A quick A-Z of children's common ailments and aromatherapy relief. Amounts of essential oils listed below are appropriate for children over 5 years old.

Athlete’s foot is not pleasant, either to look at or live with. It is an itchy, lumpy fungal infection and as it is normally on the sole of your feet it is hard to forget about once the itching starts! Difficult as it is, scratching should be avoided. Thankfully there are natural remedies using aromatherapy for athlete's foot.

There are several types of arthritis, all forms of joint distress which result in pain and progressive immobility, however they all signify an inability to eliminate toxic waste efficiently. Heredity, stress, emotional conflict, lack of exercise  (or over-use in the case of osteo-arthritis) poor diet (over rich food in the case of gout) or food allergies can all contribute to these conditions.

One of the most traditional ways of using essential oils dates back to Medieval times when people 'strew' herbs about the house for a pleasant smell, to ward off germs and evil spirits. Oils can be used to get rid of unpleasant smells, to create a special atmosphere for meditation, for a party, for relaxing or an intimate mood.