A number of essential oils can be helpful in combating fatigue, all of them classed as stimulant, but without any of the dangers associated with such stimulants as coffee, tea, alcohol or drugs. Any of these oils will help the body to recover from fatigue, rather than mask its effects. A massage using Basil, Geranium, Nutmeg, Rosemary, Thyme, Marjoram or Pine, or a blend of two or three of these, will help to restore tone to the body, clear the mind and give renewed energy. Aromatic baths using 6 drops of Geranium, Rosemary, Thyme or Marjoram can be very invigorating, but the two spice oils listed (and all other oils from spices) should be used with caution in the bath, as anything more than 3 drops in an average bath can cause skin irritation. You might like to make a blend of, say, 2 drops of Clove, Nutmeg, etc. with 4 drops of another oil.

Any of these oils will help with physical fatigue, but Rosemary in particular, and Basil to a lesser extent, can be used very effectively to reduce mental fatigue. Obviously none of these oils should be seen as more than a short term aid to recovery, following a period of intensive work, travel, worry etc. Whether you wish to use them as a self-help technique or as a therapist to help another person, take care not to let the oils become a substitute for getting enough rest, reducing an excessive workload, or whatever other measures may be needed to prevent constant tiredness.

An alternative approach for the aromatherapist may be to use essences which are calming, soothing and enhance sleep, to ensure that the tired-out person gets adequate sleep to replenish his or her energy in a natural way. Lavender and Camomile are the two obvious choices, but you will find many others discussed under the headings of the individual oils.

A person who is continually tired, for no apparent reason, may be eating a very inappropriate diet; possibly lacking in vitamins and minerals. Junk foods and high sugar consumption also create undue fatigue by causing violent swings of high and low blood sugar levels.

Food allergies may also be an underlying cause, and identification and removal of the guilty food or foods can produce almost magical cures. If you do not feel qualified to give nutritional advice, and your patient is not making progress with the help of aromatherapy, you should seriously consider referring him or her to a nutritionist or clinical ecologist, to determine whether one or other of these aspects of diet could be at the root of the fatigue.

Abnormal fatigue can be a symptom of depression, and of some serious physical illnesses, so do not delay seeking other help for a person who is suffering in this way.