Looking After Your Emotional Wellbeing
We have all been challenged emotionally in recent times with lockdowns and the resultant effects on our health and wellbeing. Here we go through some of the uses and benefits of essential oils to help alleviate some of the emotional problems that many of us have been experiencing.
Essential oils stimulate the senses and can have a significantly positive affect on our health and wellbeing. All essential oils are thought to have natural antiseptic properties, and using them in vaporisers, or as cleaning agents, will keep your home pleasantly aromatic and may also help to free it from airborne bacteria.
Incorporating essential oils into your daily routine in the form of aromatherapy skincare products and bath and massage oils is not only pleasurable, but also a means of restoring and maintaining vitality and health.
On an emotional level, essential oils can help to bring to the surface suppressed feelings of anger, jealousy, fear, or resentment, which may eventually manifest as health problems. It is important to clear the body and mind of these repressed emotions to maintain a healthy body and mind. Self care is such an important activity for maintaining health.
Mental Fatigue
Mental fatigue can result from overwork or worry over a problem that requires a lot of thinking. We can dwell on things and become emotionally exhausted. Poor working conditions, a lack of fresh air, or low vitamin B may also be instrumental in producing lethargy. Stress is often a contributory factor, and treatments combining relaxing and uplifting oils is often the most effective.
Useful oils: Rosemary stimulates both the body and mind. It is useful if you are mentally fatigued by overwork but need to maintain a clear head in order to complete some pressing task. Where stress is particularly to blame, Clary Sage and Juniper Berry will help both to relieve tension and lift your spirits.
Inhalation: Using Rosemary in a diffuser or an aromatherapy locket (link to product)
Bath and Massage: Add 3 drops each of Clary Sage and Juniper Berry to your bath before bedtime or add to 15mls of a carrier oil such as almond oil for a shoulder or back massage.
Useful oils: Basil, Bergamot, Ginger, Grapefruit, Lemon, Peppermint, Rosemary, Thyme.
Stress Related Anxiety
For many of us, stress and the anxiety it causes are an unavoidable part of our daily lives. A low level of stress is indeed often necessary to motivate us, but it is important to keep its impact within a healthy level. If allowed to dominate, stress can cause intense anxiety and a general deterioration in health. It can also increase the risk of more serious ailments such as stomach ulcers and heart disease.
3 to 4 drops of Lavender in an aromatherapy locket or as part of a diffuser blend. Or try it in a bath.
Massage or bath blend: 2 drops Geranium, 2 drops Lavender, 2 drops Sandalwood and 2 drops Ylang ylang. For massage add this to 15mls of carrier oil.
Useful oils: Bergamot, Cypress, Jasmine, Lavender, Lime, Sweet marjoram, Neroli, Patchouli, Rose, Ylang-ylang.
Depression
Depression is a condition which affects most people at some time or other. Often depression is a normal response and part of a process of adapting to loss, grief or crisis.
However, severe bouts of depression, which may be accompanied by apathy, irregular sleep patterns, loss of appetite and general fatigue, can have serious effects on your health if allowed to persist. Aromatherapy treatment can be highly therapeutic but if symptoms do not improve, consult your doctor.
Bath: for a relaxing, uplifting bath, add 3 drops of Clary Sage, 2 drops of Geranium and 1 drop of Ylang ylang.
Massage: Try a back massage with a blend of 2 drops of Lavender and Geranium and 1 drop of Roman Chamomile mixed into 15ml of carrier oil.
Inhalation: Blend 20drops of Clary Sage with 10 drops of Rose Otto to use for daily inhalation. Add 2 drops of Sandalwood to this blend to use in a vaporizer.
Useful oils: Bergamot, Roman Chamomile, Clary Sage, Geranium, Jasmine, lavender, Lemon, mandarin, Melissa, Orange, Palmarosa, Petitgrain, Rose, Sandalwood, Tangerine, Ylang-ylang.
References:
Kurt Schnaublet, Ph.D. Advanced Aromatherapy, The Science of Essential Oil Therapy. Healing Art Press, U.S. 1998
Shirley Price, Aromatherapy for a Healthy Lifestyle. Gaia Books Ltd, United Kingdom. 1991.
Salvatore Battaglia, The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. Watson Ferguson and Co. Australia. 1997