Essential Oils for First Aid

Essential Oils for First Aid

    "Chances are your medicine cabinet is overflowing with a slew of man-made products containing synthetic chemicals, petroleum, artificial colorings and animal by-products. From cortisone cream and mercurochrome to antihistamines and acetaminophen, many medicine cabinets resemble a wartime arsenal. Used to treat sprains, burns, cuts, bites, upset stomach, and whatever else you can use to what ails you. What other options do you have??
    Plenty! If you know what to look for. Tired of the immune-stressing offense of pharmaceuticals? Many consumers are countering this unnatural barrage with a good defense - Herbal Remedies. According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of the world's people rely on plants for medicine. And their use has skyrocketed in Europe and America in recent years, due mainly to a fear of Western medicine's side effects and its booming health care-associated costs. According to Health And Nutrition Breakthroughs, the overuse of antibiotics in Western medicine has encouraged the revival of herbal remedies, as more and more bacterial strains become immune to antibiotic drugs." Quoted from “Herbs to the Rescue”  by Tracey C. Rembert

    Essential oils are plant essences distilled or pressed from stems, leaves, fruits and flowers. They are rich in active properties that are especially potent against viruses, fungus and bacteria. By simply inhaling or topically applying these essential oils, it has been shown that patients can prevent or even eliminate the risk of infection. Essential oils are famous for fighting germs and supporting the immune system.

    Dr. Eugene Sherry of the University of Sydney in Australia said that, “when applied to the skin of infected wounds an antibacterial wash derived from eucalyptus and tea-tree oil can work when modern antibiotics fail.” Dr. Patrick H. Warnke, an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Kiel in Germany, Said that when essential oil compounds were sprayed on tuberculosis cultures "we wiped out TB, killed it, in 40 minutes. No antibiotic does that." In other studies, combinations of patchouli, tea tree, geranium, lavender, lemongrass, clove, cinnamon, lemon, and many other essential oils have been found to be remarkably effective, sometimes in as little as 2 minutes, against viruses, fungus, bacteria, plagues, and even MRSA,

    The reason pure essential oils are so effective is because unlike drugs, essential oils contain a complex mixture of active properties that will vary due to natural growing conditions. No matter how carefully these variables are controlled, every batch of pure essential oil is going to be slightly different from the one before and the one after. That slight variance prevents fungi, bacteria and viruses from developing resistance to these natural plant remedies – and it's why we can use the same essential oils to fight cold and flu that our ancestors were using centuries ago.    

    Best of all, because natural essential oils contain a combination of active properties that neutralize harmful effects, pure unadulterated essential oils are non-toxic and have no true side effects.  However their potency against toxins can cause body system cleansing symptoms as the body clears itself of those germ toxins.

    Since a wealth of 50+ year old bacteria busting research concerning essential oils exists why doesn't modern medicine consider natural options like essential oils as viable alternatives for fighting drug-resistant strains of viruses and bacteria, especially since the current treatments are only successful in around 50 percent of cases? Because Essential oils are naturally occurring and cannot be patented. So drug companies are typically not interested in using them as treatments since they do not see them as profitable. All essential oil research was abandoned when modern science discovered antibiotics.

When expecting these benefits from essential oils, it is important to use only natural essential oils of pure quality that have not been adulterated in any way.

Basic Natural First Aid Kit – ideal for traveling

Lavender, Tea Tree, Peppermint, Clove & Sweet Orange

Plus Herbal Skin Salve, hydrogen peroxide, bandages, elastic bandage wraps, Q-tips, dental floss, rubber bands, tweezers, scissors, dry towels or tissues, white willow and valerian herbal capsules.

This is the natural quick fix for whatever hurts travel kit.

Natural remedies for cuts, burns, chapped lips/skin, rashes, plant irritations like poison ivy or nettles,  bug bites, bee stings, bruises, blisters, headaches, toothaches, gum problems, sore muscles, stress, hyperactivity, athlete’s foot, nail fungus, and more!

Not all essential oils are suitable for direct undiluted application on skin (aka "neat" application),  but the oils in this basic kit will all be ok for direct skin application.

