AROMATHERAPY

Despite repeated warnings, in the press and elsewhere, thet skin cancer is caused at least in part, by exposure to the sun, we still flock in our millions to the beaches  where we lie prostrate soaking in as much as we can.
Malignant melanoma has a very high cure rate if caught early and the thing to look for is changes in your moles. Specifically, go to your doctor straight away, if you develop  a dark patch of skin or a wart-like growth or if one of your moles becomes, itchy, painful, grows in, is large or has an irrigular outline, has a mixture of shades of brown and black, has a red edge, is inflamed, or bleeds, or if it oozes a fluid or is crusty.

This is quite a list and if you have a lot of moles it can be very worrying, especially as a few of us, really do know the colour and shape of those we have, and therefore what changes they might have gone through. lying on the beach more than half naked with nothing much to do provides the perfect opportunity to make a detailed note - and that means writing-of the moles we do have.

And as we seldom lie on the beach alone, our companion can examine the back of our body too. the commonest sites for melanomas, are on the thighs for women and on the backs for men. This mole-map might just turn out to be the most useful souvenir  you take home with you.

The nature of sunlight is changing as pollution destroys the ozone layers  and lets in too much ultraviolet light. There's not a lot that we as individuals can do about it, but what we can do, and really should, is keep out of the sun between the hours of twelve and three and cover ourselves with a sun scren factor ten or more. but the fact remains that human beings need sun - we manufacture vitamin A within our bodies as a direct result of it.

At the famous Bircher BENNER clinic in Switzerland sun is an important part of many treatments, and it is well known that a lack of sunlight  can cause depression in susceptible people, even making them suicidal. The skin disorders of psoriasis, eczema and acne heal wonderfully in sunlight, and aches and pains just seem to vanish. we all know how sun makes us feel so much better all round - but in moderation please.

sunburn may be as severe as blistering and peeling  or simply a feeling of tightness and soreness, but a burn is a burn and whether from prolonged  exposure to the sun or from a hot iron, the most effective treatment for it, is the miraculous oil of lavender. with all burns, it is crucial to get the heat out of the skin, so fill a sink or bath with cold water, add ice if possible, and immerse yourself as soon as you can.

Stay under the water for at least ten minutes, then apply neat lavender oil all over the burnt area, bearing in mind that one drop of lavender will cover quite a large area - you don't need to over do it, simply make sure that the lavender has covered  the surface. if you do this by morning you won't notice a thing - but do be sensible and stay out of the sun for at least two days, even though the area looks perfectly healed.

if you haven't got any lavender with you, use eucalyptus instead, ( do not forget to dilute the eucalyptus in a carrier base, prior to application.) and don't forget your sunscreen.
after a dose of sun bathing make sure you use an oil that contains essential oils - it will not only prolong your tan, but will nourish your skin. Apply all over the body after showing or bathing.

• 
  After-sun oil
  Lavender       10 drops
  Chamomile    5 drops         {Dilute in 30ml sesame oil and 70 mls almond oil}
  Bergamot      1 drop
  Geranium      2 drops

sesame seed oil is a natural sun filter  and by using it in warm evening baths you will be protecting your skin  from the early evening sun and cooling yourself down before going out to the hot, sweaty disco to dance the night away!

• After- Sun Bath
  Chamomile                  4 drops
  Geranium                    3 drops       {Diluted in 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil}
  Peppermint                  1 drop

Dilute the oils in the Jojoba oil and add it all to the bath. While there, gently massage the oil over the areas that have been exposed to the sun - thighs, bottom, chests  and breasts are usually the worst affected.
the following oil is very effective in the drying conditions of sunburn, such as experience  when skiing, sailing or hiking. it is rather a thick oil but works really well in protecting faces exposed to thesun in the more invigorating  types of weather and activities. Blend the ingredients  well together and use the oil every night before sleeping and during the day use a sun screen:

• 
  Apres Ski ,Sea, Sun, Sail and Hike OIl
  Chamomile                10 drops
  Geranium                  10 drops     {Diluted in { 5mls Jojoba oil-5ml sesame oil
  Lavender                   10 drops     {5ml evening primrose oil- 15ml almond oil}

Hair can also suffer from over-exposure to sun, sea, wind and the chlorine in swimming pools. see "essential car for Hair" for good conditioning treatments . Bald patches on the head should be well protected. hair on the head provides natural protection from the sun, which is why African babies are born with it, but if you are not an African baby -wear a hat!

Reference: The Fragrant Pharmacy/ Valerie A. Worwood 

Heat Exhaustion, is not really likely to affect the majority of travellers, but not drinking enough water or replacing the body salt that is lost when temperatures soar into the 100s is dangerous. if you are feeling dizzy, faint and nauseous - and you may not even feel thirsty - retire to the shade and drink as much water as you can.

