ESSENTIAL OILS AND MORE
Why essential oils are such a good barter item
During a natural disaster or collapse you lose access to all things convenient and modern, you can turn to plants for your survival needs. Plants provide a suitable alternative to many things, including conventional medicines. In fact, plants are way healthier and far safer to use than modern medicines.
Plants have been a great help to mankind since the beginning of time. Every part of a plant, from its roots to its leaves, seeds, fruits and flowers, can be used in a variety of ways, such as for food, medicine and even as everyday tools. Thanks to their incredible physical and chemical properties, we continue to rely on plants to this day to supply our needs.
When disaster strikes and medical services become unavailable, you can use plants to treat ailments that don’t require invasive medical procedures. Of course, not everyone has access to plants or has a home garden to grow medicinal plants in. Fortunately, herbal remedies exist in another form that’s much easier to store, carry and use during emergencies than fresh plants. This convenient form is commonly known as essential oils.
Why you should stock up on essential oils
Essential oils are plant extracts derived by distilling or cold pressing select parts of a medicinal plant. Because doing so produces a highly concentrated oil that contains all the scent and flavor compounds of a plant, essential oils have a much stronger smell than their plant sources.
Aside from being used as traditional remedies, essential oils can serve other purposes. For instance, some essential oils like lemon essential oil and tea tree oil have excellent natural cleansing properties, which is why they’re often used in household cleaning products. Other essential oils like lemongrass, citronella and cedarwood are natural insect repellents, so you’ll find them in topical or aromatic bug sprays. Meanwhile, essential oils like cinnamon, lavender and rosemary contain compounds that can help eliminate bad odors and freshen the air in your home when diffused.
Some essential oils can also be used in small quantities for cooking. These essential oils are extracted from culinary herbs like oregano, thyme and basil. However, these essential oils are processed differently from those intended as natural remedies to make them safe for consumption. If you want to use essential oils as culinary ingredients, please make sure you get oils that are clean and food grade. Peace River Apothecary DOES NOT carry these types of essential oils currently.
Thanks to the versatility and medicinal properties, essential oils are great items to include in your survival stockpile. They will serve you well in emergency situations and make great barter items in the event of an economic collapse because of their utility. Essential oils are easy to store and have a long shelf life. Depending on the compounds they contain, pure essential oils (no carrier oils mixed) can last from 3 – 15 years when stored properly.
6 Must-Have Essential Oils for your Emergency Stockpile
As emergency medicine, essential oils can be used in many ways. Some essential oils that offer benefits for the skin can be used topically when mixed with a gentle carrier oil like coconut oil, jojoba oil or avocado oil. Because they are highly concentrated, you must first dilute pure essential oils in a carrier oil before applying them on your skin to avoid skin irritation.
Essential oils can also be inhaled to experience their benefits. In aromatherapy, essential oils are either diffused in the air or placed in a bowl of steaming water and inhaled so that their pleasant scent can be enjoyed at leisure. Many essential oils are known for supporting emotional health and wellness.
Since there are as many essential oils on the market as there are medicinal plants, choosing which oils to stock up on can be tricky. To help you decide, here are 6 useful essential oils to have in any situation and their benefits.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is extracted from the flowers of the Lavandula angustifolia plant using distillation. Aside from its sweet floral aroma, lavender essential oil is known for its calming effects and its ability to support the body’s natural healing processes. Lavender essential oil is good for: soothing skin, heals skin, promotes restful sleep, reduce anxious feelings, acts as a pain reliever, acts as an antiseptic, freshens the air.
Our 100% pure therapeutic grade lavender essential oil you can use for many things.
Best Uses
Room Fragrance: Use a few drops in a diffuser, vaporizers or oil burner to help cleanse the air and for a calming soothing feeling.
In massage oil: Add 2-3 drops to 1 tablespoon base oil (like olive or avocado oil) for a restorative, de-stressing and skin-soothing massage.
As a bath oil: Combine a few drops with a base oil or 2 tablespoons of milk and dispense in a relaxing bedtime bath. Be careful getting out of the tub, as it may make the tub slick from the oil.
Safe usage: Kids 2+ safe, pregnancy, breastfeeding, sun & dog safe. Not safe for cats. Dilution rate of 5%
Get this great essential oil: Lavender (Bulgarian) Essential Oil – Peace River Apothecary
Sweet Orange Essential Oil
Sweet Orange essential oil comes from the rind of the citrus sinensis fruit. Sweet orange essential oils support healthy skin, optimal immune function and a positive mood. Also, it is a great natural cleaning property, so you can use sweet orange as a non-toxic cleaning agent around your home. Sweet orange essential oil is good for: aids detox, tones skin, revitalizes and brightens skin, boosts immunity, improves digestion, relieves anxiety.
