If common medicines are not available in your outdoor adventures, it is always good to know some natural additions to your medical kit. You will need to draw upon the lessons taught by our ancestors and rely on the natural medicines that can be found around us. One of those natural medicines is a group known as “essential oils.”
Now, you ask, “How can these natural elements be of use in my medical kit?” “What makes them work?”
To find the answers to these questions, I turned to expert sources I could trust. I contacted Dr. Joseph Alton and Amy Alton, A.R.N.P., who own Doom and Bloom; Retha Nesmith, certified aromatherapist for Plant Therapy in Idaho; Victoria DiMonda, R.N., owner of Green Mountain Tick Repellent in Vermont; and Karen Girardo, owner of Just Naturals, in Bedford, New Hampshire. All are authorities in the use of essential oils and provided me with a wealth of information.
Essential oils are “… liquids comprised of highly concentrated aromatic mixtures of compounds obtained from plants …,” according to The Survival Medicine Handbook, written by Joseph and Amy Alton. They go on to say that, these oils are called “essential,” because they are all the good things in the plant condensed into just the oil. Retha Nesmith told me that because of their high concentrations, it only takes a few drops of any particular oil to do the job.
Many of the oils are extracted from some plants that have been used by healers and herbologists for centuries. The difference is that healers usually use certain parts of the plant (leaves, flowers, and bark) to make teas, salves and poultices. While these methods do use some of the natural oils of the plant, they don’t get the full effect that could be offered by using essential oils.
Essential oils are considered “volatile,” meaning that they evaporate very quickly. For this reason, it is important to dilute them in a neutral carrier oil. This is especially true if the oil is to be used topically. The carrier oil keeps the essential oil stabilized long enough for the skin to absorb it and get the full benefits.
HOW ARE ESSENTIAL OILS OBTAINED?
The process of extracting oils from plants is a long one, with the most widely used method being distillation. It is the same general process used to make alcohol from grain or getting fresh drinking water from saltwater.
In short, distillation involves adding the selected plants to water, which is then boiled to produce steam. The steam rises and runs through cooling coils, which condense it back to a liquid. The liquid, which is a mixture of water and the plant’s oils, runs into a catch basin. Oil is normally lighter than water, so the oil separates from the water and fl oats on top. It’s from here that the oil is collected. This is a very simplified explanation, because there is a real science to this process. Different oils evaporate at different temperatures, and to get it right takes a great deal of hard work.
Can this process be done by someone at home or in an emergency? How feasible would this be as an addition to the grab bag of emergency medical supplies? The answers? Yes, it can be done, and it is quite feasible.
We have been using the process of distillation for centuries, going back to the ancient Orient, Greece and Rome, so it can be done today. A crude still can be made from many different things. All that is needed: a fi re, a vessel in which to heat the water/plant mixture, some metal tubing (copper is the best) and a vessel to collect the liquid.
Caution needs to be taken here, because any metal that contains lead, including soldered joints, will poison you very quickly. If possible, stick with copper. Although everything can be done at home and it is a great skill to have under your belt. I would first figure out which essential oils are the “go-to” essential oils and buy them already made. As long as the bottles stay sealed, they will last a long time, and you will have them when they are needed.
Generally, the entire plant can be used to make essential oils. Each part of the plant has different medicinal properties and concentration.
MEDICINAL USES
The medicinal uses of essential oils are almost endless. They can be used to treat everything from breathing problems to cuts and burns. Some are great for the treatment of joint and muscle pain; others can be used as a safe insect repellent.
The most popular way of getting the benefits of essential oils is through either topical application or aromatherapy. Some people suggest ingesting these oils. I wouldn’t—unless you are under supervised treatment from a certified medical professional. Not all the experts I consulted recommend that these oils be ingested.
Old age and serious abuse have taken their toll on my muscles and joints. While I have tried many pharmaceuticals, I don’t like putting any manufactured chemicals into my body that I don’t have to.
Karen Girardo recommended two of her topical products made from essential oils. The first is Muscle Soother, which is a salve made from beeswax and a blend of peppermint, ginger and clove essential oils; the second is Pain Relief Blend. This blend’s ingredients include calendula, peppermint, ginger and clove oils mixed in a coconut oil carrier. Both work great in relieving some of my pain.
