Rose Moroc: (rosaceae) mature skin, promotes cell renewal, ideal for all skin care, broken capillaries, inflammation, menstruation, vomiting, flatulence, nerves, depression, circulation, aphrodisiac, insomnia.

Rosemary: (rosmarinus officinalis) acne and congested skin, is well known for its ability to leave one feeling invigorated. Used to stimulate hair growth. Also used as a remedy for headache due to gastric disturbance, to stimulate the liver’s bile production, muscular pain, rheumatic pain, colds, headache, memory, circulation, lice, hair tonic, obesity, cellulite, air purifier.

Caution: Oil should not to be used in pregnancy, high blood pressure, epilepsy and early stages of cancer.

Sage: (salvia officinalis) acne and oily skin, cuts, dermatitis, dandruff, gingivitis, gum infections, sores, asthma, antiseptic, eczema, gastric disorders, constipation, depression, diuretic, menopause, vertigo, flatulence, stimulant, leucorrhea and rheumatism, relieves itching, reduces sweating. Caution: Oil should not be used with alcohol; avoid with high blood pressure, epilepsy, early stages of cancer and stops milk in breast feeding mothers.

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Plants were used for thousands of years in the most ancient healing practices of mankind.

There is evidence of the use of essential oils in the archaeological discoveries of ancient cultures such as Egypt, China, India, Babylon and Greece. The evidence suggests that the oils were part of sacred ceremonies, not only for embalming but also fur treating mania, depression and nervousness.

Modem Aromatherapy was fathered by the French chemist Dr Rene-Maurice Gattefosse. He discovered the healing properties of Lavender oil, when he burnt his hand on a burner and thrust it into a vat of lavender oil. He immediately felt relief from the pain and the bum healed quickly with no scarring.

Dr Jean Valnet took the discoveries further and used oils in the treatment of war injuries and disease during World War 2. As far back as the fourth century BC, Hippocrates, the father of medicine, said that…..”the way to health is to have an aromatic bath and scented massage every day”. He noted then the burning of certain aromatic substances offered protection against contagious diseases.

“Aromatherapy is a natural practice which touches our soul with the scented energies of the earth. It is an aged old art, only now resurfacing in these trying times, offering hope in the use of our plants in the form of essential oils”.

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How to Make Ointments

Bee’s Wax 20 g, Oil 100 mis, Wheatgerm Oil 25mls, Essential Oils 1.5 mis Heat the oil and wax together, in a double saucepan. When the mixture melts take off the heat.

Before the mixture solidifies add essential oils and pour into jars. To speed up the cooling process place jars into a cold water bath. Then label and store in a cool place.

Optional – ltbsp., honey or 5 mis of vinegar can be added to ointments. Ointments to have in your medicine chest -

Papaya Ointment: can be used for age spots, boils, bums, eczema, psoriasis, skin disorders, sore nipples, wounds, insect bites, nappy rash. Guava ointment: arthritis, bums, eczema, gout, psoriasis, impetigo, itching, joint and muscular pain, rheumatism, scabies and wounds. Other beneficial ointments are arnica, calendula, thuja and St. John’s wort, (see herbs).

Creams

Creams are sometimes preferred to ointments as they are absorbed more readily into the skin. Where large areas of the skin are treated, creams are decidedly more convenient especially for sunburnt skin.

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Oatmeal is soothing and healing as a facial cleanser, mask, softener and nourisher. . Oatmeal facial masks are used for excessively oily skin, cysts, black-heads and blemishes. Mix 3 tbsp. of cooked oatmeal with honey and stiffly beaten egg whites to a smooth paste and apply all over the face and leave on for 1/2 hour before being washed off. Oatmeal is used as a substitute for soap use in the bath to relieve psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis. Oatmeal foot baths are a real treat for tired aching feet. Cook up a large quantity of oatmeal to a soupy consistency, pour into a large bowl and soak up to 1/2 hour.

Wheat-Germ Oil

This is rich in vitamin E, is beneficial for healing of damaged skin and as a natural preservative.

Witch Hazel Lotion

Is astringent and styptic (a substance that stops bleeding). It is used as a skin astringent and ideal for oily skin. It is also used as an underarm deodorant.

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Almond Meal

Sweet almonds are ground up into a meal which can be used as a facial mask, for oily or blemished skin.

Almond Oil: has long been known as a reliable beautifier. Used for all skin types, it helps to reduce red veins in sensitive skin, making it appear thicker and creamier.

