Summer First Aid: Using Essential Oils

By M. Cissy Majebe, L.Ac.

As we enter the summer season, there are a number of hazards to which we are exposed. These include insect bites, bee stings, sunburn and a greater likelihood of scrapes and tears, as children and adults alike return to playing outside.

Essential oils are a great way to treat many of these aggravations.

You may have tried essential oils in the past, but it is important that you have good quality oils. I do not recommend the essential oils that are purchased in local retail stores. There are oils that are used for aromatherapy, and there are oils that are medical grade. Medical grade essential oils can be used topically and internally. Oils that are not medical grade are often extracted with solvents or could be adulterated with less expensive or less pure oils.

Here are a few recommendations for using essential oils in this upcoming season. Before using essential oils, remember to only utilize medical grade oils for topical applications.

BEE STINGS AND INSECT BITES:

· Use Tea Tree, Ho Leaf and Eucalyptus Radiata essential oils
· Blend 20 drops of Tea Tree, 10 drops of Ho Leaf, 10 drops of Eucalyptus Radiata
· Apply directly to the area of the bee sting every one half hour until discomfort reduces and then 4-6 times a day

SUNBURN:

· Use a combination of Niaouli, Lavender and Frankincense
· Blend 10 drops of both Niaouli and Frankincense, and 20 drops of Lavender in a one third ounce of almond oil
· Apply topically to the area of the burn every hour while awake until the discomfort is relieved

Remedies for Home and Travel

By Joshua Herr, L.Ac.

We have often been asked, "What herbs should I take with me while I'm traveling out of the country?" or "What herbs do you keep in your medicine cabinet at home?"

These inquiries have led us to compile remedy kits for our patients.

We have 3 Chinese Herbal Medicine kits available for purchase at CAC:

• Home Remedy Kit
• Travel Kit
• Children's Home Remedies Booster Kit

Designed to treat common ailments, each kit comes with complete instructions on its application and dosing guidelines based on age.

The Children's Home Remedy Kit is comprised of tinctures and essential oil remedies. This allows the parent to have immediate access to a remedy so that treatment can begin quickly. We find that having access to herbal remedies at home and being able to begin treatment early can drastically shorten the duration of illness.

If there are questions about dosing or you are unsure which remedy would be the best choice for you or your child, one of our practitioners would be pleased to provide you with guidance.

Teething

By M. Cissy Majebe, L.Ac., & Karen Litton, L.Ac.

Cutting teeth is a rite of passage for all babies. The reaction to this experience varies from child to child. It can be an uncomfortable process for the child and the entire family.

Most cases of teething cause mild discomfort to the child, and some sleepless nights for the child and/or parents. In rare cases, a fever can develop that would require attention.

The channels that pass through the gums are related to the Stomach and Large Intestine Meridians in Chinese Medicine. Interestingly, many babies stop eating when they are getting close to teething -- a natural reaction to clear out the digestive system.

If a child has food stagnation in his stomach when teething starts, there will be more distress for the child when the teeth push through. The extra heat associated with the food stagnation in the stomach combines with the heat in the gums to create discomfort for the child during teething.

With teething, there can be an increase in the following symptoms: sore gums, drooling, wakefulness, irritability, mild temperature, diarrhea with foul-smelling stools, and sometimes a poor appetite just before and during teething.

In treatment, if there is heat, then the practitioner will bring down the heat and help clear the accumulation in the stomach. Acupuncture can also effectively reduce the heat and inflammation in the gums.

There are actions you as a parent can take at home to diminish your child’s discomfort. One of these is the stimulation of certain acupressure points, such as the following:

• Large Intestine 4: located between the thumb and the first finger, on the mound created when you squeeze the thumb to the hand.
• Stomach 40: located half way down the outer leg between the knee and ankle, about an inch off the shin bone.
• Stomach 44: in the webbing between the second third toes.

These points can help take the heat out of the gums, Stomach, and Intestines, thus relieving the child’s discomfort.

There are also herbal formulas and essential oils that can ease the child’s teeth discomfort. One of these is lavender oil. For those sleepless nights, rubbing lavender oil on the child’s stomach can be soothing. In addition, the lavender oil can be rubbed on the above mentioned points or chest. Just this oil’s essence can bring relaxation.

There are also herbal pills, one of which is Suan Zao Ren, which can help with those children, or parents, having difficulty sleeping. Suan Zao Ren also comes as a powder or a tincture.

Your Children: Their Burns, Bruises & “Owees”

By Junie Norfleet, L.Ac.

The weather warmer, and the children being outside more, brings sunburns, insect bites, scrapes, and bruises.

For the prevention of sunburn, we suggest that you follow the suggestions of Dr. Michael Holick, a vitamin D researcher, who suggests that you determine how long it takes for your skin to turn pink and then spend only ¼ of that time outdoors without protection.

If you stay out longer, apply sunscreen and/or add additional clothing to protect the body. Repeat this several times a week, exposing at least 50% of your body each time. This allows your body to get adequate Vitamin D without being "burned" by the sun.

We suggest you check the website: www.cosmeticdatabase.com to investigate safe sunscreen lotions. The first two listed that best meet the study's criteria for safe, low hazard products are:

• California Baby SPF 30+Sun block Stick No Fragrance
• Badger SPF 30 Sunscreen

If there is sunburn, the symptoms are:

• First degree burn - pink skin, some pain, minimal peeling;
• Second degree burn - significant redness of the skin; in some instances blisters with clear, watery fluid; extreme pain lasting several days; significant peeling;
• More severe burns - chills, fever, nausea, vomiting, mild dehydration.

In some instances heat stroke can occur with rapid onset symptoms of fever greater than 104 degrees Fahrenheit, hot skin, confusion and loss of consciousness. Heat exhaustion symptoms are slower in onset and include cold and clammy skin, extreme sweating but no fever. Heat stroke and/or exhaustion occur due to dehydration, so be sure to stay hydrated.

If there are parts of the body that get missed and therefore "burned," the Chinese Acupuncture Clinic carries a burn cream that is excellent to help soothe the burned skin, whether the burn is from the sun or from a stove or campfire. It helps to cool the heat sensation as well as heal the area.

For insect bites, a blend of essential oils including Basil and Cedarwood is available to help reduce the irritation, itching, and pain. If you decide to create a blend for yourself, please be cautious with Basil for prepubescent children and pregnant women, as Basil can exhaust yang qi. To protect yourself and your children from insect bites, diffuse White Camphor oil in the area as an insect repellant, or use a hydrosol of Citronella, Cedarwood, Peppermint, and Geranium.

For scrapes, we suggest that you wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. Soaps with essential oils are good to use since all essential oils are antimicrobial. If the scrape is in an area that is going to be hard to heal due to bending of a joint or body part, we suggest using Zi Cao ointment to keep the area soft and pliable while it heals.

For more serious injuries with unbroken skin, we suggest Dit Da tincture. For sprains and strains, we suggest massaging Dit Da on the injured area several times daily. This tincture is wonderful to move stagnant blood and qi and to help the area to heal. The alcohol base causes it to be best for injuries without broken skin.

We at the Chinese Acupuncture Clinic want you and your children to have safe and happy outdoor time. We encourage you to supply your "first aid kits" with some of the above mentioned items to help ensure good health.