Essential Oil Recipes for Wellbeing

The following are creative ways to use essential oils: to bring peace, relaxation, and simplicity into one’s space.

• Lighten the air: Put a few drops of essential oil in the bag or filter of a vacuum cleaner. This will fill the room with aroma while cleaning. This instantly changes the energy of a room and the people in the room too. Lavender is calming; Lemon is uplifting and an incredible germ killer.

• Aromatic House Spray to evoke memories of holidays past.

o    Recipe:

Pine Essential Oil 4 drops

Orange EO 2 drops

Cinnamon EO 1 drop

Diluted in 1 cup of distilled water in a spray bottle.

• Fragrant Linens: Put 3-6 drops of essential oil on a handful of cotton balls and place them throughout one’s closet shelves. Next time one reaches for new sheets or towels, a waft of the heavenly scent will be present. Do the same thing to one’s dresser drawers, desk drawers, etc. Use your favorite essential oil or blend, one that leaves a feeling of elation.
• Essential Clean: To clean one’s fridge, put a few drops of orange, mandarin, mint, lavender, or lemon oil in a spray bottle of water. Not only will it disinfect and clean the fridge, but it will leave a wonderful scent when done.
• Stove Top Potpourri: Simmer a few drops of Cinnamon and Nutmeg essential oils and other spice to create a warm and delicious scent in one’s kitchen. OR make a pot of incredible air freshener by adding cinnamon sticks, cloves and sliced lemon to water and simmer on the stove. This eliminates any odor in the kitchen.
• Stress Buster: Take 30 minutes to relax in a sensuous bath infused with 5 drops lavender oil, 4 drops orange oil and 4 drops ylang ylang oil. This fragrant bath with entice one’s senses while leaving you calm, rejuvenated and refreshed.

• Aromatic Logs for the fire. Whether the fireplace is inside or outside, this will surely evoke memories of yesteryear and perhaps create new ones for years to come.

• Just one drop of EO, that's right only ONE drop of Essential oil per log per fire. Surprisingly, this one drop will be enough to provide an aromatic boost to the ambiance.

• Simply put the "Firewood or Holiday" oil onto the log and leave it to soak in before putting on the fire. Suggested wait time before putting into the fire is 20-30 minutes. The reason is that Essential oils are inflammable so unless the oil has been given time to soak in, there could be sparks. Prepare several logs at a time and set them aside and use as needed.

• Firewood Essential Oils: Frankincense, Myrrh, Cedarwood, Cypress, Sandalwood

• Holiday Essential Oils: Cinnamon, Clove, Bay, Pine, Cedarwood, Mandarin, Orange Tangerine, Frankincense, Myrrh

• Use 2-4 oils and blend together to create a unique blend for special occasions.

These are a few quick and easy ways to enhance one’s mental and emotional health through aromatherapy, but one should consult a trained Aromatherapist who can read the chemical composition of an essential oil profile and make an educated decision about the safety of an essential oil before delving into this healing modality. 

Delve into the realms of nature's medicine and perfumery by scheduling an appointment with the Aromatic Alchemist, Heather A. Howell in person or via distance consultation for your very own custom blend of essential oils that assist in your advancement on your journey. Call toll-free 866.697.4367 or visit Aroma Pharmica

Heather A. Howell has love, compassionate and great reverence for plant essences and their healing power. As a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist, Heather serves many businesses and organizations as the Aromatic Alchemist. Currently at Aroma Pharmica, an Organic Skincare Company and at Seeking Indigo, a Holistic Wellness Oasis in Historic downtown Charleston, SC, where she has an Aroma Bar for custom blends, consultations and workshops. Heather is also at The Wellness School, an integrative approach to health. And she serves as a Director on the Board and the National Representative of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists. Heather also teaches therapeutic uses of Essential Oils to medical field professionals, massage therapists and other healing modality practitioners as well as those who want to assist themselves and their families. In her private practice, Heather assists her clients’ issues, guiding them in obtaining wellness through the natural medicine of essential oils. Passionate about natural healing, Heather has over a decade of experience in the realms of Aromatherapy and healing modalities. Life with three incredible children based on holistic living, energetic presence and nature is rewarding and fulfilling.

 

How Aromatherapy Works - a scientific glance - Part 2 The Limbic System

The limbic system helps us to remember events that caused strong emotions. If someone were to be attacked, the limbic system would first produce fear and then perhaps rage. The fear would energize the body to help you to run away, if possible. If not, your limbic system might trigger a rage, which would prepare the body to fight in a ferocious manner, to protect yourself or your loved ones.

