It’s a safe bet in today’s current climate you have experienced more than the usual amount of stress, anxiety and mental fatigue. Most people I encounter are somewhat familiar with essential oils and that it can be utilized for physical ailments & issues. However, the majority of people aren’t aware of how aromatherapy works in addressing the stressors of everyday life. In this short blog I hope to give you a simple introduction of how it works & how you can easily incorporate it into your everyday life.
Essential oils contain thousands of chemical constituents that when inhaled interact with the limbic system of the brain which controls emotions. With a long sustained inhalation practice you get the oils into your lung tissue in which the blood passes through. This allows it to have various affects on the physical body depending on what you wish to target. What is sustained inhalation? It is the practice of taking l..o..n..g…s..l..o..w…d..e..e..p… breaths. Doing this does SO many great things for you even without essential oils. It stimulates the vagus nerve which supports your body in the rest/repair mode. Oddly enough humming does too. Hmmmmm.. :-D
If you asked me to tell you my favorite oil I’d be hard pressed to narrow it down to just a few but I’ll try. The following oils are what I call “work horse” oils in that they have the ability to assist in SO many different issues I couldn’t possibly include them all in a short blog post. For purposes of our topic I will be discussing them in regards to stress reduction.
Hyssop: applied topically to the area just below the sternum it can aid in relaxing the diaphragm. Relaxing the diaphragm deepens the breath which as mentioned above stimulates the vagus nerve. Do a quick search on the vagus nerve as it’s super important in putting the body into the rest/repair state. On the energetic level it’s my go-to for clearing aggressive energy as it expands the heart chakra. Hot top: make yourself a human diffusor with hyssop at your next family get together or when you have to be around that bristly hostile individual.
Basil: this beauty isn’t just for caprese salads. Basil has been a staple in our home the last few months with all of the constant & fast paced changes we’ve been having to make lately Basil is very soothing & restoring to the nervous system & helps you to be more adaptable to change. We love a adding basil to some unscented castile soap & adding to a bath at the end of a long day.
Vetiver: Ahhh…the oil of tranquility. While not one of the “pretty” scented oils; vetiver’s earthy aroma is very grounding, soothing & calming to the mind. At our house we use it before bedtime as it’s been referenced for aiding in putting the body into rest & repair mode.
Marjoram: is known for relaxing the muscles. How is this relevant to stress? When you are stressed & have anxiety you hold tension in the body. Just as hyssop helps to relax the diaphragm which stimulates that famous vagus nerve; relaxing the muscles help to calm the body. My mantra is “Calm the body to calm the mind” …..even my somewhat skeptical husband uses this oil every singe day ya’ll. I dilute it in an alcohol base spray for ease of use.
Lemongrass: is in the “cure-all” category as well meaning that it does SO many things for the body & mind. In regards to stress, I love it as it is referenced for calming & soothing to the nervous system & as a stimulant to the parasympathetic system ( rest/repair) Again, when stressed, the body & nerves are on high alert. Calming the nervous system & deepening the breath & relaxing the physical body are at the core of reducing stress.
* hot tip: have a hard time meditating? Try it right after you’ve been very physically active as the body is fatigued & less resistant to the restful state. That’s why so many people have sleep issues but that’s a whole ‘nother blog ;-)
* sourced from Plantpranaoils.org & Salvatore Battaglia “The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy” ( seriously the best reference manual I’ve encountered. It’s at least 5 books in 1. Worth every penny!
~Kristi Forrest ~ Aromatherapist & Energy Healing
k.forrest7@gmail.com 502-396-9680
If your curiosity is piqued & you would like to more experiences with aromatherapy contact the AHHA Center in Bardstown, KY for their next aromatherapy event.
To purchase quality essential oils and crystals contact Tammy Felker at :
AHHA Center
200 E John Rowan Blvd, Suite A&BBardstown, KY 40004
502-292-8723 or 502-650-1586
info@ahha-center.com
