Quick and Easy Essential Oil Glycerine Soaps

It is not necessary to make glycerine soaps with infused herbs all the time. Essential oils are more potent than herbs, and they provide powerful healing properties and pleasant aromas. Below are a couple of recipes that are quick and easy to make as gifts during the holiday season. Older children can also help making them for relatives.

Lavender-Peppermint Soap
4 ounces clear solid glycerine (usually about 3 cubes)
15 drops lavender
5 drops peppermint
soap molds.

Melt glycerine in the microwave (about 40 seconds) or in a double boiler. I prefer to use a double boiler. Pour hot glycerine into the soap molds. Allow it to cool slightly before adding the essential oils.

Citrus Soap
Follow the recipe above, but substitute these essential oils for lavender and peppermint.
6 drops lemon
10 drops bergamot
10 drops grapefruit
4 drops mandarin

Essential Oils and Babies - Two to Twelve Months

There is no need to use aromatherapy treatments "just in case" on a small baby. Use essential oils sparingly and only when a problem develops. Worwood recommends one massage oil blend that can be used daily or regularly but other than that  I would go easy on applying oils unless it is needed.


Oils suitable for this age are Roman and German Chamomile, yarrow, lavender, mandarin, eucalyptus, coriander, neroli. From six month of age calendula, grapefruit, aniseed, and tea tree can added.


Here is a massage formula that according to Worwood can be used for eczema, cradle cap, inflammation, cradle cap, and as a general strengthener and immune booster. It is also a calming formula, and it can be massaged on the whole body except for eyes and genitals.


Baby's Massage Oil Formula 
Geranium 1 drop
Lavender 1 drop
Roman Chamomile 1 drop
Dilute in 2 tablespoon sweet almond oil.



Here are some other situations when essential oils can come in handy.


Colic
 Rub the baby's tummy gently with the massage oil. Massage the middle portion of the back in gentle, circular movements. If the colic is severe, a massage oil can be made of 1 drop dill essential oil diluted in 1 tablespoon sweet almond oil. Use it the same way as the massage oil. 


Fretfulness
Massage is very soothing for baby and mother, since touch does wonders for any anxiety condition. You can massage your baby a couple of times a week or when needed. Massaging the feet is very powerful.


Blend 1
Roman Chamomile 3 drops
Lavender 4 drops
Dilute in 2 tablespoons of sweet almond oil.


Blend 2
Roman Chamomile 4 drops
Geranium 3 drops
Dilute in 2 tablespoons of sweet almond.


Sickness and vomiting
If a baby is constantly being sick it is suggested to look for allergies, especially cow's milk. If there are no allergies involved you can put one drop on of peppermint on a cotton-wool ball and place it in the baby's crib. Make sure it is by the foot end and not by the head. Peppermint is calming to the stomach and makes the digestion easier according to Worwood.
When vomiting is so done with such a force that the food lands several feet away a doctor should be consulted. 

Sleeping (or should I say refusing to sleep?)
If your baby has a hard time sleeping put a bowl of hot water under the bed. Make sure the bowl is not right under the head. Do this every other night only. Add 1 drop of Roman Chamomile and one drop of Geranium. Make sure you keep the door almost closed to keep the aroma in the room.


Teething
I think we all have had our share of crying babies that were in pain due to teething. Roman and German Chamomile, lavender and yarrow are suitable teething oils. Some people use clove essential oil. I like clove essential oil myself, but be aware that it is a strong oil and may cause irritation itself. Therefore, I avoid it in small babies.

Add one drop of chamomile to an egg cup full of cold water and stir well. Dip a cotton - wool ball in the mixture. Rub very gently around the baby's gums. Keep the mixture in the fridge. Aloe vera can be used instead of water.


5 drops of lavender can be mixed with one tablespoon of vegetable oil. Mix well and use 2 drops of the mixture and massage around the baby's neck area and exterior jaw.


