HokeyReligions Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 One of the guys at work is a firm believer in Essential Oils. He's been touting them for a while. I'm the ultimate skeptic about things like that - I think "snake oil scam" about those things. I hurt my back a few months ago and haven't even been able to drive since then and I'm in a lot of pain most of the time. Yesterday he gave me some oil and said to put just a couple of drops on and rub it in. So I thought, what the heck, it smells pretty good anyway, so I tried it. Dang if it didn't help!! Now, I'm not a sudden convert and I still don't think there are some blends that can cure things like diabetes - but he let me bring the bottle home for hubby to try it on his aches and pains and he said it helped him too. WTF? The stuff is not cheap, but a little goes a loooong way and I think I may try one or two of the others that are recommended for things like inflamation and contact dermatitus - which I have now (oi, my head itches and the dryness is spreading down my back and the meds the doc gave me before do not help) Anyone else familiar with this? You can google Essential Oils to see what I'm talking about. There are lots of sites and different brands. I was amazed. It didn't take away all the pain, but it sure helps! Link to post Share on other sites
hotgurl Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 I use peppermint oil for headaches. You put it on a tiny piece of cotton ball and put it inside your the top of your ear. Link to post Share on other sites
Sifu Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 Sometimes if you take away the "snake" and "scam" from an oil, it actually works. If your aromatherapist knows what they're doing then yes, chances are they can help you. Just be sure you know what it is you're applying topically, since there HAVE been cases of allergic reactions. Link to post Share on other sites
Always Wrong Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 Sometimes if you take away the "snake" and "scam" from an oil, it actually works. Aaaaa, the mind is a powerful thing... all by its' lonesome. Yea man, if you convince yourself something isn't going to work, then it probably won't. Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 I use peppermint oil for headaches. You put it on a tiny piece of cotton ball and put it inside your the top of your ear. I'm going to look into that.... Stupid question here: How did you know where to put it? Or does it say on the bottle? Hokey, I'm glad that you've found something that helps! Link to post Share on other sites
quankanne Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 lol, my "essential oil" is the good old Mexican standby: Vicks VapoRub!!! My husband thinks I'm nuts, but the stuff is good for more than just loosening up a tight chest, and God bless the person who created it. that said, I don't doubt that there are certain blends of oils that are capable of easing pain or healing – remember, before all these scientific breakthroughs with decongestants and muscle soothers, people were using home remedies to soothe their aches and pains. There's still a class of folkhealers in the community who practice homeopatchic medicine (called curanderos in the Mexican community, my cousin has a practice up in Oregon that's doing pretty well), and who do a lot of good work. as for the diabetes, I've read that cinnamon helps lower blood sugars; there's some tea sold in San Antonio called "dibepan" that folks down there swear by because it's gotten them off insulin injections, but I wonder if they're not also eating and exercising properly in addition to drinking the tea! Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 Vicks VapoRub!!! LOL! Okay, my H has a love affair with vicks vaporub when he gets a cold. I can't stop laughing...I tried it for the 1st time last year (I HATE the smell of it) and it worked! Hurt like hell, but once the stinging went away, it was amazing! Link to post Share on other sites
JamesM Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 My sister in law swears by them. My MIL said they worked for her. My wife said that one of them worked for her as well. Me...I am a skeptic in these things. But seeing as I have not used them, I cannot comment. Link to post Share on other sites
Author HokeyReligions Posted January 13, 2008 Author Share Posted January 13, 2008 Thanks all, I use homeopathic remedies for various things which help, I had just not used Essential Oils before. Depending on the oil, its $30 and up for a small bottle! But a little goes a long way. Ah, Vicks It smells better than the mustard plaster I use (learned from Grandma) but it doesn't work quite a well on congestion! Someone told me once that it works on toenail fungus - where the nail gets thick and brown-yello and well, my two little toes are getting like that. I used Vicks for 3 months every day and it didn't help at all. Hmm.... I wonder if there's an essential oil for that? I keep hearing the song Pirelli's Miracle Elixer from Sweeny Todd playing in my head - the part where he says its Piss with Ink!! Link to post Share on other sites
