Aromatherapy works in several ways to combat common ailments. Essential oils contain molecules that once applied or dispersed through the air trigger nasal receptors to send healing messages to the brain. The brain then experiences changes of chemistry that tell your body to feel relaxed, cheered or numb to pain.

A common physical complaint today is arthritis. A blend of a couple of drops each of clove, ginger and peppermint oils dispersed in eight ounces of a carrier oil such as almond, olive or jojoba can be worked manually into the areas that feel sore. These oils have the effect of cooling hot spots in the body and bringing oxygenated blood to the affected areas. Tea tree oil can also be used along with geranium or lavender oil to heal cold sores. Mixed with chamomile oil it is an effective remedy for eczema.

Essential oils are also very effective when it comes to soothing the pain of muscle soreness. You can mix a few drops any one of the following oils in 8 ounces of a carrier oil and add them to a bath or rub them directly into the skin: balsam fir, pine, juniper, ginger, cloves, peppermint or rosemary.

Many aromatherapy oils are extremely effective when it comes to diminishing the pain of headaches or curing them all together. Basil, lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, neroli (orange blossom) or linden blossom oil either diffused through a room or rubbed on the temples and neck can greatly relieve headache pain that seems to be caused by stress or tension. Headaches that are provoked by sinus problems are effectively relieved by diffusions of basil, clove, eucalyptus, frankincense, lemon, lavender, juniper, pine or rosemary oils. If the headache is believed to have a hormonal cause, chamomile, clary sage, geranium, jasmine or lavender may relieve it.

Tea tree oil can be bought in commercial preparations or made into an oil by yourself by diluting two or three drops of the essential oil into eight ounces of a carrier oil such as witch hazel or aloe vera. This oil can then used to heal and disinfect small cuts, scrapes, bruises, insect bites and bee stings. Tea tree oil can also be used along with geranium or lavender oil to heal cold sores.

Aromatherapy can also be used to treat nausea. This is effectively done simply by rubbing a blend of peppermint and ginger oils in a circular motion on your stomach and pulse points or by anointing a handkerchief with a few drops so that you can sniff the aroma while on a road trip.

Did you know that aromatherapy oils can also be used to relieve jet lag and hangovers too? Oils that are very effective for warding off that feeling like you overdid it are peppermint, orange, clary sage, geranium, eucalyptus, ginger and basil. The optimum cure would be a preparation that you would blend yourself in almond oil called "hangover helper!"

******* © 2006Liz Santher - All Rights Reserved

Liz Santher is a aromatherapy enthusiast and freelance author.

http://www.AromaTherapySecret.com *******