Combine ingredients. If you don't have the chemo-type linalol, don't replace it with other thymes-they are too strong. For a simpler recipe, use 4 drops each lavender and tea tree oils. Douche two times a day. You can also mix the essential oils in 1/2 ounce of an infused oil of calendula or in caulophyllum. Insert one dropperful morning and night. A panty liner is recommended during the day.

Vaginal Bolus
Boluses (see "Guidelines" chapter) are effective treatments for a host of vaginal problems, especially cervical dysplasia (irregular cell growth on the cervix, which is precancerous). Eucalyptus polybractea (cryptone type) is one of the best remedies. This recipe can be customized to treat specific infections.

Bolus Recipe
2 teaspoons calendula blossoms
1 teaspoon goldenseal root
1 teaspoon yarrow leaves or flowers
8 drops tea tree oil
8 drops Eucalyptus polybractea (cryptone type)
1/4 cup cocoa butter

If this type of eucalyptus is not available, replace it with lavender or use 16 drops of tea tree.

Poor Circulation
Many female complaints are due to what Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) calls "blood stagnation." This basically means poor circulation in the abdomen, which contributes to problems such as hemorrhoids and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Use castor oil packs and sitz baths with essential oils (see below) to stimulate circulation. (For an understanding of TCM, we recommend Leslie Tierra's book Herbs for Life.)

Sitz Bath-A sitz bath can decrease menstrual cramps, PID and hemorrhoids. The bath requires two tubs large enough to sit in with water covering the abdomen. Fill one tub with hot water, the other with cold. Switch back and forth between the hot and cold tubs about four times. We find that four minutes in the hot and one minute in the cold is tolerable, and actually feels good after a few rounds. (You will soon want the hot hotter and the cold colder!) When you get out, your midsection will be bright red with blood circulation. When I (Mindy) had PID, this was the only thing that provided relief from the pain. This routine should be repeated as often as possible during the day.

Castor-Oil Pack-Getting results from using a castor-oil pack requires dedication and a little mess, and can take weeks or even months to produce results. Still, it can work wonders on pain from internal scar tissue, ovarian cysts, fibroids and even infection. You will need enough cotton flannel-several layers thick-to cover the abdomen, and about two cups of castor oil. Warm the oil, then dip the flannel to thoroughly soak it. Wring slightly to remove excess oil (it shouldn't drip). Place the flannel over the abdomen and cover with a piece of plastic, then a heating pad. Leave the pack on 30 minutes to one hour. When done, wrap the flannel in a plastic bag. After removing it from the bag, it may be reheated in a low oven. Replace every two weeks or so, depending on how much you reuse it. We like to use essential oils with castor oil packs. Add one-quarter teaspoon of essential oils to two cups of castor oil before making the pack. Lavender is a good choice.

Menopause
Menopause symptoms can include hot flashes, bone fragility, confusion, depression and a dry, less elastic vagina with a thinner lining-all caused by the erratic hormone activity. Both dry skin and vagina need a rejuvenating massage oil or cream. The hormone balancers geranium and lavender help menopausal symptoms. Pharmacologist Tony Balacs states that many essential oils have hormonelike activity, and speculates that their structure is so similar to the hormone's that they interact with the same receptors. Estrogenic oils include clary sage, sage, anise, fennel, angelica, coriander, cypress and niaouli (a type of tea tree oil).