Stress Reduction Tools

Aroma Therapy is the process of using aromas, usually in the form of essential oils, but can include flowers and foods, to increase homeostasis. It brings the physical, emotional, and energetic systems back into balance, or it creates a sense of calm and well - being. True Aroma Therapy analyzes you to see where you are deficient and uses the appropriate oils to restore balance. These oils may or may not smell "nice" at the time. They are selected for the therapeutic qualities rather than their pleasing qualities. Pseudo Aroma Therapy uses oils that the user finds pleasant in order to increase enjoyment. Both can be beneficial. It just depends on what your goal is.

Testing for deficiencies can be done in a number of different ways. You can measure energy outflows via electrodes or some other electrical device. You can use a pendulum or rune stones. You can do energetic muscle testing. You can assess deficiencies by listing physical and/or emotional symptoms. You can palpate the body looking for areas of tenderness, strain, energetic highs and lows, inhibited movements, etc. You can follow the Meridian lines, look at acupuncture pulses, or use other assessment methods.

I generally use a muscle test that I learned from a physical therapist. Because I like simple yes/no questions and answers, I ask the body "what oils will be beneficial/ most helpful today?" I'm looking for positive responses. I have my client raise their arm in front of them holding it up but not resisting. I push lightly on their arm while touching oil bottles with my other hand. I'm measuring the amount of resistance from my client's arm. I'm looking for yes responses which are stronger and more positive, and rejecting the negative responses which are weaker. Many therapists would do this in reverse and ask "where are you deficient" and look for the weakest responses. Whichever way you choose to ask the question, make sure you are clear, concise and consistent. I do a double blind measure, not knowing myself which oils I'm touching and not saying anything out loud. This helps me to get out of the way and hopefully to not interfere with my own issues. It just takes practice to learn to listen and differentiate the yes/no responses. Practice on as many people as you can until you are sensitive to the answers.

Once you have an idea of what is high/low, you can begin to treat by selecting the aromas that will counter balance your current conditions. The goal is balance. If you have too much yang, than you need to increase yin. If you have too much fire energy, than you want to increase water energy. If you have too much anxiety, than you want to increase calm. You may have various deficiencies throughout your body and will need to treat each part with different oil. You may have multiple deficiencies. I recommend you start with the most uncomfortable deficiency first and treat that. Give yourself time to adjust (which can take 24-36 hours), and then reassess.

Treatment can be done by applying the aromas to skin, clothing, bathwater, steam, incense burners, firewood, cooking with spices, etc. - however you want to diffuse the aroma into the air. Treatment directly to the skin is most common because it usually provides the fastest and strongest method of release and the oils can be absorbed directly into your body.

Cautions: Some oils can cause allergic reactions, burning, photo-sensitivity, etc, so make sure you read up on any cautions before applying oils directly to skin. And if anything starts to burn or be uncomfortable use carrier oil (olive, coconut, almond, grape seed) to diffuse the oil or soap to remove. Water and oil don't mix so you can't "water it down". Water and heat can increase the effects, positive and negative. Some oils like Frankincense can strengthen the effects of other oils. Not all oils are the same. Lower quality oils are more likely to cause negative reactions and may not be as effective treatment. Look for organic and therapeutic grade oils. Young Living and Doterra are usually considered the high end, but other oils work fine.

Contraindications: 

Avoid during pregnancy or breast feeding: basil, cedar, cinnamon, clove, cypress, sage, fennel, and hyssop. Avoid for seizures and migraines: fennel, eucalyptus, rosemary, pennyroyal, tansy. Avoid for job interviews: rose, ylang ylang, jasmine, vetiver, narcissus.

Some Common Oils and Their Properties and Uses

Anise - bacteria, calming, cleansing, cramps,  infection, invigorating, plantar fasciitis, spasms, torticollis

Balsam Fir - balance, breathing, empowering, fibromyalgia, gout, sciatica, warming, 

Basil - anemia, LBP, breast feeding, cellulite, colds, concentration, dandruff, exhaustion, fatigue, fungus, grease,  insects, invigorating, nervous system, ovaries, shock, sinuses, Env stress, mental stress, torticollis, UTI, warming, weight loss, 

Bergamot - acne, anxiety, bipolar, calming, cleansing, colic, concentration, concussion, cramps, creativity, exhaustion, gums, menopause, nervous system, plantar fasciitis, PMS, screen fatigue, spasms, Env stress, phy stress, mental stress,  emo stress, sunburn, torticollis,

