Essential oils are essential
Essential oils were used as mankind's first medicine. Pure essential oils are therapeutic with many healing benefits. Let’s look at 5 of my favourite essential oil and ones that are great ones to start with if you are new to essential oils:
Lavender True
A universal oil known to balance the body. An enhancer, modifier and equalizer. Studies observing the brain in an MRI scan when exposed to lavender essential oil show it to calm brain waves, making it the perfect oil for: anxiety, stress, insomnia, and headaches.
Aromatherapy and the sense of smell directly accesses the limbic system of the brain crossing the blood/brain barrier, and can trigger memories, e.g. the smell of lavender can remind you of your grandmother.
Traditionally lavender has also been used for many other purposes including: lowering blood pressure, PMS, skin issues like acne, burns, insect bites, hives, itching, scarring, stretch marks etc.
Use lavender essential oil in a diffuser, in a bath, dabbed on temples at bedtime, put a drop on your palm and create a "scent tent" over your nose, or carry the bottle with you and smell whenever beginning to feel anxious.
Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon oil is cold pressed from the rind. 3,000 lemons are needed to produce 1 kg of oil. It's nickname is liquid sunshine.
The scent of lemon is sweet, sharp, clear and citrusy. Lemon is: invigorating, uplifting, refreshing, anti-depressant, antiviral, antiseptic, astringent, and a tonic.
Benefits of using lemon essential oil:
They are an effective tool to overcome negative thoughts, become more connected to your creativity and transform mental health. cleanse and disinfect your home and laundry.
Air and water purification. Add a few drops to a spray bottle and spray the air.
Detoxify the body. A drop of lemon oil in warm water can help promote liver function and regularity. Massage into liver and temples to ease a hangover.
Digestive aid. A drop or squeeze of lemon in a little water before a meal increases digestive enzymes and can help prevent overeating.
Enhance immunity. Lemon is high in Vitamin C enhancing immunity, reducing congestion, clearing sinuses and killing bacteria. Used for colds, asthma, and other respiratory problems. Add a drop to 1 tsp of manuka honey to ease a sore throat or congestion.
Boost mood. Lemon essential oil is a good choice to boost mental energy, making it useful for depression, stress, grief to help instil a positive outlook. Diffuse or add a drop to a hot lemon and honey drink.
Safety points for lemon essential oil:
- wait 12 hours before exposing oiled skin to sun as it may burn.
- dilute in a carrier oil on sensitive skin.
- do not give orally to children under 6.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint oil is one of the oldest herbs used for medicine documented first in 1000 BC, found in Egyptian pyramids, mentioned in Greek text, used in Chinese medicine and first mentioned in Pharmacopoeias in the 13th Century.
Peppermint has an intense, minty, sharp scent due to its most active ingredient menthol.
Its invigorating, stimulating qualities make it useful for alertness and boosting energy levels (on those long road trips, exercise, and studying - with a study showing an increase in accuracy of students who inhaled peppermint up to 28%).
Peppermint's anti-spasm and anti-inflammatory qualities soothe digestive discomfort, bloating, gas, nausea, abdominal cramp, colic, indigestion, and studies show it to be very effective for irritable bowel syndrome.
It's antibacterial qualities freshens breathe and supports oral health; while antiviral, antimicrobial properties help fight infections like colds, flu and other respiratory conditions.
Cooling, pain relieving and muscle relaxing qualities make it helpful for joint or muscle pain and headaches. A clinical trial showed it to be as effective as paracetamol in relieving headache. Simply apply a few drops to temples and the back of your neck.
Peppermint has many benefits for the skin - it helps relieve itching, chicken pox, and dermatitis. It can help boost healing after sun exposure and has a sun-protective factor so can be used in natural, home made sunscreen.
As you can see peppermint essential oil isn't just candy, and is incredibly versatile to use daily in your home:
diffuse it to feel alert.
edible essential oils like peppermint are great to add flavour to water, peppermint tea or add to baking - peppermint truffles yum!
add to massage oil for a soothing, refreshing massage.
add to a foot bath for tired feet.
Safety points for peppermint essential oil:
- Avoid in pregnancy, while breastfeeding or if you have high blood pressure.
- Skin can possibly become sensitive with repeated contact.
Frankincense Essential Oil
To be frank, frankincense is my fav! When in doubt which oil to use... use frankincense!
Frankincense, distilled from the gum resin of the Boswellia tree, has been used for thousands of years in religious and spiritual rituals and is considered a holy oil in the Middle East. It carries a rich, deep, warm, balsamic, woody, sweet scent with incense-like overtones. Because frankincense is so fragrant when burned, and is antiseptic and anti-infectious, it was used during sacrificial ceremonies in the Old Testament to purify the air and temple.
Frankincense was one of the gifts the wise men gave at Christ’s birth, symbolic of worship and Christ as High Priest. It is still used today in anointing ceremonies and for meditation to deepen spiritual awareness.
Frankincense contains sesquiterpenes which allow it to pass through the blood brain barrier. It may support and oxygenate the pineal and pituitary glands. Frankincense has strong anti-depressant, anxiolytic and sedating effects; so when inhaled it has shown an ability to reduce brain “noise”, calming thoughts and supporting the brain for learning, memory and decision making. It may help one to have a better attitude. It is commonly used for mental fatigue, headaches and brain injury. Its calming, grounding scent can also assist with insomnia.
Powerful anti-inflammatory qualities make frankincense a “go-to” for conditions like arthritis, asthma, pneumonia etc. Frankincense has been show to reduce pain and inflammation and help prevent breakdown of cartilage tissue.
Also used to naturally slow signs of ageing, Frankincense is an astringent to help reduce large pores, prevent wrinkles, reduce acne and help with wound, stretch marks or scarring. Mix one or two drops into a carrier oil or moisturiser, but take care not to apply to broken skin or near the eyes and do a small patch test to test for possible reactions.
The many benefits of Frankincense oil extend to strengthening the immune system and helping to destroy bacteria, viruses and even cancer with several studies showing anti-tumour effects.
Frankincense is an extremely safe oil with no reported side effects, although use with caution if you are on blood thinners.
Stress Away Essential Oil
Stress Away is a blend rather than a single oil. Stress Away contains:
Copaiba - to help elevate mood and lift nervous exhaustion.
Lime - fresh and lively to stimulate and refresh.
Cedarwood - calming and grounding.
Ocotea - to help with emotional balance.
Lavender - calming and to create a sense of wellbeing.
Vanilla - calming to the nervous system.
This portable blend has been found to help with emotional balance, relieving everyday stress and tension. It may also be effective in dealing with problems related to the immune system. Carry with you and inhale as necessary, or wear as scent and apply to wrists, temple or neck.
Emotional Release
Essential oils can have a profound effect on releasing emotions and clearing traumatic memories, by accessing the limbic system where memories are stored. Our sense of smell can cross the blood brain barrier connecting directly to the amygdala which processes and controls the fear and stress responses. There are a number of ways to calm the amygdala including aromatherapy. Certain essential oils are an effective tool to overcome negative thoughts, become more connected to your creativity and transform mental health. If you would like more information about this please contact me.
It is essential to use essential oils safely:
Only use pure, therapeutic grade oils, as synthetic fragrances are toxic instead of healing.
Read labels and follow guidelines.
Essential oils are very concentrated, so you only need a small amount.
Some oils are not suitable for babies, small children or pregnant women.
Use a carrier oil if you have sensitive skin.
Start slowly when using oils so you can test if you have a reaction.
Some oils can increase photosensitivity.
Contact me for reputable brands or if you would like to work with someone qualified in Aromatherapy.