It is almost the end of November and we just had a taste of the winter, a few days ago. This may seem lucky for those of us who don’t like cold. But, the changes in temperatures allow the spread of the germs causing us different types of colds and flu. As we perfectly know, there is no cure for cold or flu – they should go by itself in a week. They are caused by viruses and as we perfectly know, antibiotics will not work on viruses. Antibiotics are being occasionally prescribed in cold cases as a prevention from bacterial infection, which may come secondary, after the body has been exhausted by the viral infection. But, what the antibiotic will do is killing some “good bacteria” while not sure there is “bad bacteria” to kill. This way the balance will be destroyed, the immunity lowered further and, guess what? Your illness will last longer and will leave you with very compromised immunity. As for bacteria, they got clever after having been attacked systematically with antibiotics for the past forty years, they developed high tolerance or even resistance to them. What follows is: known antibiotics become low efficient or non-efficient and higher dose or a stronger antibiotic is needed. This adds to the vicious circle of: lowering immunity – getting sick again – lowering immunity – getting sick again.

So, what to do when we feel a cold/flu has attacked us?

Best thing is to go to bed for a few days and keep yourselves warm and well hydrated. Hot herbal teas are the best at this time: Thyme, Camomile, Peppermint, to mention but a few. (See my July entry: How to cope with summer colds/flu – part 1) All these you can get in the supermarket, as well as the Ginger and Lemon. Ginger tea is the best when home-made from a few slices of peeled ginger root, covered with boiling water for a while. When its temperature gets good enough for drinking, add a few drops of lemon. In case your cold/flu hasn’t given you loose digestion, you can add a few spoons of honey before the lemon. Honey in hot herbal tea has been long known for its healing properties. So in colds season, always keep a jar of good honey in your cupboard. Manuka honey is said to be very healing. It’s price in Hollands and Barretts is much higher than the acacia honey in Sainsbury’s. But knowing how little real honey is in the jar from Sainsbury’s we are much better off investing in a manuka honey jar and using it sparingly (a spoon a day) for enhancing our immunity. By the way, a spoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water last thing in the evening before bed is known to help sleep and to give energy the next morning (unless you are diabetic).

When you first start feeling shivers and fever, go home straight from work and have a hot bath or shower (not too close to bed- time as heat could make you restless). Then you rub all over your body some vodka with a few drops of aroma essence Lavender and or Tea tree in it. (see my first entry: Three essential oils every home needs). Prepare a spare pair of pyjamas next to your bed, have a hot herbal tea and go in bed in human hours. You may well sweat all over and this is where the spare pyjamas come handy next to your bed, you change in it and then sleep well. In some cases, this may be enough to stop the cold from developing. Soaking your feet in hot salty water also can do the job.

But if you have missed this stage and the cold/flu is developing with some fever, sore throat, cough, headache and aches all over the body, this is the stage you are best off to stay in bed for a few days. Not only you will heal better, but you will stop the germs from spreading further. As I said at the beginning, you need to keep warm and hydrated. Appetite could be low, light food is recommendable, milk, cheese and heavy meats are to be avoided. Best is chicken soup. (See recipe in my entry: How to cope with summer colds/flu – part 1). If you can bring yourself to eat raw garlic and/or onions, this is the antibiotic for you.

For the pains and aches, the rub made of vodka with aromatherapy oil will do a very good job. The good thing is you can use it even when you have fever. Proper body massage is to wait for the time when the fever is gone.

I know very well that most Londoners will not be able to follow my advice about staying in bed and losing a few days from work, simply because they are afraid of taking sick days; the employers nowadays included your absence from work from sickness in the criteria of your performance at work. So you stuff yourselves with paracetamol and antibiotics and soldier it to work. Some of you will add a few more coffees to their usual daily ration in order to survive a stressful day at work. This will deprive you from enough sleep and will kick- start the vicious circle of feeling tired and sleepy at rising in the morning and perhaps again in the early afternoon, drinking increased amount of coffee to fight that, then feeling as awake as a vampire at night and not able to get enough sleep for the next day, and so forth and so forth. To these people I firmly recommend to “get lazy” during the weekend. Live life without a schedule, take it easy, but eat well, try to sleep well. Not taking coffee or any other stimulants (chocolate and alcohol included) will help. Stay in bed for as long as it feels right. This will give your body the chance to heal itself as much as it is possible. If you can book a treatment for the end of the week, this should be the only thing scheduled for your weekend. The rest is rest.

