A concerned friend reached out to me to ask me what oils would work for her friend’s occasional anxious feelings. Most of us know how out of control it feels when anxious feelings hit. I also recently met new friends who’s family members can’t get to deep sleep and are occasionally stressed out and they wanted to learn more about essential oils. This inspired me to quickly get this blog out.
My goal in this life is to help out as many people that I can, as fast as I can. Thankfully, we have essential oils (make sure to use the highest quality grade) to assist and help control our emotions as well as added benefits. Keep reading below and let me know if you have any questions.
A big percentage of all human behavior is tied to the limbic system and it is strongly influenced through aroma. Strong emotions get us to take action. It is critical that we are aware of negative emotions because if you are constantly feeling them, these negative memories and neurons that fire together will wire together and you will find yourself stuck in the same negative situations over and over. The solution to that is under your nose. Aromatherapy disrupts the negative patterns from the neurons that are hard wired together.
Below are a few roller bottles (pictured above from left to right) I made to help us all cope naturally and have worked for many of my clients, family and friends. You can also read further down about the science behind aromatherapy if you are interested.
The key is to remember to use high quality essential oils and to also teach loved ones and children how to recognize what they are feeling, step back, pick an oil, rub it on the back of the neck, on the chest, or inhale from the palms. If emotions are high, therapists have coached my clients to first put on the oils and then squeeze an ice cube on the palm to take the focus off of the high emotions.
1. RESPIRATORY BLEND for effective breathing. With so many distractions during the day, we no longer breathe correctly or effectively. Not getting the proper amount of oxygen in our bodies can lead to many health issues. The best way to breathe is in through your nose and out through your nose. The respiratory blend is a remarkable blend of essential oils including Laurel Leaf, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Lemon, Ravensara, and Cardamom. This blend maintains feelings of clear airways and easy breathing while minimizing the effects of seasonal threats. This blend can be applied topically to the chest, back, or bottom of feet, or diffused at nighttime to calm the senses and promote a restful sleep. Whenever you feel anxious, you can also inhale from the palm of your hands and take 5 big deep breaths. (One of my clients is a CFO who has helped to build a few companies in the Silicon Valley and this blend helps him transition from one action item to another.)
2. WILD ORANGE for uplifting and calming. Cold pressed from the peel, Wild Orange is very popular due to its energizing aroma and multiple health benefits.* High in monoterpenes, Wild Orange possesses stimulating and purifying qualities, making it ideal to support healthy immune system function when seasonal threats are high.* As with many citrus peel oils, Wild Orange contains powerful antioxidants that help maintain overall health.It can be used on surfaces as a natural cleaner. Diffusing Wild Orange will energize and uplift the mind and body while purifying the air. Wild Orange enhances any essential oil blend with a fresh, sweet, refreshing aroma. (Another client who owns a Dental Office diffuses Wild Orange to reduce anxiety and boost her patient’s mood.)
3. FRANKINCENSE is the must-have oil blend to have on hand to soothe skin and provide a calming, balancing effect on emotions throughout the day. In addition to being used frequently in meditation, Frankincense is used to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and skin imperfections. (One client who suffers from PTSD feels at peace when he smells this scent because it reminds him of the Catholic Church he frequently visited in the Middle East while on Tour.)
4. LAVENDER is widely known for its calming and relaxing properties and ability to soothe occasional skin irritations. Lavender essential oil is mixed with Fractionated Coconut Oil to provide these same benefits to individuals who have delicate or sensitive skin. Keep Lavender on hand to calm a restless child, to lessen the effects of minor skin irritations, or to help reduce the appearance of skin imperfections. Lavender can be applied to the temples, back of the neck, bottoms of feet, or pulse points to experience its calming, grounding effects. (Enough said.)
5. RENEWING BLEND is mixed withFractionated Coconut Oil, Spruce Leaf, Bergamot Peel, Juniper Berry Fruit, Myrrh Resin, Arborvitae Wood, Nootka Tree Wood, Thyme Leaf, Citronella Herb. Whether you need to forgive someone or forgive yourself, this blend was developed to help you discover the liberating action of forgiving, forgetting, and moving on. The herbaceous, fresh, and woody aroma promotes feelings of contentment and relief, creating a path to let go of burdens and guilt when you are ready to deal with those emotions. (One person was repulsed by this scent, but this scent had her explore her deep feelings towards someone whom she realized she needed to forgive. Once she forgave, this scent ended up being her favorite.)