Colds and coughs
Naturally you have to use your judgment and make sure that you go to the doctor if the baby shows sign of  a serious illness. A baby under three weeks old with a cough should be checked by a doctor. A baby that is feverish, not eating, and crying a lot should be checked by a doctor as well. 


The most simple but yet effective solution to  colds is to put a small bowl of hot water under the bed. Add 3 drops of eucalyptus.

You can also mix 10 drops each of lavender, eucalyptus, and tea tree. Add 3 drops of this blend to a diffuser and let it run all night as well as the following day. Add 2 drops of the oil blend on a piece of cotton and put it under the pillow.
Worwood suggests that the same blend can be used as an massage blend. Mix 3 drops of the blend with 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil. Massage the baby's chest and back. Don't use this blend more than a week.

Worwood recommends the following formula for severe cough, whopping cough, severe bronchitis, or other respiratory complaints.


Eucalyptus 3 drops
Hyssop 1 drop
Thyme 1 drop

This formula can be added to a bowl of hot water that is placed under the bed away from the head during the night. It can also be used in a diffuser. se this blend for three nights, take a break for two nights, and if needed use it again. Dilute the essential oils in some water before using  them in a diffuser for babies.


Please read my safety page and dilution chart. Remember that this is for educational purposes and it is not meant to diagnose. Seek professional help when needed.




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Essential Oils and Babies - Newborns

It is a good idea to purchase and make the special blends before the baby is born so that you are prepared. Valerie Ann Worwood only recommends Roman and German Chamomile, lavender, yarrow and dill for the first two months unless other oils are suggested for specific conditions. 


Don't apply any essential oils on the baby the first 24 hours, and after that it should be a good reason for it. The most effective way in using essential oils is to allow the molecules to evaporate in the baby's room. This can be done in a couple of ways:


Put a bowl of steaming water on the floor in a spot away from the baby's head. Add no more than 1 drop of essential to a pint of water.

Add 1 drop of essential oil to two teaspoon water and mix well. Add some of this water to the cupped area of the diffuser bowl. 


Ideas:

For digestive problems like constipation, indigestion, colic, diarrhea, and regurgitation Worwood recommends to diffuse dill essential oils in one of the methods above.


If the baby is not sleeping well Worwood recommends to use Roman Chamomile in the baby's room.


For purifying the air in baby's room Worwood recommeds lavender for its antibiotic, disinfectant, antiseptic and slightly antiviral properties.




Baby's first clean
An ideal oil for the baby's skin would be:
Almond oil 2 tbls
Evening Primrose 5 drops (or Borage oil)
Jojoba oil 3 drops
Wheatgerm oil 10 drops
A non aromatic blend.




Wrinkled skin
As mentioned, it should be a good reason to apply essential oils on a newborn after the first 24 hours. A good reason would be wrinkled skin.


Some baby's have dry and wrinkled skin and is common in overdue or induced babies.


Worwood used a two table spoon blend of 80% of hazelnut oil, 10% wheatgerm oil and 10% virgin olive oil for her own daughter's red flaky skin on her ankles and wrists. She made the following essential oil blend:


German Chamomile 8 drops
Lavender 1 drop


And she added 3 drops to her 2 table spoon skin oil above. The German chamomile as a blue color due to its azulane content. 
The rest of the drops can be used one drop at a time in the baby's bath. Mix it with a carrier oil first.




Diaper rash
Diaper rash is a very common problem that is very painful for the baby. You can make two different combinations according to Worwood:

German Chamomile and Lavender

 or

Yarrow and Lavender

Mix equal parts of the oils.

Add one drop of any of the combinations to a bowl with 1 pint of warm water already added. Swish around to mix. Use cotton wool dipped in the solution to wash the baby's bottom. 

A solution of apple cider vinegar( 1to 4 ratio) and water can also be used to wash the diaper area. It neutralizes the urine and ammonia and balance the pH as well. It also discourages yeast which is a common cause of the rash.