Of course, I case your cold continues for much longer than a week, you may need to take antibiotic, best prescribed by your GP.

People rely on antibiotics to give them a boost, so they would not lose time from work. But what you need to know is that in a long run, antibiotics weaken your immune system. If you keep taking them every time you get a cold (sometimes up to three times in one season), your body develops tolerance to them and at certain point antibiotics are not efficient enough and you have to either increase the dosage, change the medication or, just get very sick. Maybe that latter is good, because this way you will allow your body to get immune to the particular virus. But, these cold and flu viruses are so many, you get immune to one, another, different one, comes to attack you. What’s left for us to do then?

The well-known answer is: improve your general health and your immunity, adopt healthy, stress-free life-style (as much as it is possible in our dynamic modern time). Or at least, interrupt the vicious circle of your stressful with the means of: treatments, meditation, Reiki, yoga, Qi Gong, Tai Qi etc.

What treatments?

When thinking about treatments, please note: body treatments I offer are good before and after the fever stage of a cold. The best treatment for after a cold I can offer is Manual Lymphatic Drainage (read more details in my October entry: October is the month for breast cancer awareness). MLD will activate the flow of lymph, which could be impaired due to the large amount debris of the bugs your immune system has killed while fighting the cold/flu. A few needles in specific points in the ears will give a boost to the organs responsible for your detox. (Optional, no extra charge).

MLD is a must after a cold/flu even if you have taken antibiotics and this has made you think you are well now. Antibiotics kill microorganisms in your body and this allows Candida overgrowth, which in turn, contributes to clogging the lymphatic system and this way – impairing your immune system and making you an easy target for the next cold waiting for you round the corner. In fact, regular MLD treatments can be used as prophylactic by those who feel that they “cannot afford to get sick”.

All my other treatments are good for stress prophylactic by interrupting the stress circle, depending of people’s preferences and likes. (Press Treatments button on this site to view the descriptions of them all)

My combined treatment of Reflexology and ear acupuncture has shown very good results in people who are extremely toxic due to the reduced ability of their liver to detox them from the large amount of strong drugs (medicinal or illicit) they have been taking. The positive results make this treatment invaluable for everyone, but especially for people who are not suitable for body/abdominal treatment. It could be used in pregnancy on its own or in a combination with partial MLD. It is very suitable for cancer patients (as long as there are no tumours in the feet and the ears.

October is the month for awareness of breast cancer!

It is good time to talk about Manual Lymphatic Drainage, and its role in cancer prevention and wellbeing!

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a very gentle, rhythmical and deeply relaxing massage technique that is very efficient in stimulating the lymphatic system.

MLD is performed predominantly on superficial (skin) level, but it also includes deeper pressure on areas, where lymph nodes are located internally: stomach, abdomen, groin, armpits, popliteal area.

The lymphatic system plays a vital role for regulating the immune system, which protects the body against infection and against development of cancer by eliminating  metabolic wastes, toxins and excess fluid from the body. When the lymphatic system becomes blocked, lymphatic fluid builds up and stagnates causing the entire system to become toxic. This leads to recurrent infections, colds, flu and in a long run can lead to other health problems caused by blockages and stagnation.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage technique helps clear blockages, eliminate excess fluid, metabolic waste and toxins from the body, transport nutrients to cells and increase metabolic efficiency. This all assists in weight reduction. As an added bonus, it has also calming effect on the nervous system and helps relieve stress and tension.

Manual Lymphatic drainage is also a very successful beauty treatment for the face, improving the appearance of the skin and reducing puffiness. It helps rejuvenate collagen fibres and slow the ageing process. MLD is the first part of my Natural facial and my Natural lifting facial with acupuncture and Gua Sha.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage helps for:

Toxic build-up

Cancer prevention

Fluid retention (puffy ankles, legs, eyes, bloating)

Glandular Fever, M.E. (Chronic Fatigue)

Constipation and other digestive disorders

Hormonal imbalances (teenagers, pre and post pregnancy, menopause)

Cellulite reduction and weight loss

PMT (Pre Menstrual Tension)

Migraine, sinus, hay fever

Acne and other skin conditions

Arthritis and rheumatism

Stress, anxiety, tension

Recurring infections (colds, flu, ear, chest)

Beauty: puffy eyes, dark circles, cellulite and weight reduction, for enhancing the texture and appearance of the skin, rejuvenating collagen fibres and slowing  the ageing process.

