NATURE'S RESCUE SQUAD

Soothe those flakes, spots and marks with a few drops of loving essential oil By Shubhra Krishan.

Your Hair Is Falling Faster Than Autumn Leaves...

Don't lose your head quite yet. Take jojoba as your base oil, and add any of these oils - cedar, lavender, rose, patchouli, or evening primrose - to it. Get someone to give you a soothing scalp massage with this ultra-healing blend and lock-in those tresses right where they belong!

Stem, shoot, root, petal, sepal, bud, leaf... every part of a green herb or a fragrant flower is suffused with curative powers. And happily for us, their essences come packaged to us in neat little bottles and lovely little jars. We just need to know which one to pick up when we feel the need for some tender loving care. Here's when you'll find the touch of an essential oil truly welcome in healing your body and mind:

Your Skin Feels Like Chalk

Solution? Derive the deep moisturising benefits of oils such as: castor, jojoba, evening primrose, borage, avocado, Brazilian nut or olive oil. They make excellent bases to which you can add essential oils of your choice.

You Wake Up Feeling As Fresh As An Unwatered Lily

It's time to spring out of bed, head for the shower and zoom out to work.. .except that your body and mind are in sleep mode. Once you've braved it to the bath fill a bucket or tub with water at a pleasant temperature. Then, add a few drops of any of these essential oils to it: rosemary, bergamot, peppermint or eucalyptus. Soak in and minutes later, you'll feel as fresh as a bunch of mint!

Take Care...

Blending essential oils is a delicate business.Too much can singe your skin, and too little might not give you the full benefits. So, we suggest you start with two basic oils and read up simple ways to blend them. Or, better still would be to seek advice from an aromatherapy expert.

Some essential oils, such as black pepper, cardamom, clove bud and ginger, are not used for skin applications. So, always be sure of this before you buy and try thesm.

Always buy good quality essential oil. Cheap oils can be dangerous.

Your Skin's Dotted With Those Cheesy Dimples... Called Cellulite

Attack the trouble spot with a gentle massage of wheatgerm oil mixed with a few drops of chamomile, rose, lavender, geranium or neroli essential oil. Not only do you rub the ripples into submission, you smell great too!

You've Got An Embarrassing Itch

Apply on the affected area a potion of wheatgerm oil mixed with three drops of rose essential oil. Wait for a few moments and then get back into the groove with your flashiest smile and your hands in the right place.

Your Skin's Producing More Oil Than Arabian Wells...

No sweat! Requisition the healing benefits of bergamot essential oil. Fresh, citrus-sweet and fruity, it blends beautifully with chamomile, coriander, cypress, juniper, geranium, neroli and ylang-ylang; while experts promise that the magical bergamot will calm not only your skin but also your soul!

You've Faced The Afternoon Sun

However hard they are, sun burns and heat rashes cannot match the healing prowess of jojoba oil.Experience the magic for yourself; mix some aloe vera with jojoba oil and apply it on the affected area to feel the healing begin!