Essential Oils for Conditions Beginning with K-L

by Kathryn Sharp

Suggestions for oral and internal uses of essential oils are based on my experience as a practicing aromatherapist as well as that of my family, friends, and clients. They are provided to offer choices and information for all types of therapeutic essential oil usage. Internal use of essential oils is a choice that each individual must make for himself or herself. The oils listed for each condition are those that I (or someone I know) have used to remedy that condition, or those which are commonly recommended for the condition by other essential oil experts.

Some conditions are beyond the scope of treatment offered through using essential oils alone. In these cases, essential oil therapy provides a strong compliment to other forms of treatment. Please use common sense and see a health care provider when necessary. Essential oils for DiamondHeart blends (marked as DH) are listed on the BLENDS page.


KIDNEYS: Cassia, clary sage, geranium, grapefruit, Labrador tea, lemongrass, niaouli, fennel, pepper, pine, tea tree, fir, hyssop, sage, yarrow, lemon
Apply hot compress over kidneys for infection
Drink lots of water, take internally-tea tree, hyssop or sage
Stones: Fennel, cypress, juniper (berry only)
NOTE: Many older texts recommend juniper leaf or eucalyptus taken internally. Most aromatherapists no longer recommend this treatment because it can irritate the kidneys. Better choices include tea tree, fennel, geranium, or lemon eucalyptus for internal use.


KNEE: Cartilage injury: Lemongrass, nutmeg, ginger, clove
Massage three times daily and alternate heat and cold


LABOR: See also pregnancy
Nutmeg, basil, cypress, eucalyptus, rosalina, neroli, clary sage, English chamomile, rosemary


LACTATION:
Increases milk production: Fennel, clary sage, geranium, dill
Supresses milk production: Cypress, peppermint, sage


LARYNGITIS: Cypress, angelica, jasmine absolute, tarragon, savory


LAXATIVE: Hyssop, ginger, lemon, tangerine, pepper, rosemary, spikenard, tarragon, anise, basil- compress on abdomen, take internally


LICE: Cinnamon, eucalyptus, galbanum, geranium, lavender, lantana, lemon, rosemary, spikenard, spike lavender, nerolina. Be careful to avoid eye contact-essential oils will burn eyes


LIGAMENTS: Lemongrass, birch, wintergreen, sandalwood


LYME DISEASE: Angelica, manuka, ravensare, melissa, monarda, basil, thyme


LIPS: Chamomile, lavender, lemon, tea tree, niaouli (MQV), rosalina, shea butter
Dry or sunburned: Lavender, marigold, sea buckthorne berry, rose hip seed, helichrysum


LIVER: A toxic liver is the underlying cause of many disorders, including skin disorders, painful joints, hormonal imbalances, etc.
Cypress, geranium, grapefruit, helichrysum, lantana, ravensare, sage, yarrow, combava
Detoxing: Labrador tea, cypress, geranium, helichrysum, combava, basil, Devil’s club
Cirrhosis: (Support with other forms of treatment) Chamomiles, frankincense, geranium, myrrh, carrot
Hepatitis: Basil, cinnamon, carrot, ravensare
Stimulates new liver cell formation: Helichrysum, carrot seed, Labrador tea


LOSS/GRIEF: Basil, cypress, neroli, tangerine, citruses, champaca, frankincense


LOVE: Juniper, lavender, ylang ylang, champaca, temple orange, rose otto


LOU GEHRIG’S DISEASE: Monarda, lemon verbena, ravensare, Labrador tea


LUNGS:
Diffuse to open lungs: Cypress, ravensare, rosalina, khella, spike lavender, hyssop, eucalyptuses, sage, rosemary


LUPUS: Vital Life Force (DH) on feet
Compress on thyroid, with heat: Myrrh, Labrador tea
Compress on adrenals, with heat: Clove, nutmeg, rosemary, spruce
Strong emotional component-See "emotion"


LYMPHATIC SYSTEM: Bay laurel, calamus, geranium, cypress, tangerine, myrtle, lemon myrtle, grapefruit, lemongrass, helichrysum, English chamomile, lemon, rock rose, rosewood, thyme
Blockage or painful glands: Compress bay laurel, helichrysum, and lemongrass with heat