Essential Oils for Summer Ailments

As we head into the summer months filled with travel, outdoor projects and activities, it’s important to be prepared for the scrapes, bumps and bruises that oftentimes accompany this busy season. Therapeutic essential oils provide a simple and effective way to manage these ailments and may provide you with additional health benefits.

Therapeutic essential oils can be used to treat sunburn, repel insects, soothe indigestion and heartburn, and expedite the healing process of strains and sprains. Therapeutic essential oils possess a unique molecular structure, which allows them to penetrate cell walls, transport oxygen, nutrients, and the chemical constituents of the oil.

Therapeutic essential oils should always be diluted with an organic carrier oil such as almond, jojoba, olive or peanut. Generally, this dilution is ten drops of carrier oil to one drop of essential oil. With the exception of Lavender and Tea Tree oil, therapeutic essential oils should never be applied directly to the skin. When using therapeutic essential oils, it is always recommended that you consult with your healthcare professional. If you are pregnant or nursing, avoid using therapeutic essential oils unless under the supervision of a certified and licensed professional.

The following is a list of ten common summer ailments and the therapeutic essential oils used to treat them.

Athlete’s Foot can be treated with Tea Tree oil – an antibiotic, antifungal, antiseptic and antiviral. Add 15-20 drops to a footbath and soak your feet for fifteen minutes, three times per day. Be sure to thoroughly dry your feet and between your toes after each soak. Additionally, apply 2-3 drops on a cotton ball and dab the infected area.