Written by Armindah Meeuwisse
Have you ever wondered how a simple scent can trigger an instant emotion or memory? Our sense of smell can have a profound effect on our emotions. That is where the power of essential oils and their support to our emotional health comes in.
Oils and Emotional Health
Essential oils have been used for their healing and medicinal properties since ancient times. When it comes to our emotions, essential oils can have the power to support us in partnering with our emotions, giving us the courage to feel and heal unresolved feelings, and thus empowering us to find balance and re-align with what it is we truly need.
As described in “Emotions & essential oils, A modern resource for healing” essential oils offer 5 stages of healing, each one preparing us for the next. Essential oils assist in healing the physical body, healing the heart, releasing limiting beliefs, increasing spiritual awareness and connection, and essential oils inspire the fulfillment of our life’s purpose.
As the oils support us in finding balance in our physical body with their anti-bacterial and anti-viral qualities by purifying organs, glands and body systems, they create space to enable us to examine our emotional and energetic bodies as well.
Missed Armindah’s previous post? Check it out here: Essential Oils 101.
As the oils help create a state of balance, joy and peace within our overall being, lower energies such as, anger, anxiety, and depression are brought to the surface as they cannot possibly survive in these conditions. We are then able to allow these emotions to surface, heal and be released.
Doing the Emotional Work
Now, essential oils don’t do the emotional work for us, but they do help create an environment where we can do the emotional work needed to heal and grow. Finding balance physically creates space for us to focus on finding balance emotionally and energetically. And as we find more balance mentally, we respond better physically as well.
When it comes to our emotions aromatic use of essential oils can have the most acute effect. When used aromatically, essential oils have a direct effect on the receptors in the brain that are responsible for our emotions. The essential oil molecules travel through our nasal passages, to the limbic brain, which is the part of the brain responsible for our emotions and can have and instant effect. Soothing anxiety, uplifting depression and finding grounding within the chaos of our thoughts.
When it comes to starting the process of finding emotional balance essential oils are a beautiful tool to support other practices such as meditation, yoga, therapy, journaling and any other form of creative release.
My Experience
Since adding the power of essential oils to my own practices (meditation, yoga, and writing) I have without a doubt felt the stunning support of these oils.
As I’m writing this, adding a beautiful blend by dōTERRA called Balance, to my wrists, behind the ears and neck. A stunning grounding blend already diluted with fractionated coconut oil, containing: Spruce, Ho wood, Frankincense, Blue tansy, Blue chamomile and Osmanthus. A combination of tree oils and roots. One I always carry with me. When I find myself feeling overwhelmed a drop of this reminds me to live in the present moment, to comeback to myself, to ground and center within my heart and breath.
My Favorites
Other favorites include the specially designed Emotional Aromatherapy kit by dōTERRA:
Passion, inspiring blend. The oil for finding your passion.
Encouraging us to take risks, confidently face our fears and break free from limitations
Oils: Cardamom, Cinnamon, Ginger, Clove, Sandalwood, Jasmine, Vanilla & Damiana.
Favorite use: Over neck and spine when wanting to maintain or boost inspiration.
Peace, reassuring blend. The oil of peace.
Inviting us to connect to the true source of unending peace and let go of control.
Oils: Vetiver, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Frankincense, Clary Sage, Marjoram, Labdanum & Spearmint.
Favorite use: Over neck and collar bone before bed for peaceful rest and sleep.
Console, comforting blend. The oil of consolation.
Assisting us in taking the first steps towards healing.
Oils: Frankincense, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, Labdanum, Amyris, Sandalwood, Rose & Osmanthus.
Favorite use: Over chest and heart, when needing comfort or preparing for the uknown.
Cheer, uplifting blend. The oil of cheer.
Encouraging us to overcome our feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
Oils: Wild Orange, Clove, Star Anise, Lemon, Myrtle, Nutmeg, Vanilla, Ginger, Cinnamon & Zdravetz.
Favorite use: Back of neck and wrists when needing a pick me up.
Motivate, encouraging blend. The oil of motivation.
Supports us in times of weariness and discouragement when we’ve lost the energy and motivation to complete important life tasks.
Oils: Peppermint, Clementine, Coriander, Basil, Yuzu, Melissa, Rosemary & Vanilla.
Favorite use: On neck and arms when getting ready to sit down and work.
Forgive, renewing blend. The Oil of forgiving.
Supporting us in letting go of bitterness and hostilities, and to embrace others as an extension of ourselves.
Oils: Spruce, Bergamot, Juniper Berry, Myrrh, Arborvitae, Nootka, Thyme & Citronella.
Favorite use: Over heart and solar plexus when wanting to let go and surrender
Start Experiencing it yourself
Essential oils have become such an intricate part of my daily life. I could go on and on about all the ways these precious gifts of nature support me every day. So many favorites, so little time. Experiencing the power of these oils first hand has moved me to share this with others so they too may experience how truly empowering it is to be able be pro-active about your physical and emotional well-being.
It is my absolute joy, mission and honor to serve you during this journey. If any of this resonates with you, if you have questions, comments, or simply want to share your own experience, please feel absolutely free to reach out info@armindah.comor check out my website armindah.com
Want to get your hands on these gorgeous gifts of nature? Check out your options HERE!
About Armindah
Armindah Meeuwisse is a yoga teacher, who lives and works in Amsterdam. She grew up on the Island of Aruba. An Islandgirl at heart, she loves sharing her passion for nature, peace and living a healthy, balanced life. Check out her website for inspiring blogposts and her yoga schedule. If you live in the Amsterdam area you can practice yoga with Armindah at Sukha Yoga, Equal Yoga oost and Hot Flow Yoga in the Jordaan. Or sign up for one of her workshops, where yoga, essential oils and nurturing the body and soil all come together. You can also find Armindah on Instagram. She will share some of her knowledge and passion with us, in a series of blogposts, for Columns by Kari.
Photo by Moon Jansen fotografie