Essential Oils for Summer ~ Healing Fragrances for Bites, Allergies and Sunburn

A breath of sweet lavender oil can quickly reduce stress. A whiff of lemon oil can energize us.

“Essential oils are not magic or folklore. There is solid science behind them,” says Elizabeth Jones, founder of the College of Botanical Healing Arts, in Santa Cruz, California.

Here’s what happens after inhaling lavender, the most popular of all essential oils: The cilia—microscopic cellular fibers in the nose—transport the aroma to the olfactory bulb at the bottom of the brain, from where it proceeds to the limbic brain and directly affects the nerves, delivering a soothing effect. “Or put it on your skin and other properties of essential oils are absorbed straight into the bloodstream,” advises Jones, author of Awaken to Healing Fragrance.

Thai studies show that a whiff of lavender oil is calming and lowers blood pressure and heart rate, yet there are many more benefits attributed to the art and science of aromatherapy and essential oils. For those struggling with summer maladies, here are several simple solutions essential oils can provide.

Minor Scrapes, Cuts and Blisters

Tea tree oil (melaleuca) is tops, because it contains terpenes that kill staphylococcus and other nasty bacteria and works to prevent infection, according to a meta-analysis from the University of Western Australia. The researchers further suggest that tea tree oil may be used in some cases instead of antibiotics. Oregano and eucalyptus oils are likewise acknowledged for their natural abilities to eliminate infection-causing bacteria, fungi and viruses. “Blend all three for a synergistic effect,” says aromatherapy expert Robert Tisserand (RobertTisserand.com), of Ojai, California. “They sort of leapfrog over each other to penetrate the skin and cell walls.”

Sunburn, Bug Bites and Poison Ivy

A small amount of undiluted lavender oil will cool sunburn fast, advises Tisserand. Add a few drops to a dollop of cooling aloe vera gel for extra relief and moisture, suggests Jones. Undiluted lavender is also a great remedy for insect bites, says Tisserand. “You can stop the pain of a bee sting in 20 seconds with a few drops.”

Chamomile, either the German or Roman variety, helps with rashes, according to Jones, especially when mixed with her summertime favorite, aloe vera gel. She recommends mugwort oil for poison oak or poison ivy, a benefit affirmed by animal research from the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine’s Herbal Medicine Formulation Research Group.

Allergy Relief

During hay fever season, several aromatherapy oils from a diffuser can offer relief, counsels Tisserand. He recommends eucalyptus, geranium and lavender oils, all of which contain antihistamines. Use them separately or blended. When using a diffuser, it’s not necessary to put the oils into a diluting carrier oil or gel. He notes that a steam tent containing 10 drops of each of the three oils mixed with two cups of boiling water is highly effective.

Sprains, Strains and Joint Pain

Lessen inflammation and the pain from tendon and muscle sprains and strains with rosemary or peppermint, adding a dash of ginger for additional benefit, says Tisserand. He recommends rubbing the oils (diluted in a carrier) directly on the sore spot.

Rosemary is particularly effective for bringing blood flow to an injury site, and the menthol in peppermint is a great pain reliever, adds Jones. A Chinese study published in the European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics confirms the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory abilities of peppermint oil. Researchers from Taiwan confirm that ginger is anti-inflammatory and can even reduce intense nerve pain.

Jones believes that essential oils have a place in everyone’s medicine chest. “Sometimes I feel like David up against Goliath,” she remarks. “I encourage everyone to use natural healing products from plants instead of pharmaceutical drugs, the side effects of which actually diminish the body’s natural ability to heal.”

Kathleen Barnes has authored numerous books on natural health, including Rx from the Garden: 101 Food Cures You Can Easily Grow. Connect at

KathleenBarnes.com.