Cradle cap 
Olive oil is often recommended by Worwood thinks that almond oil is better since it is not as heavy.


Cradle cap remedy
Eucalypus lemon 1 drop
Geranium 1 drop


Dilute in 2 tbls almond oil and mix well. Massage the scalp carefully with the fingertips avoiding the fontanelle. Don't use lavender since it makes the skin grow too quickly. 


Dilution Chart Safety 
Is Aromatherapy Safe in Pregnancy? 


This is mot meant to replace the advice of a physician. It is for educational purposes only and not meant to diagnose.

Fungal Infections and Essential Oils

It is almost summer and it is not uncommon for children to pick up an infection at various places. The swimming pools and the gym are breeding grounds for infectious fungi. The children can also get ringworm from pets, contaminated soil, or person to person contact. The better the immune system is the less chance it is to get an infection.  I always build health first to make sure the little bodies can handle various challenges.

Ringworm

Ringworm is not a worm, it is a superficial fungal infection of the skin. It has a special ring formation that grows outward from the center and develop a red ring appearance on the skin. It is most common on the scalp but it can also appear on the body. It is contagious and can be spread from person to person. They can be stubborn to treat, and patience and consistence are required.

Some essential oils that show anti-fungal properties are tea tree, chamomile, geranium, lavender, myrrh, patchouli, and sandalwood.

One of the most powerful anti-microbial essential oil is tea tree/melaleuca.  

 Valerie Ann Worwood recommends to apply 1 drop tea tree neat on the affected area three times a day until it is clear. It normally takes 10 days, and after that, mix 30 drops tea tree with 2 tablespoons of massage oil. Rub this blend over the area daily. 

Valerie Gennari Cooksley suggests the following blend. The blend is a 10% dilution, as Cooksley thinks a concentrated blend is needed since fungal infections can be very resistant.

Ringworm Treatment Oil

vegetable oil 2 tbls.

tea tree 25 drops

lavender 15 drops

geranium 5 drops

peppermint 5 drops

Vitamin E 400 IU

Add the essential oils and the vitamin E to an empty dark glass bottle, add the vegetable oil. Shake the bottle to mix well. Use a Q tip to apply to the area. Cover the patch.

Soaking in the ocean or taking a sea salt bath have been useful for many skin conditions.

Anti-fungal bath

1-2 cups of sea salt

lavender 4 drops

geranium 1 drop

tea tree 1 drop

Fill the bath wit water. Add the essential oils to the sea salt and mix. Add to the bath water and stir well. 

Athletes foot

It doesn't take much for small little feet to get athlete's foot. Walking barefoot in places like swimming pools where someone infected has been can be enough.

Worwood's suggestions for athlete's foot are tea tree, lavender, and tagetes.

She suggests a foot bath daily. Add 5 drops of tea tree to a cup of salt and put in a large bowl of water. Let the child soak the feet for at least five minutes daily.

Worwood also suggests to make a foot powder by adding 10 drops of tea tree to a cup of dry green clay. Mix it really well, and powder the feet everyday.

A massage oil can also be made of 30 drops of tagetes to 2 tbls. of vegetable oil. Massage the feet before bed.

When dealing with fungal infections it is important to avoid food that feed yeast, change towels frequently, use only cotton socks, and drying the skin well. Consider adding immune boosting nutrients, and repopulate the friendly flora with Probiotics. 

Don't forget to check the safety and dilution chart to make sure the oils are suitable for your child.

Antiseptic Vinegar

This is  the time of the year when I frequently bring out my essential oils. I like to make an antiseptic vinegar to keep around the house for washing minor wounds. If the immune system is good a minor wound is normally not a problem, and the chances for infection is very small.

When I use the essential oils  the wounds normally heal faster, and the scarring is minimized.  Many of the oils also have pain relieving properties, and they are  calming and soothing. So, while not always necessary, they aid in the healing process. 

