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AROMATHERAPY: HOW SCENTS CAN BOOST YOUR MOOD

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essential oil tincture bottle and lavender

Aromatherapy can be one of the most powerful ways to change your mood and well-being. Finding an essential oil you respond to may require a little detective work. However, the first step is knowing a few oils that have shown to be helpful, which I have listed below.

 

 

 

A Little Essential Oil Physiology

The brain has a complex limbic system, composed of a bundle of nerves responsible for a few things, including emotions and moods.

The amygdala is part of the limbic system that processes the memory of emotional reactions. The amygdala stores information concerning emotional events, which comes into play with aromatherapy. This is why smells can trigger either a positive or negative memory.

BEST WAYS TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS:

1. Aromatherapy

I love diffusing oils and begin each day by placing 3 to 4 drops of one oil or an oil blend in my diffuser.

How does this work?

Once you have filled your diffuser and set it on, the room will immediately become fragrant. When you inhale the scent, the molecules in the oils will attach to olfactory receptors in the nose and send a message via the olfactory nerves to the limbic system for processing. At this point, neurotransmitters will be released to create a sense of relaxation and well-being.

2. Topically

You may apply the oil directly to the skin ( diluting with a carrier oil is advised), and as we mentioned before, the oils are small and will immediately be absorbed.

  • Pulse point: Apply the front of the neck
  • Occipital point: Apply at the back of the neck
  • Botton of your feet or massage into your big toe: * In Chinese medicine, the big toe represents the brain

OILS FOR STRESS AND WORRY

Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Vetiver, Clary Sage, Sandalwood

Lavender

The queen oil is known for supporting stressful situations and sleep, irritability and general nervous irritability.

Ylang Ylang

Ylang-ylang will help soothe fearfulness and promote courage.

Vetiver

Vetiver brings a reassuring energy and is good to use when giving a presentation or if there is some emotional or physical trauma. It’s often used in disruptive behaviour, like a temper tantrum, but again, I like prevention, so if you have a child prone to tantrums, create a blend to help group them and the minute you sense that moment arising, rub some at the back of their neck. It will bring a self-awareness and calmness that will help stabilize their mood.

Clary Sage

Clary sage is a perfect oil to support emotional stress and mood swings. It has a floral scent that blends very well with wild orange, bergamot and sandalwood oils.

Sandalwood

The wood oils are known to be grounding, and the sandalwood is no different. It has a sweet, warm, rich scent that is commonly used as incense for meditation.

OILS TO UPLIFT MOOD AND FOCUS

Citrus oils: wild orange, grapefruit, lemon, bergamot, lavender, peppermint, rosemary. 

I begin doing one of three things each morning, depending on how much time I have.

  • Rub a blend at the base of my neck
  • Rub a blend in my palms and inhale
  • Put a blend in a diffuser

My typical morning blend is peppermint and wild orange.

I purchase my oils from a few places; however, many times from Fullscript.

xx

dr. heather

ps if you want to learn more about mood and the vagus nerve, journey to this article, Food, Mood, and the Vagus Nerve 

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