Six Essential Oils for Creating an Aromatherapy First Aid Kit. Holistic news and articles at The Holistic Shop.com

Many people who have tried Aromatherapy are still missing out on the full benefits of essential oils. There is still a widescale perception that essential oils are primarily aids to mood enhancement and fragrancing; there are however many essential oils with proven antiseptic, anti-fungal, air purifying, healing and sedative qualities.

In using essential oils to supplement mainstream first aid preparations, we are following in the footsteps of René-Maurice Gattefossé, the French chemist remembered today as the father of aromatherapy, who is credited with actually inventing the word "aromatherapy".

It is recounted that sometime during the 1920's Gattefossé discovered the healing power of Lavender essential oil after burning his hand whilst in his laboratory - he doused it with the nearest liquid available which happened to be Lavender oil, and was surprised to notice that his hand healed more quickly than he expected. This led him to investigate other possible healing properties of essential oils.

Although there are literally dozens of essential oils credited with medicinal properites, you can create a really useful first aid kit fairly cheaply, with just six key oils.

For ease of reference we've listed these oils below in a handy table format, with a summary of the information provided for each oil in our main Aromatherapy Guide section. We've also listed any known contra-indications or precautions for each oil.

A couple of general points will maximise the benefit you receive from essential oils:

Popular Name	Botanical Name	Useful For	Best blended with	Safety Precautions
Tea Tree	Melaleuca Alternifolia	Tea Tree's natural healing properties are used in aromatherapy to treat cuts, burns and insect bites and stings, as well as for yeast and fungal infecions such as Athlete's Foot. Tea Tree's aroma is pungent and medicinal, but its action is non irritating to the skin. Recommended usage - Tea Tree diluted one part to nine parts carrier oil makes a natural first aid remedy. Add to a bath or footbath, or as a douche for viral and fungal infections.	Eucalyptus, Pine	Dilute before direct application
Lavender	Lavandula Angustifolia	Widely used in Aromatherapy to ease tension, invigorate after tiredness and to dispel feelings of depression. Lavender's gentle yet powerful healing properties also make it ideal to treat minor burns and insect bites. Lavender is one of the few essential oils gentle enough to apply undiluted to the skin for minor cuts, bites and grazes. A few drops of the oil in a hot bath relieves anxiety and produces a pleasant drowsiness, whilst adding to a cool bath refreshes and energises. Use neat on minor burns, bites and scrapes, or on the temples to ease a headache.	Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Geranium	Lavender is perfectly safe for all home use, and is also safe to use during pregnancy; however some authorities reccommend it is best avoided in the first three months of pregnancy
Rosemary	Rosmarinus Officinalis	Rosemary is antiseptic, cleansing, invigorating and astringent, with a fresh, green,minty smell. In aromatherapy it is used for headaches, respiratory and circulation problems and fluid retention. Use in a massage, especially for muscular aches, and head massage for a greasy scalp. Add to the bath to counteract tiredness and mental fatigue. Inhale or add to an oil burner for respiratory problems.	Geranium, Peppermint	Rosemary is safe for all home use if diluted before application. However it is best avoided during pregnancy or if you have epilepsy.
Chamomile	Anthemis Nobilis	Chamomile is healing, antiseptic and sedative. Use in the bath or as a cold or hot compress for headaches and mentrual pains	Lavender	Dilute before direct application
Peppermint	Mentha Piperita	Peppermint contains Menthol, hence its energising, cooling and head clearing properties. Pepperming is useful for headaches, fatigue, varicose veins, nausea and indigestion and PMT. Add a few drops to a tissue to clear a stuffy head or relieve a headache, nausea or travelsickness. Add a few drops to a footbath to invigorate hot, tired feet.	Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Lavender	Peppermint is very potent and may irritate sensitive skin - use in moderation and always dilute before application. Best avoided during pregnancy.
Eucalyptus	Eucalyptus Globulus	Antiseptic, stimulating, cooling on the skin. Eucalyptus is a powerful antiseptic, so useful for fevers, where its skin cooling properties are also beneficial. It is also a powerful decongestant and aids breathing and chest complaints. Use in a massage, bath, inhalation, oil burner or poultice. Added to a bowl of hot water it aids breathing easier, or can be applied as a chest massage.	Tea Tree, Lavender	Dilute before direct application

Your new Aromatherapy first aid kit should come in handy for a whole range of minor ailments and injuries, both physical and emotional. Before you reach for commercially produced remedies for the following, take out your essential oil first aid kit!

Remember that your aim, when blending essential oils together for first aid use, differs from when you are creating a blend of scents. Your goal isn't to create a mood-enhancing blend of scents, but to combine essential oils in a medicinal compound. For instance, Tea tree and Eucalyptus are both very strong, pungent oils, but their healing properties are invaluable.

Lastly, please remember that essential oils cannot be used as an alternative to seeking qualified, professional assistance in the case of serious injuries or acute conditions, such as an asthma attack.

Creating Your Own Aromatherapy First Aid Kit