The Hypothalamus is the hormonal control center. It releases chemical messengers, produces growth hormones (for youth and longevity, sex hormones, thyroid hormones and neurotransmitters (i.e., serotonin), and is the "master gland".

The olfactory system actually begins in the roof of the nasal cavity. The olfactory receptors are ciliated epithelial cells with an array of receptors capable of detecting thousands of different odors like antennas into every part of the body.

The moment you smell an oil, these hairs send a frequency to the receptor sites on the cells and change the energy so that transformation can take place. The benefits of aromatherapy from the application of essential oils to inhalation of the aromas are tremendous.

The Amygdala has two parts, a posterior and anterior portion. The posterior portion ties into all of your fears and traumas which is why when you have a feeling of negativity from a smell, your body is remembering a prior incident which also contained the same smell as part of the situation. If you witness an accident and store a certain aroma, every time you encounter this smell you will be returned to that memory and the trauma involved. The anterior portion of the Amygdala is the gateway to the frontal lobes which is where the positive, peaceful emotions live.

The olfactory epithelium lies within the nasal cavity. The nerve endings are sensitive to molecules floating about in the air that get stuck on the mucous surface. The contact of such molecules with the cilia of the olfactory receptors is transduced into neural messages (see diagram).

Essential oils have the power of instant relief from a wide range of life's ailments and challenges, including but not limited to headaches, skin conditions, muscle aches, stress, anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, digestive issues, ring worm, colds/flu, PTSD, respiratory issues,insect repellent (including bed bugs,) and the list goes on and on. You can get a custom blend of nature's medicine specific for you by going on-line for  a distance consultation or make an appointment at Seeking Indigo, 445 King St. Charleston, SC 843.725.0217.

Heather A. Howell is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist serving as Skincare Formulator  at Aroma Pharmica, an Organic Skincare Company and the Aromatic Alchemist at Seeking Indigo, a Holistic Wellness Oasis in Charleston, SC and serves as a Director and the National Representative of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists. Heather also teaches aromatherapy to health practitioners, professionals in the medical field, massage therapists and other healing modality practitioners throughout United States. In her private practice, Heather assists her clients’ issues and obtaining wellness through the natural medicine of essential oils. Life with 3 incredible children based on holistic living and nature is rewarding and fulfilling.

How Aromatherapy Works - a scientific glance - Part 1

How do we get oils quickly into the system? Through the olfactory nerve, to the pineal, pituitary, Amygdala. When you breathe an oil into the system, and through the nasal cavity, it is first picked up by the neurons that hang down from the olfactory, right between the eyes at the top of the sinus cavity. Those oil molecules are carried within milliseconds into the center of the brain.  

Now they have found that through the inhalation of Essential Oils into the mid-brain system, they will cause a secretion of antibodies instantly, endorphins and neurotransmitters.  

Now we're seeing a direct response on the immune system from the inhalation, and topical application of Essential Oils like none other that has ever been created.

When a smell enters the nasal cavity, it meets up with over 50,000,000 receptor neurons which are located in the upper part of the nose and nasal septum, and the receptors are specialized in such a way that certain react to certain smells. These receptors then convert the presence of a smell into a message which is sent to the olfactory bulb (which is seen as part of the forebrain and its main sensory input) where the processing of the smell is started and is then passed onto other areas of the brain which control emotions, behavior as well as basic thought processes. Enkephalin reduces pain and creates a feeling of well-being. Endorphins also reduce pain and induce sexual feelings. Serotonin helps relax and calm. Because the olfactory nerves are a direct extension of the brain's limbic system, reaction to smell is relayed immediately.

Essential oils have the power of instant relief from a wide range of life's ailments and challenges, including but not limited to headaches, skin conditions, muscle aches, stress, anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, digestive issues, ring worm, colds/flu, PTSD, respiratory issues,insect repellent (including bed bugs,) and the list goes on and on. You can get a custom blend of nature's medicine specific for you by going on-line for  a distance consultation or make an appointment at Seeking Indigo, Charleston, SC 843.725.0217.

Heather A. Howell is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist serving as Skincare Formulator  at Aroma Pharmica, an Organic Skincare Company and the Aromatic Alchemist at Seeking Indigo, a Holistic Wellness Oasis in Charleston, SC and serves as a Director and the National Representative of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists. Heather also teaches aromatherapy to health practitioners, professionals in the medical field, massage therapists and other healing modality practitioners throughout United States. In her private practice, Heather assists her clients’ issues and obtaining wellness through the natural medicine of essential oils. Life with 3 incredible children based on holistic living and nature is rewarding and fulfilling.