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Aromatherapy: Your Guide to Essential Oils for Healing

by

 KG Stiles, LMT, RBT, CBP, CAT, NCTMB

 

A Complete Aromatherapy Reference Guide of Essential Oils to use for relieving many common health conditions and complaints. The 'Guide' starts with oils to use for treating Aches and Pains and ends with oils to use for treating Worry.

Methods of Application for Best Results include: Direct inhalation of essential oil vapors (my preferred method in most cases), diffusers and aromatic mists, compresses, carrier oils, steams, foot soaks, baths, bath salts and salt scrubs. All methods of use are for external application ONLY. Essential oils should NEVER be used internally! Please also remember that essential oils should never be applied neat (undiluted) to your skin. This includes the soles of your feet or palms of your hands.

Please click to learn more about METHODS OF APPLICATION

ACHES & PAINS - Chamomile, Juniper, Lavender, Rosemary, Marjoram, Birch, Clary Sage, Clove, Geranium, Ginger, Pepper, Black Spruce

ACNE - Bergamot, Chamomile, Tea Tree, Cedarwood, Clove, Eucalyptus, Juniper

ADDICTIONS - Geranium, Rose, Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon, Orange, Patchouli

ALLERGIES - Blue Tansy, Spikenard, Rosemary, Lemongrass

ANGER - Frankincense, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Bergamot, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Lavender, Lemon, Marjoram, Myrrh, Orange, Rose, Sandalwood

ANOREXIA - Grapefruit

ANTIDEPRESSANT - Atlas Cedarwood, Bergamot, Clary Sage, Sandalwood, Basil, Geranium, Grapefruit, Frankincense, Lavender, Orange, Patchouli, Petitgrain, Rose, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang

ANTISEPTIC - Bergamot, Tea Tree, Cedarwood, Clove, Eucalyptus, Juniper, Lemon, Orange, Patchouli, Peppermint, Ravensara, Thyme

ANXIETY - Bergamot, Clary Sage, Geranium, Lavender, Rose, Basil, Frankincense, Juniper, Lemon, Petitgrain, Spikenard, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang

APATHY - Rosemary, Frankincense, Geranium, Marjoram, Orange, Peppermint, Rose, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Thyme, Ylang Ylang

APPREHENSION - Frankincense, Sandalwood

ARGUMENTATIVE - Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Orange, Thyme, Ylang Ylang

ARTHRITIS - Black Pepper, Chamomile, Juniper, Lavender, Tea Tree, Cedarwood, Clove, Cypress, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Pine, Rosemary, Vetiver

ASTHMA - Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Basil, Clove, Cypress, Fennel, Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon, Marjoram, Myrrh, Myrtle, Peppermint, Pine, Rose, Rosemary, Thyme

ATHLETES FOOT/FUNGI - Tea Tree, Lavender, Clove, Myrrh, Patchouli

BACK PAIN - All the oils

BACTERIA - Tea Tree, Rosewood, Thyme, all the oils

BIRTH - Clary Sage, Geranium, Jasmine, Rose

BLADDER - Lemongrass, Juniper

BLOOD PRESSURE (Low) - Rosemary, Pine, Basil, Fennel, Peppermint, Thyme, Black Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Rosemary

BLOOD PRESSURE (High) - Ylang Ylang, Clove, Clary Sage, Lavender, Lemon, Marjoram

BRONCHITIS - Cedarwood, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Basil, Clary Sage, Clove, Cypress, Fennel, Frankincense, Lemon, Marjoram, Myrtle, Myrrh, Orange, Peppermint, Pine, Ravensara, Rose, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Thyme

BRUISES - Black Pepper, Lavender, Rosemary, Chamomile, Clove, Geranium, Juniper, Lavender, Marjoram, Thyme

BURNS - Lavender, Tea Tree, Chamomile, Clove, Geranium, Ravensara, Thyme

CANDIDA ALBICANS - Tea Tree, Bergamot, Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Myrrh, Patchouli, Peppermint, Rosemary, Rosewood, Spikenard

CATARRH - Cedarwood, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Frankincense, Ginger, Myrrh, Black Pepper

CELLULITE - Black Pepper, Cypress, Geranium, Juniper, Cedarwood, Grapefruit, Ginger, Lemon, Rosemary

CHRONIC FATIGUE - Lavender, Marjoram, Peppermint, Black Pepper, Rosemary

CIRCULATION - Cypress, Geranium, Rosemary

COLDS & FLU - Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Basil, Bergamot, Cinnamon, Clove, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Ginger, Grapefruit, Lemon, Marjoram, Myrtle, Orange, Peppermint, Rosemary, Rosewood, Ravensara, Lavender

CONFIDENCE - Bergamot, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Marjoram, Peppermint, Rose,

CONFUSION - Cedarwood, Geranium, Rosemary, Basil, Cypress, Frankincense, Geranium, Ginger, Juniper, Lemon, Peppermint, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Thyme, Ylang Ylang

