AROMATHERAPY

A-Z of Sports and Dance Injuries

ABDOMINAL WALL INJURIES

Injury to the muscles or tendons of the abdominal wall and lower abdominal area.

use the ice method for the first day. From the second day add 4 drops of rosemary on a hot compress and place over the affected area.

Repeat three times a day. Also massage the area gently using equal proportions of ginger and thyme - 1 drop per millitre of vegetable oil.

Likely Causes

High jump - Long jump - Contact sports - Stretching - Javelin - Discus Throwing-Weight lifting - Dance.

ACHILLES TENDINITIS

Inflammation of the ac hilles tendon. This limits movement and the area may be hot and painful.

For the first three days use a cold clay poultice to which yoy have added 3 drops each of chamomile and lavender.

Thereafter use a hot clay poultice to which you have added 3 drops of ginger and two drops of chamomile.

Also massage the area with a teaspoon of vegetable oil to which three drops of chamomile and two drops of lavender have been added.

The Cabbage method also helps.

Likely Causes

Running - Jogging - Jumping - Dance - Aerobics - Kicking

ANKLE AND HEEL CONTUSION

Brusing of the tissues and skin as a result of a direct blow to the area. There is pain and swelling.

Use the ice method at least three times a day for three days, and inbetween massage all over the foot and ankle, three times a day, with the following.

Likely Causes

Hockey - Football - Rugby

ANKLE SPRAIN

A slight tearing or stretching of the ligaments in the ankle. Use the ice metod, then massage the whole of the foot and ankle and the leg to calf muscle, using the following; 

Keep the ankle bandaged to prevent further damage.

Use Ice packs for three days (followed by the massage), three times a day, and if the pain continues begin to apply alnernate hot and cold flannels, to both of which you have added 4 drops of peppermint.

Use steaming hot lannel and ice-cold ones, and apply them alternatively several times .

Do this three times a day. The best thing of course is to rest the ankle, but dancers may not be able to do this and they should follow the alternate hot and cold flannel treatment every five minutes.

Likely Causes

Almost any sport or dance.

Reference: The Fragrant Pharmacy: Valerie Ann Worwood

Aromatherapy - Locker Room Scents

Locker rooms, changing rooms and communal showers could have been designed for the continuation of many species of bacteria, viruses and fungi.

I dare say none of us would ever enter one, if we had a microscope available to show just what a community of little microbes harbour and indeed flourish there.

The floors and benches in these places could routinely be washed down with anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fugal essential oils - it would also give the whole place a lovely aroma - and with the choice available, something in keeping with the masculine or feminene would be no problem to find.

To be realistic, however, such measures are unlikely to have ben taken, and so it is wise to use essential oils on the areas one uses to keep oneself free of everybody else's 'hanger on'.

Certain rules should be common sense. Never use anybody ele's towel, for example - always use a fresh towel of your own. Put a small towel on the bench before you sit on it, and keep a towel for just this purpose, putting a few drops of protective essential oil on it before you set off to the gym or wherever.

Wear shoes that you have already dusted with a bacteria buster powder to avoid the spread of fungal infections. Don't eat food in locker rooms and try to avoid putting your fingers in your mouth. Wash your hands thoroughly before leaving.

Try to get the windows opened to ensure a fresh circulation of air. If you have your own locker spray it with anti-bacterial oils, and if you share it with others put a tissue with essential oil in a corner and leave it there.

As so many sprays and body preparations are used in locker rooms, nobody will care or even notice if you spray around a bit. Ther are many essential oils you can use, but the oones that follow are quite acceptable aromatically in public changing rooms. All have antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties, while those marked with an asterisk also have anti-viral properties.

Locker Room Bacteria Busters

Niaouli - Lavender - Pine - Lemon - Ravensara -Oregano - Thyme - Cinnamon - Eucalyptus - AV1 (Dermatect)* - Bergamot

Bacteria Buster Dusting Powder

Mix in these proportions.Put the talcum powder in a blender and drip the essential oils, already mixed together, into the talc through the hole in the lid of the blender. Blend un til all the particles are evenly distrubted, package and use as required.

Locker Room Spray And Wipe

Blend the essential oils and add 1 tablespoon vodka or pure alcohol. Use 10 drops in a hundred mls of water.

Shake well before use in the sprayer. If using as a wipe, use the same dilution as for the spray but pour it on the cloth you use to wipe down surfaces.

Reference: The Fragrant Pharmacy: Valerie Ann Worwood

Aromatherapy- Stress & Sports - Jacuzzis

Relaxing in your own jacuzzi, with warm water bubbling on your back and essential oils relaxing you, is a very different matter than sitting in the chemical stew which is what most communal jacuzzis, with their constantly recycled water, resemble.

Any of the oils listed in these paragraphs would be fine, and although the essential oils if used over a long period of time will cause residue to build up in the pipes, this can be cleaned away with the usual cleansing programme you should be using.

If you ate compeletly hooked on the idea of communal jacuzzis and want to ask the neighbours to share yours, I suggest you aquaint yourself fully with the Bacteria Buster list of essential oils - and use them.

HOt TUBS
Hot tubs are the tradition in Japan, where the whole family will happily soak with the neighbours. The difference between japanese and Western cultures, however, is that the Japanes wouldn't dream of getting into a tub without having washed thoroughly beforehand, and certainly not if they had any bacterial, viral or fungal infections.

In fact, if the manager of any such establishment is reading this, he or she might like to bear in mind that there are excellent oils for rheumatism and arthritis and a special tub could be put aside for sufferers of these conditions.

Reference: The Fragrant Pharmacy; Valerie Ann Worwood.

Aromatherapy-stress & Sport - Saunas

Saunas are extremely useful but they can leave you a little depleted unless you are able to roll in the snow afterwards!

Oils to use in the Sauna are those that promote the elimination of waste products and debris theough the skin. Use them in the ater that yiu throw on the coals or other heat source.

ESSENTIAL OILS FOR THE SAUNA

EUCALYPTUS - BIRCH - PINE - ROSEMARY - LEMON -LlIME - LAVENDER - GRAPEFRUIT - NIAOULI - BERGAMOT - CYPRESS.

Although not generally thought as a Sauna scent , the following synergistic blend is effective, gentle and relaxing, and it has a very nice fragrance.

RELAXING SAUNA SYNERGISTIC BLEND

Make up these proportions and use 4 drops at a time.

STIMULATING SAUNA SYNERGISTIC BLENd

Make up these proportions and use 4 drops at a time.

Eucalyptus lemon and Eucalyptus peppermint are very good oils to use singly in the Sauna - they clear the head and respiratory tract as well as helping to eliminate waste.

Reference: The Fragrant Pharmacy: Valerie Ann Wormwood.