Essential oils on the homestead

InHisName · #1 06/13/10, 06:49 PM

Read an article in the new Countryside on using basil essential oil- quite interesting. Do you use them? I do use them in our cp soaps, but have not used them in much else, but would like to learn. Where do you begin? What company do you use to purchase them? What about treating your animals?

Trisha in WA · #2 06/13/10, 07:48 PM

I have used a few...tea tree oil is a favorite. I use it for cleaning sticky residue from labels on glass or plastic...just a drop will do. I also mix it in my salve for its antiseptic/antibacterial qualities. I have used peppermint essential oil to ease heart burn.
Lemon essential oil is nice in a spray bottle with water as a room freshener.
I have been buying them from Azure...Aura Casia is the brand I get. I can't be sure what grade it is, but it has worked for the few things I use it in.
I read that same article and it has made me question the brand. So, I would like to hear what brands others use too.

Maura · #3 06/13/10, 09:41 PM

Never use ti tree oil on a cat.

I use essential oils from Camden Grey, I can also get carrier oils from them. I use lavender and ti tree for most things. I also have:

bergamot
birch, sweet
cajeput
carrot seed
fir needle
frankincense
geranium
helichrysum
jasmine
lantana camara
lavendin
lemongrass
lime
litsea cubeba
myrrh
myrtle
niaouli
palmarosa
patchouli
pink grapefruit
ravensara
rose otto
rosemary extract
rosewood
sandlewood
spikenard
ylang ylang

InHisName · #4 06/13/10, 11:07 PM

Trisha, that is the company we've used too. Ordered some basil tonight from Azure- I do like tea tree for fungal problems, dd has issues with atheletes foot, and that sure does a great job.

deb · #5 06/13/10, 11:34 PM

Before starting to use a lot of essential oils, you should remember they are a chemical and spend a little time looking into their health safety.

There's a lot of information available. Here is one source : Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy

Quote:

Herbs to completely avoid during pregnancy
Herb - Reason to avoid
Basil oil - A uterine stimulant; use only during labour.

Rosemary and rosemary oil A uterine stimulant in high doses; safe in moderation and normal culinary use. Avoid using the oil entirely.

deb · #6 06/13/10, 11:40 PM

Before starting to use a lot of essential oils, you should remember Essential Oils are chemicals and they are often drugs. Please spend a little time looking into their health safety.

There's a lot of information available on the Internet. Here are 2 items from one source : Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy & Herbs to Only Use in Moderation

Quote:

Herbs to completely avoid during pregnancy
Herb - Reason to avoid
Basil oil - A uterine stimulant; use only during labour.

Herbs to use only in moderation during pregnancy
Herb - Reason to avoid
Rosemary and rosemary oil - A uterine stimulant in high doses; safe in moderation and normal culinary use. Avoid using the oil entirely.

Deb
in wi

motdaugrnds · #7 06/14/10, 07:37 AM

I am not very knowledgeable about essential oils. What I use is in oil form; so maybe that falls under the term.

I use Coconut Oil to aid in reduction of chlorestral & immune system support (along with Tumeric and Selenium), FlaxSeed Oil to help keep moisture in my body as I age (along with "ground" FlaxSeed to aid digestion), MSM to help my joints stay healthy.

I have read somewhere there were herbal oils to actually clean our a digestive tract and I am looking for those simply because I am up in years and figure a good cleaning would only benefit me. Any suggestions in this regard would be welcomed.

**Cabin Fever** · #8 06/14/10, 08:20 AM

The only essential oils we use on our homestead are:
10W-30
5W-30
two-stroke
DOT 3 brake fluid
kerosene
Dexron III and Type F
SAE 30

I'm probably forgeting a few other essential oils we have here on the homestead.

Forerunner · #9 06/14/10, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

The only essential oils we use on our homestead are:
10W-30
5W-30
two-stroke
DOT 3 brake fluid
kerosene
Dexron III and Type F
SAE 30

I'm probably forgeting a few other essential oils we have here on the homestead.

What ?

No 10w hydraulic....or 20 ?
No 85-140 for those essential gearboxes ?

