Essential Oils for Grief

If you are dealing with grief and looking for some extra support, here are some suggestions for essential oils for grief.

Marjoram essential oil has a soothing, uplifting scent and is a traditional remedy for grief. Apply a drop or two of the oil to a tissue or handkerchief and inhale when you need a little comfort.

Other essential oils to help in coping with grief:

Cypress – to help you find purpose.
Frankincense – to promote faith.
Hyssop – for strength.
Juniper – for renewal.
Marjoram – for comfort.
Rose – for comfort.
Rosemary – to improve your perception.
Sage – to help you focus.

Suggestions for use:

• Add 8-10 drops of essential oil to the bath and soak for fifteen minutes.
  
• Add a few drops of essential oil to a carrier oil and use in full body massage.
  
• Diffuse.
  
• Inhale directly, as mentioned above.

Essential Oils for Mold and Mildrew

Mold comes in many forms, some of it toxic. Click here for detailed instructions on using essential oils for mold that is toxic.

If you have just some simple mold or mildew, this blend will probably work: Mix 2 teaspoons tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) with 2 cups water (or 1 cup water and 1 cup white vinegar) in a spray bottle. Shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse. The smell is strong at first, but it will dissipate.

For a stronger formula:

20 drops clove
20 drops eucalyptus
20 drops tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
28 drops cinnamon
40 drops lemon
1/2 cup distilled water
1/2 cup white vinegar

Mix in spray bottle, and shake well before using.

It's a good idea to wear gloves, safety glasses, and a mask when cleaning up mold to avoid both eye irritation from accidental splashback and absorbing mold spores into your body.

Here's another alternative essential oil blend for mold:

1/4 cup white vinegar
3/4 cup water
2 drops cinnamon leaf
5 drops patchouli
2 teaspoons tea tree

If you have a mold or mildew buildup, spray the surface and leave the blend on it for a few hours. Wipe suraface with a soft cloth. Spray the surface again and let dry without rinsing.

For a ready-made blend shown to be effective against mold, take a look at Thieves Essential Oil from Young Living. Thieves contains clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus radiata, and rosemary essential oils. (To order, please use Sponsoring Distributor Member Number 1030500 or contact me.)

Download PDF file about using Thieves essential oil for mold.

Emotions and Essential Oils

Let's look at emotions and essential oils. Aromatherapy affects emotions by affecting the brain's limbic system, which is the center of our emotional response.

Of course, people respond differently, so the following aromatherapy emotion suggestions are just a place to start. The most effective use of aromatherapy for emotions comes through tailoring the use of essential oils for yourself.

Diffuse the essential oils or blend them with one tablespoon carrier oil for massage or bath.

Abandoned & bereft: 2 drops rose, 2 drops palmarosa, 1 drop neroli

Aggravated & pressured: 2 drops chamomile, 2 drops bergamot, 2 drops orange

Anxious desperation: 3 drops lavender and 2 drops rose

Bitter & brooding: 2 drops chamomile, 2 drops bergamot, 2 drops helichrysum

Burdened & humorless: 3 drops lemon, 2 drops jasmine

Chronic indecisiveness: 3 drops clary sage, 2 drops bergamot, 1 drop orange

Cold & joyless: 3 drops jasmine, 1 drop ylang ylang, 1 drop orange

Depressive self-neglect: 3 drops vetiver, 1 drop cardamom, 1 drop rose

Discouraged & dejected: 2 drops thyme, 2 drops rosemary

Frustrated & irritable: 2 drops orange, 2 drops bergamot, 2 drops chamomile

Frustrated, tense, & negative: 3 drops bergamot, 2 drops orange, 1 drop neroli

Hurt & bitter: 2 drops rose, 2 drops lavender, 1 drop helichrysum

Impatient & intolerant: 3 drops begamot, 2 drops lavender, 1 drop peppermint

Insecure & unyielding: 2 drops geranium, 2 drops patchouli

Lack of self-worth: 2 drops rose, 2 drops jasmine

Lonely & forlorn: 3 drops majoram, 2 drops rosemary, 1 drop myrrh

Low morale: 2 drops thyme, 2 drops pine, 2 drops cedarwood

Melancholic & distant: 3 drops clary sage, 2 drops rosemary, 1 drop thyme

Negative & pessimistic: 2 drops hyssop, 2 drops clary sage, 2 drops orange

Nervous and agitated: 3 drops lavender, 2 drops neroli, 1 drop bergamot

Nervous exhaustion: 2 drops geranium, 2 drops sandalwood, 1 drop jasmine

Obsessive overthinking: 4 drops sandalwood & 2 drops vetiver

Oppressive over-attachment: 2 drops frankincense, 2 drops myrrh, 2 drops cypress

Over-analytical and detached: 3 drops geranium, 2 drops sandalwood, 1 drop patchouli

