Essential Oils for Specific Ailments

Physical/Physiological

Digestion: Sweet fennel, peppermint, lemon or ginger can help relieve indigestion. Chamomile can be used to relieve stomach cramps. Coriander, peppermint or cardamom can help relieve constipation.

Respiratory: Eucalyptus, myrtle, naiouli, peppermint, rosemary or cajeput can bring relief from congestion due to colds, flu or allergies.

Infection: Tea tree, eucalyptus, thyme, oregano, savory, clove, lavender & palmarosa are all strong anti-infectious oils that support the immune system. Some of these oils can be skin irritants so use with extreme caution. Consult a professional for best results.

Circulation: Rosemary, juniper berries, cypress can be used to stimulate and improve sluggish circulation and problems associated with it like varicose veins.

Detoxification: Juniper, cypress, grapefruit and sweet fennel can aid the body in eliminating toxins, and can help reduce cellulite, a common symptom of poor detoxification.

Joints & Muscles: Ginger, juniper, nutmeg, and black pepper with their warming properties can help soothe aching muscles, while marjoram and lavender with their relaxing properties, can ease muscle tension and tightness.

Skin Conditions: Lavender, geranium, chamomile, sandalwood or helichrysum can be used to alleviate skin rashes while tea tree, lavender or rosewood can relieve minor skin irritations and acne.

Headaches: Lavender, marjoram, basil and peppermint can bring relief from a variety of headaches. Peppermint is especially effective for relieving any type of acute pain.

Emotional/Psychological

Insomnia: Lavender, marjoram, clary sage, chamomile, sweet orange, sandalwood or cistus can relax you and help you achieve a deeper, more refreshing sleep.

Depression: Citrus oils like sweet orange, pink grapefruit, neroli, tangerine, bergamot, and florals like rose, geranium, ylang, ylang and jasmine in particular, are especially helpful

Anxiety/Nervousness: Neroli, sweet orange, bergamot , geranium, patchouli, sandalwood, cedarwood, chamomile or clary sage can relieve anxiety while lavender or marjoram can help with panic attacks

Self-Esteem/Confidence: Cedarwood, bergamot, jasmine, ylang ylang, geranium, sandalwood or balsam fir all help improve both self-esteem and confidence.

Grief/Coping: Cypress, marjoram, rose, helichrysum, melissa, chamomile, and petitgrain can help express grief and encourage "letting go" or releasing feelings of grief or sorrow.

Anger/Fear: Lavender, chamomile, rose, bergamot, patchouli or petitgrain can help calm down feelings of anger while cypress, lemon, frankincense, sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli, sweet fennel or rose can help dissipate fears and open communication.

The above information was culled from various sources and is by no means intended to be an exhaustive list. It is provided for informational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own natural health professional, physician or medical professional, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

For more info, see some of the books on our recommended reading list and refer to Methods for Using Essential Oils and Blends for information on the different ways in which essential oils can be applied.