Antiseptic Vinegar

1/2 cup distilled water

1/2 cup raw apple cider vinegar

1 tsp. honey

lavender 6 drops

tea tree/melaleuca 3 drops

Roman Chamomile 1 drop

geranium 1 drop 

1 8-ounce glass bottle

Mix the essential oils with the honey. Combine the aromatic honey with the water and the vinegar. Stir well and add to the bottle. Shake well to mix. When you need to use it, soak a cotton ball in with the blend, and clean the wound.

Other oils useful in a first aid kit are: bergamot, eucalyptus, lemon, rosemary and frankincense.

Remember,  to avoid sun exposure for 12 hours if using essential oils like bergamot and lemon.

Don't forget to check the safety and dilution chart to make sure the oils are suitable for your child.

Beach Time! - What You Need for the Beach and the Sun

Our family  went down to Corpus Christi yesterday to see our oldest son run in the regional final of Track and Field. We decided to leave early so that we could spend some time on the beach before the meet started. I decided to make body spray real quick to be prepared for minor things that might happen. I wanted a spray that would cover everything from a sunburn to an insect bite.

I choose Lavender, Peppermint, Geranium and Tea tree.  A blend of lavender and peppermint, or lavender and tea tree, would have done fine also. Lavender calms the skin, and it is also beneficial for healing burns and cleansing wounds and cuts. Peppermint is cooling, soothes pain, anti-infectious and supports digestion.

Tea tree was added for its antiseptic properties as well as for potential insect bites. Geranium has inflammatory properties, is hemostatic (stops bleeding) and revitalizes skin tissues. It is also an insect repellent.

Super Duper Beach Spray

Lavender  4 drops

Peppermint  3 drops

Tea tree  3 drops

Geranium 2 drops

2 oz. distilled water

1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel

I mix the essential oils with the aloe vera before I add it to the water in the spray bottle.  Aloe Vera is anti-inflammatory, and will provide some soothing to a skin after sin exposure.

If the skin is very sore after a day in the sun you might want to pour a cooling bath and add some essential oils as well. Suitable carriers are honey, milk, aloe vera, honey and cream. Mix the essential oils with the carrier, and add to the bath water once its filled. The adult dose is 8-10 drops of essential oils to a full bath. I add half the amount to my 9 and 10 year old, dilute it even more for smaller children. 

Super Duper After Sun Healing Spray

Distilled water 1/2 cup

Witch hazel 1/4 cup

Aloe vera 1/4 cup

Lavender  8 drops

R. Chamomile 2 drops

Geranium  1 drop

Honey 1 tsp.

Mix water, witch hazel and aloe vera. Combine honey and essential oils and mix well. Add the essential oil mixture to the water. Make sure you use at least an 8 oz. spray bottle. Use several times during the day.

Other useful things to have at home in case the skin gets sunburned.

Extra virgin olive oil - has traditionally been used to treat and heal burns for centuries. The cold pressed oil is high in vitamins and minerals.

Calendula - is a staple in our house. I make infused oils and I always keep an bottle in the fridge. It can be used as a stand alone, or added to other blends, or essential oils can be added for extra healing. It is powerful on its own. I also use it as an ingredient when I make ointments. 

Wheat germ oil - Is high in antioxidants and is useful for burns and damaged skin.

Honey - Is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory and can be used as a healing agent for dressings. Essential oils increase its effect, lavender and chamomile are especially useful.

Peppermint tea - Is cooling and a good choice when it is hot and someone needs to cooled down.

Spray bottles - Make a simple spray of Lavender  and use as a cooling and soothing spray.

We joke in our family and say that we eat our sunscreen. We hydrate, eat extra antioxidants, especially beta carotene, omega essential fatty acids (not cod liver), and plenty or raw fruit and vegetables to protect our skin as well. 

