Aromatherapy for Emotional Well-Being
Adding an essential oil, drop by drop, to carrier oil.
Although aromatherapy should not be considered a miracle cure for serious emotional issues, the use of essential oils can assist, sometimes greatly, with particular emotional issues. Additionally, the proper use of essential oils can enhance your emotional outlook and provide support and help balance your emotions during the day. The use of essential oils for emotional well-being is what is often first thought of when someone thinks of the term "aromatherapy."
Essential oils are comprised of naturally occurring chemicals that work in synergy with one another. Because essential oils evaporate quickly (known as being "volatile"), their molecules are easily inhaled. Without providing an intimidating lesson in olfaction (the science of the sense of smell), the inhalation of these naturally occurring synergistic chemicals provide triggers to our brain. These triggers effect our emotions. Inhalation of these wondrous molecules also provides physical benefit which can also work together to aid in our emotional state.
Sweet orange oil is a good example. Besides blending nicely with so many other oils, being so inexpensive and being one of the safer essential oils to use, the smell of orange helps provide emotional balance and bring on a positive outlook. Sweet orange oil is a wonderful oil to use alone or in a blend for those winter blues that often occur in the colder, grayer times of the year.
Borrowed from Essential Oils for Emotional Well-Being page located within AromaWeb's Oil Profiles area, below is a list of emotional states and the oils that are commonly known to be of help. When using any oil, it's important to follow all safety guidelines and safety issues that pertain to the particular oil.
Not all oils provide the same level of benefit for all persons. Past memories associated with particular aromas can have a positive or negative effect. If you had a loving grandmother who often smelled of rose, for instance, your reaction when smelling rose may differ than if you had an abusive grandmother who typically smelled of rose. If your rose-smelling loving grandma died, your reaction to the aroma of rose may illicit even different emotions.
It is important, therefore, that you treat any list of essential oils used for emotional well-being as a starting point. Within the confines of safety, fell free to experiment and utilize those oils that bring about the purpose that you seek.
