Essential Oils~One Way to Begin
Essential Oils are powerful aides to us. They are part of the foundation of Aromatherapy and I am fully entrenched in researching and experimenting with them on a daily basis! Essential Oils are the aromatic constituents of plants extracted through processes of distillation. Through this process a plant’s medicinal properties are harnessed as well. Good quality Essential Oils will always give off notes of the Earth and a grassy or woody quality, not just the basic scent or flavor you might be used to. They stimulate our senses and reach deeply into our Bodies to invigorate or sooth everything from our nervous systems to our bile flow. Yeah, I wrote bile flow.
So…a lot of people ask me, “Which one’s should I get?” A casual question with an infinite number of answers…
It all depends on what you want to achieve, what do you love to smell?, what are you attracted to?…I have begun my answer so many ways and each person is so different in what they want to achieve in using oils that I had to come up with a simple way to get people started without sounding like a reference book.
Begin with 4 oils:
A Flower ~ Always sensual, flower essences stir up our feelings enjoyment, connectedness and any heaviness we feel usually turns into gratitude that our lives are so complex. Consider Rose, Lavender, Jasmine or Calendula.
A Tree ~ These will help you feel rooted and above it all at the same time; incredibly helpful if you are stressed, especially if you are going to be dealing with a lot of people at once such as throwing an event or teaching. Consider Eucalyptus, Fir, Camphor, Cypress or Spruce.
An Herb ~ A category too varied to sum up! However I will venture that they all bring a sense focus and remembering your intentions. Consider Basil, Cilantro, Clary Sage, Fennel, Rosemary, Tarragon or Thyme.
A Citrus ~ Mood brighteners! Who can’t use that? Consider Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit or Tangerine.
My starter set would be:
Lavender
Cypress
Fennel
Tangerine
A standard starting group could be:
Lavender – A gentle mood regulator and anti-inflammatory.
Eucalyptus – Opens up our breathing, allowing for more oxygen in our blood, which creates more energy and allows toxins to release.
Rosemary – A fantastic immune system supporter.
Lemon – Helps stimulate our minds and fights infections.
Each oil contains the lives of many pounds of plants and it is best to hold them a few inches from your nose to be able to inhale with clarity. Try opening a bottle of Peppermint right under your nose and you will see what I mean. Play around with what has always smelled enticing to you and begin to read about the properties of those oils. I will add a post of great books and articles!
Lastly, I am a dedicated Smeller. What does that mean? It means I inhale for love of smell and information. If I take a deep enough breath I can get beyond the high notes and into the low notes and the ping-pong-y pop-up notes. If you have ever ended up with a glob of shampoo on your nose at the store because you were trying to see if you like the smell….You are probably a dedicated Smeller. Wow, that’s as close as I’ll get to Jeff Foxworthy. You know you are a red-neck dedicated Smeller if you have ended up with a slice of American cheese up your nose trying to find anything real in it.
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