Natural First Aid Kit  - ideal for the home

In addition to the Basic kit, I like to have a more extensive home use kit that includes all of the basic oils mentioned above plus Eucalyptus, Geranium, Cedarwood atlas, Palmarosa, Sweet Birch, Grapefruit, Patchouli essential oils and the Immune Boost essential oil blend.  Plus Immune Boost and Tea tree bar soaps, Shea & Aloe lotion, Body Butter, and homeopathic remedies of arnica and ledum.

Eucalyptus will help a stuffy head sufferer sleep when applied via a room diffuser or on an eye pillow of directly on the sheet.  A couple drops just before bedtime will usually do the trick.

Palmarosa, Grapefruit, Geranium and Cedarwood atlas each have mind stimulating, uplifting, energizing qualities.  It is believed that King Solomon's reason for using  cedarwood for the temple and his palace was due to the intelligence stimulating properties of cedarwood atlas.  A couple drops or either in a room diffuser, scent ring, or on your clothes should stimulate your day.

Consider putting  a couple drops on your dish cloth for better washing, add to cleaning sprays, vacuum filters or room scenters.

Sweet Birch can be used for sore muscles like peppermint but provides a warming relaxation sensation instead of  the cooling anti-inflammatory sensation of peppermint.

Immune Boost is an awesome synergistic blend. The blend of these herbal essences has been repeatedly shown over centuries of time to be very beneficial at immune system support.  It is believed to have originated in Europe during the 15^th century plagues.  It contains Cinnamon, Cloves, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus radiata, Lemon, Lemongrass, Rosemary.  Use it on areas where lymphatic function is easily assisted such as the throat near swollen glands. Undiluted application is potent and not harmful, but if the area where you choose to apply it are sensitive and show irritation, application of skin salve will resolve it.

Skin Salve is a salve of olive oil, shea butter and bees wax that is strongly infused with 9 herbs known for healing, with additional essential oils of tea tree and lavender added.  

Homeopathic Ledum is amazingly effective on  tetanus symptoms. Take as directed on the bottle after any skin puncture.

Essential oils, skin salve & natural skincare are available at:   

Basic Natural First Aid Kit Applications

** All uses described here are only typical historical and testimonial applications for essential oils and are not given as medical advice.  Use at your own risk.  No liability is assumed by the author or any seller of essential oils.  Use only verified 100% pure natural aromatherapy essential oils not adulterated, diluted or perfumery  oils and not any fragrances or synthetic oils.

MINOR CUTS OR SCRAPES – Whenever possible you should first wash a wound with soap and water or rinse with 3% hydrogen peroxide until bubbling stops or rinse with alcohol. COMPLETELY COVER with anti-bacterial anti-viral, anti-fungal TEA TREE essential oil.  Then cover wound with SKIN SALVE and a BANDAID.  Repeat daily.

Tea tree will help reduce pain and speed healing.  Skin salve will help reduce bruising, ease itching, and speed healing. It will also reduce scarring if applied daily and kept bandaged.

BURNS – Cool with water or ice. Cover with anti-bacterial anti-viral, anti-fungal TEA TREE essential oil.  Then cover wound with SKIN SALVE and a BANDAID.  Repeat daily.

Tea tree will help reduce pain and speed healing.  Skin salve will help reduce bruising, ease itching, and speed healing. It will also reduce scarring if applied daily and kept bandaged.

SORE OR TENSE MUSCLES – Apply a few drops of straight PEPPERMINT essential oil to the sore or tense muscle area.  Rub it in for a cool/heat style treatment to help relax muscles.  If the area is red or has been rubbed to tenderness the peppermint might cause a momentary mild stinging reaction upon application.  Applying BODY BUTTER or ice or a wet compress will help without reducing the relaxation effect.

HEADACHES– Apply a few drops of straight PEPPERMINT essential oil to the sore or tense muscle area causing the headache.  Usually temples or base of the skull is most effective.  Keep out of and away from eyes!  Vapors too close to eyes may make them water, but will quickly subside.  Rub it in for a cool/heat style treatment to help relax muscles.  If the area is red or has been rubbed to tenderness the peppermint might cause a momentary mild stinging reaction upon application.  Applying BODY BUTTER or ice or a wet compress will help without reducing the relaxation effect.   Applying a cold compress or ice to the base of the skull after peppermint is applied usually helps improve effectiveness if headache is stress induced.  If heat feels better than cold to you, try a warm compress instead of cold.