Aromatic Compress for My Daughter

 




My daughter fell the other night and bruised her shoulder. She was out running in the backyard and tripped over a rock. When she came in and said that she fell and she was hurt, I immediately grabbed for my oils. My husband looked at it and made sure nothing was broken.

I like to use aromatic compresses for minor things at home. Some of the benefits of using a compress are:

• that it may relieve lymphatic and fluid congestion.
• may clear heat, fever, and inflammation.
• may improve circulation and reduce pain.
• may relieve tiredness.

Aromatic compresses are essential oils mixed with water, and applied to the skin with aid of a strip of gauze. Compresses can be either hot or cold.

Hot compresses are made with water that is as hot as can be tolerated. The hot compresses has historically been used to reduce muscular and rheumatic pain. It has also been used to draw out boils and splinters.

Cold compresses are made with ice water. It's uses include treating sprains, swelling, fever, and to relieve stress.

 The adult formula calls for 8-10 drops of oils, so for my 10 year old daughter I used half the amount oils.

4-8 oz. warm or cold water
  5 drops essential oils

I decided to use a cold compress for my daughter, but first I applied an ice pack while I was fixing the water for the compress. After the third day I will switch to a hot compress. In between using the compresses 3 times a day,

I add massage oil blend to the area.

I am really intrigued by Young Living's unique blends, and it is a convenient, and often a cheaper way to enhance the synergy** between the oils. I decided to use their PanAway blend.

The ingredients are wintergreen, helichrysum, clove, and peppermint. This is a powerful blend of anti-inflammatory and analgesic essential oils for reducing pain and inflammation. I would not use this oil on infants and very young children. It may cause skin sensitivity, so don't forget to perform a skin patch test before you need to use it.

If I didn't use PanAway I would have considered using oils like peppermint, geranium, eucalyptus, lavender, fennel , rosemary and cypress. These can be used as singles or mixed in a blend.The oils are linked so that you can make sure of any cautions when using them for your child. This is particularly important when the child is very small. The oils mentioned are oils that I would use on my 9 and 10 year old. The dilution chart will give you also give you information what oils to use for what age group.

My oldest son is playing football, and if there's severe bruising involved I add oils that stimulate the spleen, such as black pepper, chamomile and lavender. Other things to consider in bruising is to increase the intake of Vitamin C bioflavonoids, avoid aspirin, and increase dark green leafy vegetables and fresh fruit high in vitamin C.

As always when it comes to aromatherapy, check the dilution page and the safety page.


Also, check out my new blog, All You Need to Know to Get Started in Aromatherapy. It is designed to cover the most important things needed to start using essential oils successfully. Tons of things are added daily.

**Synergy

Synergy is based on the fact that the whole is greater than the sum of the part. Essential oils with similar constituents can enhance activity. For example research has shown a greater antimicrobial activity when the oils were combined.Therefore I like to mix several different oils into one blend for enhanced therapeutic value.

Chamomile

Chamomile is a very useful essential oil, and it is also gentle enough for children.

This is a good oil for psychological problems. Chamomile has historically been used for children who might feel impatient or tense due to colic, teething, or flatulence. It is also a mild sedative without any depressing effect.


 

 Historical Uses
Chamomile  was a sacred flower to the  Egyptians who used the flower as an offering to the sun Good Ra. In the middle ages it was thought that  chamomile was improving the air and it was scattered around the houses. Roman chamomile derives from the Greek word chamaimelon, melon means apple and chamai means ground. The name refers to its unique smell when it is fresh. The botanical name Anthemis means flower in Greek, and the name nobilis, which means noble, refers to its healing properties. Chamomile is a native of Western Europe.

Chamomile  has a long history of being used for its therapeutic properties. Culpeper knew about chamomile's effect on the nervous system, and he recommended it to comfort the brain and the mind. Chamomile was also used for digestive complaints and skin and mucus membrane irritations. Decoctions of the whole herb were used all over Europe.

