Health Benefits of Houseplants

Health Benefits of Houseplants

by | Aromatics, Energetics

In a recent article written by Andrea Curry entitled, “Houseplants to the Rescue” and published in the Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden Guide 2023, the many virtues of several common houseplants were discussed.  More specifically, the many virtues of houseplants that can detoxify the air.  I was familiar with those qualities in Spider Plants and the Peace Lily, but the other plants piqued my interest as I’ve also had experience with them in my home.  Why detoxify your air?  Because clean air means healthier air. And healthier air means better health and wellness – for humans and pets living in those situations.

Currently, most houses, schools and offices have limited or no ventilation.  Newer homes are “energy efficient” by sealing off many of the access points to fresh outside air. This means that the air in these energy efficient spaces just recirculates and goes in and out of us as we breathe. These toxins have harmful chemicals called “volatile organic compounds”, or VOCs. Most toxins stay in the air until we breathe them in (or they land on our skin) – then, they have a chance to get into our lungs and blood to circulate throughout us. Certain VOCs at certain levels in our bodies can create health issues ranging from headaches and digestive issues to cancer, and more.  Some issues are acute, but some toxins can create chronic health problems.  By diluting or removing toxins (and thereby removing VOCs) from the air, we give ourselves a big health and wellness gift.  And what a wonderful way to do it by using Mother Nature’s plants.

The article refers to Dr. B.C. Wolverton, a former NASA scientist and now an environmental scientist, and his 10 picks for the best houseplants to have in your home and office for removing harmful toxins and their VOCs.  He has written articles and books on this subject.  His books include: How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 Houseplants that Purify Your Home and Office   and  Plants: Why You Can’t Live Without Them.   Some of these plants may surprise you!

His #1 choice as an air-purifying houseplant is the Areca Palm. It is easy to grow and adds up to a litre of water a day to humidify the air. It is especially effective at removing toluene and xylene. Toluene is found in gasoline, heating oils, kerosene, lacquers and paints. Xylene is found in cigarette smoke, gasoline, paint, paint thinners and products treated with rust preventatives.

Other houseplants he suggests include:

  • Corn Plant (a type of Dracaena) – great for overall air purifying
  • Janet Craig Dracaena – especially good at removing trichloroethylene which is found in inks, paints, photocopiers, printers and varnishes
  • English Ivy – effective overall air purifier that can handle benzene which is found in adhesives, ceiling tiles, floor coverings, paints and particleboard
  • Peace Lily – effective at removing acetone, benzene (see above), methyl alcohol and formaldehyde. Acetone is found in cigarette smoke, nail polish, nail polish remover, paints and plastics. Methyl alcohol (aka methanol) is found in adhesives, cosmetics, dyes, resins and varnishes. Formaldehyde is found in cleaning products, fiberboard, particleboard, plywood and upholstery.
  • Boston Fern – the most effective houseplant at removing formaldehyde.
  • Bamboo Palm – excellent all-round air purifier, but especially effective at handling benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene.
  • Dwarf Date Palm – strong overall air purifier, second only to the Areca Palm in its ability to remove toluene and xylene from the air.
  • Rubber Plant – especially good at removing formaldehyde, the most common toxin in the home.

Need more convincing that houseplants help? 

  • A 2008 study in India found that workers in plant-filled office buildings had 24% fewer headaches, 52% less eye irritation, 34% fewer respiratory conditions and 12% higher lung capacity than workers in plant-less environments
  • A 1996 Norwegian study found that office workers coughed 37% less after plants were introduced into their workspace
  • A 2010 Australian study showed that “Janet Craig” dracaena and Peace Lily reduced negative moods (ie. anger, anxiety, depression, stress) in office workers by 40-60% over 3 months.

These houseplants are generally easy to maintain and they add that touch of “green” that brings Nature into our homes, schools and offices. We spend a lot of time indoors. A walk outside in the garden or forest is powerful in its ability to bring freshness and a sense of peace and balance to a hectic life. Why wait?  Bring that freshness, peace and balance into your home, school and office now with houseplants!

