25 May Essential Oils For Balance, Resilience and Well-Being

by Tara Donna Grodjesk
 
Self-care is an essential element to our personal and professional sustainability. There is a shift happening — from the perception of caring for the self as narcissistic and selfish, to understanding that nurturing and caring for our personal well-being is necessary in order to be healthy and vital in our life and our career. It’s important to understand that if we’re not taking care of ourselves, our reserves get low and then we don’t have the energy, patience and empathy for others.
 
Natural Self-Care
There are many simple yet effective ways to use essential oils. First, let’s start with the basics:

• Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts derived from botanicals and plant parts including flowers, leaves, twigs, roots, bark and fruit peels. Some oils contain phytohormones that have a chemistry—and this chemotype, or chemical distinctness, determines what physiological effects the oils have on the body.
• Essential oils are absorbed through inhalation or through application to the skin during massage, a facial or bath. The use of pure essential oils has been found to provide both psychological and physical benefits, when used correctly and safely. Each essential oil has its own botanical chemistry with specific healing properties..
• The use of essential oils has been documented from ancient healing traditions to modern science and integrative medicine. Their therapeutic properties assist the body’s natural ability to balance, regulate and support optimal well-being.
• Essential oils can be used in a variety of ways, including personalized blending for massage, baths and skin care, and in diffusers for environmental fragrancing.

 
Seven (7) Methods of Application
Essential oils are highly concentrated so a small amount goes a long way. Here are some ways to incorporate them into your daily self-care practice:

• 1 – Clear the mind, open the lungs for fuller breath. Breathing oxygenates the cells and brings vitality into the whole body. When we breathe with awareness, we are able to clear and quiet the mind. Using inhalation techniques, we can clear the sinus passageways and the lungs to engage in fuller breath.
• 2 – Inhalation. Eucalyptus and tea tree are two very popular oils for inhalation therapy. Just boil water and pour into a bowl. Add two drops each, close your eyes, and with a towel over your head breathe in the vapors.
• 3 – Muscle and joint pain. Essential oils that help to move circulation, relieve stiffness of the joints, are warming to the muscle tissue, and are anti-inflammatory can be applied after your workday or in the evening. Apply 10 to 15 drops per one ounce of unscented oil, using any combination of these essential oils: eucalyptus, lemongrass, rosemary, ginger or juniper. Apply one drop of lemongrass and peppermint to the temples, back of head and forehead to help relieve headache tension.
• 4 – Soak for better sleep. A warm bath has been used for centuries to relax the body and prepare for a good night’s sleep. Warm water vasodilates and softens muscle tension. This deep rest formula is unwinding and sedating. Blend four drops lavender, two drops chamomile, three drops cedarwood and two drops orange to one ounce unscented massage oil. Mix half into bath water combined with mineral salts. Apply the remaining blend to your body after the bath before you go to bed.
• 5 – Stress relief. Calming the nervous system to restore and recover with lavender, clary sage, ylang ylang, orange and cedarwood combined or used individually in a diffuser, body oil or bath.
• 6 – Power of positivity. Prep for the start of your day, or even shift your energy after a long day, by diffusing citrus oils, known as joy oils, which are positive and uplifting. Orange, grapefruit, lemon and lime are positive, refreshing and uplifting. They are great for environmental fragrancing (in your diffuser) to change the energy of a space and to uplift your mood.
• 7 – Immune resilience. During this year in the pandemic we’ve learned more than ever before how important our immune resilience is. Essential oils that have been traditionally used to support the immune system are eucalyptus, tea tree and lemongrass. Try blending three drops each of eucalyptus and tea tree with six drops of lemongrass into one ounce of unscented massage oil for your own self-massage in the morning.

 
Vital Self-Care
Essential oils can be a vital part of self-care practice through inhalation, transdermal delivery or environmental fragrancing. As you explore the many ways to utilize these botanicals for your well-being, you will grow to love the relationship you cultivate with essential Oils and the plant kingdom from where they come. We are all striving for balance in our lives. Essential oils are one natural resource that supports us to thrive.

SHOP TARA ESSENTIAL OILS
 
TARA’s pure, unadulterated Essential Oils include organic, wild-crafted and pesticide-free oils from farmers around the world, chosen after a rigorous research and screening process to ensure they are the finest grade available.