Cardamom - LBP, cysts, digestion, invigorating, sinuses, veins, 

Carrot Seed - acne, calluses, dandruff, edema,  joints, nails, osteoporosis, rosacea, wrinkles, 

Cedar - balance, calming, cellulite, constipation, depression, dizziness, empowering, fear, grief, grounding, nervous system, PTSD, screen fatigue, Env stress, 

Chamomile - abscess, acne, arthritis, bacteria, bug bites and stings, black eyes, bleeding, blisters, bruises, burns, bursitis, calluses, calming, candida, cirrhosis, cleansing, cough, cramps, creativity, diarrhea, ears, eczema, fever,  inflammation, insomnia,  joints, migraines, nausea, neuralgia, nervous system, osteoporosis, rheumatism, rosacea, sore throat, sunburn, teething, torticollis,

Cinnamon - appetite, bleeding, burns, cleansing, colds, cough, diabetes, gas, immune,  insects, invigorating, kidneys, scars, shock, tonsils, warming, 

Citronella - antifungal, antibacterial, cleansing, repellant, 

Clove -abscess, bacteria, blood clots, cleansing, colds, dementia, detox, downs, gums, immune, invigorating, nausea, neuralgia, nervous system, osteoporosis, sinuses,  sprains, teething, 

Copaiba - digestive aid, boosts injury healing

Cypress - acne, arthritis, balance, bruises, bursitis, calming, cellulite, concussion, cramps, dandruff, depression, dizziness, edema, ED, fear, grease, grief, grounding, nails, nervous system, noise pollution, prostate, rosacea, screen fatigue, Env stress,  emo stress, stroke, veins, 

Eucalyptus - asthma, bug bites and stings, breathing, burns, candida, carpal, cleansing, colic, colds, cough, dandruff, diarrhea, ears, fever, fungus, insects, invigorating, itching, lice, nails, neuralgia, prostate,  rheumatism, rosacea,

Frankincense - abrasion, arthritis, autism, balance, cirrhosis, concussion, creativity, cuts, dementia, empowering, exhaustion, fever,   infection, migraines, ovaries, poison ivy, PTSD, ulcers, wrinkles, 

Geranium - anxiety, apathy, autism, black eyes,  bleeding, HBP, bruises, calming, candida, cleansing, cramps, creativity, diarrhea, dizziness, eyes, gallbadder, grief, immune, invigorating, menopause, menstrual pain, nervous system, osteoporosis, poison ivy, PMS, rosacea, shock, sore throat, Env stress, chem stress, phy stress, mental stress, emo stress, sunburn, veins, 

Ginger - appetite, arthritis, balance, bloating, bursitis, digestion, dizziness, dysentery, dysphagia, estrogen, exhaustion, gas, invigorating, IBS,  joints, nails, osteoporosis, sore throat, sprains, warming, 

Grapefruit - appetite, cellulite, cleansing, concentration, creativity, depression, exhaustion, gums, invigorating, nails, screen fatigue, chem stress, mental stress, teething, weight loss, 

Helichrysum - bleeding, blood clots, LBP, bones, burns, cleansing, eczema,  infection, menstrual pain, nervous system, scars, sciatica, shock, spasms, stroke, sunburn, veins, 

Jasmine - anxiety, apathy, calming, empowering, grief, menopause, migraines, PMS, warming, 

Juniper - abscess, acne, arthritis, bursitis, cellulite, cleansing, cysts, ears, edema, fungus, grounding,  joints, kidneys, neuralgia, nervous system, sinuses, 

Lavender - abscess, acne, anxiety, apathy, arthritis, bacteria, bug bites and stings, black eyes, blisters, HBP, bruises, burns, calming, candida, carpal, cirrhosis, cramps, cuts, dandruff, depression, diarrhea, ears, eczema, edema, exhaustion, fear, fever, fungus, grease, grief, immune, infection,  inflammation, itching,  joints, migraines, nails, neuralgia, poison ivy, prostate,  rheumatism, scars, shock, sore throat, chem stress, phy stress, mental stress, sunburn, torticollis, weight loss, wrinkles, 

