Herbal Remedies

Respiratory System


Afflictions of the respiratory system include irritation and infection of the ears, nose and throat. Respiratory problems also may involve congestion, which can be decreased by inhaling rosemary (especially the verbenone type), hyssop (use var. decumbens only), tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender or peppermint. Cypress helps dry up a persistent runny nose, and peppermint, tea tree and eucalyptus reduce sinus infection. Anise and cypress help reduce coughing.

Many asthma sufferers wage a constant battle with low-level congestion. Don't use essential oils during an asthma attack, but between attacks try a chest rub of German chamomile, frankincense or lavender. The chamazulene in chamomile releases cortisone from the adrenals. During an asthma attack, give a bath or treat the feet with these oils. (Hyssop can also be used, but be careful to only use var. decumbens.)

Ninety percent of respiratory ailments are caused by viruses. Oils of thyme, rosemary, peppermint, ravensare, tea tree, eucalyptus, bergamot, black pepper, melissa and hyssop inhibit most flu viruses. Lemon and eucalyptus oils are effective against bacteria that cause staph, strep and pneumonia infections. A 2-percent dilution makes an effective antiseptic gargle or vapor steam.

Steam treatment carries essential oils directly to sinuses and lungs, and provides warm, moist air to help open nasal and bronchial  passages. To do a steam, boil a pan of water, turn off the heat, cool 1 minute, add 3-6 drops of essential oils to the water, and use a towel to corral the steam around your head as you breathe deeply. Essential oils can also be used in many humidifiers, or as an ingredient in steamy hot bath water.

If steaming is impractical-at the office, say, or while traveling-inhale a tissue scented with the oils, or use a natural-products nasal  inhaler. These are sold in natural food stores, or you can make your own:

Homemade Nasal Inhaler
2 drops eucalyptus
2 drops rosemary
1 drop peppermint
1 tablespoon rock salt

Place a few pieces of rock salt in a vial and add the oils. The salt will quickly absorb the oil. Inhale.

An aromatic diffuser-a glass piece (often hand-blown) connected to a small electrical compressor- disinfects the atmosphere by releasing droplets of essential oil as a cool, fine mist. One advantage to using a diffuser is that the essential oil vapor can be directed into the nose, throat or even ear passages.  It can be turned on in a sickroom for 10 to 15 minutes every hour to clear airborne bacteria.

Do not use thick oils such as vetiver, sandalwood, vanilla, myrrh and benzoin in a diffuser unless they are diluted with a thin oil-such as the citruses, eucalyptus or rosemary-or mixed with alcohol. If oils sit too long in a diffuser, they oxidize and thicken. Also, expressed citrus oils often contain sediment that may clog a diffuser. To clean or unclog it, soak the glass unit in alcohol and unplug the opening with a pin or toothpick. Rinse and air dry.

Diluted essential oils can also be used as a throat spray through "nebulization." A nebulizer sprayer, with its long spout that reaches to the back of the throat, used to be a standard item in the home medicine cabinet. A perfume atomizer or spray bottle will work just as well.

If you don't have a diffuser, simply combine water and essential oils in a spray bottle. Studies show that a two-percent dilution of eucalyptus oil kills 70 percent of
airborne staph bacteria.

Disinfectant Room Spray
3 drops eucalyptus
1 drop peppermint
2 drops pine
1 drop tea tree
2 drops bergamot
1 ounce of water

Combine ingredients. Shake well before using. The combination is also suitable as a chest rub. (Replace the water in this recipe with a carrier oil.)

Generations of Europeans, especially singers, have gargled sage, thyme or marjoram tea sweetened with honey to relieve laryngitis and tonsillitis. A few drops of essential oils diluted in two ounces of water may also do the trick.  In case of sore throat, gargle frequently, at least every half-hour.

Throat Spray/Gargle
1/2 cup thyme or sage herb tea
3 drops each cypress, lemon, tea tree

Shake well to disperse the oils before each use. For a gargle, half a teaspoon of salt may be dissolved into the solution.