A friend of mine suffers from joint inflammation and sciatica. Retha Nesmith gave me the formula to use:
Mix the essential oils frankincense carteri, black pepper, and chamomile German CO2 with coconut oil and apply to the area to be treated. While the cause of the inflammation needs to be addressed, this mixture does seem to alleviate the pain associated with it.
As with everything else, there is a natural way to keep insects away. Victoria DiMonda has been using the essential oils rose geranium, lemongrass and cedar wood in her tick repellent for years. It works, and I live by it. (I just wish she had something that is effective against black flies and mosquitoes!)
Karen Girardo makes a natural bug spray that combines the oils from cloves, peppermint, geraniums, and cedar. This product seems to work on those flying insects. (You might have noticed that both products contain cedar oil. Cedar has been used for years to repel moths and other insects. That is why chests and closets are often lined with it.)
Essential oils work the best via aromatherapy. Some oils are optimally effective when they are inhaled.
For instance, lavender and eucalyptus help with respiratory problems; and lavender, peppermint, and chamomile relieve stress and help you focus. The ultimate tool we have in a survival situation is our ability to think and react. Sound decisions are made with a clear mind. These oils, in association with aromatherapy, help keep you on the right track.
Essential oils, although they seem to be a little complicated, are items we all need to have in our medical tool kits. Survival is all about living with what the world gives you. I hope that you’ll be able to source some of these plants locally.
Perhaps there will be a time when what we now consider “common” will no longer be readily available. We might be forced to take a step back and make adjustments. Essential oils are some viable options we should be investigating.
TOP 5 ESSENTIAL OILS - Essential Oil Medical Uses
Lavender - Skin care, Wounds, Sunburn, Pain relief, Antiseptic, Calming effect
Tea Tree - Immune support, Skin wounds, Insect bites, Fungal infections
Peppermint – Antiseptic, Antibacterial, Decongestant, Antiemetic, Digestive problems, Headaches
Eucalyptus – Antiseptic, Antiviral, Decongestant, Insect repellent
Clove – Antifungal, Antiseptic, Antiviral, Analgesic, Sedative
Now, you ask, “How can these natural elements be of use in my medical kit?” “What makes them work?”
To find the answers to these questions, I turned to expert sources I could trust. I contacted Dr. Joseph Alton and Amy Alton, A.R.N.P., who own Doom and Bloom; Retha Nesmith, certified aromatherapist for Plant Therapy in Idaho; Victoria DiMonda, R.N., owner of Green Mountain Tick Repellent in Vermont; and Karen Girardo, owner of Just Naturals, in Bedford, New Hampshire. All are authorities in the use of essential oils and provided me with a wealth of information.
Essential oils are “… liquids comprised of highly concentrated aromatic mixtures of compounds obtained from plants …,” according to The Survival Medicine Handbook, written by Joseph and Amy Alton. They go on to say that, these oils are called “essential,” because they are all the good things in the plant condensed into just the oil. Retha Nesmith told me that because of their high concentrations, it only takes a few drops of any particular oil to do the job.
Many of the oils are extracted from some plants that have been used by healers and herbologists for centuries. The difference is that healers usually use certain parts of the plant (leaves, flowers, and bark) to make teas, salves and poultices. While these methods do use some of the natural oils of the plant, they don’t get the full effect that could be offered by using essential oils.
Essential oils are considered “volatile,” meaning that they evaporate very quickly. For this reason, it is important to dilute them in a neutral carrier oil. This is especially true if the oil is to be used topically. The carrier oil keeps the essential oil stabilized long enough for the skin to absorb it and get the full benefits.
HOW ARE ESSENTIAL OILS OBTAINED?
The process of extracting oils from plants is a long one, with the most widely used method being distillation. It is the same general process used to make alcohol from grain or getting fresh drinking water from saltwater.
In short, distillation involves adding the selected plants to water, which is then boiled to produce steam. The steam rises and runs through cooling coils, which condense it back to a liquid. The liquid, which is a mixture of water and the plant’s oils, runs into a catch basin. Oil is normally lighter than water, so the oil separates from the water and fl oats on top. It’s from here that the oil is collected. This is a very simplified explanation, because there is a real science to this process. Different oils evaporate at different temperatures, and to get it right takes a great deal of hard work.
