by Margaret Ann Lembo
Aromatherapy, or the use of essential oils, is a wonderful complementary method for helping you achieve balance, happiness, and health on every level—mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. When I was a child, the scents from our kitchen and garden were my earliest connection to aromatherapy and using fragrances from the garden for health and well-being. Amplify your positive thoughts with the aroma of an essential oil to help you maintain focus on what you do want (instead of what you don’t want).
Here are some lesser-known essential oils to smell in daily life. Yes, smell. Inhalation is my recommended way to use essential oils. The aroma of these oils sends signals to your brain through the olfactory nerve and the limbic system. An added benefit is that your essential oils last longer and become more cost-effective.
A favorite ingredient in my aromatherapy cabinet is benzoin (Styrax benzoin) essential oil. It is a key component in many of my aromatherapy spray mixtures. I suggest adding benzoin essential oil to any aromatherapy blend to stabilize and ground the volatile aromas of essential oils, thereby aiding emotional balance and enhancing mental clarity. The resin has been used as incense during religious rituals for thousands of years. Breathe in the vanilla-like, soothing scent of benzoin essential oil with the intention of elevating and transforming your life through higher awareness, encouraging positive change.
The mystical vibration of blue cypress (Callitris intratropica) essential oil heightens your awareness. Smell this aroma to improve your spiritual sight and clairvoyance. Diffuse this scent while connecting with loved ones on the Other Side to gain a deeper understanding of your ancestors. Inhale the aroma of blue cypress essential oil during a transformative process of accepting yourself as you truly are and releasing potential judgments of others. As you breathe in this scent, visualize gaining strength even as you experience a range of emotions—from guilt, anger, blame, shame, and confusion to relief, despair, betrayal, abandonment, and acceptance.
You can attract friends and people who accept you exactly as you are. Tolerance and acceptance are essential to your life, both in how you perceive others and how you are perceived.
The citrusy, spicy aroma of elemi (Canarium luzonicum) essential oil is perfect to keep nearby as a trusted ally during life-changing events. The scent supports you in releasing addictions, bringing calm and inner peace. Elemi is helpful during the transitions after losing a loved one, aiding the grieving process. Its calming effects make it ideal for meditation. Inhale elemi to activate your intuition and a sense of confidence. Elemi also boosts psychic abilities. Use this oil with the intention of inviting sudden insights and “aha” moments for yourself and others during meditation or spiritual practice.
The herbaceous aroma of ravensara (Ravensara aromatica) is considered the preferred essential oil for combating germs that affect the respiratory system. Inhale this scent to ease symptoms of sinus or bronchial congestion. Ravensara can also support you during emotional crises. Just as it helps strengthen your physical immune system, it similarly boosts your emotional resilience, enhancing your ability to combat energetic emotional strains and deeply buried patterns. Use this when negative emotions cause chaos in your life. It disrupts and releases your unconscious programming that sustains negative patterns.
On a closing note, the safe use of aromatherapy is of utmost importance. Real medical-grade essential oils have real chemical components that affect you on all levels – physically, mentally, and emotionally.
For the use of aromatherapy, my recommendations are as follows:
- Avoid the use of essential oils during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester
- Keep all essential oils out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep essential oils away from the eyes.
- Do not use the same essential oil for prolonged periods.
- Avoid the use of undiluted essential oils on the skin.
- Avoid using essential oils internally.
BIO:
Margaret Ann is the award-winning aromatherapist and creator of Smudge in Spray and Archangel Michael Spray and award-winning author of The Essential Guide to Aromatherapy and Vibrational Healing, Essential Oils and Gemstone Guardians Cards, and many more books and decks on gemstones, angels, saints, aromatherapy, and the power of positive thought. She is the owner of The Crystal Garden — the conscious living store of the Palm Beaches, established in 1988, celebrating 37 years. Find out more about Margaret Ann at TheCrystalGarden.com and MargaretAnnLembo.com