Please note: I can do MLD on clients with intact lymphatic nodes!

Summer is officially here, BUT we haven’t had true summer weather yet. We have seen it change up to five times in a day and even only once a week a heavy rain sets the humidity high and with the warm temperatures, this is the paradise for germs. We, the humans, are on the receiving end: hot and sweaty one moment, cooled by the air conditioning or the draft in the tube – the next. What better conditions for lowering our immunity resistance and to let the germs in? It is well known that immunity is usually at its lowest in spring after the long dark winter. And, from spring into summer, the period before our holidays can be the worst for that.

There is always some bug circulating around and sometimes it affects more the head and throat, sometimes it is more active in the digestive system.

Use of some spices, herbs and essential oils for increasing  resistance to bugs and for giving a boost to body’s own cleansing functions is always a good idea, but especially when stress and toxins have build up and make us too vulnerable to the bugs. Their effect has been tried and proved to be working for many years by other people and by myself, too.

Tea tree is the essential oil that I most often use for disinfection of my throat. I let one drop on my tongue. It has very strong taste and effect, so I make sure the dropper of the bottle is not too large and that I receive only one drop at the time. Every time I feel my throat is sore, I do this in the evening. Sometimes I do it prophylactically after I have been in places where  many people gather and there is a lot of coughing and sneezing around me. T-tree essence has effect on viral, bacterial and fungal infections. It is good when we have Candida albicans overgrowth. Candida overgrowth has been known to prevent proper absorption of the nutrients we take with food, so getting rid of it is useful for increasing our levels of energy, especially when we have cold or flu virus or a bug in the digestive system.

One clove of garlic, eaten raw in the evening, has also strong effect on a sore throat. Eaten raw, garlic is the best anti-biotic the nature has given us. I take garlic with my green soups in the evening as garlic also induces better sleep. Many are very cautious of the smell of their breath in the next morning, it is due the debris of the bugs, killed by garlic. According to the Bulgarian tradition, some parsley chewed raw in the morning takes the smell of garlic from your breath. Having in mind that parsley is a detoxing herb, it is a good idea to keep always some parsley in your fridge. Recently I read that according to the Asian tradition, chewing a few seeds of Cardamom will have the same effect, but I personally haven’t tried it yet. Having in mind that seeds are easier to keep and that Cardamom is a good digestive aid and a medicine for wind, Candida albicans overgrowth can produce wind), it is a good idea to always have some in the kitchen.

Ginger is my favourite as I like its taste and flavour in cooking and in a tea. It is a digestive aid, I use it regularly in my stir-fries and vegetable stews. Ever since I chewed one piece of it and liked the taste, I chop it in small pieces and eat it for warming myself in any weather. In London, you can feel cold in the summer after a rain for example. I always have ginger in my fridge as I like the simple tea I prepare from it. I peel about four cm length of ginger, slice it on the bottom of a big mug, pour the boiling water and leave it for a few minutes. When cooled enough for drinking, I add a few drops of lemon juice.  There was time in the past, when I would stir a tea spoon of honey in it. I have learned now to avoid hot treatment to honey, I would have it separately from the hot drink. Ginger is well known remedy for nausea of any origin.

Cayenne pepper ( powder) I discovered in London and I made it my choice for red chillies after I read that it also has anti-cancer properties. Cayenne is very chilly and I use it sparingly on my food: stir-fry, soups, toast, omelettes, etc. It gives some hotness to the food, makes my body feel evenly warm, which is due to Cayenne pepper boosting the blood circulation. This can have a refreshing effect on the brain, too. This is why it is good to have some of Cayenne pepper in your lunch, to prevent the typical afternoon sleepiness. It is also great for immunity, against colds and flu.

Green chillies I also use in my salads or soups. I clear the seeds, as they are the most vicious.

Generally, I use small amounts of chilies, this is what I can take in my mouth. We feel the chill in the mouth only. If it is felt in the stomack, this indicates something is wrong with the stomach, as chillies are perfectly OK in case the stomach lining is intact.

Turmeric I buy in the form of yellow powder. Apart from being a digestive aid and a mild stimulant, turmeric is well known Asian remedy for colds and for easing liver problems. Turmeric is considered very good for inflammation (hence its use for arthritis, too). It is said to be protective against many cancers. Due to its pungent, bitter fragrance, I use turmeric in food sparingly, but I try to put it in my stir-fry regularly. I personally can stir some powder in water and drink it in case of a bad cold, but I doubt many of you would follow me on this. So, just use it in bearable amounts in your cooking, it will have its protective effect.