For lung congestion a salve or a massage oil containing essential oils can be rubbed over the chest, back and throat. The oils will be absorbed through the skin and lungs as the vapor is inhaled. Place a flannel fabric on the chest after rubbing in the oil to increase warmth. Commercial "vapor balms" still use derivatives of essential oils (or their synthetic-oil counterparts), such as thymol from thyme and menthol from mint, in a petroleum ointment base. Natural alternatives are also sold in natural-food stores.

Vapor Balm
2 teaspoons peppermint oil
3 teaspoons eucalyptus oil
1 teaspoon thyme oil (chemotype linalol is best)
1 cup olive oil
3/4 ounce beeswax

Melt beeswax into olive oil over very low heat. Cool a bit, add essential oils and stir. (Be sure to keep your face away from the oils as you stir them in.) Allow to harden. Store at room temperature.

Poultices are an age-old remedy for chest congestion. A ginger or  onion compress on the chest breaks up lung congestion and makes breathing easier. Onions also help curb asthma and allergic reactions.

Poultice
1 onion, chopped and 1/4 cup ginger, grated
water

Lightly cook together in a little water until soft. Cool slightly, mash and apply to the chest while still warm. Cover with a soft cloth.

Herbal Adjuncts-Herbs that loosen mucus from the lungs include elecampane, horehound and mullein. Respiratory relaxants, such as wild cherry bark and wild lettuce, are used in cases of extreme spasmodic coughing. Demulcent herbs, which soothe inflamed mucous membranes, include flaxseed, marshmallow root and licorice. Use these herbs in a tea, tincture, pills or syrup.

Nervous System

The nervous system provides the intricate connection between mind and body. As a result of mental or emotional responses, a problem in one area of the body may affect another.

For stress in general, try bergamot, chamomile, lavender, melissa, clary sage, neroli, rose or jasmine. For insomnia due to mental agitation or overwork, clary sage,
marjoram, ylang-ylang and neroli can help you unwind. Headaches due to nervous tension are also helped by these oils, but keep in mind that headaches can result from many causes, from indigestion to hormonal problems, and should be treated appropriately.

Relaxing/Antidepressant Formula
3 drops lavender
3 drops neroli
2 drops marjoram
2 drops ylang-ylang
1 drop chamomile
2 drop clary sage
1 ounce carrier oil

This can be used as a massage or bath oil.

Neuralgia, or nerve pain, is best remedied by treating the cause, although essential oils do alleviate the pain, especially when used in conjunction with massage.

Neuralgia Relief
5 drops helichrysum
3 drops chamomile
2 drops marjoram
2 drops lavender
1 ounce carrier oil

Combine ingredients and use for massage.

Herbal Adjuncts-Herbs can stimulate or relax the nervous system. A number of plants are relaxing, including California poppy (completely safe, with no addictive alkaloids), hops, valerian, passionflower and catnip.

One of the best tonics to repair the nervous system is wild oats (even eating oatmeal does some good); others include skullcap and vervain. St. John's wort repairs damaged nerves and helps overcome depression.

Urinary Tract

The urinary system, consisting of the kidneys and bladder, regulates  the body's water content and salt balance, and eliminates waste. The  kidney determines what will be eliminated and what will be recycled. It is also involved in regulating blood pressure.

Antiseptic diuretics to treat bladder infections include cedarwood,  tea tree, bergamot and fennel. Unlike some urinary herbs used to treat infection, such as uva ursi, these essential oils work well in both an acid and an alkaline environment. This means that they can be used in conjunction with cranberries, which acidify the urine. Use these oils preventively in a regular bath or a sitz bath.

Bladder Infection Relief
6 drops tea tree
2 drops thyme linalol
2 drops juniper
2 drops clove
2 drops oregano

1 ounce carrier oil (calendula is one of the best choices)

Mix the oils. Use as a massage oil over the bladder area twice per day. However, get professional help if there is a chance that you have a kidney infection.

Herbal Adjuncts-Use essential oils as part of a more comprehensive healing program that includes herbs and diet. The use of soothing herbal teas is a welcome adjunct to any treatment. Examples are plantain, marshmallow root and corn silk (yes, the hairy stuff under the husk; eat it fresh-it tastes just like corn-or make it into tea).

