Excellent Aromatherapy Guide

The suggestions given on the following pages are for first-aid treatments and for treating mild conditions only. If the symptoms do not improve or the condition is (or becomes) serious, seek medical advice immediately, because would be irresponsible — and could be dangerous — to continue self- treatment or treatment on friends and family members. However, the aromatherapy treatments suggested here can certainly help you deal with minor ailments and accidents.

Headaches and migraines

• Make a cold compress using lavender and peppermint. Apply the cold compress to your forehead and lie down in a darkened room until the pain eases. Replace the compress with a new one once it reaches body temperature.
• Drink a calming herbal tea, such as lime flower, vervain, lemon balm or chamomile.
• Massage your neck with 3 drops of marjoram mixed into 5 ml (1 tsp) of base oil. Migraine and headaches are often caused by stress and tension, and a neck massage with a warming essential oil like marjoram may well reduce this.

Dandruff

(here are two types of dandruff: simple dry dandruff, where small particles of dry skin flake off the scalp and get trapped in the hair; and what is known as seborrheic dermatitis, where over-production of sebum causes excess sebum lo get trapped in patches of skin on the scalp, which can then become infected, causing itching, scabbing and inflammation.

• For dry dandruff, mix 3 drops each of ti-tree and lavender in 10 ml (2 tsp) of base oil, and give yourself a thorough scalp massage several times a week. lry also adding 4-5 drops of ti-tree or lavender to 5 ml (1 tsp) of a mild, unfragranced shampoo and using this to wash your hair.
• For seborrheic dermatitis, follow the same methods as above, but use bergamot, sandalwood and lemongrass instead of lavender and ti-tree. These essential oils help to balance sebum production and lemongrass is an effective treatment for dermatitis.

Acne

Refer to the advice on oily skin care (see pages 62-63), and in addition try the following treatments.

• Dab individual spots several times a day with a drop of neat ti-tree oil on a cotton wool bud, applying it carefully so that you do not touch the surrounding skin.
• If scarring occurs as the spots heal, apply a little of the following mixture twice a day: 2 drops of neroli and 1 drop of lavender mixed in 5 ml (1 tsp) of calendula oil.

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