8 WAYS TO INCORPORATE ESSENTIAL OILS TO HEAL THE BODY
Have you ever been curious about trying essential oils to heal the body but don’t know where to start? Or perhaps you’re already a fan but are looking for new ways to use them. There are tons of these oils and it can be quite confusing at times, even for someone who is not a complete beginner. Essential oils can be very useful health tools in the hands of someone who knows how to make use of them. Many of them have various therapeutic, aesthetic, and skincare uses that can be used in your daily life for promoting physical, mental, and spiritual wellness. So, let’s dig deeper and find out some more about how essential oils can be used to heal and enhance your overall well-being.
1. ENCOURAGES AND ENHANCES PEACE, CALM, AND RELAXATION
With there being a never-ending number of factors that contribute to our daily stress, it’s becoming increasingly important to create time to rest, relax and reset. The hectic routine of daily life, unhealthy eating, work pressure, overuse of caffeine or alcohol, smoking, lack of quality self-care, all contribute to disrupting the health of our overall well-being. Essential oils are a great way to combat these toxins that attack our mind and body. Put 2-3 drops of your favorite oil in the bathtub to enjoy a warm bath or pamper yourself with an aromatic oil massage. There are literally a thousand ways to relax with these beautiful scents. Whether you are chatting with friends, watching Netflix, or cooking, you can diffuse a few drops in your room. However, make sure to diffuse essential oils in well-ventilated rooms and keep your pets away from the area.
Lavender, ylang-ylang, rose, jasmine, lemon, bergamot, Jatamansi are some of the most popular essential oils for relaxation. In a 2015 study, inhaling bergamot oil for 15 mins was found to be effective in reducing stress and anxiety levels in healthy females. It was also found to help in removing fatigue and negative emotions.
2. HELPS YOU CENTER AND BREATHE BETTER DURING YOGA SESSIONS
Breathing is vital for life, but when we experience the benefits of pranayama with the added benefits of essential oils during yoga sessions, this can be a game-changer! If used in regulated amounts, essential oils can be a powerful tool to enhance breathing and help the body return to a vibration of peace and calm. Balancing essential oils like patchouli, sandalwood, clary sage, frankincense, and myrrh are considered great for grounding the spirit and bringing the breath in harmony with the heart. Diffuse 4-5 drops during yoga sessions or apply a diluted version on the neck and hands.
3. BOOST YOUR FOCUS AND MINDFULNESS
Do you often struggle to focus during the day? What about during meditation? Well, there are some essential oils for that too! Rosemary, lemon, peppermint, bergamot, sweet orange oils are known to help in centering your mind on one object. They remove negative emotions, worries, anxiety and boost self-esteem and confidence so you can focus better on work, studies, breath, or anything you want. Rosemary, peppermint, and bergamot essential oils are also great at improving cognitive function, information processing speed, memory, and enhance mental alertness.
4. ESSENTIAL OILS ENCOURAGE US TO WORRY LESS AND SLEEP BETTER
Essential oils also have profound effects on our nervous system. It’s so many wonderful ways to use these essential oils to heal the body. They can help clear the mind of anxious thoughts and help you sleep better. This is important because quality sleep not only keeps energy levels high throughout the day, but also improves your ability to adapt to psychological and environmental stressors with better ease. Some essential oils have an invigorating effect on the mind, while others are sedative in nature.
For night time, choose calming essential oils, such as lavender, ylang-ylang, roman chamomile, geranium, etc. Energizing essential oils like bergamot, neroli, rosemary, rose, sweet orange oils are also known to improve the sleep quality but because they enhance mental alertness, they are considered ideal for day time use. Rub 1-2 drops on your temples or pillows. Alternatively, give yourself a grounding foot massage with a diluted version of your preferred oil.
5. PROVIDES RELIEF FOR HORMONAL IMBALANCES
We all struggle with hormonal imbalances throughout the year. Work pressure, running under strict deadlines, finding time for ourselves, family responsibilities, from daily battles to bigger challenges – a woman’s life is never easy, especially for a mother. The fact is hormonal changes are part of life. Cortisol (stress hormone), insulin, and thyroid are some of the common culprits. Plus, estrogen levels go sharply down every month around menstruation. Bloating, irregular periods, difficulty in falling asleep, difficulty in getting up, lethargy, acne, frequent migraine attacks, mood swings are only some of the signs of hormonal imbalances. The good news is – essential oils can help.
Using essential oils not only helps in relieving the symptoms but works on the underlying cause as well. Clary sage is considered the most effective essential oil for finding balance with hormones. In fact, it is also called women’s oil for its ability to deal with almost all kinds of hormonal issues from stress and menstrual cramps to menopausal symptoms. Rose, thyme, frankincense, geranium, ylang-ylang, and roman chamomile are also known to help in regulating hormones. However, it is very important to understand that not all essential oils work equally for everyone, and you may have to find the one that works for you. It’s definitely worth taking the time to explore.
6. HELPS BOOST IMMUNITY AGAINST COMMON COLD AND FLU
Did you know that simply inhaling the aromatic compounds of essential oils or absorbing them through the skin can strengthen your general immunity? YES! Mother Nature truly has given us everything we need! Black pepper, turmeric, clove, coffee, peppermint, and cinnamon oils possess excellent immune-balancing properties. They protect you from allergies, environmental pollutants, infections, and encourage mucus drainage to help with congestion. If you catch a cold or sinus infection, dilute 6-8 drops of eucalyptus oil in a tbsp of sesame oil and apply on chest, neck, and back to find immediate relief from symptoms. In cases of congestions, difficulty in breathing, or nasal blockages, add 5-6 drops in hot water and inhale the vapors to ease breathing. Eucalyptus can also be used for children which I suggest to always keep on hand.
7. MAY HELP WOMEN HAVE A MORE PEACEFUL MENSTRUATION CYCLE
Next time your monthly friend visits, try an essential oil blend for some relief. Some essential oils, when used during menstruation can reduce contractions and relieve menstrual cramps. Several studies over the years have suggested to use aromatherapy massages for relieving severe menstrual cramps, excessive bleeding, irritability, bloating, and other issues related to periods. In a 2006 study, one group of volunteers received treatment in the form of an abdominal massage with two drops of lavender, one drop of clary sage, and one drop of rose oil mixed in almond oil, while the other group received the same treatment with pure almond oil. The blend was found highly effective in reducing both the severity and duration of painful symptoms. Rose geranium, ylang-ylang, marjoram, roman chamomile, turmeric, and cinnamon are some other great oils at reducing muscle spasms and mood swings.
8. HELPS TO STIMULATE AND FIND BALANCE WITH CHAKRAS
Did you know that inhaling essential oils can help you clear chakras as well? Yes, just like yoga, meditation, reiki, and acupuncture, aromatherapy is one of the oldest and simplest ways to activate the full functioning of chakras. This is yet another magical way to use essential oils to heal the body. There are different essential oils for each chakra; however, some versatile oils like jasmine are excellent for allowing maximum flow of energy through all. It promotes self-awareness and acceptance and is believed to bring psychological and spiritual balance in life.
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