everett-the-mage:A Practical Guide to HerbologyLesson Two: Healing with AromatherapyAmong our senses

everett-the-mage:A Practical Guide to HerbologyLesson Two: Healing with AromatherapyAmong our senses, one of the most-looked over and powerful is our sense of smell. Aromas can help us recall happy memories - baking cookies with loved ones during the holiday season, the perfume or cologne of a loved one - as well as unpleasant memories. Through psychology, we’ve proven that, when recreating a scene, scents can be our most powerful allies in recalling past events in our lives.Aromatherapy is the art of using scents to heal the body, mind and soul. We use scents in healing rituals, magic and spirituality frequently - it even manifests in religious practices such as Christianity when a pastor cleanses a space with incense.Scents and SensibilityWorking with essential oils is really quite easy, but here are some precautions to take.DiluteIt’s important to dilute your essential oils in a carrier oil before using them therapeutically. You should rarely apply an undiluted essential oil to your skin.By diluting your essential oils in a carrier oil, you get a lot more use out of them and you also prevent skin irritations. Some common types of carrier oils are grapeseed, olive, flaxseed, almond and sesame oil. Use 30mL (2 tbsp) of carrier oil per 5-10 drops of essential oil.StorageEssential oils need to be kept away from light and air. It’s best to store them in dark-tinted bottles to prevent light penetration. With proper storage, most essential oils can last 1-2 years. However, citrus oils should not be used after 6-9 months.AllergiesBefore working with essential oils, be sure to do a skin allergy test. Many people have sensitive skin and it’s important to take precautions and avoid allergic reactions to both essential oils and carrier oils.To test for allergies, simply place a drop of your chosen carrier oil on your skin. Check and see if there is a reaction over the course of 12 hours. Place one drop of essential oil in 15 drops of carrier oil and apply to your chest. Check and see if there is a reaction over the course of 12 hours. If there is no reaction, then you likely have no allergy to the plant or the oil.PrecautionsPlease avoid essential oils if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Specifically, avoid: cardamom, coriander, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, lemon balm, lemongrass, lime, mandarin, neroli, palmarosa, petitgrain, spearmint and ylang-ylang.If you have sensitive or dry skin, it is best to avoid the following essential oils: black pepper, cinnamon, clove, grapefruit, lemon, lemon balm, lemongrass, lime, mandarin, orange, peppermint and spearmint. Healing with Essential OilsWhen starting out with using essential oils for health purposes, it’s important to address one symptom or issue at a time. Limit your selection to a few different oils until you become more familiar with your tools. Once you get comfortable, start experimenting with making your own blends. As time goes by, you’ll see what works best for your body and you!StressStress often has the side effects of anxiety, upset stomach, heart palpitations and rapid breathing. One of the most common essential oils used to alleviate stress is peppermint - it relaxes the mind and body. Lavender is another good choice as it relaxes muscles and the vapors help regulate breathing.Pain and Muscle TensionMuscle tension and pain are something most of us are familiar with. When using essential oils to address this particular issue, it’s best to create a massage oil to rub the affected area. If you’re trying to relax muscles and ease pain, allspice and geranium are great choices.Chest CongestionFlus, colds, respiratory illnesses - we’re no stranger to those during the winter months. To use essential oils to treat this, apply a few drops of diluted oil across the chest and massage into the skin. I tend to use eucalyptus, but thyme is another great choice!Concentration and FocusEveryone experiences difficulties with focus and concentration; stress, lack of sleep, anxiety and depression are just a few possible culprits. To use essential oils for this, apply a few drops to the temples, middle of the forehead and the base of the neck. Rosemary and spearmint are great choices for this as they help you relax while improving mental clarity.FatigueAt the end of the day, many of us feel exhausted from school, work and just life in general. To help with this, place a few drops of essential oil on your wrists and rub them in. Citrus oils like lemon and lime work really well since they uplift mood, relieve fatigue and provide mental clarity and focus.InsomniaSometimes we just can’t fall asleep. Place a few drops of essential oil on your forehead and at the base of your neck. Lemon balm and ylang-ylang are good choices for this as they promote restful sleep and reduce stress and anxiety.AnxietyThis issue typically involves both the physical and mental parts of the body. To help alleviate anxiety, place a drop of essential oil on the forehead, base of the neck, wrists and along the collarbone or upper chest. Chamomile, lavender and lemon balm are excellent choices.RecipesAnxiety Relief5 drops chamomile oil5 drops lemongrass oil2 tbsp carrier oilStress Relief5 drops peppermint oil5 drops lavender oil2 tbsp carrier oilMuscle-Tension Relief½ tbsp ground allspice½ tbsp ground nutmeg5 drops geranium oil½ cup carrier oilMuscle Pain Relief½ tsp cayenne pepper½ tsp ground turmeric5 drops rose oil5 drops tea tree oil½ cup carrier oilChest Congestion Relief5 drops eucalyptus oil5 drops pine oil2 tbsp carrier oilMucus