Magical Essential Oils

“For one believeth that he may eat all things: another who is weak, eateth herbs.” ~ Bible

"There's a few things I've learned in life: always throw salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for good luck, and fall in love whenever you can."

~ William Shakespeare

May the essence of nature continue to enliven our spirits and delight the senses during this winter season of introspection and spiritual celebrations. The heavenly aromas of Pine, Cinnamon, Orange, and Juniper are but a few of the scents that fill our homes this time of year.

Essential oils, also identified as nature’s living energy and nature’s medicine, are derived from flowers, trees, roots, leaves, shrubs, seeds, fruit, and bushes. They are the extremely pure volatile liquids that are extracted via steam distillation – much more concentrated and potent than dry herbs. They truly are the essence of the plant’s life force itself whose qualities have been treasured for thousands of years in cosmetics, religious/spiritual rituals, healing and soothing of the body, mind, and spirit, cooking, and the sensual beauty of fragrance adornment.

How do we know we’re purchasing real essential oils or products that contain the pure essence of nature instead of a chemical substitute? Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt, founder and Scientific Director of the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy said, "Essential oils should be called "essential oils."  If names are used that sound evasive, such as "pure botanical perfume" or "pure fragrance essence," that is an indication that the supplier is aware that the oils are not true essential oils."

I can’t quite explain it, but an artificial scent doesn’t have that subtle, natural life quality of an essential oil, even though essential oils are powerfully fragrant. There is an underlying harshness my nose detects, plus I get an immediate sinus headache warning if I’m in the midst of a thick artificial scent. Pure essential oils don’t warn me. They simply invite me.

People who are sensitive and have a negative reaction to chemically based fragrances, will find pure essential oils a comfortable haven. Don’t forget our animal companions – our cats, dogs, and other creatures whose sense of smell is 50-100 times more powerful than ours. We tend to forget that they may also be allergic to chemicals and actually find perfumes offensive.

Consider passing by the artificially scented potpourri this winter season and mix up a batch of heavenly aromatics using combinations of Ginger root, Cinnamon stick, Clove, and Orange peel in a steaming pot of water on the stove, potpourri pot, or the same essential oils in a diffuser. Bring the garden herbs into the home with an aromatic mixture of fresh Rosemary, Bay Leaf, Thyme, and Oregano sprigs or essential oils.

Extend the fragrance of holiday pine and juniper boughs with a couple of drops of Pine and Juniper essential oil directly on a branch or two as needed.

Tired of department store chemical perfumes? Create your own special scent by using a drop or two of Lavender and Orange essential oils for a clean, calming scent. Go a little earthy and add a drop of Lavender to your wrists and neck with a drop of warm, earthy Patchouli oil between your heart and navel. Men and women can use combinations of Pine, Cedar, Sandalwood, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Sage, Patchouli, Myrrh, and Lemon oils. Explore the varieties of essential oils and discover the scent that your body and senses are calling out for! The environment will also thank you.

Beyond our desire for uplifting, soothing, sensual enhancement, all essential oils have powerful and specific medicinal qualities, so creating a fragrance for a day and simultaneously administering a needed remedy for the balance of body, mind, and spirit becomes doubly effective . I do this frequently, based on what I sense my needs are and what I know the oil’s medicinal qualities are.

Here are some tips to pass along. I may use up to a combination of four oils, one drop at a time, sparingly, as they are powerful.  Also, where applying oil directly to the skin, test it out first, to see where there may be a skin sensitivity. Some people may need to transport the essential oil in a small amount of natural unscented lotion.

Calming support
Chamomile – Sweet, herbaceous – Relaxing, soothing nervous tension of mind and body
Lavender – Floral, clean, sweet, herbaceous – Releases tension headaches, relaxing, soothing
Orange – Rich, fruity – Clean, fresh, relaxing, soothing
Peppermint – Clean, fresh, minty – Soothes digestion

A drop of Lavender oil on the top base of the neck or temples for tension headache. The inside wrists, heart area, above the naval, and palm of hands are emotional centers where applying essential oils have a direct effect.