CONGESTION - Cedarwood, Geranium, Rosemary, Basil, Cypress, Frankincense, Ginger, Juniper, Marjoram, Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Thyme, Ylang Ylang

CONSTIPATION - Black Pepper, Cypress, Geranium, Juniper, Rosemary, Basil, Fennel, Marjoram, Orange, Black Pepper

COUGHS - Cedarwood, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Cinnamon, Ginger, Juniper, Marjoram, Myrrh, Sandalwood

COURAGE - Cedarwood (Atlas & Himalayan) Bergamot, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Clove, Fennel, Ginger, Black Pepper

CYSTITIS - Juniper, Lavender, Tea Tree, Bergamot, Cedarwood, Clove, Fennel, Sandalwood, Thyme

DEPRESSION - Atlas Cedarwood, Bergamot, Clary Sage, Sandalwood, Basil, Geranium, Grapefruit, Frankincense, Lavender, Orange, Patchouli, Rose, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang

DERMATITIS - Chamomile, Lavender, Tea Tree, Cedarwood, Geranium, Juniper, Lavender, Pine, Patchouli

DESPAIR - Bergamot, Rose, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Geranium, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Orange, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Thyme, Ylang Ylang

DETOXIFICATION - Juniper, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Fennel, Patchouli

DIGESTION - Bergamot, Fennel, Frankincense, Ginger, Grapefruit, Juniper, Lemongrass, Myrrh, Patchouli, Black Pepper, Peppermint, Rosemary

DISAPPOINTMENT - Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Geranium, Ginger, Juniper, Lavender, Orange, Thyme, Ylang Ylang

EDEMA - Chamomile, Cypress, Geranium, Grapefruit, Juniper, Lemon, Rosemary

FEAR - Bergamot, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Cypress, Geranium, Lavender, Marjoram, Myrrh, Orange, Rose, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang

FOCUS - Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Lemon, Peppermint, Rosemary

FRUSTRATION - Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Ginger, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon, Orange, Peppermint, Thyme

GRIEF - Cypress, Frankincense, Rose

GUILT - Cedarwood, Frankincense, Rose, Chamomile, Cypress, Geranium, Juniper, Lemon, Marjoram, Rose, Thyme

HAY FEVER - Blue Tansy, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass

HEADACHES - Chamomile, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Juniper, Lavender, Rose, Basil, Marjoram, Peppermint, Rosemary, Rosewood

HORMONES - Geranium, Rose, Bergamot, Clary Sage, Fennel, Myrtle

IMMUNITY - Lavender, Sandalwood, Bergamot, Cinnamon, Clary Sage, Clove, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Lemon, Tea Tree, Myrrh, Myrtle, Orange, Ravensara, Rosemary, Rosewood, Thyme

INDECISION - Bergamot, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Lavender, Rosemary

INFECTIONS - Bergamot, Tea Tree, Basil, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Clary Sage, Clove, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Frankincense, Geranium, Juniper, Lavender, Lemongrass, Myrrh, Patchouli, Pepper, Petitgrain, Ravensara, Rose, Rosemary, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Thyme

INHIBITIONS - Rose, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, Bergamot, Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Sandalwood, Petitgrain, Vetiver

INSOMNIA - Clary Sage, Lavender, Rose, Cypress, Chamomile, Lavender, Marjoram, Tea Tree, Myrtle, Orange, Sandalwood, Ravensara, Thyme, Vetiver

IRRITABILITY - Lavender, Neroli, Orange, Ylang Ylang

JEALOUSY - Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Bergamot, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Lemon, Marjoram, Neroli, Orange, Rose, Rosemary, Thyme

KIDNEY - Fennel, Grapefruit, Juniper, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Sandalwood

LETHARGY - Black Pepper, Geranium, Jasmine, Rosemary

LIVER - Fennel, Geranium, Grapefruit, Juniper, Peppermint, Rosemary, Ravensara

LONELINESS - Rose, Sandalwood

MEMORY - Rosemary, Basil, Geranium, Ginger, Lemon, Peppermint, Atlas Cedarwood

MENOPAUSE - Chamomile, Clary Sage, Geranium, Juniper, Rose, Cypress, Lavender, Orange, Fennel

MENSTRUATION - Chamomile, Clary Sage, Geranium, Juniper, Rose, Basil, Cypress, Frankincense, Lavender, Marjoram, Myrrh, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Spikenard

MOOD SWINGS - Clary Sage, Geranium, Sandalwood, Bergamot, Fennel, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary, Ylang Ylang

NAUSEA - Lavender, Peppermint, Basil, Clove, Ginger, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Spikenard

NEGATIVITY - Clary Sage, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Black Pepper, Sweet Orange, Neroli

NERVOUSNESS - Bergamot, Chamomile, Lavender, Basil, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Clary Sage, Clove, Cypress, Geranium, Ginger, Juniper, Marjoram, Tea Tree, Orange, Patchouli, Peppermint, Petitgrain, Ravensara, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Thyme, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang

