Essential oils: eucalyptus

Today, there is more knowledge available about essential oils than our elders ever had access to, yet we still don't know much about using them. I hope to share a bit of info about them here, especially as they relate to common ailments. Please note that essential oils are not a replacement or substitute for medical advice. If you have a persistent condition, please consult your primary care provider for treatment. 

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My grandmother was from the south. She grew up with many old school remedies for common ailments. One of them was essential oils. Fortunately for me, she used those same ancestral remedies on her grandchildren. No one really understood why or how this old wisdom worked, it just did.

If one of us developed an ear infection, Nana's remedy was to add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to a clean cotton ball and place it just inside both ears. In addition to the oil, we were fed well-balanced meals, encouraged to drink only water and hot tea with honey, rest, and if it was winter time, play indoors.

If we had to go out for school or church, and it was a particularly windy day, we were taught to cover our ears with either a hat, ear muffs, or a scarf. Within a day or two the ear pain would subside and we'd be back to playing outdoors. No big deal. 

Because I have many more oils available to me than my grandmother did, I've adapted her remedy to include other beneficial oils.

EAR INFECTIONS

1. NEVER EVER pour or put essential oils directly inside the ear.

2. For best results, be sure to use therapeutic-grade essential oils. They tend to cost more because they are very carefully distilled to keep the healing benefits intact. DO NOT USE fragrance oils (no therapeutic value).

2. You'll need: essential oils of eucalyptus, rosemary, and lavender. If you only have eucalyptus, that's fine.

3. How to use:

• Starting with the eucalyptus, place 1-2 drops of oil on your finger
• Rub the oil lightly behind and below the ear
• Trail the fingers downward along the neck to the center of the throat 
• Repeat on the other side
• Wait a minute or two for the oil to absorb
• Repeat with the rosemary
• Repeat with the lavender

*If you have to go outdoors, tear a cotton ball in half. Place a few drops of eucalyptus on it. Place it inside your ear. 

Afterwards, it is helpful to wrap/cover the ears, neck and throat to encourage the oils to penetrate deeply.

Learn more about therapeutic-grade essential oils or flip through the online catalog.

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NOTE: Essential oils are powerful and as such only small amounts are needed in an application. Anyone using an oil for the first time, should do sensitivity testing a small patch of skin prior to general use. Additionally, a carrier oil may be necessary and beneficial to dilute the oil if it not tolerated well. For more information, consult a certified aromatherapist (CA), certified holistic health counselor (CHHC), or a naturopathic doctor (ND).