ESSENTIAL OILS FOR YOUR FIRST AID KIT
Thanks to "Old South Essential Oils" and "Essential Oils Pedia"
Having many of these oils in your first aid kit will allow you to treat common minor injuries or illnesses. This is not a complete list but hopefully it is helpful.
The list is made from ideas presented on the above 2 websites with only the first four oils overlapping on both lists. To distinguish between the 2, I have italicized the information from Essential Oils Pedia and left the Old South Essential Oils entries in normal type.
1. Lavender – a fantastic multi-purpose oil. Diffuse it to aid in sleeping, use it topically to treat bee stings or other insect bites, treat sunburn, ease headaches, relieve the itching of rashes and reduce inflammation, ease the swelling of sprains and lift the spirits. Use it mixed with water. You can rub it on your skin as well to keep mosquitos at bay and smells a lot better than insect repellent.
(Used for Calming, Stress Reduction, and more) This universal oil is great for almost every first aid need. It heals burns and cuts, relieves insomnia, reduces stress and anxiety and is a powerful antihistamine. You can also use it for bug bites, bruises, sleep deprivation, allergies, inflammation,sunburns, lice, and more. It is soothing to skin irritations and takes the pain out of bee stings, hives and other allergic skin reactions. It helps with earache and depression. It is the number one oil you must have in your survival kit.
2. Tea Tree or Melaleuca Oil – this oil is wonderful for sanitizing minor cuts or scrapes, treating bug bites and blisters (works wonders for clearing up pimples, too). Apply it topically with no need to dilute it. Great for getting rid of bacteria, fungus and viruses and stimulating the immune system. As a side note, lavender and tea tree oil are the only two essential oils that can be applied directly to the skin with diluting them.
(Used for Soothing and Healing) This essential oil can be used as a first aid ointment, useful for skin irritations, bug bites, athlete’s foot, eczema and psoriasis. It aids in immune function and supports against throat and respiratory pathogens, and helps with slivers in the skin.
3. Peppermint – great for treating headaches, easing muscle cramps, relieving indigestion and nausea. For headaches and muscle cramps, use it topically in a one to one blend with a carrier oil. For indigestion and nausea, take it internally in a one to one blend in a gel cap. An added benefit of peppermint oil is deterring wasps. Mix 10 drops of peppermint oil with water in a small glass spray bottle. Spray it around you and on your clothes and wasps will stay away.
(Used for Indigestion and Cooling) This essential oil is effective for treating nausea and digestive issues, allergies, menstrual problems, reduces fever, increases alertness and focus, and increases oxygen absorption. It is great for headaches or any muscle aches or pains and is also a catalyst when mixed with other oils. Peppermint is anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, can be used for shock, colds, colic, and heartburn.
4. Lemon – use this oil to treat colds, coughs and chest congestion. Mix lemon oil with a carrier oil (one to one) and rub it on your chest several times a day. You can also drink it in warm water (just a couple of drops) with honey to soothe a sore throat. Put a drop or two in your water to give it flavor and freshen the taste if your water has been stored in plastic jugs for a while. If you feel like you’re getting sick, place a drop on your tongue to boost your immune system and put a drop on your toothbrush to keep it germ free and reduce the risk of recontamination. You can also use lemon oil to freshen the air. Trust me, when you’ve been without power in a humid environment for a few hours, much less a few days, the smell is pretty awful. Lemon oil will make your surroundings smell much better.
(Used for Cleansing and Mood Elevation) This essential oil is known for its cleansing ability. Add a few drops to your water to purify it. It is also great for intestinal parasites, dissolves petrochemicals from your body, effective for colds & flu, helps your digestive system and liver work,helps reduce stress and fatigue, calm upset stomachs, is effective for gout, sore throat, and is a disinfectant and an antiseptic.
5. Eucalyptus – treats cold and flu, congestion, shingles and inflammation. Heat some water to boiling and put in a few drops of eucalyptus oil. Form a tent over your head with a towel and inhale the vapors.
6. Chamomile – a great pain reliever for bruises, swelling and sprains. Dilute with good quality olive oil (one drop of chamomile to one drop of olive oil) and rub on the affected area.
