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Your Essential Guide to Essential Oils

by Adam Howarth, Editor
Guide To Essential Oils

Essential Oils Essential Guide is by our regular well-being contributor, Emma Sims

We have known for a while now that essential oils positively affect our body, mood, and behaviour. Inhaling an aroma can transport us to heaven… or hell!

Peppermint and Eucalyptus

These oils uplift, stimulate, energise and can help with aches and pains. You may be familiar with how lavender aids sleep and relaxation whilst peppermint and eucalyptus can clear a blocked nose.

My early experiences with aromatherapy came when adverse reactions to psychiatric medication led me to look for other ways to help my mental well-being.

Essential oils complement most medical treatments, but do check with an aromatherapist or pharmacist if you are on medication, have medical conditions or are pregnant. Research the safe use of essential oils before use.

Soothing Anxiety

As I learned about aromatherapy, I realised I had a prior pull to patchouli oil because it soothed my anxiety and helped ground me. Blending oils has a synergistic effect and creates wonderful “aromascapes”. I blended patchouli with bergamot oil as that felt “zingy”. I call it “sunshine in a bottle” for those winter months in hibernation mode. Bergamot is the characteristic aroma of Earl Grey tea. It’s uplifting, energising and may ease grief.

Notice Your Response

Chamomile – photo by Alice Pasqual on Unsplash

I select oils for a client’s massage according to their health needs, watching them as they inhale an aroma. Their expression shows what is or isn’t right for them. They may say yes, but their face says no.

Chamomile and lavender were initial “no, no’s” for me, but I had an intuitive nudge to work gradually with them. I invite my clients to do the same, but only if they want to. Personally speaking, I realised that my dislike was my resistance to relaxation. I was highly anxious, but gradually they helped me to relax and let go. Through experience, I saw chamomile as the “mothering oil” for those who need a hug.

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Stop and Smell the Roses

Eucalyptus – photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash

Inhaling an essential oil encourages “mindful being” in the moment so it also aids meditation. Frankincense and rose may help us to find our centre and calm. I use rose for those who need deep nurturing. These people may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, burnout, shock, grief or depression.

It also helps with hormonal conditions. The expense of rose oil is due to the 242,000 rose petals it takes to make 5ml of oil, but it’s worth it! A practical alternative is geranium oil which may also help mood swings, skin, hormones and pre-menstrual tension.

Other oils that might help with mental well-being are basil for focus, headaches, burnout, chronic depression and mental fatigue. Clary sage for depression, fear, paranoia, anxiety as well as hormones and the menopause. Orange is an anti-depressant, helping sleep, overwrought emotions, nervous tension and stress. Juniper for mental fatigue and detoxification and ylang-ylang for palpitations, anxiety, panic, shock and fear.

Whatever your aromatic heaven is, take time for yourself, pause, stop and smell. It may make a difference… aaaand relax!

About the Author – Emma Sims

Emma Sims

Emma Sims is a complementary holistic therapist, intuitive practitioner and Reiki teacher with 20+ years’ experience in this field. She has a clinic at the Community Resource Centre in Gwersyllt.

Obtain further details from emmasims.co.uk.

We hope you enjoyed reading about “Essential Oils Essential Guide. Please see our other articles on Lifestyle and Well-Being.

Main image by photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash.

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