You folks really do rough it up there in American Siberia......

Maura · #10 06/14/10, 12:27 PM

Motdaugrnds, those are not essential oils, they are fatty acids. If you are concerned about your bone health, you should be saving the meat bones and making broth from them. Bone broth (turned into rice, soup, or stew) is excellent at bone building.

www.camdengrey.com lists the essential oils and carrier oils (coconut oil,...) with their properties and any cautions.

To cleanse the digestive tract, you can start with 1 teaspoon every morning of psyllum husks, with a glass of water or juice. If you notice no difference, up it to 1 tablespoon. You can get psyllum husks at a health store, it will last a long time. For a mild kidney cleanse, one quart of organic apple juice with one cup of olive oil (sip all morning). For other cleanses, go to www.huldaclark.com

byexample · #11 06/14/10, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

The only essential oils we use on our homestead are:
10W-30
5W-30
two-stroke
DOT 3 brake fluid
kerosene
Dexron III and Type F
SAE 30

I'm probably forgeting a few other essential oils we have here on the homestead.

LOL, that's pretty funny. Thanks for the laugh.

We use a variety of essential oils from time to time. It is almost always advised to dilute them in some sort of carrier oil as most are extremely potent and expensive.

culpeper · #12 06/14/10, 06:14 PM

Be very careful ingesting essential oils - they are all toxic, because they are so concentrated. If you want to take a herb medicinally, it's best as a 'tea' (infusion or decoction') or a tincture (infused with alcohol).

Essential oils are most often used in Aromatherapy - there are plenty of sites out there which list the benefits of various EOs in this way. The oils can be burned, or added to a bath, or added to candles, or a few drops can be added to water and sprayed around the room. A drop or two can be added to a potpourri from time to time to enhance the perfume. Put a drop or two into the dust-bag of your vacuum cleaner.

Essential oils can be added, a few drops per load, to the final rinsing water in the laundry, or a final hair-rinse, or to the water which you use to wipe over kitchen or bathroom surfaces. Not only to things smell nice, but certain EOs have antibacterial and/or antifungal properties. Thyme would have to be the strongest for cleaning purposes (guess where Thymol, as used in hospitals, comes from!).

Certain EOs can be used externally (usually diluted with a carrier oil) to treat arthritic pain, burns, eczema etc. They can also be used as insect repellents.

When you have a cold or flu, a drop or two of peppermint oil or eucalyptus (the best) oil in a bowl of boiling water makes a very effective steam inhalant for 'clearing the passages'.

Tea-tree oil is very effective for fungal infections when applied directly. On delicate areas, it's best diluted with a carrier oil.

Eucalyptus oil is marvellous for removing sticky labels from jars etc.

Check out some of the sites here for more uses:
http://www.google.com.au/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&q=uses+for+essential+oils&meta=&btnG=Google+Search

Patt · #13 06/14/10, 07:03 PM

We use tea tree oil for an antifungal and antiseptic and bug spray. I use peppermint to keep ants away and lavendar and rosemary just to add to household homemade cleaners.

InHisName · #14 06/14/10, 10:00 PM

Thanks, culpeper, for the info. Will check it out. I am most interested in treating things like arthritic pain, skin conditions, etc- for animals and people. here is a good page from the link above: http://www.naturesgift.com/essentialoil-skincare.htm

watcher · #15 06/15/10, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

The only essential oils we use on our homestead are:
10W-30
5W-30
two-stroke
DOT 3 brake fluid
kerosene
Dexron III and Type F
SAE 30

I'm probably forgeting a few other essential oils we have here on the homestead.

You forgot the most essential oil of all, one of the two things required for life. . .WD40!

If it moves and shouldn't: Duck tape. If it won't move but should: WD40.

InHisName · #16 06/15/10, 08:01 AM

I think the most important oil for CF's household is spinning wheel oil! It is a necessity here, too.
Was reminded in reading about medicinal oils- it is tick season here, and citronella oil is a great deterent- so putting that on the dogs today, a few drops in some veg oil, then somehow to their skin-