Compresses

We're taking a break from Monday's With Marge during the Holiday season, but I've been browsing the November postings and finding some questions and answers worth saving.

Hi Marge! I would like to do a warm compress, but I have hesitated because I am not sure I understand the proper way to do one. Do you dilute the oils before adding them to the water to soak the towel? Could you please explain this for me? 

Cool Compress for a Headache

Nature's Gift Aromatherapy Jennifer, a warm compress is a traditional nursing method... and can be one of the most comforting methods for pain relief.

To use an essential oil compress.. from our website and my book... "Compress: Excellent for topical application to ease pain, from strained muscles, menstrual cramps, etc. Add 4 to 7 drops of essential oil to a bowl of warm water. Swish the surface of the water with a cloth, wring out, apply to area, repeat when cloth cools. You may cover the warm cloth with a sheet of plastic and a towel to keep the warmth in longer. This is an excellent method for treating painful menstrual cramps."

For a baby or toddler with an earache or teething pain, use just one or two drops of essential oil or blend, cover your shoulder with plastic wrap, put the wrung out compress on your shoulder and snuggle the wee one against the warm compress. Your body heat will help keep it warm. I remember Kathy Duffy teaching this during our CCAP course when we were covering... I forget if it was Roman Chamomile or German Chamomile... one of the "baby safe" oils---A wonderful loving way to sooth a wee one in pain.

You can do the same thing with cold water, for a cold compress, when icing is appropriate. From last week's newsletter, when Haly's husband had a LOT of teeth pulled: "She applied compresses of Helichrysum oil in cold water to his face when he would allow it, as well as spraying cold heli hydrosol on his face, as well as in his mouth." Easy peas-y... you do NOT dilute in a carrier, you add the drops of EO directly to the warm water and 'swish." Now, obviously you are going to use gentle oils, relaxants, not the strong irritants. Make sense? Try a warm compress of Sweet Marjoram and Clary Sage for menstrual cramps... you'll wonder why you waited so long to try it.

"Thank you for the info. I was not sure if a compress was falling into the neat category and wanted to make sure how to do it correctly. Thank you so much."

Nature's Gift Aromatherapy Jennifer, compresses are wonderful. Now, for example, with my Lavender allergy, I would never use a compress with Lavender, any more than I would apply even diluted Lavender topically.. but with that caveat... avoid the irritants, the 'hot' oils.. it's not something you would use on a regular basis, but it is a WONDERFUL method when the circumstances are right.    Expand your aromatic horizons and try one next time there is pain to deal with.

Daily Use?

Geno asked, "What is your opinion on daily use of eo's?"

Nature's Gift Aromatherapy "that depends."

There are too many questions in my mind for me to give an answer. What oils, and why? How used? At what dilution?

So.. since I can't address someone ELSE's "daily use" without knowing who/how/what/why, I'll describe how some of us at Nature's Gift tend to use the oils.

And the answer is, only when necessary.

We'll start with me. Because we are under an Air Quality alert because of the wildfires burning to our South East I have been using my Deep Breath inhaler two or three times a day since perhaps Friday. (I am also using the prescribed COPD inhaler and using the (also prescribed) oxygen a few hours each day.) IF I wake up in the night and something hurts, I will rub on some That's Better. If bothered by insomnia I will probably put a few drops of something sedating in the Aroma Stone on my bed table.

If I feel like "I'm coming down with something" I'll either do a really INTENSIVE diffusion of some antivirals, a conifer, some Fragonia™, perhaps.. whatever comes to mind. Again, only when needed. This is also a time that I might reach for some "aromatic medicine"... remedies taught in Mark Webb's course... dose specific for a specific goal.  (I'll also be loading up with Elderberry, Fire Cider and other natural remedies.)

I'm more apt to use an unscented base for skincare than using the oils ... unless there's some first aid necessary.. Heli for a bruise or burn, etc. Hydrosols for skincare and for emotional uses.

If the house smells like wet dog, or last night's dinner I might spray some Fresh Aire spray, or diffuse a tiny bit of Fresh Aire or a conifer... but if the weather allows I'd rather just open the windows.

Of course, I am totally immersed in airborne aromatic molecules at least five days a week. Because of that, I tend not to catch whatever is going around.

OH.. at about once a week or so.. there is rose oil in my bath... just for pleasure of it. And if we DO end up making some lip balms with cocoa and/or coffee and perhaps some Calendula for color and skin healing.. I might snag one of them. so that would be daily use... at an extremely low level.

I discussed this question with Christi. She doesn't diffuse at home because she has a bird. She'll occasionally use some Orange Oil to clean up grease. (me too!).. she will spot treat with skin care oils. I think overall she uses fewer oils than I do on a daily basis.. She normally wears a bit of our aged Sweet Patchouli on her wrists, for sheer pleasure. This week she has been wearing Vetiver and Rose, for sheer pleasure. She uses SkeeterBeater when working in the yard, and Blue Tansy for allergy flare ups.

Again, very conservative use.

I don't know of any professionals in the field who use the oils "just because."

Does this answer your question? 

Geno: "Absolutely. Perfect. I was under the impression less was more, but wanted a professional confirmation. Thank you."

Nature's Gift Aromatherapy  Geno, YES. as a daily rule, less is more. There is a time and place for 'intensive use" but not routinely, as taught by some suppliers. sorry.. had to add that!

After thought. It just occurred to me that this question ties in with my safety mantra, "Anything powerful enough to heal is powerful enough to do harm."  So if the oils are, as I believe powerful healing substances,  it shows great disrespect for their powers to use them "just because."