Hello Friends,
For many years I have been using essential oils to help support me on my healing journey. In this blog post, I would like to share with you some of the ways that I have used essential oils to support my mind, body and spirit through the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual challengers that I have faced on my journey of recovery from Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA).
Essential Oils contain the essence of nature.
Neal’s Yard Remedies
Derived from plants, essential oils are used today in fragrances and aromatherapy, (the practice of using essential oils through our sense of smell for therapeutic benefit ), to restore balance to mind, body and spirit.
Our sense of smell is the most sensitive and responsive of all of our five senses.
Researchers have revealed that we respond strongly to smell especially in the limbic brain, the part of the brain that deals with memories and emotions.
This research not only explains how certain scents, such as smelling an old perfume, can trigger such powerful flashbacks, emotions, memories and reactions in our bodies and minds but also provides us with a greater awareness and understanding of how essential oils work and how beneficial they can be in our healing process. Especially in helping support us in the processing of deep seated memories and emotions held within our bodies.
According to Neal’s Yard Covent Garden, chemicals in a scent can trigger physiological responses and can affect our mental state. They go on to say for example, that
Studies have shown that the compounds linalool in lavendar and clary sage reduce anxiety, while linomene, found in many citrus oils can ease anxiety and lift depression. Chamomile and bergamot essential oils contain the compounds alpha and beta-pinene, which also work as antidepressants, helping to lift our spirits and increase feelings of wellbeing.
Neal’s Yard Covent Garden
Aromatic essential oils, are highly concentrated essences. They are, when bought from reputable suppliers such as Neal’s Yard Covent Garden or Tisserand, completely pure and natural oils. They have been used for thousands of years. As healing remedies to help bring about a state of balance, health and wellbeing in body and mind. And, also as a natural means of supporting and enhancing spiritual practices and attainment.
In more modern times the popularity and increasing awareness of efficacy of essential oils has been mirrored in the growing trend and usage of such oils in holistic, health and wellbeing practices as well as home and workplace environments.
There are around 150 essential oils used today in Aromatherapy. A single essential oil contains as many as 100 different chemical components
Neal’s Yard Covent Garden
Different scents work in different ways, with some having a calming, balance and relaxing affect on the body. Whilst others a more healing, cleansing or rejuvenating, energising and clarifying affect, for example.
But despite their differing benefits, all essential oils work holistically on mind, body and spirit helping to bring their own unique healing affects to our whole being. Working on the root cause as well as the symptom , these wonders of nature not only provide us with a truly versatile and pleasurable way of bringing balance, wellbeing and healing to our entire beings but also can enhance and truly support our healing process after CSA trauma.
On the mind, essential oils can help to enhance wellbeing and mood and studies are showing more and more now how effective they are in lifting mood, reducing anxiety, stress and depression. They promote relaxation and the calming of the mind, emotions and nervous system. They can also help clear the mind to improve focus and concentration and uplift and balance our emotions.
On the body, essential oils can be used as pain relief, to boost immunity, to cleanse and detox the body, as an antiseptic and a hormone balancer.
On the spirt, essential oils have been used for thousands of years to support spiritual practices, prayer and religious ceremonies. They can settle and focus the mind in practices such as prayer, meditation and yoga and calm the breath in pranayama (yoga breathing techniques). In some traditional practices essential oils are used to clear blockages in the chakras.
On my healing journey, essential oils have helped me in all of the ways mentioned above and in many more other ways too.
Below are some of the essential oils that I have used and continue use in key areas of my healing process. I’ve have listed key essential oils that I have found to be affective, over the years, in supporting some of the key mental, emotional, physical and spiritual states of being that I have been in and/or have struggled with over the years. The list below is not exhaustive. It’s just a starting point and I hope that in sharing it with you as it is, that it may provide you with some inspiration to get you started on exploring the wonderful world of essential oils, should this healing modality resonate with you.
| Mental, emotional, physical and spiritual states | Essential Oil |
| Exhaustion | Benzoin (for mental, emotional and physical exhaustion) Clary Sage (for nervous and physical exhaustion) Eucalyptus Juniper (for emotional exhaustion and nervous depletion) Lavender Thyme Caraway (mental strain and emotional fatigue) |
| Tension (e.g In the neck and shoulders) | Frankincense Rose Camphor Pine Cedarwood (for nervous tension) Cypress (for nervous tension) Chamomile (for tension headaches) Peppermint (for tension headaches) |
| Anxiety | Lavender Clary Sage Orange Lemon Verbena Frankincense Neroli |
| Grief | Neroli |
| Depression/Low Mood | Chamomile Bergamot Frankincense Ylang ylang Cedarwood |
| Panic attacks | Lemon Verbena Neroli Litsea |
| Impatience and Irritability | Camomile (Roman) Cypress Lavender Thyme |
| Lacking in confidence | Ginger Myrrh |
| Mood swings/Overwhelming emotions and mind | Rosewood (for calming the emotions) Geranium ( for balancing the emotions) Black Pepper (for clearing the mind) Rosemary (for improving focus and concentration) Ginger (for mental confusion) |
| Negative Feelings | Jasmine Lemon |
| Ungroundedness | Cedarwood Sandalwood Pine |
| Spirit needing clearing | Juniper Berry (also useful for getting rid of other people’s negativity) |
| Time of change and transition | Cypress Frankincense |
| Stress | Lavender Ylang ylang Neroli Petitgrain Cypress Litsea Patchouli Rose |
| Sleep issues | Lavender Chamomile Valerian Vetiver |
Should you wish to learn more about essential oils, then I have included below a link to a leaflet published by Neal’s Yard, entitled an Introduction to Essential Oils. The leaflet talk about how to use essential oils and how to choose the right one for you. It provides safety information, lists key essential oils and their benefits as well as recommending some great aromatherapy blends too.
Please use the list above as information only. If you are new to essential oils/aromatherapy please use your discernment and judgement, read up on each essential oil and seek guidance from a trained aromatherapist before use.
For more information on essential oils, I recommend the book ‘Essential Oils’ By Neal’s Yard
Self caring and building up a toolbag of self supporting and self nurturing resources is one of the keys to healing from CSA. And aromatherapy is certainly one of my favourite ‘go to’ self care practices in my toolbag.
I hope, as always that my sharing has inspired you in some way.
Comment Below: As always I’d love to hear from you and would love for you to get in touch and share your thoughts and experiences on this subject and share any ways that essential oils may have helped you on your healing journey.
My love is with you as always.
Until next time, take care
Sophia Grace
DISCLAIMER: Your safety is important to me. Please practise the techniques on this blog post with care and caution. Aromatherapy and essential oils are not for everyone. The content on this blog post is provided for general information only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on this blog post. Although I make reasonable efforts to update the information on this blog post, I make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content on this post is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any doubt, please consult your doctor or a qualified aromatherapist and if you feel any pain, discomfort or dizziness, please do not continue until you have sought medical advice. Any health information on this post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not in any way intended or implied to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or care. The information on this post is not intended to be taken as a replacement for medical advice. I do not accept any responsibility in connection with the use of the information in individual cases. Any practices and suggestions contained in this blog post are undertaken at the reader’s sole discretion and risk. If you have doubts about the sustainability of the advise/content, please consult a doctor beforehand.