We are all naturally drawn to that which smells good to us. When something smells nasty, we tend to back off. It reminds us of decay, of toxicity, and sewage. Life, nature, and great memories have a smell that makes us feel better. Like me, I am guessing you have a favorite smell or a favorite flower.
Have you noticed the smell of nature after a heavy rainfall? So fresh, so uplifting for the soul. The smell of grandma`s bread, the smell of spring.
I also remember the smell of the hospital, of chemicals, and what I connect with it, suffering.
The smell will log into your subconscious memory bank, and lift you or the latter. Imagine that what you smell also directly affects your physical body. Why? Because you are inhaling that which smells. Imagine that; What you smell you are “eating”, so to speak. Read on, and find out why this is so important for your health and wellbeing.
Needless to say; no perfume or chemical cleaners enter my home.
I roll with nature.
Nothing smells as beautiful and as powerful, and nothing will aid in healing more perfectly than nature’s aromas. The sense of smell is one of our highly evolved senses, and again, if you smell it, you eat it.
This is where the oils come in. The magical essential oils!
It is believed that Cleopatra owned the first spa, near the Dead sea, and that she used the essential oils in her beauty treatment. The oils are referenced in the Bible and have since ancient times been used for beauty, pleasure, and medicine. We are simply invited to walk in the footsteps of our forefathers, who were closely connected to nature than we are today.
Hippocrates used the aromatic oils, and they have been well embraced in Ayurvedic medicine. The Egyptians, and also the Greeks used essential oils in their practices of therapeutic massage and aromatherapy. The Romans used aromatic oils to enhance personal hygiene and health. The Persians began to refine distillation methods for extracting essential oils from aromatic plants. We find that the essential oils were even used throughout the dark ages for their anti-bacterial and fragrant properties.
Now, in modern times, we are embracing these healing gifts of nature and learning more about how to use them in our everyday life. The therapeutic grade oils can be incorporated into any healing protocol and have a place in any home-healing-tool-box.
What are essential oils?
The essential oils are different than fatty oils like the oils that come from nuts and seeds. These are not oils like coconut oil, walnut oil, or olive oil. Those have larger molecules, and cannot penetrate the cells in the same manner as these essential oils can. Carefully distilled from organic plant material, these are 100% natural substances. We call them essences because they represent the essence of the plant. Essential oils are highly vibrational aromatic liquids distilled from flowers, roots, herbs, trees, seeds, shrubs, and bushes. They’re what give herbs and spices their flavor and aroma, and flowers their scent.
When life gives you the option to choose nature’s wonders, always do. By allowing the energy of pure essence, we are allowing the cells to bathe in the light.
Being aromatic, the oils contain oxygenating molecules. These molecules act as catalysts, transporting oxygen and nutrients to our cells. Well, they do more than just transport the nutrients to the cell, the oxygen is needed for the nutrients to penetrate the cell membrane, to then be assimilated. So, we can say that the oxygenating molecules in the oils increase the delivery of nutrients into the cell. The receiving and assimilation of nutrients play an important role in health and vitality. The essential oils are far from simple substances, as oil is found to contain up to several thousand chemical constituents. Each of them acting perfectly and harmoniously together, to form the therapeutic property of the specific oil.
Essential oils are gentle yet powerful and have been used for a very wide range of emotional and physical health and healing applications. They are used on infants and animals. As a single oil or as a more complex blend, the oils can be used in many different ways. The most common usage for health purposes is diffusing/aromatic, ingesting them orally, or using them topically on the skin.
Take the rind of an orange, and squeeze it. The fine mist that you see and smell, that is the essential oil of orange. On top of penetrating the cell membrane, they also travel trans- cellularly. That means that their unique lipid-soluble structure is so close to the makeup of our cell membranes, that they will travel directly through the cells. This is quite amazing!
Use the oils aromatically:
You might have heard about aromatherapy, which is founded on the body’s predictable response to specific stimuli. Aroma -meaning smell, tells us the essential oils are a central part of that therapy. We know that our sense of smell influences many physiological pathways including the stimulation of hormones and other metabolic processes. Diffusers simply disperse essential oils as a fine vapor throughout the air so they can be absorbed into the body through the respiratory system. The aroma will trigger the nervous system to transmit signals to the limbic system in the brain. This is the part of the brain that houses and stores memory and emotions. The brain then responds by initiating these various physiological functions, and we will feel the effect of pain relief, a better mood, or a feeling of calmness.
This is my secret.
The oils all have different properties, so when diffused in the air, some can be very stimulating while others will be soothing and calming.
Low-heat or no-heat essential oil diffusers are recommended as they do not change the chemical structure of the oil being diffused. This is very important. Make sure that when diffusing the essential oils, you have a good diffuser. Not only will your home smell amazing, but you and your whole family will also ripe the healthy benefits of the oils.
You can choose to diffuse one single oil or make a blend to fit your needs and desires.
I have a few favorite blends that I use in my diffuser:
The work-time-alert blend :
3 drops rosemary essential oil
3 drops juniper essential oil
3 drops peppermint essential oil
The stress-less soothing blend:
2 drops yang-ylang essential oil
2 drops bergamot essential oil
2 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops vetiver essential oil
.
The relaxing-nighttime blend:
3 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops chamomile essential oil
3 drops patchouli essential oil
The cold & flu blend:
3 drops melaleuca essential oil
3 drops peppermint essential oil
3 drops lemon essential oil
The optimal healing blend:
2 drops Frankincense essential oil
2 drops myrrh essential oil
2 drops rosemary essential oil
2 drops cedarwood essential oil
Beyond emotional benefits, diffusing essential oils can purify the air of unwanted odors and some airborne pathogens.
I would use the magical oils for the smell alone, and I know you would too. My diffusers are not going anywhere anytime soon or later. We are a family now.
Create a beautiful sanctuary where you live. Such a blessing for you, your family, and your visitors.
The gifts that keep on giving.
Breathe in the magic!
Hilde
xoxo