THIS-N-THAT

THIS-N-THAT

by | Energetics, Life Reflections

As Winter gives us another blast, I find myself working on “inside” projects to pass the time.  It is the best time to clean out cupboards, drawers and filing cabinets – there are no distractions to be outside right now!  It’s amazing how much “stuff” one can accumulate.  Some may call it “treasures” others call it “junk”.  But in and amongst the paperwork, I’ve come across a few gems that have helped inspire me over time.  Let me share some of them with you as you hunker down with a warm cup of tea or cocoa.

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”                 Helen Keller

“Seven blunders of the world that lead to violence:

Wealth without Work
Pleasure without Conscience
Knowledge without Character
Commerce without Morality
Science without Humanity
Worship without Sacrifice
Politics without Principle                        Mahatma Gandhi

“There is mystery and magic in this life.  Don’t let the wonder of it elude you.”
”The most beautiful and profound emotion we can experience is the sensation of the mystical.  It is the foundation of all true science.  He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead.  To know that what is inconceivable to us really exists, manifesting as the most radiant beauty which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their most primitive form – this knowledge, this feeling, is at the center of true religiousness.”    Albert Einstein

Several quotes from Maya Angelou:

      • “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.
      • “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive, and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour and some style.”
      • “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.”
      • “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, they will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.
Several quotes from Louise Hay:
      • “When you forgive and let go, not only does a huge weight drop off your shoulders, but the doorway to your own self-love opens.”
      • “All the theories in the world are useless unless there is action, positive change and finally healing.”
      • “The thoughts we choose to think are the tools we use to paint the canvas of our lives.”
      • “The more you can connect with the Power within you, the more you can be free in all areas of your life.”
      • “Fear is lack of trust in ourselves. Because of that, we don’t trust Life. We don’t trust that we are being taken care of on a higher level, so we feel we must control everything from the physical level. … Trust is what we learn when we want to overcome our fears.  It’s called taking the “leap-of-faith.”
      • “Unconditional Love is the goal I think we have come here to attain. It begins with self-acceptance and self-love.” 
Not everything in my files and cupboards is deep or profound.  To lighten the mood, here are a few “reflections” from parents:
      • Motherhood – If it was supposed to be easy, it never would have started with something called labour.
      • Shouting to make your children obey is like using the horn to steer your car, and you get about the same results.
      • Raising a teenager is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.
      • Any child can tell you that the sole purpose of a middle name is so he/she can tell when they’re really in trouble.
      • Cleaning your house while your children are home is like shoveling the driveway during a snowstorm.
      • An alarm clock is a device for awakening people who don’t have small children.
      • We child-proofed our home, but the kids are still getting in
And a few “reflections” from some sassy women:

      • We don’t look like a frog in a blender when dancing
      • If we forget to shave, no one has to know
      • We’ll never regret piercing our ears
      • We can fully asses a person just by looking at their shoes
      • No fashion faux pas we make could ever rival The Speedo
February is Heart Month

February is Heart Month

by | Energetics, Psycho-Spiritual

With Valentines Day on February 14th, it’s no wonder that folks have “heart” on their minds. Heart, Love, Passion. No coincidence that the Heart and Stroke Foundation chose February for its main funding drive – everywhere you look, there is something that reminds us of the Heart.  We speak of “Heart” as a physical and/or emotional entity, but there is another way to look at it: as an Energetic entity, too.  The Heart is all these things!

The physical aspects of the Heart and its functions are straight forward.  The heart is made up of a specialized muscle called the cardiac muscle.  It beats every day from early on in the womb until the moment we die. It is akin to a pump, as it “pumps” blood through the lungs and body (via arterial and pulmonary circulation systems) so that nutrients and oxygen are sent to every cell in the body.  Then, it accepts the blood back via the venous circulatory system to start over again.  The four chambers in the heart must fill with blood and move it through with steady rate and rhythm.  If the blood stays still too long, it will clot – a good thing if it is on the outside of our bodies (think scabs), but not so great if it is inside. If blood moves too fast, it won’t have time to move through each heart chamber and lungs to oxygenate and then move into the body. If the heart rate is too fast, as in fibrillation attacks, the heart shakes like jelly and moves blood nowhere!  This can’t last for long, as the brain and other vital organs need a steady supply of blood in order to remain healthy and functioning.

