When essential oils came into my life I found incredible freedom with a natural safe option for supporting my emotions that actually worked. I was amazed, but was a bit skeptical about my experience at first. Was it real? Was I imagining it? So of course, I had to do a bit of research on emotions and essential oils. So let’s get into why and how this works:
Your nose knows!
“Essential oils are simply a mixture of volatile aromatic compounds. These compounds are able to interact with the olfactory (smell) receptors in the nose. Our sense of smell can have a profound effect on our emotions, and simply inhaling the aroma can elicit an emotional response. The smell receptors located on the upper surface of the nasal cavity make direct links with the limbic system of the brain, where the scent is perceived and processed.” ~Dr David Hill
Read more on Emotional Aromatherapy: Psychology meets Chemistry
Or download the free Oil Chemistry Wheel.
Because smells travel very quickly through our olfactory system to the limbic brain, we can quickly and effectively impact our emotions, mood, memories, and as a result, our responses and behaviors. Our sense of smell is estimated to be 10,000 times more acute than our other senses and sensitive to some 10,000 chemical compounds. Once registered, scent travels faster to the brain than either sight or sound.
In addition to the science behind this approach, I have used an amazing tool and one of my favorite books of all time called
Emotions & Essential Oils. I highly recommend it, as it’s become a wonderful companion in my prayer, meditation, and is guide on my emotional journey. You can purchase it
here or on Amazon.
From another favorite edition: “Essential oils support healing in five stages. They strengthen us during each stage and prepare us for the next level of healing.”
The five stages are:
- Essential oils assist in healing the physical body
- Essential oils assist in healing the heart
- Essential oils assist in releasing limiting beliefs
- Essential oils increase spiritual awareness and connection
- Essential oils inspire the fulfillment of our life’s purpose
Really? No wonder I was doubting that this could actually be true. But having had such powerful experience for myself, my children, and many others, I can now speak first hand at the power of these beautiful plants and the “potions” (as we call them) that we are blessed to enjoy.
Many of us come to essential oils with some sort of symptom and are led to either begin in stage 1 or stage 2, or a combination of both. For example, I went to my first essential oils class that was being taught on emotions. I was seeking support for myself and my daughter with mood, and behavior issues. I resonated with much of what was taught, and believed we were onto something. However, with much research and trial and error, we found that we had to get the root of the problem instead of just dealing with the emotional symptoms.
We worked with our doctor and naturopath, and discovered underlying hormone imbalance, Lyme disease, Epstein Barr, and H. pylori.
We created a comprehensive plan to boost the immune system, cleanse and reset the body, and rebuild our gut health. Within 2 weeks were able to see significant changes both physically and emotionally.
It has been a long journey of recovery, and we are so grateful to have had our essential oils to support and uplift our mood during the process, and in the emotional healing that has followed.
Healing the Heart
As the oils support our physical health, we are then able to open up to receiving the emotional benefits of the oils.
As the author explains-
“They provide us with the energy needed to penetrate the heart and enter the emotional realm. Essential oils raise the vibration of the physical body (Stewart, 2003). AS the body lives in higher vibrations, lower energies (such as suppressed emotions) become unbearable. These feelings want to release. Stagnant anger, sadness, grief, judgment and low self-worth cannot exist in the environment of balance and peace which essential oils help to create.
Emotional healing occurs as old feelings surface and release (Moreton, 1992). Sometimes this experience is confused with regression. People may perceive they are going backwards or that the essential oils are not working. we are so used to symptomatic healing that we have been conditioned to view healing as the immediate cessation of all physically and emotional pain. In reality, the oils are working.”
Release and Receive
It is important to understand that emotional work is a process. There are two main principles involved, release and receive. As Daniel explains-
“We must release trapped negative emotions before we can receive positive feelings. The old must go to make space for the new. We often want to skip this step, but it is a necessary one. We must be willing to experience the cleansing if we truly desire the results. Resisting the cleansing process makes it more painful. We must surrender to the experience so that we may continue on the path of healing. The more we let go and trust, the more enjoyable this healing process can be.
