Self-Sufficiency: Natural Home Remedies. Melissa Corkhill

as a tea and drink as often as needed throughout the day. Burn the essential oil of camomile in an oil burner along with marjoram, both of which are helpful in encouraging you to find balance. You can also add a few drops of each to a warm relaxing bath.

      Phobias

      This is a fear of something that can cause disruption to everyday living. Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) and acrophobia (fear of heights) are some of the more common phobias, but they can range from fear of another person or an object to any number of experiences or situations. It is said that 10 per cent of the population have a phobia of one kind or another. The flower essences created by Dr. Bach were developed to help people deal with emotional problems and there are a number of remedies that can help with phobias. Rescue Remedy for example can be used to treat causes of mild to severe panic – place five drops on the tongue, or apply to pulse points on the wrist and behind the ears. Aromatherapy can be very beneficial in the treatment of phobias. A blend of essential oils such as bergamot, lavender, melissa and ylang ylang can be calming and rebalancing to the nervous system when in a state of distress. Add a few drops of each to a carrier oil to make up a bath blend. It will have a slight sedative effect.

      Fear diffuser

      This can be spritzed as often as necessary during challenging times.

      ▸ A few drops of bergamot, lavender, melissa and ylang ylang essential oils

      ▸ Spring water

      1. Take a small spray top bottle and add a few drops each essential oil.

      2. Top up with spring water.

      3. Spritz over the face (close your eyes) and wrists as needed.

      Stress

      This is a growing disorder in our modern world. Many factors can affect our mental health, such as inadequate diet, environment, noise pollution and financial strains. This mental discomfort has a knock-on effect on the body, encouraging a rapid production of hormones, which can cause increased breathing and heart rate, leading to nausea and tense muscles. As soon as the stressful situation is resolved the body returns to normal. If the situation continues, energy levels dwindle and exhaustion sets in. Fortunately there are many natural treatments for this common disorder. The first and most obvious is to take a good look at your life and address the common triggers for stress. Are you putting in longer and longer hours at work? Do you feel that your responsibilities at home are too great with children to care for, a house to keep tidy and a household to run? Make a list of things that stress you out – school run, cooking for the family, monthly reports at work, for example. Acknowledging these stressful situations is the first step in dealing with them. Once you have a list of stressful things in your life take the first item on your list and brainstorm who or what could support you. Perhaps your neighbour could take the children to school and you could collect them? Maybe you could have a picnic supper at the weekends, or a takeaway night, or perhaps someone else in your household could take over the cooking for a while. The monthly reports might be a task that could be completed by a colleague. Stick this list up in a prominent place and start to action the alternatives. There are also a number of natural remedies that can support you in this process.

      Starting the day with a bowl of porridge helps to strengthen the system and gives you a clearer and more positive outlook. Bathe with a few drops of essential oils of camomile, geranium, lavender, neroli and rose. Add a few drops of each (or whichever you have to hand) to warm running water and sink in for a relaxing, uplifting experience that can help to wash your troubles away.

      Ten tips to de-stress

      Here are some ideas for when the going gets tough. Always try to remember that tomorrow is another day. If all else fails, get an early night and wake up with a fresh take on life.

      1. Wake up early in the morning to enjoy half an hour quiet time on your own. This will allow you time to collect your thoughts and energise yourself for the day ahead.

      2. Go for a bracing walk. Exercise releases serotonin, the happy hormone, so you start to feel better as soon as you get into your stride.

      3. Arrange a night in with your partner. Using some sensual essential oils, give each other a massage.

      4. Breathe properly. Many of us use only a tenth of our lung capacity. Imagine how good we would feel if we learn to use half or more? Breath work can teach us how to use more of our lungs’ full potential.

      5. Run a warm bath, surround it with candles, climb in and relax.

      6. Laugh. Phone a friend who makes you laugh or rent a funny movie.

      7. Retreat to a quite place such as a favourite armchair and enjoy a good book.

      8. Take your family out for the day. Getting away from the house and the daily routine of chores does everyone the world of good once in a while.

      9. Take an evening course in something you feel passionate about.

      10. If all hell is breaking loose and you feel your stress levels rising, walk into another room and count slowly to ten before returning to salvage the situation.