Archive | May, 2019

Aromatherapy Application for PTSD

Do you know……. Today, Monday, May 27th, we Americans across the country, will remember the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for our country, for our freedom, for our safety, so that we can sleep peacefully. We salute and applaud our Military Personnel. “Memorial Day isn’t just about honoring veterans, its honoring those who lost their lives. Veterans had the fortune of coming home. For us, that’s a reminder of when we come home we still have a responsibility to serve. It’s a continuation of service that honors our country and those who fell defending it.” -Pete Hegseth

On this Memorial Day, I thought of talking about PTSD. What is PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)? It is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people (of any ethnicity, nationality or culture, and any age) who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as; a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault. PTSD affects approximately 3.5 percent of U.S. adults and women are twice as likely as men to have PTSD. Military personnel are among the most at-risk populations for exposure to traumatic events and combat-related stress disorders.

 

It is natural to feel afraid and be in emotional disharmony during and after a traumatic experience. Re-experiencing symptoms, from the person’s own thoughts, feelings, anger, distressing dreams, objects, flashbacks, or situations, could trigger the past and may cause problems in a person’s everyday routine, relationships. Not everyone exposed to a traumatized event is diagnosed with PTSD. Most people recover from initial symptoms naturally. Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they are not in danger. Negative thoughts and feelings about oneself or others (e.g., “I am bad,” “No one can be trusted”), ongoing fear, horror, anger, guilt or shame, less interest in activities previously enjoyed, feeling detached or estranged from other, being irritable and having angry outbursts, behaving recklessly or in a self-destructive way,  being easily startled, lack of sleep and concentration

There is need for comprehensive interventions based upon both Neuroscientific

               Aromatherapy for PTSD

information and new integrative care modalities. Individuals with PTSD are often  treated with psychotherapeutic drugs, but it should be handled in conjunction with other safe alternative healthcare approach like clinical Aromatherapy. Though, several research are being conducted to validate the effect of aroma on PTSD and emotional distress, we are familiar with the therapeutic properties of Essential Oils and their physiological effects on brain to heal the mind-body. Essential oils directly impact the brain’s Limbic system where Amygdala is located. This is the region of the brain that activates our fight and flight response at the time of danger and trauma. Special blends of essential oils as well as applying oils to specific points (acupoints) on the body help to calm the nervous system and to harmonize our Qi (energy or life force of the body) and Shen (cognitive and emotional life).

 Here are the most widely used essential oils for PTSD:

Lavender, Bergamot, Mandarin, Orange,

Rose, Chamomile, Ylang ylang, Clary sage, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Geranium

 Calming Emotional Trauma Blend:

3 drops Rose or Geranium Essential Oil
2 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
2 drops sweet orange Essential Oil
15ml carrier oil (Almond or Grapeseed Oil)

Add essential oils to a dark 15ml glass euro vial, pour carrier oil, close the lid, mix, label. Apply on pulse points like, wrist, temple, back of neck, or inhale directly 2-3X daily or as needed.

Om Healing………..Uma
(Founder of AromaWellness)
visit aromawellness.net, to order
Call 414-793-8645, to schedule your consultation appointment

Increase Power of Reiki with Aromatherapy

Do you know……..Reiki is believed to have originated in Tibet over 2500 yrs. ago, rediscovered by Dr. Mikao Usui in Japan in early 1900s. Reiki is a Japanese word meaning “universal life-force energy”; the “Ki” in the word is the same as the Chinese word Chi or Qi and is an energy-based form of alternative healing modality.

   Enhance Reiki with  Aromatherapy

Reiki treatments offer many benefits to the recipients. Like:

Relaxation

Tension and stress reduction

Boosts the immune system

Reduces blood pressure

Increases energy

Aromatherapy is the science and art of using Essential Oils to promote healing on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. Essential Oils are natural concentrated liquid extract of different parts (such as leaves, fruits, flowers, root, bark) of the plants. They can be used before, during and after the reiki session to bring a deeper level of healing. Individual essential oil correlates with our chakras and energy fields to promote healing along with the Reiki. Essential Oil aroma enhance the experience, add ambiance to the environment and can help the client relax, and get deeper into receptive state before the Reiki session. Following Essential Oils could be used during Reiki session:

Frankincense (Boswellia carterii): cleanses the aura, ceases mental chatter

Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia): brings a sense of relaxation and nurturing

Juniper (Juniperus communis): is good for cleansing the room before and after

Sandalwood (Santalum album): helps accept others with an open heart, warmth and understanding

Rose (Rosa damascena): brings a sense of comfort, allows you to trust and love again

Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) or Peppermint (Mentha piperita): can help slowly bring a client back to the Reiki room after a deeply relaxing session.

How to Use the Oils with Reiki During a Session
Diffuser –You can create a blend using 2-3 essential oils and placing 4 drops of the blend in the diffuser before the session to induce a feeling of relaxation and energetically cleaning the room.

Spray Mist – Place 12 drops of appropriate essential oil/s in a 60ml (2oz) spray bottle, fill with distilled water, Close, label. Shake well before each use and spray in the room before and/or after Reiki session.

Tissue – Put 2 drops of your blend on a tissue and place it beside the pillow.

Hands – Place 1-2 drops of appropriate essential oil or blend in the palm of your hand, rub hands together, have your client inhale deeply the aroma before commencing reiki.

