As the Northern hemisphere of our planet enters its Fall season, we witness an event of great inspiration centered around death and release. Autumnal leaves depart our world with one last exhibition of color and light before a tree releases the very thing that has helped sustain its life. Leaves are the main organ responsible for turning sunlight into food for our green cousins.
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” Lao Tzu
When I think of letting go, or “to release” I recognize it as a verb, indicating the act requires movement and transition. Change or transition may not always be comfortable. While experiencing the accompanying emotions felt during times of release or letting go, essential oils can provide gentle and impactful support for our body and mind.
Working as a certified aromatherapist, I have an understanding of anatomy and how the chemicals in plants and essential oils interact with our physiology. The use of essential oils for emotional support is based on the biology of our human bodies and our sense of smell.
The sense of smell works because of our olfactory system. While a system is composed of many parts, our sense of smell is greatly influenced by the olfactory nerve. Our olfactory nerve happens to be the first cranial nerve and is the shortest nerve in the human body. The nerve begins in the olfactory cortex located in our brain’s cerebrum, and it ends in the upper inside part of our nose. The brain plays an important role with smell because the cerebrum is involved with processing emotions, survival instincts, and memory.
By using our sense of smell paired with the chemistry of essential oils, we can influence and support healthy physiological responses. With release work and in times of transition, we can experience a range of emotions and feelings. Some folks may want to release tension, depression, anger and/or frustration. While others may want a feeling of calm, uplift, or grounding to accompany them through the process of release. The essential oils selected are for the purpose of emotional support during a time of letting go.
Yarrow, Achillea millefolium is recommended for releasing bitterness or rage that one may not be aware of. Anger is a difficult emotion for some to experience. An aromatic blend using essential oils of Grapefruit, Bergamot, Palmarosa, German Chamomile, Blue Cypress and/or Yarrow encourage emotions to rise, relax then release.
Grapefruit or Citrus paradisi, is well known for promoting uplifting emotions and soothing feelings of tension and frustration. Bergamot, Citrus bergamia, relaxes both mind and body.
Palmarosa, Cymbopogon martini, stabilizes the heart and nervous system and has been distilled since the 18th century. It is used in both Oriental and Ayurvedic medicinal practices to stabilize the heart and nervous system and is noted for its ability to calm where there is tension and exhaustion.
German Chamomile or Matricaria recutita offers grounding in stress related conditions as well as acting as a tonic to restore health and vitality. It has been found to offer a calming effect. Similar to German Chamomile, Blue Cypress, Callitris intratropica contains chamazulene, which gives the essential oil its dark color and is said to soothe feelings of tension, frustration, irritability and moodiness.
Neroli, Citrus aurantium var amara, may be used to reestablish a link when experiencing disconnect. Neroli relaxes the nerves and uplifts the spirit. It can provide a sense of calm while reducing depressive and/or anxious features. Myrrh, Commiphora myrrha, is noted for calming the mind and inviting a sense of inner stillness. It provides warmth and grounding and is suggested to help connect the physical and emotional bodies when jarring news creates a feeling of separation or disconnect.
Santalum album, or Sandalwood has antidepressant qualities. The use of sandalwood is vast, and its benefits are recorded from the Tang Dynasty by Tibetan monks to the ancient Egyptians and Vedic texts. It is estimated to have been used by humans for almost 3000 yrs. Sandalwood may help to ground and protect one energetically as they begin to accept a new reality.
As you work with different oils you may want to try them in a variety of blends. As described above, inhalation is the most direct route for the chemistry of essential oils to impact the brain. When I make an inhaler, I generally try not to use more than 6 essential oils (plants). You can find aromatic inhaler containers on the internet. It isn’t necessary to use more than 12-16 drops of essential oils in an inhaler for an adult; I recommend less for children, fragile and/or immunocompromised adults.
With topical application, dilute your essential oils with a carrier oil. Carrier oils can include olive oil, coconut, sweet almond, and jojoba. Although there are some essential oils that can be used directly on the skin, most should not be used in this way. This is because an essential oil is the most concentrated form of a plant’s chemical makeup. Most essential oils are made up of compounds that are inflammatory or irritating to skin if not diluted. Essential oils applied directly to skin can create burns and redness, and a majority of essential oils are flammable.
It is wise to note that citrus oils are photosensitive. Don’t apply orange, bergamot or grapefruit to skin exposed to direct sunlight. You can find citrus essential oils steamed rather than cold pressed. The method of steam distillation removes the Furocoumarin present in citruses as bergapentin, otherwise known as the component that makes your skin sensitive to sunlight and increases your chance of burning.
If you are interested in learning more about proper and safe use of essential oils, please visit my website, www.KristinaLdaniels.com.
The essential oils I’ve recommended are a place to begin. I find there is no one essential oil for any one specific symptom. Trust what works for you, and happy blending.
References
Olfactory Cortex, Physiopedia; https://www.physio-pedia.com/Olfactory_Cortex#:~:text=The%20Olfactory%20Cortex%20is%20the,forebrain%2C%20composed%20of%20several%20areas.
Encyclopedia Britannica; Leaf Plant anatomy; https://www.britannica.com/science/leaf-plant-anatomy
Aromatherapy for grief and loss, Untamed Alchemist; https://theuntamedalchemist.com/2014/08/27/aromatherapy-for-grief-loss/
Stillpoint Aromatics Website; Stillpointaromatics.com
Cranial Nerve Impairments, In Clinical Neurology for Psychiatrists (Sixth Edition), 2007; https//www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/olfactory-nerve.
Mikiko Kadohisa; Effects of odor on emotion, with implications; US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3794443/
Queensland Brain Institute; The University of Queensland Australia; The limbic system; https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/limbic-system
Gabriel Mojay, Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit; 1997.
Valerie Ann Wormwood, Aromatherapy for the Soul; 1999.
https://www.botany.one/2013/07/saving-the-east-indian-sandalwood-tree
https://unitedplantsavers.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/HG108-Sandalwood-DRAFT2-10282015.pdf
https://tisserandinstitute.org/santalum-album-oil-rejuvenated
Fatemeh Bina, PharmD, PhD Candidate1 and Roja Rahimi, PharmD, PhD; Sweet Marjoram; A Review of Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Biological Activities; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871212
Kristina Daniels is a Animist Minister, Certified Aromatherapist, and Artist