You should aim to drink at least three litres during the day, with one teaspoon of salt added. apply neat lavender or eucalyptus to the temples, back of the neck and solar plexus  (upper abdomen), and breathe deeply.
Heatstroke, Sunstroke and Hyperpyrexia can start slowly. Firstly there is a confused feeling, a headache, drowsiness, and a temperature. the skin becomes hot and red and yet there is a feeling of coldness, and shivering. basically the heat regulation system in the body has stopped working and caused the temperature to rise. This is a very serious matter and the temperature must be brought down immediately and treatment must be continued for at least 48 hours to ensure the crisis has passed.

Try to immerse the body in cold water to which you have added 4 drops each of eucalyptus and lavender essential oil. alternatively, just pour water over the body and apply neat eucalyptus to the temples and back of the neck. applying ice to the under-arms, groin, wrists and neck helps too - even if the only ice you can find is in your Cuba Libra.

Get the sufferer indoors as soon as possible and sponge him/her down repeatedly with ice-cold water and eucalyptus for forty-eight hours. a quick dowsing with water will only lower the body temperature by one hundredth of a degree, which obviously will not do. the sponging must be frequent and prolonged. plenty of liquids must be drunk, starting with three litres of water to which is added half a teaspoon of salt per liter.

Heat Cramps can occur after un accustomed exercise, loss of water and salt. drink a liter of water to which half a teaspoon of salt has been added and massage the legs with the following:

• Geranium      2   drops
  Eucalyptus    3    drops  { Diluted in 1 teaspoon vegetable oil}

Prickly Heat is a rash of tiny blisters that look like little pink or red spots. It is caused by blocked sweat glands  and is extremely itchy. it can affect any part of the body, and the best line of action is to keep as cool as possible, expose the area to air if possible, and only cover with light cotton clothing. Apply a splash to the area, made by diluting 6 drops each of eucalyptus, lavender and chamomile to a teaspoon of alcohol (vodka is fine) and shaking it all in a quarter litre of spring water.

Warm baths are very soothing if you add 4 drops each of eucalyptus and lavender essential oil.
if you can get hold of any baking soda while you are away, or if you are at home when someone gets prickly heat, including this in the bath is the best solution. If you can use this method you only need lavender oil but - and this is important - add the lavender to the baking soda and mix them well together before putting it in the bath, do not add them as separate items. Below are the amounts you will need for various age groups. if treating a baby, make sure that the folds of the skin are kept dry ( when not being bathed). use warm water in the following baths.

• Baby Under One                                     Two To seven Years  
  Quarter Cup Baking Soda                       Quarter Cup Baking Soda
  2 Drops Lavender                                    2 Drops Lavender  
• Eight To Ten Years                                Ten Years to adult
  Half cup Baking Soda                              Half a cup of Baking Soda 
  3 Drops Lavender                                   4 Drops Lavender  

Reference: fragrant Pharmacy/valerie a. Worwood 

When the combination is more than the sum of the parts, there is a synergistic effect. By mixing together two or more essential oils you are creating a chemical compound that is different to any of the component parts, and these synergistic blends are very particular and powerful.

An increased potency can be achieved with a synergistic blends without increasing the dosage. For example, the anti-inflammatory action of chamomile essential oil is greatly increased  by adding lavender in the correct proportion.
The interaction of particular essential oils upon each other gives a vibrancy and dynamism to the whole which could not be achieved by using a single component on its own.

The important point about synergistic blends is that the proportions should be correct, and sometimes it is necessary to make up more in volume than you need  to use so that the smallest component oils can be incorporated into the whole in the right proportion. Diluted in a body oil, you may have a component part which is only 0.001 per cent  of the whole - and yet that minuscule amount is integral to the whole.

Adaptogens
There are several essential oils that act as natural balancers/ These adaptogens as they are called, will instigate  a reaction in the body that is appropriate  to achieve a state of homeostatis or balance. The reactions affect the autonomic nervous system, the endocrine system and blood pressure; among others.

For example, hyssop normalises either high or low blood pressure so that the equilibrium is achieved.

Lemon works on the autonomic nervous system, acting as a sedative when needed, or as a tonic. Peppermint is another oil that could be found listed on both 'relaxant ' and 'stimulant' lists, and this apparent contradiction can cause confusion unless you understand that these are adaptogens. Interestingly, there are other natural products that fall into the same group which have been researched  by scientists  in Vladivostock, USSR, among them the herb mint and the root ginseng.

Chemotypes
The same species of plants can produce essential oils with different chemical components, when grown in various conditions. For example, the common herb Thymus Officinalis produces several oils for medicinal use, depending upon the soil, climate and altitude in which it was cultivated.

Thyme linalol, which is usually grown at high altitudes, is the oil chemotype of thyme that can be used in the treatment of children. Because one species of oil-producing, plant can break down into several chemotypes, each with different medical potentials, the list of useful plants is more extensive than first appearances might imply.

Reference: Fragrant Pharmacy/Valerie A. Worwood