 

Om Healing………..Uma
(Founder of AromaWellness)
visit aromawellness.net, to order
Call 414-793-8645, to schedule your consultation appointment

Boost Energy with Essential Oils

Do you know……..Energy boost doesn’t mean, you want to run a marathon, it simply means that you want to maximize your efficiency and productivity at work as well as at home without being completely exhausted. You want to spend more play time with your kids, or exercising, or cooking delicious meals for the family, or have time to work on your favorite hobbies, etc. There are simple, natural steps that will help to accomplish these goals without any unwanted

                      Boost Energy with Essential Oils

stimulants or caffeine:

 

Keep body hydrated: with regular sip of warm water

Consuming healthy food: to keep mind sharp

Walk in nature: that will boost alertness by the release of feel good chemicals; serotonin and dopamine

Exercise regularly: to stay healthy and active

Write a gratitude journal: thank the Almighty or that Super – Power, up above for all your blessings and what are you grateful for

Read your favorite book instead of watching TV: as reading forces to process information and helps to get energized

Clean up your living space, whether at home or at the office: let new energy flow through to uplift your mood

Walk and sit up straight: to have adequate flow of oxygen in the body

Do Gardening: besides making your garden look beautiful, gardening keeps you active, keeps your mind sharp, reduces stress levels, and mental fatigue. This in turn helps prevent heart disease, obesity, and other lifestyle associated ailments. Also, eating the nutritious foods from your own garden is very satisfying and heart healthy. Engaging in physical activity during gardening will tire you and will help you snooze better.

Essential Oils: are another great natural way to get you out of this slump. Essential Oils are the natural, volatile, concentrated extract distilled from different parts of the plants, used holistically to alleviate several physical and emotional ailments. When Essential Oil(s) inhaled directly or applied topically, they can influence areas of the brain that control feelings of tiredness and stress, thus leaving you feeling more awake, focused, and ready to roll. Some of the following Essential Oils are used for boosting energy:

Peppermint Essential Oil

Citrus Essential Oils (Lemon, Grapefruit, Orange, Neroli)

Cinnamon Essential Oil

Lavender Essential Oil

Eucalyptus globulus Essential Oil

Geranium Essential Oil

Black pepper Essential Oil

Rosemary Essential Oil

Cedarwood Essential Oil

Ginger Essential Oil

Instant Mood Lift Room Spray:

10 drops Grapefruit Essential Oil

10 drops Frankincense Essential Oil

4 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

2 oz (60ml) Distilled Water

Add essential oils to a 2oz glass spray bottle, pour distilled water, close, mix, label. Mix well before each use, Spray as needed.

Om Healing………..Uma
(Founder of AromaWellness)
visit aromawellness.net, to order
Call 414-793-8645, to schedule your consultation appointment

Scientific Name Importance in Aromatherapy

Do you know…… Scientific system of nomenclature is a system of unique name, used by scientists to identify an organism and plant based on their common traits and their origin. It consists of Genus (a generic epithet ), followed by species (a specific epithet). Unlike common names, these scientific names are important, because they allow people, scientists, researchers throughout the world to communicate ambiguously about animals and plants and usually come from Latin or Greek. For example, the scientific name of, narrow leaf firethorn is Pyracantha (Greek for fire) angustifolia (Latin for narrow leaves).

Swedish botanist, Carl Linne (Linnaeus, 1707-1778), devised Binomial System (two name naming system) of precise identification of plants called Taxonomy, which is used internationally. The Binomial name consists of a Genus, which is always written first and capitalized and followed by a species which is in lower case and the entire name is italicized. Here are the levels of highest to lowest classification as follows:

Kingdom

Division

Class

Order

Suborder

Family

Genus

Species

In Aromatherapy, which is the science and art of using natural, volatile essence of different parts of plants, called Essential Oils, extracted usually by Steam Distillation. Each Essential Oil possess different chemical component giving it different therapeutic properties that is utilized to harmonize our physical and mental well-being. There still, remains much to be discovered through research and experience. Since, Essential Oils are derived from the plant kingdom, it’s important to identify them by their scientific names for their proper therapeutic properties. In Aromatherapy, generally Family, Genus, and Species is used, eg;

Lavender (true English or French Lavender) – Lavandula angustifolia

Variety (var), is used for subdivision of species for the variant of horticultural origin or importance, eg; Bitter orange

Citrus aurantium var amara

Chemotype (ct), is visually identical plants from a single species, but produce essential oils with different chemical components giving it different therapeutic properties, eg; Thyme

Thymus vulgaris ct. linalol
Thymus vulgaris ct. thymol

Some more examples of Scientific names of Essential Oils:

Lavender (true English or French Lavender) – Lavandula angustifolia

Lavender, Spike – Lavendula latifolia

Lavandin – Lavendula x intermedia (hybrid between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia)

Tea Tree– Melaleuca alternifolia

Rosalina– Melaleuca ericifolia

Cajeput – Melaleuca leucendendra

Melaleuca Quinquenervia (Niaouli) – Melaleuca quinguenervia

Neroli (Bitter Orange, orange blossom) – Citrus aurantium

Sweet Orange (Orange peel) – Citrus sinensis

Orange leaf (Petitgrain) – Citrus aurantium

Tangerine rind – Citrus reticulata

Thymus vulgaris ct. linalol
Thymus vulgaris ct. thymol

Thymus vulgaris ct. geraniol

Essential Oils are very potent, concentrated extract, therefore it’s important to gain full understanding of these oils for their best effective use as a complimentary, holistic Aromatherapy with conventional medicine.

 

Om Healing………..Uma
(Founder of AromaWellness)
visit aromawellness.net, to order
Call 414-793-8645, to schedule your consultation appointment