Essentially Emotions: Supporting Self-Care Through Essential Oils

Essentially Emotions: Supporting Self-Care Through Essential Oils

This year, as with every new year, I am looking for ways to improve my health. We all know that diet and exercise are critical to good health. But is that it? Eat right and exercise? I have to say no! Informed self-care is any activity that we engage in that takes care of our mental, emotional or physical health and well-being. It also needs to refuel and energize us.

Four years ago, I had a health crisis. I was eventually diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and have struggled with pain and fatigue ever since. I adjusted my diet and exercised as often as I was able, but my energy level was too low. The pain was often too much, and I was depressed. I wasn’t sleeping enough, and my stress level was high. Because of the sleep deprivation and stress, I was carrying a load too toxic for my weakened immune system to bear.

I was fed-up, tired and I just wanted all of my problems to go away. But how? My friend had a couple of suggestions that I thought could be relatively helpful, the main one being that I should see how forms of medical marijuana could help to relieve my symptoms. I had never considered this option before, but the idea of visiting this online headshop to look at glass pipes and bongs made the idea more appealing. At this point, I was willing to try anything, so I set myself a goal of trying to find a method that would put a stop to my bad feelings once and for all because I just couldn’t go on living like this.

Emotions

Everything changed last March, when I decided to try the essential oils and diffuser my son had given me. I didn’t know what I was doing, but since I had a diffuser and peppermint and lavender essential oils, I just started there. As I diffused peppermint, I began to notice a difference in my mood. I felt energetic and positive. That was huge!

It was like I couldn’t even start eating right and exercising until I supported my emotions. For me, emotional health is the foundation of the wellness pyramid. Learning to incorporate essential oils into my routine helped my mind to clear and helped my heart connect with my head. Did you know that feelings are really chemicals that can help or hurt us? Emotions are information-carrying molecules that bind to and react with cell receptors.

With my emotions finally in my stride, I moved on to focus on my physical well-being as well. Not only on the inside, but I also needed to look my best as well. Essential oils along with various skincare brands help me alleviate the stress that was evident on my face in the form of wrinkles and crow’s feet. Right now, I’m considering changing my regular cleanser and serum for a dr aspect one, as many of my friends have suggested the brand.

The Three Brains

We are created to function as a whole: Body, Spirit, Mind. Your body is made of intelligent cells, designed to continually restore health. I can barely scratch the surface here, but basically, we have three brains. Science reveals that there are complex neural-processing functions in the mind, heart, and gut. When we connect the three brains, we feel good.

Choose Carefully

Choose your essential oils carefully! The grade of the oil you use will determine its chemistry, potency, and efficacy. CPTG (Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade) oils are extracted from plants harvested in their natural habitat. They also undergo stringent in-house and third-party testing, so they are verified pure and filler free.

How to Use

There are so many ways to use oils for self-care. Self-care, for me, is aromatic, topical, and internal essential oil use for concerns that do not require me to consult with a medical professional. Whether addressing emotional or physical concerns, the types of oils you use and how you use them will become instinctive. I will share some ways I use essential oils, and for each use, I’ll share its primary benefits, including emotional and physical self-care uses.

Aromatic use shifts our moods. Smell is the fastest way to affect mood. Aromatic molecules have direct access to the limbic area-or emotional seat-of the brain. A diffuser is a great way to use oils aromatically. I also smell straight from bottle or apply to my palms and rub together and make a “scent tent”. Apply to clothing close to face for long lasting smell. Cotton holds scents the best.

Peppermint helps with overwhelm, low energy and occasional head and muscle tension.

• Clearing, refreshing aroma
• When ingested, promotes healthy respiratory function and clear breathing
• Rub on neck and head for cooling and soothing sensation

Wild Orange is also an uplifting oil. I love just making a scent tent with this oil.

• Supports healthy immune function
• Powerful cleanser and purifying agent

Lavender has a relaxing and calming aroma.

