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Essential oils are made by teasing out the oil content in herbs, flowers, bark, roots, and leaves of plants. This is done by simmering the plant materials in plant based oils such as extra virgin olive oil, grape-seed or sunflower oil. After simmering, the plant material is strained and the resulting oil is the essential oil of that particular plant. Before modern medicine, man relied on the natural resources available to him to treat everything from dandruff to heart palpitations. Medicine men of Native Indian tribes passed along many well established cures achieved by the use of essential oils.

Many people are returning to the treatments that worked for centuries. The high cost of medicines and doctor visits are prompting families to look for less expensive treatments for colds, flu, stomach aches, and other non-critical illnesses. Essential oils can still play a vital role in health care. They can be made at home for pennies, purchased at local health food stores, or ordered on-line. Most herbs and plants have properties that treat more than one illness. With regular use, essential oils can play an important role in keeping families healthy.

The essential oils from the Angelica plant can be added to a homemade balm and used to relieve pain from arthritis and gout. This plant has properties that speed the healing of bruises and is a good treatment for psoriasis. Used as aroma therapy, this oil eases nausea and relieves stress. By adding a few drops of oil to a bowl of steaming hot water, a person can ease the symptoms of colds, bronchitis, and headaches by placing a towel over their head and breathing the vapors.

Basil is an herb commonly used in cooking. The essential oil of basil is obtained from the flowering plant and its leaves. This oil has a light scent that is fragrant and spicy. A few drops of basil essential oil eases an upset stomach, soothes minor cuts, burns, and scrapes, as well as clears the sinuses clogged due to allergies. Basil oil helps regulate menstrual periods, relax the mind, and aid in concentrating on difficult tasks. This oil is often used in aroma therapy.

Essential oils are made from passion flowers, rosemary, thyme, mints, ginger, and many plants most people would consider weeds. In fact, in yards all over America, many plants are mowed under every spring and summer that would have been very beneficial in the family medicine chest. There are essential oils that treat high blood pressure, kidney stones, skin problems, lung disease, and earaches. Just about every disorder or ailment you can think of has a plant growing somewhere that is capable of treating or curing it. In fact, studies show that regular use of flax seed in the diet prohibits the growth of tumors in breast cancer patients. Flax seed oil can be taken in capsule form.

Anyone under a doctor's care who is taking prescribed medications should consult his doctor before beginning any herbal remedy or treatment. Some essential oils can cause unwanted symptoms when mixed with prescribed medications. Pregnant women should always seek a doctor's advice before using essential oils.

Learn more about this author, Barbara Stanley.
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