AROMATHERAPY

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Stress

Arguably, everyone in the whole world is under stress of some description. It might be positive stress, or the sort joggers voluntarily put themselves under, or the negative stress that comes , for example, from sitting in a open-plan office with a dozen telephones ringing at any given point in time. The kinds of stress and degrees of it are manifold, and so the oils we use and the combinations must reflect this diversity.

First of all, let us distinguish between positive stress, normal stress and distress. Positive stress could be described as a 'high', the excited tension you get when performing your job fast and efficiently. it is, indeed, this kind of high that makes people enjoy working in the first place: the sheer joy of being a human being accomplishing something, whether that's whizzing through the in-tray or writing a book.

Positive stress makes us aim that little bit higher, leap over the pitfallslife pesents to each and every one of us, and gives us that force to take on challenges. This is the kind of energy that increases stimulation, helps our energy level and makes creativity flow. And as it contributes to our feeling good, we obviously don't treat it with with essential oils. We don't need to.

Normal stress is a normal state during which the body performs its functions for survival in response to circumstances. For example, when you have a car accident the body is flooded with adrenalin which causes all kinds of physical phenomenon - everything goes into slow motion, for example, or pain cannot be felt. The out of the ordinary stress caused by accidents is all to the good because it increases our capacities and efficiency.

Your heart may be pounding, you are shaking all over but somehow you manage to walk to the phone box to call for help.' I don't know how I did it,' you say later, looking at the gash on your leg, but you know really - your mechanisms for dealing with survival situations took over and enabled you to do what had to be done at the time. You can collapse later, when the emergency has passed. These normal stress mechanisms are good - very good - and we don't need to treat them.

Distress, however is another thing, this is when healthy stress becomes chronic, with the result that we have no energy, no will,only frustration at the ever-increasing pressure load. This is when essential oils are needed.

Here we look at the various types and degrees of stress and the oils which are best suited to deal with them. Of course different types can exacerbate each other, so that the environmental stress you suffer at work can cause mental stress, when taken home, can lead to emotional stress.

Environmental stress caused by, for example, bright lights over your desk; noise of machinery; the constant ringing of telephones; or too cramped office space.

Cedarwood - Cypress - Basil - Coriander - Chamomile Roman - Bergamot - Geranium

Chemical Stress caused by, for example, too many cups of coffee; too many lunchtime drinks; too much junk food; too many aspirins or antibiotics; inhaling substances at the factory or office; pollution on the way to work; smokers in the office.

Lavender - Geranium - Lemon - Patchouli - Clary-sage - Rosemary - Pettigraine - Grapefruit

Physical Stress caused by, for example pushing your body to the limits; running in the office 'fun run'; working out at the gym; driving long distances continually.

Rosemary - Lavender - Geranium - Chamomile Roman - Bergamot - Fennel - Marjoram - Thyme

Mental Stress caused by, for example, trying to achieve; doing exams; anguish over uncompleted jobs; unemployment; financial worries.

Geranium - Basil - Cardamon - Lavender - Bergamot - Patchouli - Sandalwood - Grapefruit

Emotional Stress caused by, for example, relationship problems, parental guilt; the inability to give or receive love grief.

Geranium - Bergamot - Rose - Sandalwood - Vetiver - Cardamon - Palma rosa

Reference: The Fragrant Pharmacy: Valerie Ann Worwood

The Workaholic Heart

If you answer 'yes' to the following questions, you are a workaholic. Do you think you are the only one who can do the job properly? Do you churn your work over in your sleep? Are you neglecting your family, friends and hobbies? Is your sex life taking second place? Workaholics have to learn to say 'no'. Enough is enough. The world will not come to a grinding halt if I don't work late tonight. The customer will not drop down a big black hole before tomorrow morning. Everything will be right where I leave it tonight. 'I, going home now.'. Practice saying it!

There's no denying that to get ahead today one must strive to become better and faster than everyone else. Competition is fierce and the accent is on the younger man or woman who has time, energy and ambition to give the job one hundred and fifty per cent. It's difficult to be laid-back when these determined and talented people have an eye on your job. So the pressure is on - and it's on your heart.

Essential oils can help you cope and calm down, but you have to be prepared to help yourself too. You really must carve out some time during the week to give your heart a complete rest and recharge. having a regular aromatherapy treatment is the best way. At least learn to relax. Ask your partner to massage you or, if that's too passive for you, massage your partner instead - but in gentle rhythmic movements, not speedy, intensive slaps!