justice Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 lol, my "essential oil" is the good old Mexican standby: Vicks VapoRub!!! My husband thinks I'm nuts, but the stuff is good for more than just loosening up a tight chest, and God bless the person who created it. that said, I don't doubt that there are certain blends of oils that are capable of easing pain or healing – remember, before all these scientific breakthroughs with decongestants and muscle soothers, people were using home remedies to soothe their aches and pains. There's still a class of folkhealers in the community who practice homeopatchic medicine (called curanderos in the Mexican community, my cousin has a practice up in Oregon that's doing pretty well), and who do a lot of good work. as for the diabetes, I've read that cinnamon helps lower blood sugars; there's some tea sold in San Antonio called "dibepan" that folks down there swear by because it's gotten them off insulin injections, but I wonder if they're not also eating and exercising properly in addition to drinking the tea! Vicks is great stuff, but even in it, there is an essential oil. Eucalyptus! Which is what makes that stuff work so well. Essental oils are good to have around, I even make some of my own. Lavendar massage oil works wonders on stress and tired muscles. Link to post Share on other sites
justice Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 One of the guys at work is a firm believer in Essential Oils. He's been touting them for a while. I'm the ultimate skeptic about things like that - I think "snake oil scam" about those things. I hurt my back a few months ago and haven't even been able to drive since then and I'm in a lot of pain most of the time. Yesterday he gave me some oil and said to put just a couple of drops on and rub it in. So I thought, what the heck, it smells pretty good anyway, so I tried it. Dang if it didn't help!! Now, I'm not a sudden convert and I still don't think there are some blends that can cure things like diabetes - but he let me bring the bottle home for hubby to try it on his aches and pains and he said it helped him too. WTF? The stuff is not cheap, but a little goes a loooong way and I think I may try one or two of the others that are recommended for things like inflamation and contact dermatitus - which I have now (oi, my head itches and the dryness is spreading down my back and the meds the doc gave me before do not help) Anyone else familiar with this? You can google Essential Oils to see what I'm talking about. There are lots of sites and different brands. I was amazed. It didn't take away all the pain, but it sure helps! Try a product called Tiger Balm for your back. It isn't an essential oil but it's magic on soreness and problematic skin. Health food stores are a wonderful source of essential oils and for more information on them. Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 Try a product called Tiger Balm for your back. It isn't an essential oil but it's magic on soreness and problematic skin. Health food stores are a wonderful source of essential oils and for more information on them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Balm My mom uses tiger balm. In my family we call in an asian health secret. When you have an upper respiratory infection, you can rub it into your back in the shape of tiger stripes, using a coin, and it "pulls" the infection out of your lungs. Hell, it works for me...but I usually have to get my mom or sisters to do it for me. Link to post Share on other sites
fral945 Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 Don't buy into any so called 'miracle cures'. They don't exist. I don't subscribe to fads ot trends, and I have disdain for those who propagate these kinds of things. I am a big believer in diet, though. I use flaxseed oil, as it helps my psoriasis. It's not a cure but part of many things I do to make my psoriasis much more manageable. I also eat a whole foods diet consisting mainly of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, seeds, nuts, low fat dairy, lean meat, and seafood. Sure, I eat junk food occasionally, but I've changed my habits to where it is not a regular part of my life. If I was you I'd think long term & work on improving your diet to get essential oils. That will help more with inflammation and your dermatitis than anything else (along with stress management). This information is not new, but getting more omega 3s and cutting back on omega 6s will help with inflammation. You should try to eat more cold-water fish oil, grass-fed red meat and natural eggs. Cut back and/or eliminate regular red meat, full-fat dairy, and processed foods (i.e., most things you can buy in a box), and foods with added vegetable oils (other than olive oil). Hope this helps. Link to post Share on other sites
Meaplus3 Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 One of the guys at work is a firm believer in Essential Oils. He's been touting them for a while. I'm the ultimate skeptic about things like that - I think "snake oil scam" about those things. I hurt my back a few months ago and haven't even been able to drive since then and I'm in a lot of pain most of the time. Yesterday he gave me some oil and said to put just a couple of drops on and rub it in. So I thought, what the heck, it smells pretty good anyway, so I tried it. Dang if it didn't help!! Now, I'm not a sudden convert and I still don't think there are some blends that can cure things like diabetes - but he let me bring the bottle home for hubby to try it on his aches and pains and he said it helped him too. WTF? The stuff is not cheap, but a little goes a loooong way and I think I may try one or two of the others that are recommended for things like inflamation and contact dermatitus - which I have now (oi, my head itches and the dryness is spreading down my back and the meds the doc gave me before do not help) Anyone else familiar with this? You can google Essential Oils to see what I'm talking about. There are lots of sites and different brands. I was amazed. It didn't take away all the pain, but it sure helps! I am a big fan of Aromatherapy! I swear by Lavender oil when I need to relax. Lavender is said to have a calming affect and it sure does! Lavender candles are also nice to burn while taking a nice warm bath! AP:) Link to post Share on other sites
