Essential Oils can help us physically – Tea Tree for acne, Lavender for burns, Rosemary for memory for example, but can these essences support our emotional health too?
Having qualified in 1994 as a Clinical Aromatherapist I worked with Essential oils my entire career. When I got a terminal cancer diagnosis in the middle of the pandemic last year it was only natural that I looked towards these plant powerhouses for support.
Geranium had always been a favourite of mine to help calm my rosy cheeks. It has great toning qualities, and I was pleased with how my skin responded to it. It is known as the great balancer – hormones, metabolism, moods – and certainly when the emotional boat gets rocked, Geranium can really help to steady the ship.
It has a rosy-sweet aroma similar to Turkish Delight but with a minty green twist. I found myself drawn to using its chameleon-like ability to blend in but still be massively impactful. For example, adding Geranium to the very functional herbal oils gives a softer signature, a bit like getting a sticker after going to the dentist! It takes the edge off the no-nonsense medicinal aromas such as Marjoram or Rosemary and gives you a hugely healing hug whilst the herbal oils get to work relieving physical pain.
Often referred to as the Mother of Essential Oils, Geranium is affordable and well tolerated by most people. If you want to treat yourself, however, the best Geranium on the planet is grown on Reunion Island and is known as Bourbon Geranium. The therapeutic properties are the same as regular Geranium, but the scent is much sweeter.
I often used to diffuse Frankincense during workshops as it keeps the vibration high and is a very safe oil for people to inhale. More recently, when fear arises, I have been leaning on Frankincense It’s the only thing that seems to help me catch my breath and get a grip. It has an incredible ability to slow and deepen breathing and I liken inhaling Frankincense to breathing into a paper bag for panic. With its clearing properties, it opens the airways and helps clear the mind of overwhelming thoughts. I use it on an Aroma Inhaler – you can buy them on Amazon – or you can simply put a drop on a tissue.
Frankincense has been recognised for its connection with meditation and sacred spaces as far back as 1500 BCE and it can still be purchased as a resin to burn as traditional incense on charcoal. The sticky gum releases a balsamic, clean aroma that purifies the air and the spirit. Frankincense Essential Oil has euphoric, joyful properties and is the Aromatherapists go-to for grief as it helps with release and acceptance. It is one of very few essential oils to affect each chakra and because of this, it has soul strengthening qualities. There are so many ways in which uplifting, clearing, comforting Frankincense can help you, I adopted the phrase “if in doubt get Frankincense out” – you can’t go wrong!
Article by Laura Broady
