My Adventures with Aromatherapy

Image from crowwing.com

Since I suffer from anxiety, I've looked into several natural remedies for the body.  Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of plant-derived, aromatic essential oils to promote physical and psychological well-being.  It is sometimes used in combination with massage and other therapeutic techniques as part of a holistic treatment approach (definition from TheFreeDictionary).  I like natural smells, like the kind from flowers, so I decided to give aromatherapy a try.  My mom bought me a collection of essential oils from Eden's Garden for Christmas.  She bought the synergy set, which came with cute, little bottles of:

Meditation = ylang ylang, patchouli, frankincense, clary sage, orange sweet, and thyme essential oils.
Stress Relief = bergamot, patchouli, blood orange, ylang, ylang, and grapefruit essential oils.
Aphrodisiac = ylang ylang, patchouli, orange sweet, lavender, sandalwood, and jasmine essential oils.
Relaxation =  lavender, marjoram, patchouli, mandarin, geranium, and chamomile essential oils.
Renew = frankincense, tea tree, rosemary, lemon, eucalyptus, and orange sweet essential oils.
Breathe Easy = peppermint, rosemary, lemon, and eucalyptus essential oils.

(Click on the different essential oils to learn more about them!)

Image from Eden's Garden

In the short time I've experimented with essential oils, I have learned 2 warnings and 2 positive experiences.

Warning #1: Essential oils are potent!

Essential oils are natural, but they are NOT subtle.  In fact, they are more like flowers on steroids!  When I first got my essential oils, I made the mistake of putting 5 drops of lavender in the water of my oil burner.  The smell was sweet, but it was so strong, it made me sick to my stomach.  The aroma penetrated my skin, my bones, my very soul!  Aromatherapy is the real deal!  I quickly learned to only put 2 drops of essential oil in my oil burner.  A little goes a long way.

Warning #2: Essential oils can give you giant zits!

I was feeling very earthy one day, and decided to dab a drop of lavender essential oil on the skin right above my collar bone.  That way, the healing aroma would rise into my nostrils as I went throughout my day.  It worked quite well, until I came home from work and looked in my mirror...

In the exact spot I dabbed the oil, I had grown the biggest, whitest zit I had ever seen!  I NEVER get zits on my chest, yet there it was, throbbing at me menacingly!  From now on, I try not to put the essential oil on my skin.

Positive Experience #1: Smelling essential oils makes me feel happy and zenny!
 
In a world where 'artificial' is the norm in just about every aspect of our lives, using something that is natural just makes me feel good.  In my opinion, half of the effectiveness of aromatherapy comes from the positive thoughts and feelings it invokes in me.  The essential oils (when diluted properly) smell wonderful, like the inside of a dream.  The aroma makes me feel like I'm smelling something far greater and purer than anything mankind can ever make by themselves.  The aroma is cleansing and penetrates deep.  I just like using them.  I haven't invested in a diffuser or anything cool like that, but I don't have to have one to enjoy aromatherapy right now.  For some really cool tips on how to use essential oils in your day-to-day life, just check out this articles by Eden's Garden: 40 Ways to Use.

Positive Experience #2: Essential oils have successfully chased my anxiety away.

 I am more of a believer in cognitive therapy verses more physical treatments when it comes to my anxiety.  I am especially leery of the seemingly 'mystical' treatments.  I mean, just because you made your pills out of organic seeds from some plant I haven't even heard of doesn't mean that it will cure my anxiety!  I do believe that these natural supplements have the ability to help control anxiety's power over the mind, but not every pill will work for every person who tries it.  And there are so many out there to try!  Perhaps I am a believer in cognitive therapy because the idea of researching and experimenting with so many supplements is just way too overwhelming.
I can testify, however, that aromatherapy definitely has some power over my anxiety.  One day, I was feeling anxious and jittery for no apparent reason.  That's the worse kind of anxiety: the kind that has no reason or purpose other than to torture me.  I decided to breathe in some lavender essential oil, which is the best oil for dealing with anxiety.  Within a couple breaths, my anxious feelings were gone!  I was shocked by how well it worked, cause as I said before, I'm not exactly a believer.  But I could not deny that the essential oil had calmed my body and mind.  I was thrilled!  To this day, I am a believer in the power and effectiveness aromatherapy.
Now, this does not mean that aromatherapy alone can control my anxiety, or that breathing lavender fumes will chase away any anxious feelings I have anytime, every time.  But I am happy that I have essential oils to use in my daily life.  They are just another part of my anxiety-conquering plan.  So if you have been considering experimenting with essential oils in your life, I wholeheartedly encourage you to do so.  Just remember, essential oils are stronger than you might think, so have a gas mask handy, just in case.  ;)