The essential oil Roman Chamomile, ( Anthemis nobilis or Chamaemelum, nobile) is sometimes referred to as English Chamomile or Chamomile Romain. It belongs to the Asteraceae family.

The toxic constituent is Pinocarvone. It may cause dermatitis, so it is recommended to conduct a skin patch test prior to application of the oil. Chamomile is also contraindicated in the first trimester of the pregnancy.

Roman Chamomile is a small perennial herb with hairy stem. The leaves are feathery, and the flowers are white and somewhat larger than the German chamomile and they smell like apple. The flowers are steam distilled to make the essential oil.

The aroma of Chamomile is warm but it feels light and summer-like. Anthemis nobilis has a typical floral scent that brings back memories of  picking wild flowers in the summers in Sweden. The aroma is very calming and relaxing. It makes me feel very relaxed  and not stressed at all.

I perform an Organoleptic testing when I try out new essential oils. Organoleptic testing means that you use your senses to test and evaluate essential oils. I try paint a picture in my head of the aroma and to see  what color, shape, gender, and temperature it has. I also pay attention to what emotional responses I get from each individual aroma.

 One way to test the aroma is that you take a perfume blotter, which is a thin strip of paper, and dip it in the bottle. This is a great way to see if the essential oils are diluted with other substances since it most likely will show on the blotter. For example, Roman Chamomile has no color and it leaves no residue on the blotter. If the essential oil is diluted with other substances I could tell by looking at the blotter, since a diluted oil may leave some residue which I know shouldn't be there for chamomile.

 I also smell the aroma straight from the bottle to see what effect the scent have on my mind and body. After a while you learn to tell quality by smelling the essential oils straight from the bottle and you can tell an inferior aroma from a superior.

 Another way to check the essential oil is to rub it between your fingers since different oils feel different depending on viscosity etc. Chamomile dries quickly when rubbed between the fingers, but if it was diluted it might have left an oily residue.

Chamomile blends well with bergamot, clary sage, geranium, lavender, lemon, sweet marjoram, neroli, orange, rose, rosewood, sandalwood, and ylang ylang.

Chamomile also has anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties, and it is more suitable than the German Chamomile for inhalation due to its higher ester content. It's anti-inflammatory properties are useful for the skin.

Some other properties are analgesic, carminative, emmenagogue, anti-depressant, diuretic, sedative, anti-fungal, digestive and hepatic. Chamomile also makes a good tea that will calm down the nervous system and soothes the digestion.

It's Insect Time - Are You Prepared?

It is the time of the year when all the annoying flying and crawling insects are all over the place. Here in Texas we have lots of mosquitoes already, and my children are complaining that they are bugging them when they are outside. The dog is running frantically when she sees a bee on the patio, unfortunately for her we need the bees for our plants.

  So it is time to take out the suitable oils from the cabinet and make sure I am prepared for the insect invasion. It is of course a good idea to do this a couple of weeks before you need the oils, and not wait to last minute like I did this year.

There are several ways you can use the essential oils. You can make a room spray, a massage blend, drop some oil on the collar of shirts, add to a diffuser, put on cotton balls and put around the house. Another idea is to soak ribbons in water with added essential oils and hang them where you want them. Perhaps hang them in the trees surrounding your patio or in the windows inside. You can make a room spray of an oil like lemongrass, and spray the beds before bedtime to make sure no bugs find its way into the beds.

Bites and stings

Lavender and tea tree can be applied directly on the bite or sting. Drop one drop of the oil straight on the sting or bite.  You can also dip a cotton swab in fresh lemon juice, witch hazel or apple cider vinegar and add one or two drops of essential oil to the swab. According to Valerie  Cooksley, R.N. chamomile, lemon, tea tree, lavender, bergamot, and eucalyptus provide relief for pain, swelling, and itching from bites. To make it easy, you can also use Young Living's blend  Purification  for children over two years old. It is  best diluted for younger children and sensitive individuals.