• Add drops to pillow and bedding at bedtime
• Taken internally with water to reduce anxious feelings
• Soothes skin irritations

• Topical use stimulates self-repair and helps connect the three brains. When using oils topically, you may want to mix with a carrier oil (such as fractionated coconut oil) for better absorption into blood stream. Oils can be purchased pre-diluted for all skin types.

Soothing Blend(Deep Blue) is great for muscle and joints pain (ingredients: Essential oils from Wintergreen, Camphor, Peppermint, Ylang Ylang, Helichrysum, Blue Tansy, Blue Chamomile, and Osmanthus)

• Apply on feet and knees before exercise
• Rub on wrists, and neck after computer use
• Comforting part of massage
• For brain support, apply on back of neck, across forehead, or on bottoms of feet

Peppermint relieves headaches when applied to neck and forehead.

Frankincense promotes feelings of relaxation and to balance mood when applied to feet.

• Aroma also promotes feelings of peace, relaxation, satisfaction, overall wellness
• Rub on skin for warming soothing effect
• Ingest to support healthy cellular function
• Supports healthy immune, nervous, and digestive function when taken internally
• Reduce appearance of skin imperfections
• For heartsupport, apply over heart area, insides of wrists, or in fleshy pockets behind ears

The Respiratory Blend(Breathe) helps with grief. (ingredients: Essential Oils from Laurel Leaf, Eucalyptus, Leaf, Peppermint Plant, Melaleuca Leaf, Lemon Peel, Cardamom Seed, Ravintsara Leaf, Ravensara Leaf).

• Maintains feelings of clear airways and easy breathing
• Promotes restful sleep
• Diffuse, make scent tent, or rub on chest or feet when seasonal threats are high
• Helps minimize effects of seasonal threats
• For gut support, apply over stomach area or bottom of feet

The Digestive Blend(DigestZen) reduces bloating and indigestion. (Ingredients: Essential oils from Anise Seed, Peppermint Plant, Ginger Rhizome/Root, Caraway Seed, Coriander Seed, Tarragon Plant, and Fennel Seed).

• Rub on stomach before flying
• Aroma is calming
• Supports healthy digestion when used internally
• Internal use balances chemical reactions. CPTG oils labeled for dietary use may be taken under the tongue, roof of mouth in water, or in a gel cap to support overall health.

The Protective Blend (On Guard) supports feelings of vulnerability. (Ingredients: Essential Oils from Wild Orange Peel, Clove Bud, Cinnamon Leaf, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Leaf, and Rosemary Leaf/Flower).

• Supports healthy immune and respiratory functions
• Protects against environmental threats
• Supports body’s natural antioxidant defenses
• Promotes healthy circulation
• Energizing and uplifting aroma

Lemon added to water is a great detox and tastes fresh!

• Cleanses and purifies air and surfaces
• Cleanses body
• Aroma is very uplifting, and energizing
• Improves mood

Moment by Moment

For more information of oil blends designed for moment by moment support look at the Emotional Aromatherapy System.

The above essential oils not only support healthy emotions but address physical health concerns as well. When we nourish our bodies, these oils supply targeted support for your healthy body as well as your emotions. Complete nourishment includes water, rest, exercise as well as healthy food. Essential oils enhance absorption of nutrition on cellular level and digestive function is scientifically linked to mood.

It’s a long list but given the fact that this body is the only one I will ever have, I mean to take good care of it every way I can! And I feel fortunate to have so many beautiful essential oils at my fingertips. Natural remedies have been used for millennia and our bodies are naturally suited to essential oils. A wellness lifestyle is based on eating healthy and exercise, but informed self-care using CPTG essential oils, to me, is just as important.

I hope you will try adding a few of these essential oils to your daily routine.

“You fill a bucket drop by drop, you clear your mind thought by thought. You heal yourself moment by moment.” –Lisa Wimberger, Founder, Neurosculpting Institute

For more information contact:

Kim Rasmussen

dōTERRA Wellness Advocate

my.doterra.com/kim_rasmussen

blog: atmywhitehome.com