and Tea Tree oils each on your dog before extracting ticks. This will make your job easier.

5. To help with rheumatism: If your dog is aging, chances are it has become a victim of rheumatism. Prepare the following blend by pouring the essential oils into a 10 ml bottle and add organic vegetable oil to fill – 8 drops of Birch, 8 drops of Juniper and 7 drops of Rosemary. Apply the blend morning and night on to your dog’s legs.

6. To control odor: Let’s accept it. Though your dog is your best friend, it smells very bad if not washed regularly. You can reduce the intensity of this dog odor with an aromatic spray. Add 10 drops of Lavender, 10 drops of Geranium and 6 drops of Lemon in a 1 oz spray bottle and spray directly on to its skin.

7. To boost its energy: You can increase the energy levels of your dog by adding 5 drops of Rosemary, 6 drops of Lavender, 2 drops of Peppermint into 10 ml bottle of organic vegetable oil. Massage the blend to the spine of the dog in the mornings. It will make your pet happier and enthusiastic than ever.

No my-foot-remedies: Anti-fungal oils treatment for athlete’s foot

Athlete’s foot is an annoyance to anyone who has it or suffered through it. Though a common foot fungus, it is quite contagious and can be transmitted via locker room floors, swimming pools, gym change rooms and other warm and wet areas. It is estimated that about 70% of the population is infected by this condition at some point in their lives. Though anyone is vulnerable to the condition, athletes, especially swimmers and sprinters, are the most infected group. This article will elaborate on how anti-fungal essential oils have the potential to heal athlete’s foot.

Athlete’s foot – An overview: Athlete’s foot is otherwise called Tinea Pedis. Caused by a fungus, the skin condition occurs to people constantly exposed to damp and warm environments. The fungus thrives only in dark, wet and warm places like in the saunas, gym, worn out gym clothes etc. Athlete’s foot can infect a person without any major signs. Meaning, an individual will not be aware of the infection until the symptoms appear. Symptoms of athlete’s foot are: itching and burning of the skin; skin ruptures; redness or white color skin; crackled, peeled and blistered skin. The fungus occurs in the feet, mostly in between the toes or on the soles of the feet.

Essential oil cure for athlete’s foot: The first basic step toward treating athlete’s foot is to maintain proper hygiene. The next step is to kill the fungus through topical creams or oral antibiotics.  You can also use natural therapies to cure the skin condition and aromatherapy is just one of them. Essential oils or plant extracts have the potential to completely eliminate the fungus and heal the infection. This is because essential oils are absorbed easily and quickly into the body. They also respond and react well, thanks to their anti-fungal and skin-healing properties. Research has now revealed that essential oils can be used to treat all kinds of skin infections from acne to psoriasis and athlete’s foot.

Anti-fungal oil blends for athlete’s foot: Most of the essential oils are effective skin-healers, but only a handful have strong anti-fungal properties. You need to choose oils of therapeutic grade quality and mix them on a 50:50 ratio with base oils or vegetable oils. Better to use extra virgin Olive oil or Jojoba oil. Once mixed, you can apply the blend directly on to your foot fungus and see the healing happen. Some of the best anti-fungal oils you can use are: Tea Tree, Lemongrass, Niaouli, Oregano, Lavender, Peppermint, Clove and Mountain Savory. Some possible base oils other than Olive and Jojoba are Sesame seed, Wheat gram, Grapeseed and Avocado oils.

Foot powder with essential oils: If you are not comfortable with an oily blend, you can mix essential oils to make a foot powder and apply on to your fungal infection. To make a foot powder, mix 25 drops of Tea Tree oil, 8 drops of Olive oil and 8 drops of Peppermint oil with ¼ cup of cornstarch in a plastic bag. Once the oils blend completely with the starch, take the powder out of the plastic bag and apply on the infected area.

Clear your throat now: 5 essential oil cures for sore throat

Aromatherapy can be used to clear a variety of ailments and sore throat is one of them. Yes, you can cure your sore throat infection through remedies made using essential oils. It is said that many European singers preserved their voices for centuries using essential oils and herbs. This article will throw light on the tested and proven sore throat remedies prevalent in aromatherapy.

Sore throat cause: Sore throat happens due to bacterial infection. Sometimes it can be a result of a lot of yelling, singing, talking or constant and aggressive use of voice box. The throat can be inflamed by bacteria that often it becomes difficult to even swallow food. Sometimes the voice box is infected, leading to laryngitis which impairs speech and makes it difficult to talk. Though sore throat is a very common condition, it can be a painful experience to contend with. Ancient singers, musicians and speakers knew that herbs mixed with honey can be a good remedy for sore throat. They kept their voices immaculate only using herbal and essential oil remedies.