Over-concern for others: 3 drops majoram, 1 drop chamomile, 1 drop palmarosa

Over-occupied with detail: 3 drops frankincense, 2 drops vetiver, 1 drop lemon

Persistent sense of loss: 4 drops cypress, 1 drop frankincense, 1 drop rose

Resistant to change: 3 drops cypress, 2 drops juniper, 1 drop benzoin

Restless & distracted: 3 drops frankincense, 2 drops geranium

Self-condemnation: 2 drops spikenard, 2 drops lavender, 1 drop rose

Sullen & wounded: 4 drops yarrow, 2 drops hyssop

Tense and exhausted: 3 drops clary sage, 2 drops cypress, 1 drop lavender

Touchy & defensive: 4 drops yarrow, 1 drop chamomile

Vague & indecisive: 3 drops clary sage, 2 drops rosemary

Vulnerable & unassertive: 3 drops pine, 2 drops thyme

Vulnerable & untrusting: 2 drops rose, 2 drops palmarosa, 1 drop lemon

Withdrawn and defeatist: 2 drops juniper, 2 drops thyme

Source: Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit: Restoring Emotional and Mental Balance with Essential Oils. This book also shows you how to use the oils on acupressure points.

When needed, seek professional help for emotional problems.

Essential Oils for Hair Loss

Can essential oils for hair loss (alopecia) work?

Scalp Massage

Massaging essential oil blends into your scalp may help reduce hair loss or stimulate hair growth by increasing circulation to the scalp. Try any of the following essential oil blends for hair loss by massaging them gently into your scalp once or twice a day.

The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that using rosemary, lavender, thyme, or cedarwood essential oil for scalp massage may help increase circulation. To make the massage oil, you can use one essential oil or make a blend of any of the oils. Dilute about 10 drops of essential oil(s) in a tablespoon of carrier oil, such as vegetable, olive, or nut oil.

For another scalp massage aromatherapy blend, the Penn State Hershey Health Information Library suggests using three to four drops each of peppermint, rosemary, and sage in one tablespoon of carrier oil.

Aromatherapy for Dummies recommends this blend:

1/2 cup aloe vera gel
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon jojoba oil
25 drops rosemary essential oil

Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art recommends basil, cedarwood, peppermint, rosemary, spikenard, and ylang-ylang essential oils and this hair growth formula:

50 drops (1/2 teaspoon) rosemary (or a blend of the suggested oils)
1/2 cup aloe vera gel
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon jojoba oil

Blend in a container and label. Use nightly. Shake well and massage a little into scalp for 10 minutes.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, causing hair to fall out in small, round patches. The study Randomized Trial of Aromatherapy: Successful Treatment for Alopecia Areata looked at thyme, lavender, rosemary, and atlas cedarwood essential oils in the treatment of hair loss caused by this condition. The study concluded that aromatherapy is a safe and effective treatment.

Cautions

If you use medications for hair loss that you apply to your scalp, such as Minoxidal, ask your health care provider about possible drug interactions before using essential oils.

If you have high blood pressure, use rosemary essential oil with caution as it may raise blood pressure in some people.

Other Notes

Jojoba oil is an herbal remedy for hair loss that has been used successfully in people who suffer from skin conditions. Aloe vera was used by Native Americans and people in the Caribbean and India to maintain healthy hair and prevent hair loss.

For best results, use only therapeutic-grade essential oils for hair loss.

Massage and Essential Oils for Fibromyalgia

Both massage therapy and essential oils for fibromyalgia can help manage the condition. In Fibromyalgia: Fact or Fiction, Erik Dalton (founder of the Freedom From Pain Institute) states

"The first line of defense for relieving basic fibromyalgic symptoms should be body therapy and exercise. Although pain from this condition primarily manifests in specifically designated areas, the trained manual therapist refrains from 'chasing the pain' and instead, seeks to restore whole body function by testing for ART: asymmetry; restriction of motion; and tissue texture abnormality."

Essential Oils for Fibromyalgia

According to Linda L. Smith, Director of the Institute of Spiritual Healing & Aromatherapy, the following essential oils are most useful in dealing with the symptoms of fibromyalgia:

• For pain relief: lavender, sweet marjoram, Roman chamomile, clary sage, lemongrass (melissa), helichrysum, peppermint, ginger, and black pepper.
• For inflamation: Lavender with peppermint and helichrysum is a good blend to use for inflammation. Other essential oils that may help reduce inflammation include nutmeg, balsam fir, white fir, and wintergreen.
• For stress/anxiety relief: rose, frankincense, clary sage, sweet orange, bergamot, grapefruit, ylang ylang, sandalwood, neroli, sweet marjoram, tangerine, lavender, geranium, jasmine.
• To sleep peacefully: lavender, neroli, jasmine, marjoram, Roman chamomile, valerian.
• To relieve headaches: lavender, peppermint, marjoram, basil, Roman chamomile.
• For increased circulation: black pepper, geranium, ginger, peppermint, lemongrass, rosemary.

