30 Ml a.H. Sage

Dilute in 1 liter water and drink throughout the day. If done daily for three weeks, followed by one week off, this can help reestablish a more balanced approach to food. Sage also helps the body deal with the effects of poor diet. AVOID if hypertensive.

Vomiting

5 Ml a.H. Cinnamon bark

Dilute in 200 ml water and give by the teaspoon. Vomiting causes dehydration, and the cinnamon helps the stomach accept fluids. It works better than stale Coke or ginger ale. If the body won’t keep down the cinnamon-water combination at first, use ¼ teaspoon of the straight hydrosol every 15 minutes for four to six doses and then try again with the diluted version.

For vomiting caused by motion sickness, use peppermint instead of cinnamon.

DIARRHEA

15 ml A.H. oregano or cinnamon bark

Take the undiluted hydrosol every 15 minutes for four doses; repeat if necessary. If the diarrhea is stress related, try basil, chamomile, or melissa hydrosol.

LIVER CONGESTION

15 ml A.H. immortelle

7 ml A.H. Greenland moss

7 ml A.H. yarrow

1 drop E.O. lemon

Dilute in 1.5 liters of water and sip throughout the day. Repeat daily for three weeks, then reassess the condition. Useful after an illness, for a hangover, or when quitting an addiction (such as cigarettes or alcohol).

CONSTIPATION

15 ml A.H. coriander

15 ml A.H. yarrow

Dilute in 500 ml water and drink in half a day. If necessary, repeat and combine with the following:

15 drops E.O. basil

15 drops E.O. coriander or cumin

Combine and take 1 drop internally and apply 7 to 10 drops undiluted to abdomen in clockwise massage after each meal.

COLIC, COLITIS

30 ml A.H. basil or tarragon

1 teaspoon manuka or acacia honey (optional)

Dilute in 1 liter of water and sip throughout the day. An effective antispasmodic, this works best in the three-weeks-on, one-week-off cycle, but the condition must be monitored closely and dosage should be adapted to the individual concerned. Basil is not a cure but can be a helpful part of treatment for all these conditions.

Colic and colitis may be indications of more serious health conditions, and it is worth doing a test dose first. Dilute ½ teaspoon hydrosol in 100 ml water and sip over a 2-hour period; you will know before the time is up if your condition will respond favorably. However, as coconut macaroons have been showing positive results for controlling diarrhea in some colitis sufferers, why not basil? Consult with your health professional for any home treatment and: If in doubt, don’t.

Circulatory System

The best general-tonic hydrosols for the circulatory system are sage, artemesia, immortelle, rosemary, bay, and witch hazel, but this is very dependent on whether the application is topical or internal and whether you want to increase or decrease circulatory activity.

CELLULITE

30 ml A.H. juniper berry and/or cypress

Dilute in 1.5 liters water and drink throughout the day. Repeat daily for three weeks; take one week off and repeat.

Dry brushing of the legs should be done daily, ideally morning and evening, along with a scrub every other day using coarse sea salts (on wet skin) to which you add ½ teaspoon carrier oil and 2 or 3 drops of E.O. juniper berry, grapefruit, or cypress.

Topical

10 ml E.O. lemon eucalyptus

5 ml E.O. immortelle

5 ml E.O cypress

2 ml E.O. juniper berry

2 ml E.O. sage

1 ml E.O. peppermint

Dilute in 25 ml vegetable, sesame, or hazelnut oil or in 25 ml of an unscented gel or lotion; apply two or three times a day every day.

Use all the treatments simultaneously for best results.

CIRCULATION STIMULANT

30 ml A.H. sage

Dilute in 1.5 liters water and drink throughout the day. Repeat daily for three weeks; take one week off and repeat. Do not use sage hydrosol if hypertensive.

RAYNAUD’S PHENOMENON

Raynaud’s phenomenon is caused by spasms in the arterioles, resulting in a severe loss of circulation in parts or the whole of the fingers and toes, which can become quite severe. It is aggravated by cold weather, smoking, and immune depletion. Use both treatments for best results.

30 ml A.H. sage

Dilute in 1.5 liters water and drink throughout the day. Repeat daily for three weeks; take one week off and repeat. Do not use sage hydrosol if hypertensive.

15 ml A.H. peppermint

Dilute in 250 ml lukewarm water and soak the affected parts for 10 to 15 minutes, twice daily, every day until condition starts to improve.

VARICOSE AND SPIDER VEINS

10 ml A.H. witch hazel

Soak a cotton pad in the hydrosol and compress the veins for 10 to 15 minutes three or four times a day every day. Be absolutely certain that you are using a preservative-free true hydrosol. The witch hazel for sale in drugstores contains from 1 to 30 percent alcohol by volume, and this will aggravate, not ameliorate, the condition. This is safe to use in pregnancy.

HEMORRHOIDS

Hemorrhoids are varicose veins of the rectum and can be internal or external.

30 ml A.H. yarrow

30 ml A.H. cypress

30 ml A.H. witch hazel

10 ml A.H. German chamomile

Combine hydrosols; add 50 ml of blend to a sitz bath (2 liters) of hot water and 50 ml to a sitz bath of cold water. Sit in the hot bath for 1 minute, then sit in the cold bath for 30 seconds. Alternate between the two baths, spending longer in each one with each repetition and increasing the temperature difference (making the hot bath hotter and the cold bath colder) each time. Repeat daily. The same hydrosol combination can be used in a spray bottle and misted onto the rectum or used as a wet wipe after every bowel movement to cleanse and soothe the tissue.

A raw peeled garlic clove with one drop of mastic oil can be used as a suppository for hemorrhoids and is very effective in combination with the sitz baths. Yoga and Kegel exercises will strengthen the pelvic muscles and may help resolve the problem.

CHILBLAINS

The minor frostbite of chilblains can be quite painful and damage the skin.

A.H. lavender

A.H. rosemary CT cineole or camphor

Spray hydrosols directly on affected area and wrap in a dry tea towel. Apply very gentle squeezing massage to the area to stimulate circulation and help relieve the pins-and-needles feeling. Repeat the hydrosol application every 5 minutes until condition stabilizes, then apply every 30 minutes for four or five applications to help heal the tissue damage.

The Skin

The best general-tonic hydrosols for the skin are rose, geranium, rock rose, neroli, yarrow, and the chamomiles—but really, nearly every hydrosol has an application in skin care, and there are so many skin conditions that it is impossible to make generalizations.

BROKEN CAPILLARIES

A.H. rock rose

Spritz onto affected area two or three times a day, every day. If the condition is very severe, compress the zone instead. Some people find rock rose too strong on its own and combine it with equal portions of cornflower, frankincense, or neroli.

ACNE

Use all three acne recipes concurrently for best results.