Repellents

The insects' sense of smell  is very sensitive. In nature plants release certain aromatic molecules, which are essential oils, to either  attract insect for pollination, or to ward off specific harmful insects.

Insect repellent essential oils

For mosquitoes: lemon, peppermint, lemongrass, citronella, geranium, rosemary

For moths: patchouli

For house flies: citronella, geranium.

For fleas: lemon

For ants: all mints

You can also use the Purification blend as a general insect repellent, it contains the oils of Citronella, lemongrass, rosemary, Melaleuca,  lavandin, and myrtle. Other insect repellent oils are tea tree, lavender, Cedarwood and pine. Cedarwood and pine should not be used on infants or small children.

 The general rule is to use 1% dilution for children under two years old, (5-6 drops essential oil to 1 ounce or 2T carrier oil), After two years a 2% dilution may be used (10-12 drops essential oil to 1 ounce or 2T carrier oil). So for older children it will be about half of the adult dosage.

Use the dilution chart to adjust the amount for the age of your child. The dilution chart will also give you an idea what oils are appropriate for each age group.

For example here is an insect repellent recipe:

7 drops lavender

6 drops Melaleuca/tea tree

9 drops Eucalyptus radiata

 The easiest is to blend all the essential oils and then add the proper amount to a carrier. The total amount makes 22 drops, I cut it in half  for my 10 year old daughter and add it to 2 tablespoons of carrier oil. This makes 11 drops of essential oil to 2 tablespoons of carrier oil, which is roughly 2%.

Here is a Bug Off skin oil to apply on the skin. Avoid eyes and be careful not to put any oils on the face on very young children. Don't expose the skin to sun 12 hours after applying lemon essential oils.

2 tbls. vegetable oil

5 drops cedarwood

4 drops lemon

2 drops geranium

1 drop citronella

The above blend is a 2% dilution,  12 drops of essential oils to 2tbls. of carrier oil. 

As always experiment, make your own blends, or use the oils you have available, you don't need to follow the recipe if you don't want to. Make sure you read the safety page and the dilution chart to make sure you are aware of what oils are suitable for your child..

Recipes - Link Page

Summer - Link Page

It's insect time - are you prepared?
It's beach time! Everything you need for the beach

Calming an Overactive Child

An overactive child isn’t necessary “hyperactive” and sometimes children are overactive at certain times. Refined carbohydrates, MSG, food colors and additives have been known to cause overactivity in children. Some children become hyperactive when they eat something they are sensitive to. State of overstimulation and excitement may benefit from relaxation and sedative essential oils. These oils may also be beneficial in tantrums, anxiety attacks, and overtiredness.

Aromatherapy works on a subtle level. Relaxation oils are natural plant derivatives that may aid the body in relaxation, slowing the respiration and heart rate, and soothing an overstimulated nervous system. The most effective methods utilizing aromatherapy are using those oils which cross the blood-brain barrier by inhalation.

Massage is less direct but also effective. It is important to remember to use stated doses when using therapeutic relaxation oils and not too much. An opposite effect takes place if the oils are overused.

Calming Mist- a room spray to relax, this can be diffused in the air, and you can even spray it on things if needed.  

1 cup distilled water
10 drops  lavender
5 drops marjoram
2 drops sandalwood
a spray bottle with mist nozzle

Add the drops to the spray bottle. Shake before spraying.

Aromathic baths are relaxing and calming, and using diffusers are also a great way to spread the healing oils.

Other relaxing and calming oils are chamomile, clary sage, mandarin, marjoram, neroli, orange, sandalwood and tangerine.

Respiratory Link Page

Allergies Link Page

Behavior Link Page

Calming an overactive child

First Aid Link Page

Aromatic compress
Antiseptic Vinegar 

Essential Oils LInk Page

Chamomile

Special Needs

Infants Link Page

Aches and Pains Link Page

Aromatic compresses

Immunity Link Page

Free E-Book-Aromatherapy for Children Link Page