Can this process be done by someone at home or in an emergency? How feasible would this be as an addition to the grab bag of emergency medical supplies? The answers? Yes, it can be done, and it is quite feasible.
We have been using the process of distillation for centuries, going back to the ancient Orient, Greece and Rome, so it can be done today. A crude still can be made from many different things. All that is needed: a fi re, a vessel in which to heat the water/plant mixture, some metal tubing (copper is the best) and a vessel to collect the liquid.
Caution needs to be taken here, because any metal that contains lead, including soldered joints, will poison you very quickly. If possible, stick with copper. Although everything can be done at home and it is a great skill to have under your belt. I would first figure out which essential oils are the “go-to” essential oils and buy them already made. As long as the bottles stay sealed, they will last a long time, and you will have them when they are needed.
Generally, the entire plant can be used to make essential oils. Each part of the plant has different medicinal properties and concentration.
MEDICINAL USES
The medicinal uses of essential oils are almost endless. They can be used to treat everything from breathing problems to cuts and burns. Some are great for the treatment of joint and muscle pain; others can be used as a safe insect repellent.
The most popular way of getting the benefits of essential oils is through either topical application or aromatherapy. Some people suggest ingesting these oils. I wouldn’t—unless you are under supervised treatment from a certified medical professional. Not all the experts I consulted recommend that these oils be ingested.
Old age and serious abuse have taken their toll on my muscles and joints. While I have tried many pharmaceuticals, I don’t like putting any manufactured chemicals into my body that I don’t have to.
Karen Girardo recommended two of her topical products made from essential oils. The first is Muscle Soother, which is a salve made from beeswax and a blend of peppermint, ginger and clove essential oils; the second is Pain Relief Blend. This blend’s ingredients include calendula, peppermint, ginger and clove oils mixed in a coconut oil carrier. Both work great in relieving some of my pain.
A friend of mine suffers from joint inflammation and sciatica. Retha Nesmith gave me the formula to use:
Mix the essential oils frankincense carteri, black pepper, and chamomile German CO2 with coconut oil and apply to the area to be treated. While the cause of the inflammation needs to be addressed, this mixture does seem to alleviate the pain associated with it.
As with everything else, there is a natural way to keep insects away. Victoria DiMonda has been using the essential oils rose geranium, lemongrass and cedar wood in her tick repellent for years. It works, and I live by it. (I just wish she had something that is effective against black flies and mosquitoes!)
Karen Girardo makes a natural bug spray that combines the oils from cloves, peppermint, geraniums, and cedar. This product seems to work on those flying insects. (You might have noticed that both products contain cedar oil. Cedar has been used for years to repel moths and other insects. That is why chests and closets are often lined with it.)
Essential oils work the best via aromatherapy. Some oils are optimally effective when they are inhaled.
For instance, lavender and eucalyptus help with respiratory problems; and lavender, peppermint, and chamomile relieve stress and help you focus. The ultimate tool we have in a survival situation is our ability to think and react. Sound decisions are made with a clear mind. These oils, in association with aromatherapy, help keep you on the right track.
Essential oils, although they seem to be a little complicated, are items we all need to have in our medical tool kits. Survival is all about living with what the world gives you. I hope that you’ll be able to source some of these plants locally.
Perhaps there will be a time when what we now consider “common” will no longer be readily available. We might be forced to take a step back and make adjustments. Essential oils are some viable options we should be investigating.
TOP 5 ESSENTIAL OILS - Essential Oil Medical Uses
Lavender - Skin care, Wounds, Sunburn, Pain relief, Antiseptic, Calming effect
Tea Tree - Immune support, Skin wounds, Insect bites, Fungal infections
Peppermint – Antiseptic, Antibacterial, Decongestant, Antiemetic, Digestive problems, Headaches
Eucalyptus – Antiseptic, Antiviral, Decongestant, Insect repellent
Clove – Antifungal, Antiseptic, Antiviral, Analgesic, Sedative