The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.
Isaiah 58:11
Water. So simple, yet so vital and life-giving.
Oils from the garden. So complex, yet also so vital and life-giving.
Common knowledge tells us that water and oil do not mix. However, I have found that when one takes God’s creations in the way in which He designed them, frequently they fit together perfectly, enhancing the effects of each. Such is the case with essential oils and water.
Summer naturally draws us to the water for cooling and enjoyment. Activities such as swimming, boating, fishing, and playing in the backyard sprinklers can put an end to the so-called “lazy days of summer”. However, along with all the benefits and delight these activities can bring, they can also bring along some troublesome effects if we are not careful.
Essential Oils for Sunburns
While partaking in water related activities during the summer, one of the most common dangers is sunburn. We all need a few minutes of unadulterated, unblocked sunshine every day to activate our vital Vitamin D, but we must take precautions to avoid sunburn, and learn how best to treat it if we do get a little too much sun. The best way to prevent sunburns while outdoors is to wear white or light colored loose- fitting clothing made of either cotton or linen, along with a wide-brimmed hat.
If you do catch a few too many rays, lavender and spikenard (“nard” in Biblical dialect, John 12:3) offer excellent pain-relieving and healing benefits. Lavender is of the mint family, so it has cooling, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is generally safe to apply directly and undiluted to the skin and it is wonderful for all sorts of skin conditions, including acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Lavender has also been shown to restore photo-aged skin, and speeds healing of all types of burns.
Lavender Bath: Try adding several drops of therapeutic lavender oil to warm (not hot!) bathwater for overall relief.
Body Moisturizer: After bathing, add a dozen or more drops of lavender essential oil to 8-10 oz. of grape seed or coconut oil for a cooling and healing moisturizer. Both of these fatty oils are also loaded with anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, and are excellent to protect, nourish and heal the skin.
Essential Oils for Bugs
Another hazard of enjoying water outdoors during the summer is the bugs. Insects also enjoy “playing” around the water! Not only are bees and mosquitoes annoying and their bites and stings painful, they can also carry many diseases. Essential oils are loaded with natural insect repellants, since these are the compounds the plants produces to protect themselves from unfriendly pests. Some of the best essential oils to use for insect protection are Idaho tansy, palo santo, peppermint, tea tree oil, geranium, rosemary, lemongrass, thyme, spearmint, or citronella.
Bug Spray: Adding several drops of any combination of these oils to a spray bottle half full of water and spraying on skin and clothing frequently will help ward off those pesky pests! You can use this same mixture to spray around windows and doors to deter other pests from taking up residence in your home.
Essential Oils for Hydration
As we work in our yards and gardens and enjoy the outdoors with our family and friends, we can often lose track of time, and forget to stay hydrated. The heat and humidity of summer very quickly sucks the water right out of us. Remember to drink pure spring water constantly throughout the day. Adding a safe essential oil to water can make for an especially refreshing drink. Make sure that the essential oil is therapeutic and safe for ingestion before use.
Refreshing Beverage: Add a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil to a tall glass of cool water. Not only will the peppermint cool you, but it has been shown to be anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and antifungal. It is also said to relieve heartburn and indigestion, curb the appetite, and relieve “brain-fog”!!
I hope that you and your family can spend many hours in God’s good garden this summer. These are just a few suggestions that I hope will help increase the blessings He has prepared for you!
Cautions When Using Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils:
-Avoid eye and mucus membrane contact. If irritation should occur, apply a pure fatty oil, such as coconut, grapeseed, wheat germ, or olive oil.
-When spending time in the sun, do not use citrus essential oils, as they may make the skin more susceptible to sun damage.
-Do not apply peppermint oil to children under 18 months of age.
-When adding essential oils to drinking water, avoid plastic containers; use glass only.
-Do not apply essential oils to dog or cat skin; apply to the paw pads if desired or use a blend specifically designed for pets.
Research documentation available upon request.