The following essential oils are good for workaholics because they are stimulating without being over stimulating while many of them also have relaxant properties too. This is a difficult thing to explain. Perhaps you can think of it in terms of people - some are intellectually stimulating while at the same time you feel completely relaxed in their company. A vicar or guru might be the kind of person who falls into this group, or a very dear and bright friend. So, these are the workaholic's friends; use them at any time, anywhere, and anyhow:

The Workaholic's Oils
Geranium - Basil - Lavender - Neroli - Marjoram

And here is a formula for the bath:

 You can use this in the morning bath, of course, but it's better to do the whole treatment after work when there is a slight chance you may be thinking of relaxing. Lie back in the bath and read a book, even a textbook if you must, or catch up on your professional trade magazines. Then spend a few minutes doing stretching exercises, like a cat. This helps to release the toxins from your muscles. Breathe deeply. Now massage your body with a combination of essential oils diluted in either base vegetable oil or a pure and simple type of body lotion. Whichever base you choose, use a combination of the oils listed above on the 1 drop per 1 millilitre basis, or follow the formula below.

Although workaholics generally have a neat and tidy appearance, their insides aren't usually in such terrific shape. Skin care in women is often neglected, and because of the stress workaholics often develop dry skin and greasy hair. Just try to remember that you will need your body longer than you need your job.

Reference: The Fragrant Pharmacy: Valerie Ann Worwood 

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Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) - 2

Insomnia
It is very important that ME sufferers have enough sleep, but paradoxical as it may seem, insomnia is one of the problems they encounter. To be terribly tired yet unable to sleep is one of the worst aspects of ME and has been described as a kind of living death. These are the oils to use:

Insomnia Essential Oils
Valerian - Clary-Sage - Marjoram - Sandalwood - Chamomile Roman - Lemon

Massage the oils into the body before having an essential oil bath. Make a blend using a total of 30 drops from the list above to 30ml vegetable oil. For individual massages use 5 drops of essential oil to a teaspoon of vegetable oil or 10 drops per dessertspoon.

Massage over the whole of the body, including the shoulders and neck. You can do this while the bath is running. Put 4 drops of your chosen essential oil or oils in the bath, which should be neither too hot not too cold. Get in and just lie there and drift or, if you have the energy, read a book. Then go to bed. Repeat nightly as often as needed.

Depression
The depression that so often accompanies Me comes from a chemical imbalance as well as from the fact that it's impossible to complete tasks that were sailed through before the onset of ME.

You seem to be weighted down bay an invisible force while your friends clamber up the ladder of success and accomplish all the things you too had set out to do.

Life seems to be passing your by. Meanwhile it can be difficult to explain the nature of your fatigue, and not every one is convinced that you have a real physical problem rather than a mental collapse.

You feel guilty about being so dependent on others and would love to be able to 'pull yourself together' as the ignorant and unfeeling advise you. You might be sitting on the sofa all day but you are definitely not taking it easy! If only people could understand.

No wonder you sometimes get depressed. Treat this with the same essential oil as in the stress list, although the following seem to help the ME sufferer more specifically.

ME Depression Essential oils
Grapefruit - Rose - Tangerine - Geranium

Loss of memory

This is an extremely irritating factor in Me. Here you are, the one who used to get all the work done at double speed, unable to complete your pile of work and forgetting things too. But it's not old age, and you're not cracking up after all these years; it is that horrible enterovirus getting your brain chemicals in a twist again.

Learning to live with loss of memory is not easy and calls for adjustments in your life. Write down all the important and indeed non-important things you need to remember. Forget the 'key word' lists you used to make, for when you have forgotten what they were about, they are useless. Be precise. Of course it is frustrating and irritating to watch the simple things of the past become a series of little uphill struggles (and big ones), but you can learn to adjusting, some people will never know the difference.

Try to become aware of your daily rhythms in terms of mental and muscular fatigue. If you can't hold a pen at four o'clock, write this down, along with the other lows and highs, and see if a pattern emerges. Work this pattern to your advantage by getting as much done when you have the energy.

Here are the oils to help you get through that work:

ME Concentration and memory Essential Oils
Rosemary - Basil - Lavender - Bergamot - Grapefruit - Neroli

Try always to have a small bottle of diluted oils in your desk drawer or where ever you work, and inhale as needed and apply to the temples and nape of the neck. You could also keep a small sprayer handy to spray around the office.

You decide how to use the oils, in anyway to best effect - perhaps in a shower in the morning, or apply them on the way to work. here is a very effective synergistic blend you might like to try:

ME Concentration and memory Synergistic Blend

Other Symptoms
There are possibly many other symptoms you are suffering from. look them up elsewhere in these pages and follow the treatment recommended. Feel free to use the formulas mentioned in this section in any way that is most convenient.

The muscle fatigue formula can just as effectively be used in the bath, and the depression and concentration formula in a body rub. Do what works best for you.

Me is such an individual disease that you will have to work out your own essential oil treatment. For some, stress is a factor that must be managed. Do try the various relaxation techniques, including meditation. Sitting in a heap when your fatigue is at its height for the day doesn't count. Breathe correctly, get plenty of fresh air and fresh food.

Don't overtire your body by making it work on chemicals and pollutants in food. If what you eat swims, flies, walks or grows, fine; if it comes out of a packet, box or tin, forget it. Increase your vitamin and mineral intake: Vitamin B, D and C are all useful, as are zinc, selenium, and germanium.

Reference; The Fragrant Pharmacy: Valerie Ann Worwood