Essential Oils for Gout - A Reader's Question

Hi everyone, I had a very caring reader contact me to see if the essential oils for gout mentioned in this post "Treating Gout with Essential Oils & Aromatherapy, Part 1" could be used as a foot soak, spray, or in a cream. I was so pleased to get this question.  Here is my answer to her: To use this essential oil blend in a foot soak - which is an excellent idea - make the blend as described in the article. Put 2 drops of the blend in a bucket (or other container) of warm water to which your also added 1/4 - 1/2 cup epsom salts. Have the gentlemen soak their foot for twenty minutes or so. To use as a spray, buy one of those plant sprayers that hold about two cups and mix 8 drops of the blend with water in the spray bottle. Use as needed. I doubt the benefit will be as immediate as a soak, but if the painful joint is sprayed frequently, there could be some relief. I always use my blends in an oil base to massage on my body. In fact, starting with Week 2 of the Aromatherapy treatments, I give recipes for using the blends as a massage. Here's what to do: make the following blend and mix it with two Tablespoons Sweet Almond Oil and 2 teaspoons of Jojoba Oil. This oil can be used to frequently massage the foot, or other body part that is painful.

• Fennel…......15 drops
• Cypress........8 drops
• Juniper.........5 drops
• Peppermint.. .2 drops

Sweet Almond Oil is made from the kernel and contains glucosides, minerals, and vitamins, and is rich in protein. It relieves soreness and inflammation. Jojoba Oil is really a wax and never becomes rancid. It contains protein, minerals, and a substance that mimics collagen. It is excellent on inflammed skins and is very penetrative, so it gets the essential oils to the joint quickly. If you prefer a cream instead of an oil, you could buy a plain cream at the pharmacy and mix the essential oils with it. Or, if you want to make your own cream, use this recipe:

• Cocoa butter. . . . . . .1/2 ounce
• Beeswax. . . . . . . . . .1/2 ounce
• Almond Oil. . . . . . . . .2 TABLESPOONS
• Jojoba Oil . . . . . . . . .2 teaspoons
• Oil blend. . . . . . . . . .30 drops

Melt the cocoa butter and the beeswax in a double boiler and add the almond oil and jojoba oil. If you prefer, it can be made thinner by adjusting the amount of almond oil you use. Add the 30 drops of your oil blend and mix well. Good luck! The gentlemen you are helping are lucky to have someone like you - who cares about them - in their lives. Take care, Renée