Meaplus3 Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 LOL! Okay, my H has a love affair with vicks vaporub when he gets a cold. I can't stop laughing...I tried it for the 1st time last year (I HATE the smell of it) and it worked! Hurt like hell, but once the stinging went away, it was amazing! LOL! :lmao:Vick's Vapo Rub Aromatherapy at it's best! Actually... I used some last night I have a bad cold at the moment! The stuff might stink, but it work's like a charm! AP:) Link to post Share on other sites
quankanne Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 several people have told me that if you're congested or coming down with a cold, before going to bed rub Vicks on the bottom of your feet then cover up with socks. Apparently something about the way the body's circulatory system works helps alleviate the congestion. for the healthy eater, the neat tip I got from a friend was to use ground flaxseed in your food to help loosen bowel movements. And it works great, just need to be careful not to put in anyone's food but your own, because it gives people with regular movements the runs swear by Lavender oil when I need to relax. Lavender is said to have a calming affect and it sure does! Lavender candles are also nice to burn while taking a nice warm bath! I've noticed more and more baby products are including lavander and chamomile in their stuff, like oil and bath washes, supposed to work wonders in soothing Baby Link to post Share on other sites
Meaplus3 Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 several people have told me that if you're congested or coming down with a cold, before going to bed rub Vicks on the bottom of your feet then cover up with socks. Apparently something about the way the body's circulatory system works helps alleviate the congestion. for the healthy eater, the neat tip I got from a friend was to use ground flaxseed in your food to help loosen bowel movements. And it works great, just need to be careful not to put in anyone's food but your own, because it gives people with regular movements the runs swear by Lavender oil when I need to relax. Lavender is said to have a calming affect and it sure does! Lavender candles are also nice to burn while taking a nice warm bath! I've noticed more and more baby products are including lavander and chamomile in their stuff, like oil and bath washes, supposed to work wonders in soothing Baby Yes! There are are some very nice lotion's and even baby bath's with lavender in them! I have used the lotion on my kid's and the baby bath as well, and it does have a calming affect, that I noticed, lol! I know there are a ton of marketing ploy's and I try not to fall prey to them, however Lavender is true in it's affect, it work's! AP:D:love: Link to post Share on other sites
dutchie Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 Thanks all, I use homeopathic remedies for various things which help, I had just not used Essential Oils before. Depending on the oil, its $30 and up for a small bottle! But a little goes a long way. Ah, Vicks It smells better than the mustard plaster I use (learned from Grandma) but it doesn't work quite a well on congestion! Someone told me once that it works on toenail fungus - where the nail gets thick and brown-yello and well, my two little toes are getting like that. I used Vicks for 3 months every day and it didn't help at all. Hmm.... I wonder if there's an essential oil for that? I keep hearing the song Pirelli's Miracle Elixer from Sweeny Todd playing in my head - the part where he says its Piss with Ink!! Actually tea tree oil has anti-fungal properties, and it is pretty commonly available. In fact, I am sure you have heard of it before. Anyways, I hate to admit it, but I have been struggling with a bit of a funky toe myself lately, and I have been applying tea tree oil undiluted under the nail as much as I can, and then also using a skin ointment with tea tree oil in it (similar texture/consistency to vicks) 2-3 times a day. It is slowly clearing up. Also, since I have been applying it to the rest of my toes as preventative measure, the rest are all clear and pink. I also use tea tree oil shampoo to control dry scalp in winter. Link to post Share on other sites
Always Wrong Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 Yes dutchie! Tea Tree Oil is good stuff! Link to post Share on other sites
dutchie Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 I am not a certified aromatherapist, but have been studying it independently for a couple of years, and I am a massage therapist and use aromatherapy sometimes in my sessions. I totally believe that essential oils can be a beneficial addition to a healthy lifestyle, when used properly and safely. If you want to know more, this was the first book I read about it and got me all into it. essential aromatherapy, by Susan Worwood and Valerie Ann Worwood. It is a small little book with tons of info on the some of the most common oils. It tells you different uses for them ie: applications AND treatments. Also, be careful when appliying oils directly to the skin. Some are too strong and need to be diluted in carrier oils, like almond or grapeseed. Have fun with them! Link to post Share on other sites
dutchie Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 Yes dutchie! Tea Tree Oil is good stuff! I like your avatar, AlwaysWrong! Link to post Share on other sites
Always Wrong Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 Thank you dutchie! Her name is Sara. She's a Corgie! I know what you mean about dilution! When I first started putting Tea Tree Oil in my puppies shampoo to help with her skin. I got some of the raw oil in my eye. OMG! That was a major mistake! Ouch! Link to post Share on other sites
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