7. Oregano -- (Used for Natural Immune System Support) This essential oil is effective in treating bacterial infections and yeast infections, relieves back and joint pain and inflammation, colds & flu, kills warts & skin tags and athlete’s foot, and is an effective cleanse for GI (GastroIntestinal) health.
8. Ginger – great for treating nausea and relieving headaches. Take 1 drop of ginger oil to 1 drop of carrier oil in a gel cap to treat nausea or indigestion. Use topically in a one drop to one drop blend with a carrier oil and rub on the neck and temples to relieve headache.
9. Clove -- (Used for Pain and Toxins) This oil helps to relieve toothaches, headaches, and other pain and can be used to draw toxins and infections from the body. It also aids in relieving nausea or constipation.
10. Cypress – used topically, this oil is great for improving circulation which aids in healing and in a diffuser, it will help ease the pain of a sore throat.
11. Sweet Marjoram – used topically in a one to one blend with carrier oil, this oil relieves muscle cramps and sore muscles and will help you sleep
12. Helichrysum -- (Used for Bruising and Swelling) This essential oil is great for bruising, sprains, and swelling. Any injury, that does not have broken skin, can be treated with helichrysum oil. This essential oil can be used to treat shock, heal bruises, help with broken bones, help with allergies, and is beneficial against infections and viruses.
13. Lemongrass --This essential oil soothes Sore and cramping muscles. It is naturally cleansing and helps to warm feet in the winter.
14. Myrrh -- (Used for Infections and Pain relief) This oil is good for antiseptic needs, pain relief and swelling of cuts, wounds or bruises. Can be applied on open wounds. It stimulates the immune system and blood circulation and promotes tissue regeneration. It has astringent and analgesic properties and can ease coughing/tonsillitis and other infections.
15. Frankincense -- (Used For Inflammation and More) Frankincense essential oil enhances the effects of other oils, helps reduce inflammation, relieve headaches, and supports skin tissue recovery. It also helps to soothe ADD/ADH, restlessness, and facilitates clarity and focus of the mind.
Having many of these oils in your first aid kit will allow you to treat common minor injuries or illnesses. This is not a complete list but hopefully it is helpful.
The list is made from ideas presented on the above 2 websites with only the first four oils overlapping on both lists. To distinguish between the 2, I have italicized the information from Essential Oils Pedia and left the Old South Essential Oils entries in normal type.
1. Lavender – a fantastic multi-purpose oil. Diffuse it to aid in sleeping, use it topically to treat bee stings or other insect bites, treat sunburn, ease headaches, relieve the itching of rashes and reduce inflammation, ease the swelling of sprains and lift the spirits. Use it mixed with water. You can rub it on your skin as well to keep mosquitos at bay and smells a lot better than insect repellent.
(Used for Calming, Stress Reduction, and more) This universal oil is great for almost every first aid need. It heals burns and cuts, relieves insomnia, reduces stress and anxiety and is a powerful antihistamine. You can also use it for bug bites, bruises, sleep deprivation, allergies, inflammation,sunburns, lice, and more. It is soothing to skin irritations and takes the pain out of bee stings, hives and other allergic skin reactions. It helps with earache and depression. It is the number one oil you must have in your survival kit.
2. Tea Tree or Melaleuca Oil – this oil is wonderful for sanitizing minor cuts or scrapes, treating bug bites and blisters (works wonders for clearing up pimples, too). Apply it topically with no need to dilute it. Great for getting rid of bacteria, fungus and viruses and stimulating the immune system. As a side note, lavender and tea tree oil are the only two essential oils that can be applied directly to the skin with diluting them.
(Used for Soothing and Healing) This essential oil can be used as a first aid ointment, useful for skin irritations, bug bites, athlete’s foot, eczema and psoriasis. It aids in immune function and supports against throat and respiratory pathogens, and helps with slivers in the skin.
