You may be interested in essential oils, but don’t really know how you would use them. Let me walk you through a day of mine and I’ll show you how you may use essential oils for digestion to enhance your life.
Meditation / Journaling
I am not consistent about doing a morning practice, but when I do, it sure helps set a great rest of the day.
Using essential oils for meditation during a morning reflective practice can help wake you up, focus your mind, or set a mood or intention.
I like to use a diffuser for these sessions. Which oil you put into a cold mist diffuser for this practice is very flexible. Here are a few ideas:
Lemon: Lemon is a very clean scent that can focus your mind and wash away the sleepiness of the night
Cedarwood: This woodsy aroma is somehow grounding and uplifting at the same time
2. Shower/ Hair
I think the use of pure essential oils in home-spa/beauty routines needs to be discovered! It is so powerful.
If you shower in the mornings, why not use that time as natural therapy! During the shower, you can use oils aromatically to open your lungs or wake up your brain.
You can also use essential oils with your shampoo and conditioner to beautify your hair while inhaling them for aromatherapy.
Peppermint: this is a great one for both a wake-up call and for hair care. Shake a few drops of peppermint essential oil into your palm and inhale deeply three times. Then add your shampoo and wash. Peppermint will detox your scalp, controlling dandruff and oil, supporting hair growth and adding volume.
3. Skin Care
Skin care is another area where essential oils shine.
Frankincense is the ‘king of oils’ for several reasons, one of which is skin. It helps prevent skin sagging and wrinkles. Its antioxidants nourish the skin. Add a drop of oil to your palm before mixing in your moisturizer and applying.
Other oils I use on the skin are ylang-ylang and cedarwood.
4. Hormone Balance
Life has become busy and toxic, making it harder and harder to maintain hormone balance. There is a simple way to support your hormones with an essential oil.
That oil is called Clary Sage, and sometimes you can get it in a ‘rollerball’ that you simply uncap and roll over your lower abdomen liberally. Use twice a day and see what happens! This blend can be used at any age, even after menopause.
5. Digestion
One of my favorite oils to help calm digestion is DigestZen. You can put a few drops under your tongue, or you can use the handle roller bottle version of DigestZen and rub it directly on your belly when you need support.
6. Cravings
After lunch is when my energy tends to drop and I want something sweet. Esential oils to the rescue! You can use it before a meal to prevent overeating, or after a meal to prevent a trip to the cupboard or Starbucks for sugar and caffeine.
Peppermint can be used for cravings, to freshen breath and to provide natural energy.
7. Cleaning
Ah, cleaning: a necessary evil. I don’t love cleaning but I also don’t like crumbs everywhere or sticky drips of who-knows-what on the counter. I know germs can be lurking in this debris.
Cleaning with essential oils is non-toxic and gives peace of mind that your kitchen is really clean.
Many, many essential oils are antibacterial. This is because oils protect their plants in this way in nature. To make a cleaning spray, and ½ water to ½ vinegar and about 20 drops of essential oil.
Some to consider:
Oregano: a spicy, strong antiviral and antibacterial
Orange: a more pleasant smell but still kills germs
8. Fatigue
As I mentioned, afternoon is my sleepy time, so I look for natural ways to pick myself up. I’ll mention a few non-oil methods first.
Squeeze a whole or half lemon into water and drink. Take a ¼ teaspoon of sea salt with water (if you don’t have high blood pressure.) Take a 20 minute horizontal cat nap or reading session.
With oils, you can boost your adrenals with rosemary and basil. Rosemary is more stimulating, while basil is more blissful.
9. Headache
If I’m going through an afternoon energy/stress roller coaster, sometimes I get a headache. Popping over-the-counter pills regularly is dangerous, so try essential oils.
Peppermint distracts your body to relieve tension. Dilute with ½ coconut or grapeseed oil and apply everywhere it hurts.
10. Sleep
Many, many women struggle with sleep and, although I’ve gotten better, I still do sometimes. Whether you are a full-time or part-time insomniac, having a sleep routine with oils is really beneficial.
Maybe you start with a walk, or some yoga, and move on to tea or reading. Using a diffuser in your bedroom is a great way to lower cortisol from the day and get sleepy.
If you don’t yet have a diffuser, you can shake a few drops of oil onto a tissue and put on your pillow.
A classic oil for sleep is lavender essential oil, which lowers cortisol. You can optionally pair it with a grounding oil like vetiver.
My very favorite sleep blend is Serenity. I love the scent and so does my son, who uses it in his room most nights.
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Bridgit Danner, LAc, FDNP, is trained in functional health coaching and has worked with thousands of women over her career since 2004. She is the founder of Women’s Wellness Collaborative llc and HormoneDetoxShop.com.