For massage, blend up to 10 or 12 drops of essential oil in one ounce of carrier oil. Take into account the mental, emotional, and spiritual effects of the oils, as well as their physical properties, to make the blend more appropriate for you. You might need to experiment with different blends before you find the one that works best.

You can also use an aromatherapy diffuser to diffuse the essential oils into the air or use the oils in the bath (5 to 10 drops in a tub of water - be careful with hot oils such as ginger and black pepper).

I recommend Young Living essential oils for fibromyalgia. (Please use Sponsoring Distributor Member Number 1030500 or contact me for more information.)

Essential Oils for Menopause

If you want to use essential oils for menopause, the ones most suggested to help balance hormones are lavender, neroli, rose, and geranium.

As a general menopause formula, Healing With Aromatherapy recommends using this blend to massage the solar plexus in a clockwise direction:

6 drops neroli
3 drops mandarin
2 drops clary sage
1 ounce carrier oil

For a body lotion to help relieve the symptoms of menopause, Aromatherapy for Dummies recommends this blend:

6 drops geranium
6 drops lavender
2 drops neroli
1 drop rose
1,500 units vitamin E
2 ounces of your favorite lotion, cream, or oil

Essential Oils for Hot Flashes

To help relieve hot flashes, make the following blend and dab it on wrists, face, or neck when you feel a hot flash coming on:

10 drops lemon
5 drop peppermint
2 drops clary sage
1 ounce aloe vera gel

Another option for hot flashes is to have a bottle of lavender essential oil with you at all times and dab it on your inner wrists or temples as needed.

Essential Oils for Menopause Symptoms

Here are some suggested essential oils for relief of menopausal symptoms. Make a massage oil, use in the bath, or diffuse. Experiment to see which ones work best for you.

Anxiety - bergamot, chamomile, jasmine, lavender, ylang-ylang

Depression - bergamot, neroli, melissa

Emotional ups and downs - bergamot, chamomile, jasmine, neroli

Headaches - chamomile, lavender, peppermint

Hot flashes - clary sage, lemon, peppermint

Fatigue - Energizing essential oils such as ginger or other stimulating oils such as peppermint or nutmeg.

Insomnia - lavender

Irritability - A grounding and balancing essential oil such as patchouli or a sedative oil such as cardamom.

Mood swings - Grounding and balancing essential oils such as patchouli or soothing essential oils such as lavender.

Night sweats - clary sage

Poor Memory - An energizing essential oil such as coriander or ginger

I recommend Young Living essential oils for menopause. (Please use Sponsoring Distributor Member Number 1030500 or contact me for more information.)

Essential Oils and Astrology

I had never thought about essential oils and astrology but I'm reading Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit, which has a couple of pages on the topic. Here's a brief summary.

Sun: Source of light and life; linked to the heart and circulatory system. Essential oils: rosemary, laurel, and frankincense.

Moon: Reflects yin energy; linked to digestion and nourishment, pancreas, and mammary glands. Essential oils: jasmine, coriander, and clary sage.

Mercury: Related to the nervous system, thyroid gland, and speech and hearing. Essential oils: fennel and caraway.

Venus: Pertains to the skin, parathyroid gland, and female reproductive system. Essential oils: rose, geranium, lemon, and benzoin.

Mars: Reflected in blood, muscles, adrenal glands, and male reproductive system. Essential oils: ginger, juniper, and other pungent essential oils.

Jupiter: Represents bodily growth, liver, and anterior pituitary gland. Essential oils: Hyssop and orange.

Saturn: Governs bones, posterior pituitary gland, and aging process. Essential oils: cedarwood.

Essential Oils for Eczema

Let's look at some essential oils for eczema:
By Jambula at en.wikipedia [Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

• cypress
• German chamomile
• frankincense
• geranium
• juniper
• lavender
• melissa
• sandalwood

Blend the selected essential oil with an unscented carrier oil or skin cream and apply two to four times a day.

Note: It's always a good idea to patch test any essential oil blend to make sure it's not irritating to your skin condition. Experiment with the different oils to find the ones that work best for you.

The following suggestions are from Healing with Aromatherapy by Marlene Erickson.

Weeping Eczema

To make a compress for weeping eczema:

1. Add 4 drops birch essential oil to a bowl of cool water.
2. Dip compress in the water and then apply to affected area.
3. Reapply newly dipped compress every 15 minutes.

Dry Eczema Essential Oil Blend

• 15 drops German chamomile essential oil
• 1/2 ounce calendula
• 1 ounce aloe vera gel

Mix thoroughly and shake before use. Apply to lesions 4 times a day. (If the aloe vera gel is from a fresh plant, keep this blend refrigerated.)

Another consideration: Cleansing the liver often helps clear up skin conditions. Liver Health Tips.