The Heart can be described mechanically (ie. the pump), electrically (rate and rhythm), and physically as part of the body’s circulatory system. Any issue in any of these areas can spell disaster.  Luckily, there are ways and means of fixing and supporting most of these issues. Things like valve replacements, stents, angioplasty and ablation techniques can help with physical issues.  Electrical issues can be helped with pacemakers, ICD’s and cardioversion zaps to the heart, or medications to normalize the rate and rhythm of the heart beat.  Circulatory supports come in the form of helping the quality of the blood in the body and the blood pressure in the circulatory system. Often, medications are used to achieve these things. Anticoagulants (ie. blood thinners) reduce clotting time, blood pressure medications keep a normal pressure in the system to prevent a hemorrhage (ie a blow-out) or fainting (ie. a collapse), and iron supplements help improve anemia which then increases the ability of the red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body.

What about the other Heart qualities?  Emotional Heart and Energetic Heart are not always acknowledged, yet they are as vital for our health and happiness.  To help understand these qualities, it is useful to use the model of the Heart Chakra energy centre.

In Ayurvedic teachings, the Heart Chakra is a vortex of universal energy influencing the mid-chest area.  It is not physical in nature, yet it has a profound influence on the physical, emotional and energetic health and wellness of the Heart.  Let’s look at some of the information we have about this Chakra.

The Heart Chakra sits in the middle of the seven major chakras – it is the balancing point. This chakra’s basic issue is To Love, so opportunities to give and receive love help it to thrive.  Love and Compassion are cornerstones of its presentation. In archetypal language, the Heart Chakra represents The Healer. The qualities assigned to the Heart Chakra include: unconditional/divine love and harmony; forgiveness; healing; compassion; understanding; transformation; warmth; sharing; sincerity; devotion and selflessness.

It is said that the energy of Love from the Heart Chakra is transmitted through the hands. There are many ways that Love is shown through the hands: holding someone, wiping a tear away, cooking and feeding others, playing together, creating art, music or literature that one truly enjoys, holding hands in prayer or meditation, offering energy healing and care, building a home, garden or family.  These are but a few ways to express Love.

The Shadow side of the Heart Chakra deals with Grief and Sorrow.  When overwhelmed with these emotions, it is difficult for the person to give and receive love.  Many folks find grief overwhelming – and shut down.  The emotional pain is too much.  How we have handled past losses in our lives influences how we handle current grief and sorrow. Knowing that the balanced heart gives and receives love indicates that in order to go beyond our grief, we must find ways to come back to Love.  For ourselves and for others.  For our Heart.

To delight the Heart Chakra, the colour Green is used for balancing, harmonizing, renewal, restoring peace and allowing release of pent-up emotions. For supporting its functions of Love and Compassion, the colour Pink is used. The complementary colour is Magenta which helps dealing with emotions and spirit.  Magenta is formed by the Red of the Root Chakra and Violet of the Crown Chakra meeting at the Zeal Point at the back/base of the skull. Remember: the Heart Chakra is the middle point of the major chakras, which explains why Magenta is a great colour to complement it..

On a more physical level, the Heart Chakra is associated with the heart, blood circulation, immune system (think Thymus gland in the chest), lower lungs, rib cage, skin, upper back and hands. Those who do energy healing work understand that the emotional energy from the Heart Chakra can be directed to a client through their hands. They can feel it and so can their clients.  People know when they are being truly cared for in a loving manner and when they are being cared for in a robotic or matter-of-fact manner.  “Coming from the Heart” is true!

To help our Hearts with staying open and our plans flowing along with grace and clarity, Robbi Zeck ND, has suggested some things to try.  These are taken from her book, “The Blossoming Heart”:Create beauty in the environment in which you 

  • Create beauty in the environment in which you live
  • Say something positive or smile to at least one person each day
  • Do what you love and Love what you do
  • Clear out your clutter
  • Recognize your gifts and talents
  • Make time to be quiet and still
  • Every evening before sleeping, acknowledge all that you are grateful for
  • Every morning on waking, say thank-you for another day of living and loving
  • Play, have fun, laugh
  • Celebrate your wins, big or small
  • Show the people you love, your love
  • Open yourself to love and the sensations of beauty within yo

May your Heart, Mind and Soul find love and beauty in your world every day.