Cinnamon is largely found in powder, but sticks are also comparatively easy to buy from the normal food shops. It has been my favourite food flavour, as in the Bulgarian tradition it is sprinkled on top of rice pudding and rice pudding is one of the deserts I grew up with. Cinnamon is considered a vitality boosting stimulant, tonic and antiseptic, which helps to overcome exhaustion and tiredness after colds and flu. Added to boiling water, cinnamon makes a good tea, or its evaporations can be used to unblock sinuses and to help with chesty cough. It is also a gentle pain killer.

Thyme tea is very good for colds, as it is anti-septic, warming, calming (and lowering a bit the blood pressure), helping with sore throat and cough.

Chamomile tea is very good for any stomach and abdominal discomfort, brings about good relaxation so some use it regularly for mild anxiety. Good to take it predominantly in the evening. As it is antiseptic, Camomile tea is good for sore throat, colds and flu. As too much or too strong chamomile tea can bring mild constipation, I recommend gargling with strong camomile concoction a few times a day to relieve sore throat. Same strong camomile concoction, mixed with some salt makes good drops to unblock the nose, I have used it on my kids million times. I read very recently that chamomile tea taken with meals, can be good help for keeping the levels of bood sugar in Diabetes II sufferers. Also I found information that Chamomile tea can be helpful with some cancers (breast cancer and leukemia), but this needs more research on my side for it is well known fact that these are some of the most curable cancers known.

Peppermint tea is known to be calming for the digestive system while at the same time very refreshing. It is one of the liver cleansers and it is best to drink first thing in the morning, but it is also good any time of the working day. You need some mild liver cleansing during a cold or flu as this is a time when your liver gets overworked. There are many other liver cleansers, which I can write about some other time.

Care for yourself you need to do during a bug’s infection

Drinking plenty of water, on top of having your herbal teas, you may need some water to top up your organism’s needs for fluids. You need the fluids to replace the ones lost in extra sweating and urinating, which are how your body cleanses cools itself (in case of raised temperature). Note, although you may feel like cold water, drink just room temperature water or if you can, make it hot before drinking. Remember, when taking cold drink in the body, the body needs to heat it up to its own temperature, so, it generates more heat, so drinking cold drink in fact makes you feel hotter and in case of a bug invasion, takes vital energy away from the main purpose – fighting the infection.

Hot soups to be main on the menu – it goes without saying. Remember the common notion that chicken soup is the best for the ill? Well, it is true. Even if you don’t feel like eating, you can drink the water in which chicken and the vegetables have been boiled. I know it is very hard to get yourself cooking when you have cold or flu, but here is the easiest recipe for chicken soup: Place the two washed whole chicken legs in the pan and cover with hot water. While it is starting boiling, you peel one carrot, half an onion and three cloves of garlic, as well as some ginger. If you are going to eat the ginger, chop it before adding to the soup. The others you put in the water whole and leave to simmer for maximum 30 min. Then add salt on your taste, turmeric  Cayenne pepper and dried thyme, a pinch of each. You can drink the water or eat the soup with some of the meat, it is up to your level of appetite. Remember that easy to digest proteins are needed for enhancing the immunity. A few drops of lemon will make this soup more appetising and vitamin C in it will help the proteins to be easier absorbed. My taste is to add some plain yoghurt for thickening this soup (and for some additional easy to digest protein). Yoghurt also takes some of the hot from the Cayenne pepper. I have a few more soups recipes in my pocket, but I will have to write a separate entry with the recipes.

Last week I happened to be in Victoria Street and hungry. So I went to Itsu. My choice was salmon teriyaki. I don’t know the meaning of the word teriyaki but I liked the look of the cooked salmon pieces on top of rice, sprinkled with sesame seeds. The price on the shelf was just under £4 and I thought it was a good deal in Central London. When at the till I was asked if I would it in, I said yes as sitting at the oval shaped tables looked very attractive to me after my long walking that day. This raised the bill to over £5, but  my need to sit down was so urgent, I accepted it with no hesitation. What annoyed me was that there was no indication on the price tags at the shelves that there will be different prices if “take away” or “eat in”. When eating in you use some plastic cutlery, a few drops of condiment and the shop assistant cleans the table after you, so, fair enough, you be charged 1.50 for it. But, the next thing which also annoyed me, they don’t give you a plate, you still eat from the packaging, which is meant for the “take away”. This used to be the meaning of paying different for “eat in” in the cafes from the good old times in London, I still remember. So, the raised price of “eat in” used to include the washing of your plate. When you buy a pack of food and eat from the same pack, then you throw it after you finish eating in the bin provided and the assistant only just wipes the table after you.

