Essential oils – a vital part of aromatherapy – are extracted from aromatic plant sources, and their complex chemical make-up means that as well as smelling great, they’re also full of benefits for your mind and body. In fact, a single essential oil can trigger certain responses from your body, which means that – when combined to create a blend – they can make a world of difference to your health and overall wellbeing.
But not all essential oils are created equal; some oils are purely for aromatic purposes, while others are used for healing purposes, so be sure to look out for the Therapeutic Grade (TG) or Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) classification if healing is what you’re after.
So, how exactly do you use essential oils? Try mixing a few drops of your chosen oil/s with two tablespoons of water and adding it to an oil burner or an aromatherapy diffuser to help fill an entire room with your selected scent. For added relaxation, you can also add a few drops into your bath (along with a tablespoon of milk, which acts as a carrier), or create a therapeutic massage oil by combining three to four drops with a carrier oil, such as jojoba oil.
Here, we’ve listed some examples of common blends to counteract negative moods and help your overall wellbeing:
If you’re feeling angry: calm your temper by diffusing a blend of lavender, vetiver, bergamot, and patchouli.
If you’re feeling sad: citrus essential oils have refreshing and cleansing qualities to combat feelings depression Try: grapefruit, lemon, orange, rose, sandalwood, and ylang ylang”¨.
If you’re feeling anxious: some of the top essential oils with calming properties include ylang ylang, bergamot, geranium rose, mandarin, sandalwood, roman chamomile, and lavender”¨.
If you’re feeling run down: boost your energy levels with a mix of rosemary, elemi, peppermint, basil and ginger.
If you’re feeling unwell: peppermint essential oil helps to soothe an upset stomach and can also help clear the sinuses and ease the pain of a headache. Likewise, ginger is also known to be a great natural cure for nausea.
If you’re feeling distracted: combat procrastination and stimulate your concentration levels with oils such as lemon, peppermint, rosemary, or basil.
If you’re feeling restless: we all know how important it is to get a good night’s sleep – bergamot, clary sage and sandalwood are three of the most relaxing oils and combining them can have an excellent effect on your mind and body. Alternatively, try adding two to three drops of lavender oil to your pillow to help you fall asleep.
Of course, everyone is different when it comes to scents so experiment and with different oils and blends to see what works best for you!
Have you ever used essential oils for your mood? Has it worked for you? What are your favourite essential oil blends?