Essential Oils Don’t Do Our Emotional Work for Us
“Essential oils assist individuals in taking an honest look within. They foster the right environment for healing, but they will not do the work for us. In gardening, it is a common experience to pull the weeds while leaving the roots. This is particularly true for hard and rocky soils. To ensure we uproot the whole plant, we can add water to the soil, which allows the entire weed to be removed. Similarly, essential oils prepare our emotional soil so that weeds may be removed with greater ease. However, they do not do the weeding for us. If one neglects to do the work of pulling their weeds, they have simply watered the problem. On the other hand, those who combine essential oils with emotional work reap the fruit of their labor.”
Tools for Emotional Work
I personally use tools such as prayer, meditation, tapping (EFT), and seeing a good therapist. It’s also important for me to stay active in my body, eat well, spend quality time with family, time in nature, have a tribe of safe women to sit in circle with as well as (of course) use my essential oils daily.
Here’s a couple of essential oils that I have had powerful experiences with on an emotional level.
I like to use them in a diffuser, in a carrier oil topically on my wrists, on aromatherapy jewelry, or even just inhaling straight from the bottle.
Bergamot
The Oil of Self-Acceptance
“Bergamot relieves feelings of despair, self judgment and low self-esteem. It supports the individuals in need of self-acceptance and self-love. Bergamot invites individuals to see life with more optimism.
Bergamot has a cleansing effect on stagnant feelings and limiting belief systems. Because of individuals’ core beliefs of being “bad”, “unlovable” and “not good enough,” they seek to hide behind a facade of cheerfulness. They may fear revealing their true thoughts and feelings. Bergamot’s powerful cleansing properties generate movement in the energy system, which in turn brings hope.
It awakens the soul to hope and offers courage to share the inner-self. Reigniting optimism and confidence in the Self, it imparts true self-acceptance. Bergamot teaches individuals to let go of self-judgment by learning to love themselves unconditionally.”
Ginger
Known as The Oil of Empowerment
“Ginger oil holds no reservations. It has a purpose and it will fulfill it! Ginger powerfully persuades individuals to be fully present and participate in life. It teaches that to be successful in life one must be fully committed to it.
Ginger addresses deep patterns of victim mentality. A victim mentality is evidence by feelings of powerlessness, believing everything is outside one’s control, refusing to take responsibility for life, or blaming life circumstances on other people or outside influences. The victim feels stuck, as they decentralise or disown responsibility and blame others for their misfortunes.
Ginger empower individuals in taking complete responsibility for their life circumstances. It infuses a warrior-like mentality based on personal integrity, centralized responsibility and individual choice. Here, the individual sees themselves as the creator of their own life. No longer waiting for outside circumstances to change, they choose their own destiny. The empowered individuals assumes full responsibility and accountability for the consequences of their actions or in-actions.”
While all essential oils have emotional properties, for a complete approach to emotional wellness, I highly recommend starting with the Emotional Aromatherapy kit:
It comes with 6 emotional aromatherapy blends, including doTERRA Motivate, Cheer, Passion, Forgive, Console, and Peace.
Use the emotional aromatherapy wheel , to help you address specific emotions you might be feeling.
The starter kit comes with a 1 year wholesale membership for future optional purchases, the Lumo Diffuser, personalized education and support from me, as well as a community of essential oil family to share experiences.
How to choose a blend:
- Identify the emotion you might be feeling on the emotional aromatherapy wheel.
- Select the corresponding essential oil blend that is right for you. (You may find that two or more blends are appropriate to balance your varied emotions at any given moment.)
As essential oil chemistry is naturally complex and each person is unique in their response to specific aromas, you may also personalize your aromatherapy applications by using single dōTERRA essential oils from the aromatic plant families corresponding to the emotions found on the system wheel—naturally safe and simple.
A—Can be used aromatically; T—topically; N—(NEAT); S—Dilute for young or sensitive skin (SENSITIVE)
Then couple with empowering affirmations in response to “What would I rather believe?”
Breathe out the old, breathe in the new.
Friends, this topic is so important to me. What would our world be like if we all were able to bring emotional healing to our own lives?!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out for individual guidance on the oils that might work best for you.
Note to readers: The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any emotional or physical condition, illness or injury. The information is in no way intended as a substitute for medical advice. All readers should obtain medical advice from a health care professional.