Well, I am not completely “ last century”,  I am used to eating sushi from cardboard packaging, which I usually buy from an outlet in Canary Warf for just under $4. The box is dark green inside and when I poor the strong soy sauce over the pieces of rice, covered with salmon, I always fear that some of the colouring of the box will get in my mouth together with the food. This is why I eat it very fast, trying not to think much about it. Besides, as much as I like sushi I can’t have it as often as I would like. This is because the salmon in sushi is not cooked and there is always a thought in the bottom of my mind,  that something wrong could happen after eating it.

The teriyaki is a portion of rice, on top of which there are some pieces of cooked salmon. Finishing my portion took some time and a surprise was waiting for me on the bottom of the cardboard box! A printed advertisement, starting with the slogan: Eat beautiful, eat lighter, eat Itsu! Followed by the description of some healthy meals and promoting the Itsu restaurant in Chelsea. This advert occupied the right half of the bottom of my box, on the left, there was an advert of the Volleyball England Beach Tour, which Itsu sponsors proudly. There is a picture of a half-naked male athlete, who’s armpit is in plain view! This is exactly what I needed for desert!

More than twenty years ago when I first came to this country and started learning English first, I worked for a while in a Burger King “restaurant” as the manager used to call it, to my dismay. It looked to me as a canteen for fast eating, but….As a former advertising executive in my then already post-communist country, I was very impressed by one inventive method for advertising: we were placing pieces of printed advertising/promoting material on the trays, which clients would use for taking their food and drink to their table. This way, they would see it and read it while having their burger, “meal” as it was then called. I was impressed from point of view of advertising and promoting, but I still think that covering the tray with a serviette would be better, or, just a tray, well cleaned with antibacterial spray and dried afterwards, would be best from hygiene point of view.

Anyway, in Burger King’s case, the printed material was not in direct contact with the food. But apparently nowadays, Itsu and other companies have taken it further and they think nothing of the direct contact the food they offer with the dye of the printed material their packaging is made of.

What do you think? Should somebody tell them to stop doing this?

Yesterday, for the first time this spring I found and gathered some nettles for soup. As I was taking one of my favourite walks on the green near my house, I changed my usual path and “discovered” the bunch of succulent nettles, which made my first green soup from the nature this spring. This reminded me last year, when I went to Bulgaria for the last week of May. As I stayed with my daughter and her vegetarian flat-mate, vegetable food was regularly on the table. We were also having fish, white cheese and plenty of plain yoghurt . But nettle soup was the star.

Recipe 1: Nettle soup is traditionally a spring favourite for Bulgarians. Although there might be differences in recipes in different regions, main ingredients are:  finely chopped nettle leaves, spring onions (optional), and rice or vermicelli for thickening. Wash the nettle leaves and then poor hot water on them before chopping them to avoid getting stung. I don’t mind the occasional nettle sting as folk medicine says it is good for arthritis and rheumatism. Last spring in Bulgaria I used nettles bought from the market, adding some rice vermicelli (bought in a Chinese shop in London). I usually serve it with some olive oil and a generous spoon of plain yoghurt, sometimes adding black pepper for a bit of heat.

Observations of the effect: We had nettle soup every day that week . The thick soup was filling my stomach, not allowing me to stuff myself with high calories food and with bread, which would be my normal diet in London. Lettuce salad, lentils stew, rice and plain yoghurt were regularly on the table and they are very detoxing. And although I had some bread and (white) cheese regularly, too, with so much fibrin my diet, I lost some weight!!! Just by some fluid retention and fat under the skin disappeared. Apparently it showed in my face, too, as my colleagues noticed it on my arrival back to work, which made me weigh myself and have the confirmation of my weight loss. I find out that two kilograms had gone. For a week?! Not only was I zipping easier my jeans, but I felt very light and flexible.

It was possible to find nettles in London after my arrival back in June last year, not that crispy and succulent, but still good for soup.

