Aromatherapy

Lesson 4: Mind and Body Balance.

We’re gearing towards the end, but the best is still to come. Aromatherapy is a wonderful tool to help relieve stress and depression.

We will learn of ways to use it, both alone and in conjunction with meditation exercises to find peace and balance in our lives.

The sense of smell and the sense of touch are closely interconnected. Let’s learn about some perfect blends to be utilized for a relaxing/reenergizing massage!

Our Resource Guide will take you to the best stores, suppliers, schools and last but not least, our final test will tell you how much you’ve learned in the past two weeks. Good luck with it!

Aromatherapy for the Mind: Emotions, Moods and Memory

Our lifestyles can be pretty stressful. Work takes up a large part of our days, and we often find ourselves unable to recharge our physical and emotional "batteries". Emotionally, women are the most vulnerable: we are mothers, sisters, daughters, friends; we are nurturers. Sometimes, nurturing can become overwhelming; stress sets in, often followed by depression. We need to learn how to take care of ourselves before caring for our loved ones. A healthy body and a well-balanced emotional life will make us better caregivers. Aromatherapy can help restore balance in our life and replenish our so often depleted emotional bank account.

However, anxiety and depression are not gender-specific. Men are often wound up in highly competitive, highly stressful jobs. They easily lose touch with their emotional selves and end up paying a steep price both emotionally and physically. Aromatherapy can definitely help in healing our emotional wounds, provided we are open and willing to make the necessary changes in our lifestyles. As K. Gibran says "...the body is the harp of your soul".

Besides correcting your lifestyle, you can use aromatherapy to re-energize yourself and dispel bouts of mild depression. The essential oils that have proved most effective in dealing with depression and anxiety include rose oil, chamomile, lavender, patchouli, rosemary, all the citruses, jasmine, and geranium.

Don’t forget to eat healthy and to keep active through regular physical exercise. Also, engage in social activities. There is nothing more refreshing, for our mind, to feel we are making a difference, no matter how small, in the life of another living being.

The following blends are just suggestions. Whether you use them for inhalation or massage, try and find some quiet time, away from the phone, computer, and television. Let your mind rest and your body grow stronger...

Stress Headache Oil

1 Tbspoon vegetable oil
10 drops Lavender oil
5 drops Peppermint oil

Gently massage your forehead and temples; apply only light pressure. Inhale the essences with deep, slow breaths, eyes closed. Rest for a few minutes.

No Blues Diffuser Blend

20 drops Lavender oil
15 drops Geranium oil
8 drops Bergamot oil
6 drops Lemon oil
6 drops Ylang Ylang oil
4 drops Rosewood oil
3 drops Patchouli oil

Blend the essential oils in an amber glass bottle. Add a few drops to your diffuser. Use it for 10 minutes at a time.

"A+" Diffuser Blend

5 parts Lemon oil
3 parts Basil oil
2 parts Rosemary oil

This blend will help you increase your focus and improve your memory. Use the blend in a diffuser when you’re studying. Put a few drops on a handkerchief and inhale deeply before taking a test, or making a presentation.

1  2  3  4  5  6