Best Uses
As a bath oil: Combine a few drops with a base oil or 2 tablespoons of milk and dispense to enjoy a bath that soothes and tones. Be careful getting out of the tub, as it may make the tub slick from the oil.
In a massage oil: If you’ve overindulged, try a gentle orange massage blend over the abdomen to relieve nausea and indigestion and release trapped gas.
In a diffuser: Using in a diffuser or room spray, the oil can help clear the air and mind.
Safe usage: Kids 2+ safe, pregnancy, breastfeeding sun & dog safe. Not safe for cats. Dilution rate of 5%
Get this great essential oil: Sweet Orange Essential Oil – Peace River Apothecary
Lemon Essential Oil
Like orange essential oil, lemon essential oil is extracted from fruit peels, specifically those of the citrus limon fruit. This fresh-smelling, versatile oil is often diffused into the air and inhaled or applied to the skin to enjoy its health benefits. Lemon essential oil is packed with antioxidants that can help protect the skin from oxidative damage cause by harmful free radicals. Good for: tones skin, acts as an antiseptic, aids detox, eases digestion, lifts moods
Best Uses
In a massage oil: add to a blend for a detoxifying body massage that can reduce water retention.
In a compress: dilute a couple of drops of lemon oil in almond or avocado oil and add to water to use as a compress.
Safe usage: nontoxic, use well diluted (less than 2%). Avoid using for 12 hours prior to sun exposure, due to its photosynthesis properties.
Get this great essential oil: Lemon Essential Oil – Peace River Apothecary
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Best known for its powerful antiseptic properties, tea tree essential oil is great to keep in your first-aid kit, ready to use on wounds and sores. Studies show it is effective against a range of bacteria and fungi that can lead to infection. It also has a strong deodorizing action that can combat body odor. Good for: boosts immunity, fights skin infection, heals cuts, scrapes & bruises, helps to control acne, acts as a hair tonic, mouth and gun care, fights body odor, fights cold and flu symptoms, eases urinary tract infections
Best Uses
As first aid: use tea tree essential oil in a dilution of 10 percent (1 part tea tree to 10 parts witch hazel) to rinse and clean infected cuts and sores.
In a footbath: for tired, hot, smelly feet, or for athlete’s foot, add 20 drops of tea tree oil to a small basin of warm water and soak feet for 15 minutes. Dry thoroughly.
Get this great essential oil: Tea Tree Essential Oil – Peace River Apothecary
Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil
This spicy, warming oil was used by the ancient Egyptians as an aromatic foot massage. It is used in very small amounts in cosmetics for its antiseptic properties, and its energizing and stimulating aroma makes it ideal for lifting spirits. Good for: soothes aches and pains, aids digestion, acts as an antiseptic, balances emotions
Best Uses
As a footbath: warm cold feet by adding 1-2 drops of cinnamon oil to a relaxing footbath
In a diffuser: use in a diffuser to disinfect and clear the air in a sickroom or to dispel unpleasant smells
Safe Usage: Use very well diluted (less than 0.5%) and use only cinnamon leaf oil on the skin (not cinnamon bark oil). Kids 10+ safe. Not safe for pregnancy, breastfeeding & pets. Dilution rate of 0.5%
Get this great essential oil: Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil – Peace River Apothecary
Peppermint Essential Oil
Applied to the skin, peppermint feels initially cooling and refreshing then gently warming. It’s stimulating and analgesic properties make it an effective remedy for neuralgia and muscular pains and headaches. It’s also a high-quality antiseptic, and a popular addition to all types of beauty products. Good for: fights odor, soothes skin, acts as an antiseptic, eases digestive upsets, fights cold symptoms, soothes bites and stings, relieves headaches
Best Uses
In a message oil: add 1-2 drops of peppermint essential oil to 1 tablespoon base oil and gently massage the abdomen in a clockwise motion to help bring relief to symptoms of indigestion, constipation and nausea.
In an inhalation: add 3-4 drops of peppermint essential oil to a steam inhalation (not suitable for children or those suffering with asthma) or to a diffuser or vaporizer and use as a decongestant to help clear sinuses and congested lungs.
Safe Usage: use well diluted (less than 2%). Avoid use in cardiac fibrillation and near the nose in children under 7 years old.
Get this great essential oil: Peppermint Essential Oil – Peace River Apothecary
Be prepared for any type of scenario by stocking up on useful survival items like pure, therapeutic grade essential oils from Peace River Apothecary.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to treat, cure or diagnose any diseases.