INCENSE 101

INCENSE 101

by | Aromatics, Energetics

In the most basic definition, incense is the burning of any aromatic plant material used to enhance, promote, protect life or to encourage and strengthen connection to the Divine. Burning aromatic plants for health, happiness and holiness has been a tradition in every culture throughout time. Smelling aromatic smoke can activate many different aspects of our inner life – the reaction to aroma can be primitive to sublime; archaic to evolved; inward or outward directed.

Ritual use of incense can be found within many cultures. Ancient Egyptians believed that their prayers were lifted towards the gods on the aromatic smoke.  Make the smoke smell beautiful and your prayers were guaranteed to be answered. Olibanum was burned in the morning.  Myrrh was burned at noon. And Kyphi, a blended incense, was used in the evening.  In Japan, an incense burning culture of sophisticated esthetics was developed.  Sensory delight stimulating the imagination led to the creation of Koh-do.  In Koh-do there is a fragrance ceremony in which selected individuals seek to intensify both their awareness and inspiration through the use of aromatic smoke. Native American traditions view the burning of aromatic “power plants” such as sage, cedarwood and juniper, as a means of purification and healing, and also help restore people’s contact with nature as a whole and with the Great Spirit specifically.

As Thomas Kinkele states in his book, Incense and Incense Rituals,
“Fire is the elemental force of change. In the world of nature, it destroys what is old and creates fertile ground for rebirth. Human encounter with fire is also confrontation with human fear. Overcoming fear is a major issue in the face of this regenerative power. For primeval humans mastering this force gave them both warmth and protection from wild animals … To perceive the purification that occurs in the presence of fire and to find a sense of peace deep within is to experience a rebirth.  Courage and capacity are ignited within when a human being encounters his very own fire.” (p.9)

There are several types of incense.  Some of these include:

  • Incense sticks: There are two types – those with supporting wood (eg. thin bamboo) or those without supporting wood
    Supporting wood sticks have a moist aromatic paste applied to a thin bamboo stick then allowed to dry before use.  Without supporting wood sticks are made in a similar way to making noodles. An aromatic paste is squeezed out and left to dry before use.
  • Incense spirals: created without wood sticks, the aromatic paste is coiled and left to dry. Large coils have the advantage of burning for a long time.  They can be burned using a specialty stand or delicately hung up with fine thread
  • Incense cones: the most widespread and common form of incense.  Aromatic paste is shaped into cones, left to dry, then ignited at their tip and allowed to burn down to the base
  • Smudge Sticks: plants known as “power plants” are burned for their aromatic smoke. Cutting of the herbs, bushes or twigs is performed “in the Right Way” ie. with mindfulness and respect. Then, they are bundled and left to dry. When ready, the tip is lit and once really burning, the sacred smoke is inhaled while it envelopes the body – cleansing it and its energy of negativity. Sometimes, the plants are braided instead of bundled, as in the case of Sweetgrass.
  • Smudge Smoke: Dried “power plants” are placed loosely in a container (eg.abalone shell) and then lit to create sacred smoke.  The container may be left stationary or held and moved around the space or person, depending upon the situation, to cleanse and protect.

There are several ways to enjoy burning incense.  The classic way is to scatter it on a glowing piece of charcoal in a crucible (an Incense Burner) or fire-proof dish. Most folks no longer use charcoal for their heating needs or barbeques, so one must look elsewhere for the charcoal. There are specially made charcoal quick-lite tablets designed for incense burning which are usually available where you purchase incense.  If you have a real wood fire burning (not your inside gas fireplace!), you can easily sprinkle incense or dried aromatic plants onto it and let the aromatic smoke surround you.

If you have incense sticks, you can place them in a container filled with dirt or sand to use and enjoy the aroma anywhere.  It is a “trick” that I use on the back deck when flowers are not plentiful. A few well-placed incense sticks tucked into my patio containers provide aroma that wafts around the area, creating a magical moment while sitting outside.  Another method to consider is creating a large incense burn at the entrance of your home which greets guests as they arrive.  Not only do they love being greeted by it, but as they walk through the smoke, the incense helps cleanse them of any negativity they might bring into your personal space!

