Perhaps looking for ways to calm the sometimes bubbling emotions and know how to enjoy life in its entirety in splendor, both everyday and festive, you have heard about the effects of essential oils.

How essential oils can affect our emotional state and how to use them correctly, advises the essential oil specialist Anna Melbārde/Anna's natural therapy .

What are essential oils and how do they work

Essential oils, which are the captured aromatic particles of a plant, affect our physical body and emotions, not only because of their pleasant aroma, but also because of their chemical composition, which determines the effect of each essential oil.

Essential oils enter the human body in various ways, both by inhalation and through the skin. It should be added right away that essential oils are never used pure or undiluted on the skin.

The appeal of essential oils lies in the fact that they are completely natural and easily absorbed by the human body and applicable. Remember that 100% natural does not mean 100% safe, so when choosing essential oils you need to evaluate quality and you need to know the plant from which it is obtained, because essential oils have various contraindications and dangers.

Their pleasant aroma is also a positive factor, which provides a pleasant and easy "treatment", because exposure to physical body, mind and emotions are inseparable. Even if we use essential oils for skin or tissue health, the same we inhale their aroma and get positive emotions.

How to choose the right essential oil for you

1. Essential oils are both stimulating, calming and balancing.
   When using essential oils to improve the emotional state, first of all, we understand our purpose and need, for example, we want better sleep. Let's understand what aromatherapy oils can help here.
2. Secondly, we select oils that are safe for ourselves, so we discard everything where there might be contraindications that apply and me.
3. Thirdly, we can choose oils according to their aroma. The basics of aromatherapy is to use oils that are pleasant to the touch aroma.

How to use essential oils

Once the essential oils that are helpful have been selected, they can be started using the recommended methods and when used in safe doses.

Essential oils, as already mentioned, are both inhaled and absorbed through the skin. Essential oils enter when inhaled in the bloodstream through the lungs, and a small part goes to the brain - this type of application is the most popular directly emotional needs.

To support yourself emotionally, one drop of essential oil is often enough, choosing a safe and suitable one for you oil

We can pour it on a cotton ball and inhale deeply several times. Oils can also be dispersed in the room using a diffuser or candle lamp, here 2-3 drops of essential oil are diffused for 15 minutes 2-3 times a day or less often (after needs).

It would not be a safe practice to inhale essential oil directly from the bottle so as not to overtax the central nervous system. As well as – inhaling more than 10 different aromas at one time would not be recommended! If we are talking about emotionally exhausted or for extremely anxious states, then stimulating oils would not be recommended, balancing oils would be the first choice oils.

Practical suggestions on how to help yourself

• If you need to concentrate on work or studies, you need a clear mind, direction, then 1-2 drops of essential oil on some raw clay or wooden decor placed near the workplace. Citrus essential oils such as lemon, grapefruit, lime, and some others will be suitable stimulating oils, such as rosemary or peppermint, but remember the possible contraindications. If there is at home small children, then stimulating oils will never do, and if there is high blood pressure, then rosemary oil is not recommended even for an adult.
• For better sleep , you can use a drop of lavender oil on a cotton ball and place it near the bed. Other very effective oils for relaxation and sleep include orange and Roman or German chamomile oils (both should not be used if have low blood pressure).
• You can help yourself on the road or at work by creating a mixture of essential oils with a base oil (any a light vegetable oil without a distinct smell, such as grape seed or jojoba liquid wax), when applying proportion of 10 ml of base oil and 10 drops of essential oil. The mixture prepared in this way will be safe for inhalation and it will be able to be used on the skin in very small areas, ideal for carrying in a purse and for emotional support in challenging moments.
• If there is a feeling that anxiety, tension, stress are unbearable, then various calming and stabilizing essential oils, both floral and woody, such as cedarwood or sandalwood oil, as well as medicinal herbs such as lavender, clary sage, geranium, Roman chamomile, etc. ethereal oils. I recommend that you do your research and choose a safe, suitable and aromatic oil for yourself.
• A very good way to support yourself emotionally is a bath with essential oils. Bathing can use 1 tablespoon of light base oil mixed with 3-4 drops of essential oil. Add this mixture to warm for bath water, enjoy the bath for 15-20 minutes. You should not use irritating essential oils in the bath, such as spice oils.
• If there is a desire to awaken your sexuality , to indulge in love, then roses, ylang help very well essential oils of ylang, jasmine, and spicy like ginger, black pepper, and patchouli, which often mentioned as an aphrodisiac. A massage or body oil can be created to indulge in caresses. About 6 drops of essential oil of oil and 30 ml of base oil, adding at least 1 drop of essential oil of spices, essential oils of citrus up to 3 drops and supplementing the rest with essential oils of flowers, medicinal plants, trees.
  Such oil can be used for both self-massage and couple massage , avoiding sensitive places so as not to irritate.

