Dental Care, Oral Hygiene and Essential Oils

Certain essential oils have been used in dental care and oral hygiene for hundreds of years.

For instance

Clove bud essential oil is used for the symptomatic relief of toothache: the oil is applied directly without pressure on the carious tooth with a small piece of cotton. It is also extensively used as a major component in preparations for the treatment of postextraction alveolitis (dry socket) and in dental cements and fillings.

Myrrh is reported to have astringent properties on mucous membranes as well as antimicrobial activities in vitro. It is used as an astringent in certain mouthwashes and gargles. Traditionally it has been used for bad breath, weak gums, gingivitis and loose teeth.

Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients
Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics - Leung and Foster.

Other essential oils that have been used in this field include Ammi Visnaga, traditionally the plant has been used as toothpicks; Cardamom Ancient Egyptians used to chew on this to whiten their teeth and freshen their breath; Cinnamon for periodontal disease; Mastic combined with Myrrh for periodontal disease or combined with spikenard as a tooth whitener; Tea Tree as a germicidal.

Vinegar has been used for dental hygiene for many years and has been found to be helpful in reducing bacterial plaque. You can use vinegar diluted down 1:1 with water or unsweetened Cranberry Juice as your mouthwash base and as with any mouthwash just swirl around and spit out. Don't swallow.

Essential oils or hydrosols can certainly be used effectively in mouthwashes
If you choose to use essential oils as part of a mouth wash routine make sure that they are in a low dilution and don't swallow.

Oral Care Blend
First make up the blend and store in a dark bottle:
5 parts tea tree; 1 part cardamon; 1 part clove; 1 part fennel; 1 part myrrh;1 part peppermint
Store in a dark bottle.
Add 1 drop of the blend to a glass of water, swirl around your mouth, and spit out. Don't swallow.

Essential Oils and Meditation

Although well known before, it would appear that since appearing on Oprah, Eckhart Tolle has become quite a household name. While his teachings are profound they are not new. Human beings really do have a need and a longing, whether we have recognized it or not, to connect to our spirit and be in a calm and centered place.

Do you take time to clear your mind completely and just be in the moment?

Do you take a few minutes every day just for you?

I think that we are all born with both the innate ability and the need to clear the 'chattering monkey' that often inhabits our minds. To just allow ourselves to 'Be', without thought or concern for the past or the future, just focusing on the present moment.

This is easier said than done but with practice it is amazing what one can achieve. Meditation can be an excellent pathway to reaching this state and even if we can't reach it often, or stay there for long, the positive benefits of regular meditation are beyond measure.

Our wonderful essential oils can be an amazing tool to help us achieve a richer, fuller life through meditation. An article on Meditation and Essential Oils can be found on the website, together with some Meditation Blends can be found on the web site.

If you need more information on the subtle effects of essential oils perhaps our e-book Subtle Aromatherapy would be helpful.

Essential Oils and Father's Day

Father's Day is coming up this weekend and I hope that you and all the Fathers in your life have a wonderful day of celebration.

Apparently the idea of creating a special day to honor fathers was initiated by Sonora Smart Dodd in Spokane, Washington. She got the idea in 1909 while listening to a Mother's Day sermon. After the death of her mother, she had been raised by her father and she wanted to let him know just how special he was to her. He had made all the sacrifices that parents make and to his daughter he was a courageous, selfless and loving man. As her father had been born in June, she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910.

A National Father's Day Committee was formed in New York City in 1926 and Father's Day was recognized by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1956 and in 1972 President Richard Nixon established the national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June.

For all Fathers and the families that love them:

What Makes A Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad

Author unknown

As I created a special blend for Mother's Day, I thought that I'd like to create a special blend for Father's day. One can get a few ideas of what oils to use just by reading the above poem and a good place to find appropriate oils would be the article Your Own Special Blend.

My own Special Diffuser Blend for Father's Day: Frankincense 3 drops, Lavender 5 drops, Lime 5 drops and Rosemary 2 drops.

Still need a quick gift for Father's Day? Perhaps you'll find just the right recipe in in my e-Book Aromatic Gifts for all ages and for all seasons.

Geranium Pelargonium graveolens

Geranium is one of my favorite essential oils, it is gentle and versatile and can be used for a wide variety of reasons. It is a great favorite in many women's blends for instance, a drop or two added to a teaspoon of carrier oil and rubbed in on the lower back and lower abdomen can be extremely effective for menstrual pains. Geranium does not have to be reserved just for women either, many men find the aroma very pleasant and are very happy to benefit from its many wonderful properties. Geranium is very helpful in improving the circulation, as well as being effective for rheumatism and neuralgia, wound healing and as an insect repellent. While having a calming and relaxing effect, Geranium is also very uplifting.

A mini profile on Geranium can be found on the website.

On a subtle level Geranium eases heartache. It can be used for any of the issues that cause conflict, heartache and abandonment. Geranium has a very gentle nurturing energy that works on the soul level. Geranium calms both mind and spirit. It promotes both harmony and happiness in relationships and balances the emotions. It can provide spiritual protection. It can help one to be more creative. It is very helpful for transition of any sort. Geranium provides strong protection and can be added to happiness blends.

Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing however it is best to avoid its use in early pregnancy.

There is still time to make something special for Father's Day, there are lots of easy and fun recipes in my e-Book Aromatic Gifts for all ages and for all seasons.



Diffuser Blend for the day: Geranium 3 drops, Lavender 5 drops, Bergamot 5 drops.