Also, an easier way of using nettles for detox is to make tea. The important thing is to wash the leaves well prior to use, I even soak them in cold water for a few minutes.

Recipe 2: Yesterday I made my soup using a different method: I only soaked the whole nettle stalks for a few minutes, washed them under running water and placed them in the large pan. Then added the rice vermicelli and poured boiling water and left them to simmer for five minutes. Added salt and stopped the gas. Later, I whizzed the soup, served with some olive oil and some 0% fat yoghurt Greek style I recently found in Tesco. It tasted even better!

Some more info about benefits from nettles:

Nettles are a rich green colour revealing its extremely high iron and chlorophyll content. It is also very high in the minerals calcium, magnesium, silicon, sulphur, copper, chromium, zinc, cobalt, potassium and phosphorus. Nettles also contain high amounts of vitamins A, C, D, E, and K as well as riboflavin and thiamine.

Good for anaemia and fatigue

Stinging nettle is beneficial during pregnancy due to its rich mineral value and vitamin K, which guards against excessive bleeding

Recommended for pre-menstrual syndrome because of its toxin-ridding activity

When the liver is sluggish, it processes estrogen slowly, contributing to the high levels that cause or aggravate PMS.

It has a gentle, stimulating effect on the lymphatic system, enhancing the excretion of wastes through the kidneys

It “promotes the process of protein transanimation in the liver, effectively utilizing digested proteins, while simultaneously preventing them from being discharged through the body as waste products.”

Stinging nettle acts similarly to dandelion leaf, promoting the elimination of uric acid from joints with an alkalizing diuretic activity

A study conducted by the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon found positive evidence of freeze-dried nettle leaf for treating hay fever, asthma, seasonal allergies, and hives.

As a styptic (an arrestor of local bleeding), stinging nettle is an effective remedy for nose bleeds.  It can be applied locally or sniffed.  The astringency of stinging nettle proves its usefulness in hemorrhoids, diarrhea, and bleeding in the urinary organs.

It also treats mouth and throat infections.

Nettle leaf is useful to correct symptoms of gastrointestinal excess, such as gas, nausea, and mucus colitis.

It is also used as an anodyne to relieve the pain of burns and scalds.

A decoction of nettle is valuable in diarrhea and dysentery, with profuse discharges, and in hemorrhoids, various hemorrhages, and scorbutic affections.  It has been recommended in febrile affections, gravel, and other nephritic complaints.

The fresh leaves were found to show anti-tumoural activity in animal studies and strong anti-mutagenic activity.  Nettle leaves are high in antioxidants with vitamin activities and have high potassium to sodium ratio.  All this indicates it as an excellent natural source for protection against neoplastic diseases (tumours), cardiovascular disorders, and immune deficiency.

In the respiratory system nettles help clear catarrhal congestion.

The seeds are an excellent lung astringent, particularly useful for bronchitis, tuberculosis, and consumption.  They are recommended as a remedy for goitre and to reduce body weight.  They are also considered anthelmintic, expelling worms and other parasites.

The stimulating effect of stinging nettle is used as a rinse for the hair.  This will regenerate hair growth and restore original hair colour.  It is used by the personal hair care industry in anti-dandruff products and scalp conditioners.

Russian studies show that nettle tea has anti-bacterial activity.  Mouthwashes and toothpastes containing nettle can reduce plaque and gingivitis.

Three essential oils every home needs

Essential oils are only called oils, in fact they are very potent substances, essences extracted from plants. Essences are usually diluted in oils for use in massage (hence the name essential oils) and they are also alcohol soluble.

We dilute essences in carrier oil. I recommend almond oil for carrier oil. The proportion for adults is three drops Lavender in a soup spoon of oil. For children and the frail, use one drop essence instead of three. If more oil is used, we multiply the number of the drops to the number of spoons and we make sure one blend gets maximum ten drops of essential oil. (three for children). Basically, we make sure that the (adult) person receives maximum ten drops of essences per treatment. So, you can bravely prepare a blend of five spoons of carrier oil (almond oil) plus ten drops of essences in it for one full body massage (for an adult, and with three drops for a child over seven).

Here are the three essences which every home should stoke as they are helpful for the most popular conditions and are good for all seasons. They are affordable and you can buy them one by one in order not to overload your budget.

Lavender

This is the safest oil to use at home, it can be used neat on the skin, although this is not recommended in the UK, as it is done in France.

