I love essential oils. Those who know me, realize this and those who look at my life (from the outside) can assume that and be correct. I use essential oils topically, mixing them with shea butter and various oils like coconut, macadamia, jojoba, almond, and others. In addition, I use Young Living’s Vitality line of oils internally — I add them to water, tea, juice, smoothies; use them in my food; and in veggie capsules for supplementation. Lastly, I enjoy using oils for aromatherapy, which is done through diffusing.
According to the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA), aromatherapy “can be defined as the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promotethe health of body, mind and spirit. It seeks to unify physiological, psychological and spiritual processes to enhance an individual’s innate healing process.” Inhaling essential oils can have a great impact on one’s physical and emotional well-being and trust me, I know this to be true. The University of Minnesota did a great job of explaining how essential oils work in the body –
The olfactory system includes all physical organs or cells relating to, or contributing to, the sense of smell. When we inhale through the nose, airborne molecules interact with the olfactory organs and, almost immediately, the brain. Molecules inhaled through the nose or mouth are also carried to the lungs and interact with the respiratory system. Thus, inhaled essential oils can affect the body through several systems and pathways. During inhalation, odor molecules travel through the nose and affect the brain through a variety of receptor sites, one of which is the limbic system, which is commonly referred to as the “emotional brain. “The limbic system is directly connected to those parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels, and hormone balance (Higley & Higley, 1998). This relationship helps explain why smells often trigger emotions. Knowing this, we can hypothesize how the inhalation of essential oils can have some very profound physiological and psychological effects!
Relaxation, sleep, ease of pain / discomfort, release of negativity, initiation of creativity, and so on and so forth can manifest in and through aromatherapy. When strategizing we will often diffuse Young Living’s Envision Essential Oil which aids in “stimulating feelings of creativity and resourcefulness, encouraging renewed faith in the future and the strength necessary to achieve your dreams.” This happens because of the unique blend of oils and how they affect the limbic system. If you have never had the pleasure of experiencing aromatherapy, I would recommend you treat yourself to Young Living’s Premium Starter Kit that includes a diffuser AND 10 (plus a bonus) oils. These are quality oils, so you are not inhaling chemicals (which would defeat the purpose) and you are getting the benefit of 100% therapeutic grade oil.
So whether you are trying to relax or gain relief for congestion, essential oils are a good natural alternative. Try them and let me know what you think. Comment below if you already use essentials.
The information shared in this article is for educational purposes. It is not to diagnose or treat any illness. As the reader please do your own research (reference the links included), in order to make informed decisions about YOUR health and wellness.
