To begin with, what are healing essential oils? They are plant extracts, found in the flowers, leaves,fruit and roots. The essential oil is found in different parts of the plants, in some plants the oil might be in the flowers while in other plants there might be 2 or 3 different areas that the oil is extracted from.

An example of this is the bitter orange tree. The oil can be found in the leaves, the flowers and the fruit peel, 3 different oils are extracted from these 3 different areas.

Healing essential oils are also known as Aromatherapy oils. These oils have been around for thousands of years and were used by the ancient people of Egypt, China, Middle East, India and Greece.

Egypt was probably the first to use plants as medicines, perfume and cosmetics. They used perfumes as gifts to the Gods and had small rooms in the temples where the plants were prepared.

It wasn’t until the middle ages that it was developed more in Europe and also became a sort after form of holistic healing.

Healing essential oils treat the ‘whole person’, mind, body and spirit, and it seems that as more people come to understand that conventional medicines don’t address the cause of their problems, but rather mask them, we are turning to natural remedies more and more.

While some people may view essential oils as a ‘magic potion’ they are not, but they do have amazing healing properties and are used by different practitioners for different reasons, while also being used by perfumers.

One of the most common uses of healing essential oils is massage. The reason this is becoming more popular; is because it uses 2 of our close range senses, that of touch and smell. This in itself starts the healing process.

So how can these oils help? From the smallest scratch to

• depression
• overweight
• insomnia
• relieving stress
• burns
• bruises
• coughs and colds
• sprains and strains
• arthritis

Their uses are many, add healing essential oils to your household cleaning products,shampoos,body lotions or start making your own so you know they are safe for you and your family. You will find using these oils around your home for all your needs, a pleasure; be it for cleaning, relaxing, taking care of your skin and hair, fighting off coughs and colds, healing ailments or even using on your family pet. They have many, many benefits.

If you mention peppermint, many people immediately think of candy canes or after-dinner mints. There isn’t any real peppermint oil in those, but the thought of peppermint for digestion is there. They do however contain sugar which will make some stomach problems worse.

I personally like putting a drop of peppermint in my water at restaurants. It helps digest food and is better that most of the other beverage options. I will also put a tiny bit on my tongue to freshen breath instead of mints or gum. And a bonus is that it will curb the appetite.

Peppermint is a powerful essential oil that has antiviral and antibacterial properties. One drop of peppermint oil is equal to 26 cups of peppermint tea. Powerful indeed! It’s ability to stop nausea from stomach up set or indigestion is well-known and is amazing to me. And a cup of this tea in the afternoon on a cold day can be a needed pick-me-up!

Our grandsons have had nausea from a stomach virus in the past and peppermint helped stop it in no time. For very young children you would want to dilute it 50/50 with either olive oil or a good organic vegetable oil. It can be applied to the bottoms of the feet.

Have you ever had motion sickness of any kind? I use to get car sick a lot, especially if I rode in the back seat. I sure wish I had peppermint oil back then. Just inhaling it will stop nausea most of the time. Rarely would you have to apply it topical. I carry a bottle with me all the time. You never know when you or someone with you will need it. I have also took family members home from the hospital feeling like they are going to lose their cookies and peppermint kept that from happening.

Morning sickness is no fun either. I had that when I was pregnant with my first baby. Not only did I have the typical morning sickness, but I was working in a hospital sterilizing surgical instruments and the solution was making me very nauseous. There again, I wish I had peppermint oil. Inhaling it or applying to the bottoms of my feet would have been excellent.

Peppermint essential oil can also relieve the symptoms, including nausea, of IBS and Crohn’s. If you have ever been somewhere besides home and get an attack of IBS, peppermint can be a blessing.

This essential oil is not only good for stomach and digestive problems, but for many other things as well, such as headaches, fever, memory, energy, sinus congestion, pain relief, itching and more. It is a very versatile oil.

Carol is an essential oil educator and a certified reflexologist. As a distributor of Young Living Essential Oils, she teaches the importance of using genuine, authentic essential oils for health and healing. She has been an advocate of natural health and wellness for the past 35 years. Among the things she has studied includes, the use essential oils, iridology, muscle testing, nutrition, tapping and other forms of energy medicine.