BRUISES – SKIN SALVE contains herbs that help reduce bruising and inflammation.   Apply liberally and gently rub in.  If vinegar is available, apply a towel soaked in vinegar to the bruise for a couple hours to help the discoloration of the bruise reduce more quickly.  If pain persists, CLOVE oil has a numbing effect on skin.  It is most effective on sensitive skin like mouth areas, but will be mildly numbing on any skin.

BUG BITES AND BEE STINGS -  Apply TEA TREE or LAVENDER and SKIN SALVE as soon as possible.  Apply a cold compress if available to help reduce the toxin from spreading.  Tea tree or Lavender will help reduce pain and speed healing.  Skin salve will help reduce bruising and swelling,  ease itching, and speed healing.

PAIN, TOOTHACHES, CANKER SORES, AND GUM PAIN   CLOVE oil has a numbing ability especially on tender skin like mouth, lip or  gum pain.   Use a Q-tip or gauze to apply to the sore areas.  Clove is also anti-bacterial.  TEA TREE can also be used to fight mouth bacteria but it does not have the same numbing effect.  Clove will numb the area so for comfort sake, be especially careful where you touch in the mouth.

STRESS, ANXIETY, HYPERACTIVITY, INSOMNIA Lavender is well known for it’s soothing, calming and relaxing abilities.  Useful for all ages even the very young.  A few drops applied to fabric near the individual such as a pillow, blanket, collar, or car seat will help provide a soothing aroma.  A few drops on a fabric or paper towel tied to a fan or heat vent will enhance the air.  It can also be used in a diffuser.  Lavender is also mildly antibacterial and soothing to irritated skin when applied directly.   It will not stain most fabrics.

SKIN RASHES, PIMPLES, SKIN IRRITATIONS  

Wash area with soap and water, a soap containing tea tree oil is beneficial,  or rinse with 3% hydrogen peroxide or witch hazel if available. Cover with anti-bacterial anti-viral, anti-fungal TEA TREE essential oil.  Then cover the area with SKIN SALVE.  Repeat daily until healed.  Tea Tree should be soothing and reduce itching and pain within a short time, even if initial application stings momentarily. If this is not effective, or if the rash worsens, or itch or pain increases, it is likely fungal, see toe nail fungus for help.

ATHLETES FOOT, JOCK ITCH, TOE NAIL FUNGUS

TEA TREE oil has repeatedly shown to be very effective to kill the stubborn fungus rashes.  Understanding fungus is key to a natural, drug-free recovery.  Remember fungus is a live organism and sometimes reacts to the threat of eviction from it’s happy home in your skin.  Tea Tree oil is a remarkable oil that typically significantly reduces pain and itching and speeds healing when applied straight to skin - unless you encounter fungus.  Then the rules change.  When fungus is present within skin tissue, the application of TEA TREE oil can cause a sensation of tingling or even stinging.  A general rule of thumb is if application of pure full strength tea tree oil stings more than a minute, fungus is likely the cause of the skin irritation.  This stinging sensation is caused because of the die-off toxins emitted by the fungus when tea tree is attacking it.  Skin fungus is invasive, stubborn and usually deeply rooted in the internal skin layers.  Tea tree can completely remove it with liberal, consistent,  and repetitive applications to the entire effected area including the perimeter and a barrier around the perimeter of the area.  Allowing the area to dry out and not applying any moisture-retaining lotion, creams, salve or bangages is equally important.  Due to fungus’ ability to spread, it is not uncommon for the area to get worse and or enlarge before it gets better but persistence will pay off it you persevere.  Depending on the severity of the fungus it could take days or weeks to win. Take heart in knowing that this method is natural, safe, usually scar-free, and relatively cheap compared to traditional pharmaceuticals.

STICKY-GOO, SHOE MARKS, CRAYON, MARKER, GREASE,  Etc.  This is not exactly first aid but it does help with non-health related emergencies. A few drops of  SWEET ORANGE oil applied to a DRY PAPER TOWEL or tissue will easily and quickly remove an amazing amount of those messy problems.  It has been successfully used on all the above plus sticky oil paints, sticker residue, grease other difficult messes on linoleum, glass, painted surfaces, plastic surfaces, skin and more.  Although sweet orange typically is surface safe, a pre-test is always a good idea.  The best part is having a way to easily remove those difficult messes with an all natural, skin safe, edible, and pleasant smelling, easy to use solution.