Cleanse/Purify/Protect Aura
Sage – Spicy, herbaceous, warm – Cleanses, purifies, eliminates imbalanced, negative energy
White Angelica blend – Rich, sweet, warm – Enhances body’s aura, feeling security and protection against negative energy

Sage - Eliminating imbalanced, negative, overwhelming energy – whether a person or place, or as a healing practioner working with other people’s energy centers – a drop in the palm of the hands and rub together, especially where washing hands isn’t immediately available. I also rub a drop on the bottom of my feet to purify from head to toe and additional grounding – eliminating that space-cadet feeling of overwhelming or imbalanced external energy particular to empathic people.

White Angelica – Rub a drop on both shoulders and a drop on the center between the heart and navel. White Angelica is a product blend of Young Living Essential Oils. (See Resources below)

Refresh/Purify Home or Work Environment
Lemon – Strong citrus – Cleanses, purifies, revitalizing
Lemongrass – Earthy, light citrus – Balancing, stimulating, refreshing
Sage – Spicy, herbaceous, warm – Purifies, cleanses, eliminates imbalanced energy

For cleansing a room or home, use a diffuser with the oil for entire range dispensing.

Colds/ Flu/Pain
Eucalyptus – Penetrating, refreshing – Upper respiratory congestion relief, soothes muscles
Cypress – Evergreen, herbaceous, fresh – Sore throats, stuffy nose, coughs
Oregano – Herbaceous, fresh – Antifungal, upper respiratory congestion relief
Pain Relief Magic blend – Warm, penetrating, fresh – Fibromyalgia, muscle injury, headache, spasms
Rosemary – Herbaceous, fresh – Upper respiratory infections, flu

Pain Relief Magic – Wide spectrum therapeutic – A product blend of Original Swiss Aromatics.  Used directly on body (See Resources below)

Use a diffuser with the oil for entire room/area dispensing. Eucalyptus is especially soothing in a hot bath or sauna and throughout the night in a humidifier or diffuser for congestion relief and enhanced sleep comfort.

Strength/Enlivening/Grounding
Cedar – Warm, woody, balsamic – Strengthening, soothing, grounding
Douglas Fir – Pine, crisp – Spiritually realigning, grounding, soothes muscles, enlivening
Pine – Evergreen, fresh, herbaceous – Healing emotions, enlivening, soothes muscles, grounding
Juniper – Woody, clean, penetrating – Grounding, cleansing, enlivening

Rub a drop or two up the base of the spine for grounding and strengthening the body alignment to the earth. Also rub a drop on the spine from between the shoulder blades to the base of the neck to complete the strengthening and grounding of the body and chakra energy centers. I suggest using only two of these oils at a time.

Enhance Creativity/Sensuality
Jasmine – floral, sweet, soft
Patchouli – Earthy, musky, exotic
Rosewood – Warm, woody floral
Tangerine – Tangy, sweet, uplifts spirit
Ylang Ylang – floral, sweet, soft

Of these, subjectivity rules! This is a part of my personal list of favorites. Experiment, and discover what essential oils take you to those special feelings and places of imagination. There are with these, as with all essential oils, specific medicinal qualities for the mind, body and spirit.

Enhance Spiritual Sensitivity/Connection
Frankincense – Sweet, warm, balsamic – Centering, elevating the mind, stimulating
Myrrh – Rich, smoky, balsamic – Aids in meditation, restorative, uplifting
Sandalwood – Warm, rich, woody – Relaxing, aids in meditation
Spikenard – Earthy, exotic, musky – Aids in meditation - Divine Mother/Feminine energy

Rub a drop on the third eye chakra area between the eyebrows and one on the heart center.  Most of us have heard of Frankincense, Myrrh, and Sandalwood, but Spikenard isn’t commonly known. It is among the sacred oils, prized in India, and during the time of Christ, was used by Mary of Bethany to anoint the feet of Jesus before the last supper.


We can all live healthier, balanced lives using the wonder of Mother Earth’s treasures. I’ve only briefly presented a few essentials. Have a joyous holiday season with the precious gifts of nature!

Resources
http://www.originalswissaromatics.com/
http://www.pacificinstituteofaromatherapy.com/
http://www.youngliving.com/
http://healingscents.net/learn/history-essential-oils-around-the-world


Live in Beauty and be well – Triza Schultz


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