"Kidney stones" are mineral deposits most often composed of  crystallized calcium and uric acid (or the amino acid cystine). Diet seems to be  the primary cause, but excess weight, an inherited tendency and previous kidney infections  are all potential contributing factors. Studies in Paraguay, where  rosemary is an important folk medicine, found that this herb inhibits 95 percent of urease (found in alkaline and infected urine), and probably the formation of some  urinary stones. Lemon and grapefruit help reduce the size of kidney stones and help prevent infection.

To treat a bladder infection, use uva ursi, yarrow, and goldenrod flowers. A good urinary tract tonic is a tincture or tea of dandelion, nettle leaf, fresh oats and rose hips. Hydrangea root, stone root, wild yam, cramp bark, corn silk and plantain leaf help eliminate kidney stones, but this condition may require professional help.

Cuts and Scrapes
A spray of diluted essential oils makes an excellent antiseptic. The germ-killing abilities of essential oils high in terpenes, such as tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus and lemon, increase when a 2-percent solution is sprayed through the air. The antiseptic quality of tea tree actually increase in the presence of blood and pus. Superficial cuts, scrapes and burns may also be treated with a salve. Although studies show that oils are antiseptic when diluted in an alcohol base instead of oil, this may sting in cases of an open wound. Tea tree, lavender, helichrysum, cistus, eucalyptus, rose geranium, sandalwood and rose repair skin damage and encourage new cell growth for faster healing.

Antiseptic Skin Spray
15 drops tea tree or eucalyptus
10 drops helichrysum
5 drops lavender
2 ounces distilled water
1/2 ounce grain alcohol or goldenseal tincture

Combine and shake well before each use to help disperse the oils. Spray as needed on minor cuts, burns and abrasions to prevent infection and speed healing.

Fungal Infections
Treat fungal infection with tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus, myrrh and geranium. Small amounts of peppermint relieve itching. Soak a compress in these essential oils diluted in vinegar, which also deters fungus, and apply to the affected area. A fungal powder is also appropriate to keep the area as dry as possible.

Antifungal Powder
1/4 cup bentonite clay
1 tablespoon goldenseal root powder
12 drops (1/8 teaspoon) each essential oils of:
tea tree
clove
geranium

Combine all the ingredients and powder the affected area liberally. For fungal conditions, such as athlete's foot, an aromatic foot bath is a great treat.

Soak Those Pups
5 drops tea tree oil
5 drops sage
2 drops peppermint

Fill a portable basin or tub with hot water-or, better yet, sage tea. Add essential oils to water and soak for at least 15 minutes. For feet that sweat excessively, finish with a foot powder.

Rashes Caused by Poisonous Plants
The menthol in peppermint relieves the painful burning and itching of poison oak, ivy or sumac. A 2- to 3- percent dilution (12-24 drops per ounce) in vinegar or witch hazel provides blessed relief to nerve endings. Four cups of quick-cooking oats (they dissolve best) wrapped in a muslin cloth and/or one cup Epsom salts may also be added to a lukewarm bath, or mix a smaller amount and sponge  on. Lavender and a few menthol crystals added to a tincture of jewelweed  or sassafras are also helpful during the first stages of a reaction. Oil-based products aren't usually recommended, although some people find that a lotion relieves itching during the later, dry stage of poison oak, ivy and sumac.

Poison Oak/Ivy/Sumac Remedy
3 drops each:
lavender
helichrysum
Roman chamomile
geranium
cypress
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon menthol crystals
1 ounce calendula tincture

Combine ingredients. Apply externally as needed. When healing begins, apply externally 6 drops each stoechas lavender and cistus (diluted  to 2 percent) in aloe gel or juice.

Herbal Adjuncts-Take liver herbs such as milk thistle, burdock and dandelion; avoid sweets and fruits. Take vitamin C and pantothenic acid.

Inflammation and Burns
For inflammation, immediately apply a cold herbal compress with an anti-inflammatory oil, such as chamomile, lavender or marjoram. The first step in treating burns and sunburns is to quickly immerse the area in cold water containing a few drops of one of these essential oils, or to apply a cold compress that has been soaked in that water. Lavender oil and aloe-vera juice promote new cell growth, reduce inflammation and stop infection. Aloe, which is so healing it has even been used successfully to treat radiation burns, also contains the natural "aspirin," salicylic acid.