6. REASSURING BLEND made up of Vetiver Root, Lavender Flower, Ylang Ylang Flower, Frankincense Resin, Clary Sage Flower, Marjoram Leaf, Labdanum Leaf/Stalk, Spearmint Herb. In today’s fast-paced society, it’s easy to feel anxious, overwhelmed, and fearful—no matter what your age. This Reassuring Blend of floral and mint essential oils is a positive reminder you don’t have to be perfect to find peace. Slow down, take a deep breath, and reconnect with the composed, collected you. Use this Reassuring Blend to promote feelings of contentment, composure, and reassurance when anxious feelings overwhelm your emotions. (I swabbed the back of necks of both my rambunctious son and husband who was having a hard time calming down before bed, I left the room to brush my teeth, returned and both were knocked out. I didn’t expect the blend to act so fast!)
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
HOW CAN WE CONTROL EMOTIONS WITH AROMATHERAPY? AND HOW DOES SCENT AFFECT US?
See what Dr. David K. Hill D.C. wrote below about the Power of Aroma:
One of the most well-studied areas of aroma research is the effect of smell on emotions and mood. For example, there is convincing evidence demonstrating that simply inhaling the aroma of an essential oil is effective for calming nervous or anxious feelings in a variety of settings. The smell receptors located on the upper surface of the nasal cavity make direct links with the limbic system of the brain, an area that governs the body’s emotional responses. This close connection between aroma and emotion becomes obvious in our everyday life as certain odors trigger memories or specific feelings. Some aromas directly impact mood (for example calming, balancing, or invigorating), while others trigger memories of a specific experience, often one tied to a strong emotion.
Intriguing new research has also helped us recognize that the benefits of aroma extend far beyond just emotional regulation. In addition to influencing the limbic region of the brain, olfactory centers are also intricately linked with the hypothalamus, an area of the brain more familiarly nicknamed the “visceral control center” because it controls physiologic functions throughout the body. The hypothalamus exerts its powerful influence by interacting directly with the pituitary gland, or “master gland,” a small gland located in the brain. The pituitary gland secretes hormones involved in the regulation of blood pressure, hunger and thirst signals, thyroid function, sleep cycles, production of sexual hormones, and memory, among other things. Because of the direct link of the olfactory system to this area of the brain, aroma is capable of interacting directly with the hypothalamus, influencing neurochemistry throughout the body, and, in turn, potentiating powerful health outcomes.
There are many acceptable ways to use essential oils for their aromatic properties. One method is to diffuse the oil into the air. Not only does diffusion make the oil accessible to the body, but research indicates that there are also air purification benefits when diffusing oils. When diffusing oils, use of cold air or hydrodiffusion is best because burning or heating essential oils can alter their delicate chemistry. If a diffuser is not available, simply dropping essential oils into the palm of the hand and then cupping around the nose and breathing deeply is a convenient method for using essential oils at any time, in any situation. Although there are many ways that essential oils can be applied, throughout my experience as a physician, I have found that repeated daily exposure to the aroma of essential oils provides unique and significant support to healthy function of the body and mind.
Ceccarelli I, Lariviere WR, Fiorenzani P, et al. Effects of long-term exposure of lemon essential oil odor on behavioral, hormonal, and neuronal parameters in male and female rats. Brain Res. 2004;1001 (1-2):78-86.
Conrad P, Adams C. The effects of clinical aromatherapy for anxiety and depression in high risk postpartum woman – a pilot study. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2012;18(3):164-168.
Fayazi S, Babashahi M, Rezael M. The effect of inhalation of aromatherapy on anxiety level of patients in preoperative period. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2011;16(4):278-283.
Inouye S, Uchida K, Yamacuchi H. In-vitro and in-vivo anti-Trichophyton activity of essential oils by vapour contact. Mycoses. 2001. 44:99-107.
Lehrner J, Eckersberger C, Walla P, et al. Ambient odor of orange in a dental office reduces anxiety and improves mood in female patients. Physiol Behav. 2000;71(1-2_:83-86.
McCaffrey R, Thomas DJ, Kinzelman AO. The effects of lavender and rosemary essential oils on test-taking anxiety among graduate nursing students. Hollist Nurs Pract. 2009;23(2):88-93
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