Killer2 tbsp nettle leaves5 drops frankincense oil2 cups carrier oilFocus and Concentration½ tbsp ground myrrh5 drops rosemary oil2 cups carrier oilMental Strength and Clarity1 tbsp dried rosemary5 drops peppermint oil5 drops spearmint oil2 cups carrier oilEnergizer½ tbsp dried juniper berries5 drops thyme oil2 cups carrier oilCitrus Energy5 drops lemon oil5 drops lime oil2 tbsp carrier oilSleep Easy5 drops lemon balm oil5 drops ylang-ylang oil2 tbsp carrier oilDigestion Relief½ tbsp dried catnip5 drops ginger oil5 drops spearmint oil2 cups carrier oilCommon Essential Oils for Health and WellnessAllspice: Reduces stress, calms, relaxes tight muscles, uplifts mood, improves digestion, natural disinfectantBasil: Calms, relieves pain, relieves fatigue, improves mental clarity, purifies the bodyCardamom: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, improves digestion, improves mental clarity and memoryCatnip: Anti-diarrheal, relieves indigestion, relieves anxiety, uplifts moodChamomile: Reduces anxiety, promotes restful sleep and relaxation, relieves painCinnamon: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, natural disinfectant, improves digestion, increases appetiteClove: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, improves mental clarity, improves digestion, natural disinfectantCoriander: Relieves pain, relieves fatigue, improves digestion, improves mental clarity and memoryEucalyptus: Breaks up congestion, relieves pain, natural disinfectant, vapors help with breathing (asthma) Frankincense: Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, improves digestion, expectorant, sedativeGeranium: Relieves stress and tension, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, soothes itchy skinGinger: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, improves digestion, increases appetiteJuniper berries: Relieves pain, energizes, improves mental clarity and memory, anti-inflammatory, repels insects, soothes insect bitesLavender: Relieves stress and anxiety, promotes restful sleep, uplifts mood, balances mood swings, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, natural disinfectant, breaks up congestion Lemon: Balances the nervous system, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, improves mental clarity and memory, natural disinfectantLemon balm: Relieves anxiety and stress, promotes restful sleepLemongrass: Calms, balances nervous system, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, natural disinfectant, repels insectsLime: Relieves fatigue, uplifts mood, natural disinfectant, improves mental clarity and memoryMandarin: Reduces stress and tension, calms, uplifts moodMyrrh: Helpful in meditation, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, aids in healing skinNeroli and Orange blossom: Removes nervous tension, promotes restful sleepNutmeg: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, improves digestionPalmarosa: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, uplifts mood, helps regenerate skin, anti-inflammatoryPeppermint: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, breaks up congestion, anti-inflammatory, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, increases appetite, soothes itchy skin, improves mental clarity and memoryPetitgrain: Reduces anxiety and stress, promotes restful sleep, uplifts mood, improves mental clarity and memoryPine: Lessens pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, breaks up congestion, natural disinfectant, improves mental clarity and memoryRose: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, aids in healing skinRosemary: Relieves pain, stimulates nerves, relieves fatigue, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, improves mental clarity and memory, natural disinfectant, repels insectsSpearmint: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, breaks up congestion, anti-inflammatory, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, improves appetite, improves mental clarity and memory, soothes itchy skinTea Tree: Relieves pain, natural disinfectant, aids in healing skin, vapors help with breathingThyme: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, uplifts mood, breaks up congestion, anti-inflammatory, improves digestion, increases appetite, improves mental clarity and memory, natural disinfectantYlang-Ylang: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, promotes restful sleep, uplifts mood, natural disinfectant—————————————–Images are under the Creative Commons License. Information is from a variety of books, websites and my personal experience working with essential oils.Updated 7 March 2018 to include more warnings and to be consistent with other posts in this series of lessons.Warnings:  Do not apply undiluted essential oils directly to your skin. They are incredibly potent and are likely to cause irritation, burns and permanent scars. You must utilize an appropriate carrier oil for dilution - water is not acceptable.Essential oils are not edible - DO NOT INGEST THEM. They are not used in tinctures, extracts or anything meant to be taken internally.Diffusing essential oils can be toxic to your pets. Please do extensive research on which types of oils are not harmful to your pets.Do your own research regarding medicinal plants and usage, especially if you are sensitive or have allergies of any kind. If you are on medication(s), consult a doctor before use.Finally, aromatherapy is not a  substitution for professional medical and psychiatric aid. If you are experiencing any prolonged health and/or mental health issues, SEE A DOCTOR. -- source link

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