Sunburn Spray
50 drops (1/2 teaspoon) lavender oil
4 ounces aloe-vera juice
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
1 tablespoon vinegar

Combine ingredients. Store in a spritzer bottle, and shake well before using. Use as often as needed to reduce pain and speed healing. Keep  the bottle in the refrigerator for extra cooling relief.

Insect Bites and Other Critter Attacks
For mosquito or other insect bites that don't require much attention, a simple dab of essential oil of lavender or tea tree provides relief. Chamomile and lavender essential oils reduce swelling, itching and inflammation, and together with tinctures of echinacea and plantain often prevent an allergic response. (If an allergic reaction does occur, take 1/2 teaspoon of echinacea tincture internally.)

First-Aid Remedy
3 drops each:
lavender
tea tree
German chamomile
helichrysum
1 ounce calendula infused oil

Mix together. This remedy is excellent for skin irritation, bites, stings, burns, inflammation, bruises or scrapes.

Adding essential oil and tincture to clay keeps the medicine reconstituted, preserved and ready for an emergency. As the clay dries it pulls toxins from stings and bites to the skin's surface to keep them from spreading, while also pulling out pus or embedded splinters.

Clay Poultice
12 drops lavender essential oil
1 tablespoon bentonite clay
1 teaspoon each tincture of:
echinacea root
chamomile flowers
plantain leaves

Put clay in the container to be stored. Add the tinctures slowly, stirring as the clay absorbs them. Add lavender oil, stirring to distribute it evenly. Store poultice in a
container with a tight lid to slow dehydration; it will last at least several months. If the mixture does dry out, add distilled water to reconstitute it.

Nothing is more annoying than trying to enjoy the outdoors while shooing away pesky insects. Many people don't care for the smell of citronella, a traditional repellant, but this formula smells great.

Insect-Aside Bug Repellant
5 drops eucalyptus
2 drops orange
4 drops lavender
2 drops lemon
8 drops cedar
1 drop peppermint
1 drop clove
1 drop cinnamon
2 ounces carrier oil

Mix together and apply liberally. Keep out of eyes.

Few "creepy crawlies" can survive the following blend. Use for skin fungus, scabies or other nonspecific critters.

Cootie Oil
10 drops thyme linalol
3 drops lemon
5 drops lavender
5 drops rosemary
1 drop clove bud
1 drop cinnamon bark
2 ounces carrier oil

Combine ingredients. Apply as needed.

Herbal Adjuncts-Jewelweed leaves, garlic, black-walnut hulls and the lichen usnea are all specific against fungus, and can be used as an external wash or soak.



Boosting Immunity

Natural remedies increase the body's resistance to disease by improving its ability to fight infection. No single essential oil will heal a person, but many plants have
immune-modulating properties. As with any natural healing modality, essential oils should not be solely relied upon in cases of serious illnesses-but they may be integrated into any therapeutic program.

Lavender, lemon, bergamot, thyme, chamomile, pine, sandalwood, myrrh and vetiver stimulate production of infection-fighting white corpuscles.  The antiviral action of certain essential oils is one of their most valuable attributes-especially since allopathic medicine has little to offer. Essential oils with terpenoid compounds are very specific, notably the citruses and pine oils, as well as some oils in the phenol group. (See the "Chemistry" chapter.)

Building health is the best insurance against contracting illness. The following blend helps build the body's natural resistance.

Basic Immune Tonic Blend
3 drops lavender
3 drops tea tree
2 drops bergamot
2 drops ravensare
2 drops eucalyptus
10 drops Caulophyllum inophyllum
1 ounce carrier oil (calendula-infused)

Use as a body oil daily in the bath as part of a health-maintenance program, or to treat acute conditions such as cold or flu.

Herbal Adjuncts-"Adaptogens" are defined as safe, beneficial herbs  that have a balancing and toning action. There is some controversy over which herbs fit the criteria, but there is little argument against the Panax ginsengs Korean and American) or Siberian ginseng. The immune tonics echinacea,myrrh, calendula, garlic, wild indigo, astragalus, shiitake and reishi mushrooms, schizandra berries and ligusticum all build resistance.