When deciding upon which incense is necessary for personal growth and transformation, it is helpful to look at how the aroma can be categorized.  The Four Elements: Fire, Air, Water, Earth all have corresponding incenses associated with them.  Additionally, we can look at how the Three Centers of Perception: Mind, Emotion, Body, respond and work with certain aromas.  To illustrate, let us look at examples of each with the Fragrance Message the aromatic incense conveys.  These notes come from the book, Incense and Incense Rituals by Thomas Kinkele.

FIRE
Mind:                  Amber   “Renewal at the place of origin”
Emotion:             Cardamom  “Confidence and joy in life”
Body:                   Cinnamon Bark  “Food for the inner fire” 

AIR
Mind:                  Pine Resin  “Staying in the game”
Emotion:            Rue  “The seeker is guided to the light”
Body:                  Yerba Santa  “Feeling love for yourself”

WATER
Mind:                  Lavender  “Shedding light on the emotions”
Emotion:            Rose  “Comfort and healing”
Body:                  White Sage  “Looking at what is essential” 

EARTH
Mind:                  Asafoetida  “At the center of the cyclone”
Emotion:            Angelica Root  “Walking your own path”
Body:                  Vetiver  “Accepting and loving yourself”

You’ve likely noticed that several essential oils are listed for more than one use.  That is their nature – oils don’t limit themselves to just “one-way only”.  Some of these essential oils are also helpful with the physical pains and changes felt during stressful times. This makes them valuable for helping both the psychological and physical manifestations of stress and anxiety.  Some folks combine an inhalation and application method with their selected essential oils so that they address their distress from all angles. Everyone’s aromatic journey is different, yet the goal is the same – Relief.

With these challenging times, it’s good to know that Mother Nature offers us support. Always has ~ Always will.  We just need to partner with her to find what works for us.

Benzoin:

Cedar Wood:

Clove Bud:

Dragon Blood:

Elemi:

Eucalyptus:

Fennel Seed:

Frankincense:

Himalayan Sage:

Inula:

Mugwort:

Myrrh:

Oakmoss:

Patchouli:

Sage (Common):

Sandalwood:

Spruce Resin:

Tulsi (Holy Basil)

Water/Emotion  “Allow yourself to let go and surrender”

Earth/Emotion  “Protection and power are here”

Fire/Body            “Approaching something new with momentum”

Fire/Body           “Strength and courage”

Fire/Mind           “Setting off for new horizons”

Fire/Body            “Stepping from swatches of fog into clarity”

Water/Emotion  “Comfort and relaxation”

Fire/Body            “Letting the truth in”

Air/Mind             “Opening up and risking the step”

Water/Mind”      “Light from the root”

Air/Body             “Concentrating on what is authentic”

Earth/Emotion   “Fertility and purity”

Earth/Body         “Everything is one”

Earth/Body         “Basic trust and a strong presence”

Air/Body              “Health, strength and long life”

Earth/Emotion   “The supportive foundation”

Air/Body              “Passing on the light”

Air/Mind              “Loving receptiveness”

These are but a few of the aromatics that may be used as incense. May you enjoy exploring the many incenses available for enjoyment, healing and enlightenment

Aromatherapy Relief for Stress & Anxiety

Aromatherapy Relief for Stress & Anxiety

by | Aromatics, Energetics

The sweet, slow nature of Summer “time off” has evolved into the hustle and bustle of Autumn’s “full speed ahead”. Work, family, school, groups, meetings all seem to be ramping up at the same time. It isn’t easy staying calm and centered when the world is pulling you in many directions and vying for your attention. No wonder anxiety issues are on the rise in all age groups.

Anxiety. Its basic definition is: an unpleasant feeling of tension and apprehension, accompanied by behavioural, physiological and psychological symptoms. Anxiety is an early warning signal that alerts people to impending real or symbolic threats to self, significant others or a way of life (Haber).  Low or moderately low level of anxiety can be helpful for improving one’s performance or improving one’s focus. But as anxiety goes way up, one’s ability to function, focus and attend to others goes way down. So, the trick is to not let one’s level of anxiety get too high.  Some days, we are better at doing this than on other days!