3. Peppermint – great for treating headaches, easing muscle cramps, relieving indigestion and nausea. For headaches and muscle cramps, use it topically in a one to one blend with a carrier oil. For indigestion and nausea, take it internally in a one to one blend in a gel cap. An added benefit of peppermint oil is deterring wasps. Mix 10 drops of peppermint oil with water in a small glass spray bottle. Spray it around you and on your clothes and wasps will stay away.
(Used for Indigestion and Cooling) This essential oil is effective for treating nausea and digestive issues, allergies, menstrual problems, reduces fever, increases alertness and focus, and increases oxygen absorption. It is great for headaches or any muscle aches or pains and is also a catalyst when mixed with other oils. Peppermint is anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, can be used for shock, colds, colic, and heartburn.
4. Lemon – use this oil to treat colds, coughs and chest congestion. Mix lemon oil with a carrier oil (one to one) and rub it on your chest several times a day. You can also drink it in warm water (just a couple of drops) with honey to soothe a sore throat. Put a drop or two in your water to give it flavor and freshen the taste if your water has been stored in plastic jugs for a while. If you feel like you’re getting sick, place a drop on your tongue to boost your immune system and put a drop on your toothbrush to keep it germ free and reduce the risk of recontamination. You can also use lemon oil to freshen the air. Trust me, when you’ve been without power in a humid environment for a few hours, much less a few days, the smell is pretty awful. Lemon oil will make your surroundings smell much better.
(Used for Cleansing and Mood Elevation) This essential oil is known for its cleansing ability. Add a few drops to your water to purify it. It is also great for intestinal parasites, dissolves petrochemicals from your body, effective for colds & flu, helps your digestive system and liver work,helps reduce stress and fatigue, calm upset stomachs, is effective for gout, sore throat, and is a disinfectant and an antiseptic.
5. Eucalyptus – treats cold and flu, congestion, shingles and inflammation. Heat some water to boiling and put in a few drops of eucalyptus oil. Form a tent over your head with a towel and inhale the vapors.
6. Chamomile – a great pain reliever for bruises, swelling and sprains. Dilute with good quality olive oil (one drop of chamomile to one drop of olive oil) and rub on the affected area.
7. Oregano -- (Used for Natural Immune System Support) This essential oil is effective in treating bacterial infections and yeast infections, relieves back and joint pain and inflammation, colds & flu, kills warts & skin tags and athlete’s foot, and is an effective cleanse for GI (GastroIntestinal) health.
8. Ginger – great for treating nausea and relieving headaches. Take 1 drop of ginger oil to 1 drop of carrier oil in a gel cap to treat nausea or indigestion. Use topically in a one drop to one drop blend with a carrier oil and rub on the neck and temples to relieve headache.
9. Clove -- (Used for Pain and Toxins) This oil helps to relieve toothaches, headaches, and other pain and can be used to draw toxins and infections from the body. It also aids in relieving nausea or constipation.
10. Cypress – used topically, this oil is great for improving circulation which aids in healing and in a diffuser, it will help ease the pain of a sore throat.
11. Sweet Marjoram – used topically in a one to one blend with carrier oil, this oil relieves muscle cramps and sore muscles and will help you sleep
12. Helichrysum -- (Used for Bruising and Swelling) This essential oil is great for bruising, sprains, and swelling. Any injury, that does not have broken skin, can be treated with helichrysum oil. This essential oil can be used to treat shock, heal bruises, help with broken bones, help with allergies, and is beneficial against infections and viruses.
13. Lemongrass --This essential oil soothes Sore and cramping muscles. It is naturally cleansing and helps to warm feet in the winter.
14. Myrrh -- (Used for Infections and Pain relief) This oil is good for antiseptic needs, pain relief and swelling of cuts, wounds or bruises. Can be applied on open wounds. It stimulates the immune system and blood circulation and promotes tissue regeneration. It has astringent and analgesic properties and can ease coughing/tonsillitis and other infections.
15. Frankincense -- (Used For Inflammation and More) Frankincense essential oil enhances the effects of other oils, helps reduce inflammation, relieve headaches, and supports skin tissue recovery. It also helps to soothe ADD/ADH, restlessness, and facilitates clarity and focus of the mind.