OBESITY - Grapefruit, Juniper, Lemon, Orange

OBSESSIVE/COMPULSIVE - Clary Sage, Cypress, Geranium, Lavender, Marjoram, Rose, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang

PANIC - Clary Sage, Lavender, Bergamot, Chamomile, Frankincense, Lavender, Marjoram, Myrrh, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Thyme, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang

PMS/PMT - Clary Sage, Cypress, Geranium, Juniper, Lavender, Rose, Chamomile

PSORIASIS - Bergamot, Chamomile, Lavender, Tea Tree, Cedarwood, Juniper, Sandalwood

RASH - Blue Tansy, Chamomile, Lavender, Rose, Tea Tree, Spikenard, Patchouli (Hives & itching)

REGRET - Frankincense, Rose, Sandalwood

REGULATING - Geranium

RELAXATION - Clary Sage, Frankincense, Lavender, Rose, Ylang Ylang

RESPIRATORY - Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Basil, Clove, Fennel, Ginger, Juniper, Marjoram, Myrtle, Peppermint, Ravensara

RESTLESSNESS - Bergamot, Clary Sage, Lavender, Basil, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Geranium, Orange, Rose, Rosewood, Ylang Ylang

SADNESS - Bergamot, Grapefruit, Rose

SCIATICA - Chamomile, Lavender, Sandalwood, Thyme

SENSITIVITY - Geranium, Rose, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang

SEXUAL DISABILITIES - Clary Sage, Rose, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang

SHINGLES - Bergamot, Lavender, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus

SHOCK - Lavender, Basil, Chamomile, Tea Tree, Myrrh, Peppermint, Rosemary, Ylang Ylang

SHYNESS - Sandalwood

SINUS - Blue Tansy, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Basil, Cedarwood, Clove, Ginger, Marjoram, Tea Tree, Myrtle, Peppermint, Pine, Ravensara, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Thyme,

SKIN CARE ~

DRY - Geranium, Lavender, Patchouli, Carrot Seed

OILY - Cedarwood, Cypress, Myrrh, Carrot Seed

MATURE - Frankincense, Lavender, Rose, Carrot Seed

PROBLEM/SENSITIVE - Chamomile, Lavender, Sandalwood, Tea Tree, Carrot Seed

GENERAL SKIN CARE - Bergamot, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Fennel, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon, Myrrh, Orange, Patchouli, Rose, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang

SPRAINS - Chamomile, Lavender, Clove, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Marjoram, Rose, Rosemary, Thyme

STIFFNESS - Black Pepper, Lavender, Rosemary

STRESS - Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Lavender, Rose, Vetiver

TEARFULNESS - Geranium, Frankincense, Rose, Sandalwood

TEETHING - Chamomile, Lavender

TENSION - Clary Sage, Frankincense, Lavender, Rosemary

THYROID - Ledum, Clove, Myrrh

TIREDNESS - Basil, Ginger, Clove, Peppermint, Thyme

TONSILLITIS - Tea Tree, Bergamot, Geranium, Lavender, Thyme

VARICOSE VEINS - Cypress, Lavender, Rosemary

VIRUS - Tea Tree, Cinnamon, Clove, Ravensara, Rosemary, Rosewood

VULNERABILITY - Cedarwood, Frankincense, Sandalwood

WARTS - Tea Tree, Cinnamon, Lemon, Thyme

WEAKNESS - Atlas Cedarwood, Cypress, Frankincense, Marjoram, Myrrh, Vetiver, Thyme

PHYSICAL - Sandalwood, Myrrh, Marjoram, Cypress

EMOTIONAL - Atlas Cedarwood, Frankincense, Marjoram, Sandalwood, Vetiver

WORRY - Bergamot, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Lavender, Chamomile, Juniper, Rosewood, Vetiver

Especial care should be taken when using "hot" oils! Always use "hot" oils in extremely weak dilution of less than one percent for skin application.

Commonly used "hot" essential oils known to have the potential to cause skin irritation, include: basil (Ocimum basilicum), bergamot (Citrus bergamia), birch (Betula lenta), black pepper (Piper nigrum), cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), clove (Eugenia aromatica), ginger (Zingiber officinale), expressed (cold pressed from peel) oils of lime, lemon, orange and grapefruit (Citrus limetta, limonum, sinensis and paradisi), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citrates), oregano (Origanum compactum), Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris), Siberian balsam or silver fir (Abies siberica, alba, balsamea), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) and in some cases, tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) and peppermint (Mentha piperita).

If any of these essential oils is applied in a weak dilution of carrier oil on the skin and a hot, red irritation occurs this is the result of a burn to the skin that requires immediate attention. Always have a vegetable carrier oil like Pure Light Coconut Oil or Jojoba available to apply onto the skin in such cases!

Applying a carrier oil will have an immediate effect of calming the skin irritation. Do not wash or rinse the area with water as this will drive the essential oils further into the skin and increase, not diminish discomfort.