Anxiety affects physical functioning, emotional experiences and functioning, thinking (how and what we think) and our behaviour (what we say and do).  Those who have high levels of anxiety are at a higher risk of unwellness – physically, emotionally and spiritually. The higher the level of anxiety and the longer one is experiencing this anxiety eventually leads to exhaustion – and real health problems.

Stress is similar to Anxiety.  In general, Stress is regarded as the response to any demand made upon the body, whether it is physical or psychological. This forces the body to alter its structures, processes or behaviour in order to re-establish its balance and equilibrium (H. Selye). Any factor that disturbs the balance in the body or mind is considered a stressor – so in this way, anxiety can be considered a stressor, which can create stress for the person.

In Selye’s original model, there are three stages to Stress: Alarm ~ Alert ~ Exhaustion (or Resolution).  An Acute Stress reaction is unlikely to cause health problems because it gives the body a chance to reach balance again through Resolution. It’s quick to come on and quick to resolve. Under Chronic Stress, the body is prevented from feeling and achieving balance, because it always stays on Alert. Chronic Stress can create and/or worsen physical problems and is found to contribute to clinical depression.

Generally, we say that someone is experiencing stress when the stressor has exceeded that person’s ability or resources to cope with it.

Worry is a natural response to many life circumstances. It can be healthy or unhealthy. If you find you are consumed with your worries and you find yourself making choices and decisions based upon fears rather than on logic or reason, you may be experiencing Problematic Worry.  Excessive / Problematic Worry is the chief symptom of Generalized Anxiety.

Healthy Worry is focused on effective problem solving. Brainstorm alternative solutions, evaluate possible outcomes, MAKE A DECISION, develop a plan and form a timetable. Healthy Worry brings together emotions and information, reviews and decides what to do.  Then Action puts the decision into motion. We call this “following through” on a plan. An action plan can always be tweaked as new information or situations come to light. Most people find they have less anxiety when they are actually doing something about what has them worried.

Unhealthy Worry is focused on catastrophic thinking.  It leads to continually examining an endless list of all the potentially negative outcomes of a situation without looking for alternative, positive solutions. Unhealthy Worry spends time and energy looking at all the possible, “What if’s …“ which leave no time or energy to make a decision, set up a plan and put it into action.  Unhealthy Worry just spins your wheels and boosts anxiety levels higher and higher. The more anxious you become, the more your potential for other health and wellness problems increases.  And then you’ll have even more to worry about!

In the early 1990’s, J.M.Black and E. Matassarin-Jacobs presented their research on what people considered the 10 Most Frequent Hassles and Uplifts in life. These were the things that increased and decreased worry, anxiety and stress levels for the respondents.

It is interesting to see what people considered their Hassles to be, 30 years ago:

  1. Concerns about their weight
  2. Health of a family member
  3. Rising prices of common goods
  4. Home maintenance
  5. Too many things to do
  6. Misplacing or losing things
  7. Yard work or outside home maintenance
  8. Property investment or taxes
  9. Crime
  10. Physical appearance

It looks like many of these “hassles” are still with us today!

So how does Aromatherapy fit in with all this?  Good question!

When inhaled, essential oils used in aromatherapy can trigger responses in the brain and nervous system which can then alter the psychological and hormonal reactions one experiences with worry, anxiety and stress.  Some essential oils will have a calming, soothing effect on the mind and body, while others will have an energizing, clarifying effect.  Essential oils applied to the skin can help reduce physical manifestations of worry, anxiety and stress (eg.muscle tension, headaches, racing pulse etc.) and circulate in the blood and lymph fluids to assist with general health support.  Between inhalation and application, there is bound to be a method and essential oil(s) to help bring the body and mind back to balance.