Apple Cider Vinegar

This has been used in cosmetic preparations since ancient times for it restores the acid mantle (pH level) of the skin keeping it in a healthy condition. Apple cider vinegar balances oily skin and dry skin. Added to the final rinse after shampooing , it leaves the hair soft and shining. It is also beneficial for dandruff when applied to the affected areas. Before applying to the skin dilute 1 part vinegar to 8 parts water. Apple cider vinegar is used to alleviate pain and help reduce sprains, muscles soreness, bums, and to reduce temperatures. It eliminates body odour, athletes foot and relieves itchiness when rubbed onto insect bites.

Rejuvenating Facial Massage: Add 125 ml of apple cider vinegar to a small hand basin of warm water. Dip hands into the solution then apply to face and neck and massage well into the skin. Repeat as often as you feel, then rinse well with cold water.

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1. Check the position of your head and neck and breathe in through the nose as you loosely lift the shoulders, breathe out noisily as you drop them, and go limp in the chair. Try it eight times,.

2. Roll each shoulder first back then forward in a circle

Keep calm when facing an angry boss

(keep the arm limp). After you have circled both shoulders eight times in each direction, try doing both together.

3. Raise arms to the ceiling and stretch without straining, then let them fall loosely towards the floor.

4. Add any shoulder or arm exercises you know and stand up to do a few loose swinging arm movements.

5. To exercise the legs draw eight circles with each big toe, clockwise and anticlockwise.

6. Finish by standing up and loosely shaking the whole body.

Shaking increases circulation and lets fear out. Dogs don’t stop themselves shaking when they are afraid. Don’t try to control nervous shaking. Stand up and encourage it. If it is not suppressed the need to shake (and to cry or be angry) will diminish.

Don’t push yourself to do more exercise than you can manage, but carry on slowly even if it hurts. It may be uncomfortable. Remember the tight arm band previously mentioned? Taking it off the arm would make the hand feel more uncomfortable for a time, but it would be curative. In the same way, some people have held their head and shoulders tight for so long that they need the help of an osteopath to free the joints. In tranquillizer withdrawal it is not advisable to tighten groups of muscles before letting them relax. Because the muscles are not behaving normally it increases spasms. It is better to use your imagination. Pretend that your feet/legs/trunk/arms etc. are being bathed in warm water or sunlight. This allows them to go slack and heavy. Avoid using the word relax. Some people are so frustrated by their unsuccessful attempts at relaxation that the word is a trigger for more tension.

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This can happen as aside-effect and withdrawal reaction. When it happens whilst you are on tranquillizers it could be what is called the paradoxical effect. Instead of feeling calm and relaxed the user may feel disinhibited and full of rage. Mothers are often afraid they will hurt their children during these attacks. Losing your temper out of all proportion to the situation is distressing and very common. Help the people around you to understand this is temporary and not your real personality. Give them any literature you have about withdrawal, and take them to the support group where they will see other people with the same problem.

Your personality may have temporarily changed whilst you were on the pills. So often the cry is ‘I just want to be the person I used to be.’ Your old self is still there. It will come back. Some users have suppressed their emotions for so long that when the pills are taken away, they temporarily become aggressive and hard to live with. It is difficult for you and your family, but necessary for a while, to get you in touch with normal feelings again.

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Here is another extract from the Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry (1983):

This shows again the importance of attention to correct breathing. Over-breathing is breathing in a rapid and shallow way which results in a fall in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood. The resultant symptoms include dizziness, tinnitus (noises in the ears), headache, a feeling of weakness, faintness, numbness and tingling in the hands, feet, and face, carpopedal spasms (severe cramp in hands and feet), and precordial discomfort (area of the chest over the heart). There is also a feeling of breathless-ness which may prolong the condition. When a patient has unexplained bodily symptoms, the possibility of persistent overbreathing should always be borne in mind.

The anxious person tends to overbreathe, whilst the depressed person often takes a short in-breath and has a long sighing out-breath.

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This could take most of the fear of the illness away, and hasten your recovery. You will recover—but there may be times when you need to be constantly reassured about this. Talking with someone who has been through withdrawal, or a sympathetic doctor, is the first step on the road to recovery. Try to overcome feelings of guilt, or of being a nuisance. It often only takes a two-minute telephone call to allay a fear, or explain a symptom. As you recover, your confidence will grow, and as you become more independent, reliance on your helper will disappear.

If you feel that the pills have stopped working and you have to increase the dose to get the same effect, or if you feel ill when you do not take the pills, then you could be dependent.

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