Lavender is very relaxing and it is used for anxiety and depression, irritability, insomnia, headaches, migraine, PMS, stress-related conditions, shock. It helps you sleep and this is why it is good to use in the evening. Can be used not only in a massage, diluted in oil, but also neat on a tissue to inhale in bed. I personally use it neat to make “the cross”: horizontally the line between the front of the shoulders, where some lung meridian points are situated, and vertically from throat to mid chest, following the trachea line – mid line of chest. This is my remedy for colds and coughs and believe you me, I should know, I seem to constantly have them.

Lavender is antiseptic, useful for acne, spots, boils, cuts, colds, flu, infections, abscesses, sore throat.

Lavender helps with pain and spasms so it is useful for intestinal cramps, period pain, asthma, diarrhoea, flatulence.

Lavender is suitable for conditions caused by inflammation such as:  eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, cystitis, bruises, toothache, earache, conjunctivitis, bronchitis, as well as muscular conditions like strains, sprains, muscular aches and pains, as well as arthritis and rheumatism.

Lavender is also anti-fungal, but as Tea tree is the best in for his, Lavender can be used in a blend with Tea tree.

Traditionally, Lavender Has been used for repelling moths. Prepare a cotton ball, put a few drops of Lavender on it, wrap it in cloth or paper  and hide it in your wardrobe.

When periods are irregular, treatments with Lavender helps normalising them.

Lavender is traditionally known to help superficial wounds heal. Can be applied neat, but some stinging will be felt. Could be put on the gauze, which is to cover the wound. In the UK neat use of essential oils is not prescribed, as it is in France.

Lavender lowers high blood pressure and this could make it a caution for people with extremely low blood pressure.

Blends well with all other essences and it is often use to “soften” the blend, as it is with Tea tree oil, for example.

Tea tree is extracted from the leaves of the tree, which grows in Australia. The essence can cause irritation on sensitive skin especially if applied neat (undiluted). The most important qualities of Tea tree (you can read T-tree or ti tree in some sources) being antiseptic, antiviral and anti-fungal make it such a necessity for every home. You can use T-tree to treat viral, bacterial or fungal infections, which in modern day are often guests to the house. Tea tree is used for dandruff, spots, acne, cold sores, abscesses, flu, colds, cuts, boils, warts, verrucae, cystitis, sinusitis, sore throat, bronchitis, insect bites, wounds, cuts, burns, eczema, psoriasis, muscle aches and pains, athlete’s foot, ringworm, thrush and other fungal infections. I have been using it personally and on my kids for gargling when the throat is sore. I also use gargling or in massage blend for prevention after a day among people with flu and cold.

Tea tree is good for PMT, anxiety, depression, stress-related conditions.

It is said to be helpful for healing the wounds.

Tea tree is insect repelling and this makes it a necessity in the back pack.

Tea tree blends best with Lavender, Eucalyptus, Rosemary.

Peppermint

To be avoided during pregnancy and on young children; may cause irritation in high doses.

Peppermint is useful in feverish conditions as it lowers temperature. For its cooling property I use it in the massage blend for hot tired feet. I use one spoon aloe vera gel for base and add some almond oil and two drops Peppermint for foot massage blend, but you can use any cream to add peppermint essence to it. Hand cream sold in Bulgaria is good for the purpose, as is the simple aqueous cream (basic cream).

Peppermint is useful as digestive help for indigestion, nausea, constipation, flatulence, irritable bowel syndrome and for traveling sickness. Traditionally in Bulgaria, peppermint has been used internally by swallowing capsules. It can be used neat on a tissue for inhaling when traveling.

Due to its antispasmodic quality, Peppermint helps colic, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain, muscle spasm, cramps, intestinal cramps, period pains, asthma.

It also helps irregular or lack of periods.

Peppermint is useful for low blood pressure, poor circulation, varicous veins. It is a popular remedy for hot, achy feet.

Peppermint is a stimulant so it is useful for mental fatigue, stress, anxiety, poor memory, concentration, but it is not advisable to use it in the evening.

As it is analgesic, Peppermint is useful for migraine, headaches, toothache, sore throat, muscular pain.

Peppermint is anti-inflammatory, so it is useful for muscular aches and pains/sprains, sinusitis, dermatitis, eczema, bronchitis.

Peppermint is expectorant and it helps colds, flu, catarrh, coughs, bronchitis.