Inhalation of essential oils can be accomplished in many ways.  A simple drop or two on a tissue can then be inhaled deeply as needed.  Personal or room sprays can quickly turn a heavy mood or situation into something that feels much lighter and positive. Diffusers offer a steady aromatic mist that keeps the air full with the aroma which is then inhaled at all times when in that environment.  This helps create steady exposure to the oils so that their effects are constantly felt.  Personal aromatherapy inhalers are a quick and convenient way to get a “hit” of the essential oil or blend you want – any time, any where. Inhalation patches are worn on the upper chest and emit a steady level of essential oil aroma for 8-12 hours, to breathe in. This is especially helpful when the anxiety and stress are preventing a good night’s sleep or when one is in a stressful situation and would like aromatic support to get through it (eg. work situations, family confrontation, funeral, medical procedure, dental appointment etc.).

Applications of essential oils are easily done. In these cases, the effects are more pronounced on the areas they are applied to.  Eventually, the oils penetrate the skin and enter blood and lymph circulations which then carries their component parts throughout the body to elicit more effects. The choice of the carrier product determines how fast and how much of the essential oil molecule can get into the body.  Water-based gels provide the fastest effects – they go in quickly and they are done quickly. Heavy creams and ointments, on the other hand, take much longer to penetrate the skin and deliver the essential oils to the body. This is a clue as to when to use what:  if you need fast relief, use a water-based gel.  If you want the effects to linger longer, use an oil-based cream or massage oil. If you want effects longer than that – look to an ointment or wax. Essential oils can also be used in baths, soaps, massage bases, scrubs, and compresses to deliver stress and anxiety relief. As a bonus: all application methods also have an inhalation aspect to them, as the aroma from the product wafts around you. It may not be as strong an aroma as is delivered by an inhalation method, but it is still there.

Undiluted essential oils should not be used on the skin for stress or anxiety relief. It is a method reserved for first-aid situations and only a few essential oils can safely be used this way and only for a very short time frame.  Overuse of undiluted essential oils on the skin can set up a higher potential for skin sensitivity reactions and irritations.

Choosing an essential oil or a blend of oils is exciting. As long as you have no special health conditions / allergies that would stop you from using an oil, feel free to experiment. Use your “sniffer” to find what you enjoy. Then decide how you would use it (which method) and blend it up (or have it blended for you). You may find that things really do begin to balance again and that you can cope with anything and anyone without undue worry, anxiety or stress. Feeling grounded, protected, resilient, capable and hopeful, go a long way to supporting health and wellness. And essential oils, when used properly and regularly, can help you find your way there.

Some of the most helpful essential oils to use for reducing high stress and anxiety reactions include:

Lavender, Geranium, Sweet Basil, Sweet Marjoram, Melissa, Clary-sage, Roman Chamomile, Bergamot, Orange, Grapefruit, Yuzu, Petitgraine, Pine Needle, Black Spruce, Neroli, Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine, Cardamon, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Patchouli,
Vetiver and Spikenard

Some of the most helpful essential oils to use for re-establishing balance in mind-body from stress and anxiety include:

Geranium, Sweet Basil, all Citrus Peel oils, Bergamot, Pine Needle, Black Spruce, Melissa, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Vetiver, Rose, Neroli

Some of the most helpful essential oils to use for energizing and increasing clarity in thought and emotions include:

Sweet Basil, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Pine Needle, Myrtle, Rosemary, Grapefruit, Petitgraine, Ginger, Cinnamon, Juniper, Patchouli

Some of the most helpful essential oils to use for reducing intense emotions (eg. anger) and frustrations due to stress and anxiety include:

Bergamot, Lemon, Orange, Petitgraine, Roman Chamomile, Fir, Melissa, Lavender, Clary-sage, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Neroli, Rose, Ylang-Ylang

You’ve likely noticed that several essential oils are listed for more than one use.  That is their nature – oils don’t limit themselves to just “one-way only”.  Some of these essential oils are also helpful with the physical pains and changes felt during stressful times. This makes them valuable for helping both the psychological and physical manifestations of stress and anxiety.  Some folks combine an inhalation and application method with their selected essential oils so that they address their distress from all angles. Everyone’s aromatic journey is different, yet the goal is the same – Relief.

With these challenging times, it’s good to know that Mother Nature offers us support. Always has ~ Always will.  We just need to partner with her to find what works for us.