Can pregnant women and mothers with infants use essential oils?

During pregnancy and breastfeeding there is a small selection of oils that can be used, but it is not recommended to start the use of essential oils during pregnancy. So only if you have used oils before, you can continue to do this, using only the safest oils.

During the period of expectation, in the first trimester it is recommended to avoid the use of essential oils, in the second you can use lavender and citrus, while the third can also use geranium essential oil.

On the other hand, after childbirth, during breastfeeding, you can use cypress, patchouli, Roman chamomile, sandalwood, roses, ylang ylang essential oils extra wait for safe oils..

Both during pregnancy and breastfeeding, essential oils can be used in very minimal doses, definitely reduced, compared to previous use.

If there is a baby at home, then do not spread essential oils in the room, mom can use essential oils for her own needs by inhaling or using body oil.

Special recommendations for brides during wedding planning and organization

Līgavām would recommend maintaining peace, joy, a sense of stability, remembering yourself, your needs, taking care of yourself, let the process. It is very well supported by lavender, essential oils of various flowers, attracting joy and well-being patchouli, the sense of strength of stability is given by cedar and of course also citrus oils, which are all very friendly for the central nervous system.

Bridal mix

• Orange 4 drops;
• Bergamot 4 drops;
• Lavender 4 drops;
• Ylang Ylang 1 pill;
• Cedar 1-2 drops.

This mixture can be made in an empty, clean bottle of dark glass. Increases the number of drops as needed (times 2 or times 5 etc.). The mixture is allowed to stand, after a day it can be added to a diffuser, body oil or bath oil.

Guide to Essential Oils

Lavender – Lavandula angustifolia , steam distilled from the flowering part of the plant, balancing oil;

Clary sage – Salvia sclarea , steam distilled from a flowering plant, soothing oil;

Geranium – Pelargonium graveolens , steam distilled from leaves, balancing oil;

Patchouli – Pogestemon cablin , steam distilled from fermented plant, balancing oil;

Roman Chamomile – Anthemis nobilis , steam distilled from flowers, soothing oil (5% in concentration);

German Chamomile – Matricaria chamomila , steam distilled from flowers, soothing oil (5% in concentration);

Rosemary – Rosmarinus officinalis , steam distilled from the plant, stimulating oil;

Peppermint – Mentha x piperita , steam distilled from flowering plant, stimulating oil;

Cypress – Cupressus sempervirens , steam distilled from twigs, balancing oil;

Cedar – Cedrus atlantica , steam distilled from wood, stabilizing oil;

Sandalwood – Santalum album , steam distilled from wood, soothing oil;

Rose – Rosa damascena , steam distilled from flowers, soothing oil (5% concentration);

Ylang ylang – Cananga odorata , steam distilled from flowers, soothing oil;

Jasmine – Jasminum officinalis , distilled absolute from flowers, strengthening oil (5% in concentration);

Ginger – Zingiber officinalis , steam distilled from root, stimulating oil;

Black pepper – Piper nigrum , steam distillation of pepper, stimulating oil;

Lemon – Citrus limonum , freshly pressed from the rind of the fruit, invigorating oil;

Orange – Citrus sinesis , freshly pressed from the rind of the fruit, soothing oil;

Grapefruit – Citrus paradisi , an invigorating oil freshly pressed from the skin of the fruit;

Bergamot – Citrus bergamia , steam distilled from the fruit, balancing oil;

Lime – Citus aurantifolia , steam distilled from the fruit, an invigorating oil;

Tangerine – Citrus reticulata , freshly squeezed from the peel of the fruit, soothing oil.

Author of the article: ANNA MELBARDE

Photo: INGA BITERE