Essential oil blends for sore throat: Essential oils can help with ready-made, no-side effect remedies for sore throat. It is better that you get to know a little about oil blending, extraction etc. before trying out these remedies. This is because, throat is a sensitive part of the body and hence should not be dabbled with anything and everything. Below are a few remedies or sore throat treatments with essential oils:

1. Marjoram herb: One of the most popular sore throat and laryngitis cure is marjoram and herbal tea sweetened with honey. Like the herb, the Marjoram oil is also a great killer of bacterial infections. It is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory and a good choice to treat throat problems.

2. Essential oils for gargling: You can choose from a wide range of essential oils, but these are the most useful ones – Sage, Hyssop and Thyme. You can gargle or spray any of these oils into the throat. When such antibacterial oils come in contact with bacteria in the throat, the relief is immediate. However, it is always better to avoid oils in high concentrated states as they can even harm or cause rashes in the throat if you are sensitive to aromatherapy. In case of emergencies, you can dilute a few drops of essential oils in 2 oz of water and then, spray it directly. Other essential oils for sore throat include Bergamot, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon, Sandalwood and Tea Tree.

3. Recipe for throat spray: You can prepare the below recipe and spray it on your throat for instant relief. Mix 4 drops of Marjoram oil with ½ cup of warm water and ½ teaspoon of salt and shake well. Let the salt dissolve and oils disperse before spraying or gargling. Gargle every half an hour during the initial stages and then use several times a day for betterment.

4. Recipe for neck wrap:
You can try neck wrap if you have a swollen throat or unable to swallow or if your neck is stiff. A neck wrap reduces the swelling in your glands and keeps the bacteria away, till your throat recovers fully. Use 2 drops of Lavender, 2 drops of Bergamot, 1 drop of Tea Tree oil and 2 cups of hot water for the ingredients. Mix all of them with water. When the mixture is still warm, soak into it a soft cloth, preferably flannel and wring it out. Wrap this flannel around the neck and then, cover with a towel thin enough to hold the heat. Repeat this throughout the day, soaking again and again only in case of loss of heat in the cloth.

5. Aromatherapy steam: Passing through an aromatic steam too can be of help. Steam your voice through an aromatic oils Lavender and Eucalyptus. You will feel relieved instantly, but remember not to overstress your throat before full recovery.

Temper your blood sugar levels: 3 essential oils for diabetes

Diabetes is becoming a common condition with many people in the United States and elsewhere in the world. A silent killer disease, diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder that is characterized by insufficient amount of insulin in the blood. It has been recently discovered that diabetes can be tempered with use of essential oils. Many believe that at least the symptoms of the disease can be alleviated using aromatherapy.

Diabetes Mellitus – Why is it dangerous? Though apparently harmful, diabetes mellitus is one of the worst conditions that can happen to a human being. People suffer from the disease when the insulin levels in their body go low or when there is imbalance in blood sugar levels. Everything starts with the breaking down of carbohydrates. When the carbohydrates (which contain energy in the form of glucose) are broken down in the digestive system, they are transformed into blood glucose and absorbed into the body cells. Only insulin, a hormone secreted in the pancreas, can help in the absorption of blood sugar.  When the insulin is not secreted or there is excess or very low blood sugar in your blood stream, you become a victim of diabetes.


Diabetic patients can have two types of the disease – Type I and Type II. While the first one is caused by lack of insulin, the second one is a result of failure of regulation of glucose in the blood. Diabetes is a fatal disease which can lead to a serious of disorders like vision problems, kidney disorders, cardiovascular disease and nerve problems. The disease can even complicate pregnancy. To curb all the evils that come with the disease, it is important to temper your blood sugar levels and regulate the glucose and insulin in your body.

Essential oils and diabetes: No, essential oils can never cure diabetes completely. But they can help alleviate the symptoms of the disease and also, help reduce aggravation of the condition. Below are a few issues that essential oils can address with regard to diabetes:

1. Treat poor circulation: One of the major conditions of diabetes is poor circulation. Lack of circulation leads to a lot of painful problems and results in pain in the joints, legs and other body parts. To improve circulation, you can massage the following essential oils on to the body – Geranium, Eucalyptus and Juniper.

2. Regulate blood sugar levels: It is said that oils like Dill, Coriander, Cinnamon, Cypress etc can help regulate the blood sugar levels in the body. You can use any oil that can reduce symptoms of the disease, but avoid angelica oil as it can be harmful. You can also use any oil that may stimulate, relax, sedate or anti-inflame the body. However, it is better to consult your GP before taking up anything.

3. Essential oil blend: If you are doubtful on which body oil to use, you can apply this recipe to prepare an essential oil blend with 4% Eucalyptus, 4% Geranium, 4% Juniper and 88% vegetable oil base. Massaging this blend helps in proper overall functioning of the body. Use the blend daily before hydrotherapy.

Essential oils can ameliorate the stress of coping with the symptoms of diabetes. Aromatherapy is of great help in reducing stress, anxiety and fear, the common emotional issues of severe diabetics. It also helps temper your anger and irritability through pleasant aromas. The golden rule is, if you know to use it wisely, you can lead the life of a peaceful diabetic and handle your disease well.