Lemon - abscess, acne, anemia, bacteria, bug bites and stings, bleeding, blisters, calluses, cellulite, cleansing, colds, cough, constipation, dandruff, detox, diarrhea, digestion, edema, exhaustion, fungus, grease, insomnia, invigorating, kidneys, nails, nervous system, osteoporosis, pancreas, screen fatigue, shock, sore throat, chem stress, ulcers, UTI, veins, wrinkles, 

Lemongrass - acne, carpal, cleansing, colds, cramps, depression, detox, immune, insects, joints, weight loss, 

Lime - cleansing, dandruff, exhaustion, invigorating, libido, weight loss, wrinkles, 

Marjoram - balance, HBP, calming, candida, carpal, colic, cramps, ears, exhaustion, insomnia, neuralgia, pancreas, spasms, phy stress, torticollis, warming, 

Myrrh -  abrasion, bleeding, blisters, candida, cuts, dysentery, eczema, empowering, gums,  infection, invigorating, stretch marks, ulcers, wrinkles, 

Myrtle - balance, fungus, grounding, 

Neroli - abrasion, acne, cleansing, creativity, cuts, exhaustion, spasms, wrinkles, 

Nutmeg - balance, calming, grounding, invigorating, libido, menopause, neuralgia, nervous system, osteoporosis, PMS,  sprains, warming, 

Orange - anxiety, calming, cleansing, concentration, depression, fear, grief, immune, invigorating, nervous system, screen fatigue, weight loss, wrinkles, 

Oregano - bacteria, calluses, cellulite, cleansing, colds, cough, immune,  infection, invigorating, osteoporosis, parasites, sinuses, wrinkles, 

Parsley - acne, bruises, cleansing, rosacea, sore throat, spasms, veins, 

Patchouli - apathy, candida, cellulite, constipation, edema, empowering, eyes, fungus, grounding, itching, screen fatigue, chem stress, mental stress, wrinkles, 

Pepper, Black - arthritis, breathing, dysphasia, exhaustion, osteoporosis, shingles,  sprains, warming, 

Peppermint - arthritis, constipation, diarrhea, digestion, dizziness, fatigue, fever,  inflammation,  insects, invigorating, IBS, itching, nausea, neuralgia,   rheumatism, shock, sinuses, torticollis, veins, 

Pine - empowering, grounding, invigorating, screen fatigue, sinuses, sore throat, 

Rose - acne, black eyes, calming, cirrhosis, creativity, cuts, depression, edema,  empowering, eyes, grief,  joints, libido, menopause, PMS, romance, screen fatigue, shock,  emo stress, wrinkles, 

Rosemary - asthma, arthritis, bladder, bruises, calming, candida, cellulite, colds, constipation, dandruff, empowering, exhaustion, grease, immune, invigorating,  joints, lice, nails, nervous system, osteoporosis, sinuses, chem stress, phy stress, torticollis, weight loss, wrinkles, 

Sage - acne, HPB, breast feeding, cellulite, cholesterol, cleansing, dandruff, ED, estrogen, exhaustion, fungus, grease, fertility, insomnia, kidneys, libido, menopause, menstrual pain, migraines, osteoporosis, ovaries, PMS, sore throat, chem stress, warming, weight loss, wrinkles, 

Sandalwood - balance, bladder, cough, dizziness, edema, exhaustion, fear, fungus, grounding, insomnia, kidneys, nervous system, PTSD, scars, screen fatigue, spasms, mental stress,  emo stress, stretch marks, 

Spearmint - digestion, invigorating, 

Tea Tree - abscess, abrasion, acne, bacteria, blisters, burns, candida, cleansing, colds, cuts, detox, ears, fungus, gums, immune, infection, itching, lice, psoriasis, shingles, 

Thyme - abscess, abrasion, acne, bacteria, bladder, candida, cellulite, cleansing, colds, cough, cuts, cysts, dandruff, diarrhea, ears, empowering, fever, fungus, gums, grease,  infection,  insects, itching, menopause, neuralgia, nervous system, osteoporosis, prostate, sinuses, sore throat, phy stress, torticollis, ulcers, UTI, warming, weight loss, wrinkles, 

Valerian - balance, grounding, insomnia, nervous system, shock, 

Vanilla - antioxidant, calming, purifying, refreshing, strengthening, uplifting, 

Vetiver - adhd, anxiety, balance, bipolar, calming, exhaustion, grounding, neuralgia, nervous system, noise pollution,  emo stress, 

Wintergreen - carpal, depression, fibromyalgia, gout, inflammation, invigorating, IBS, joints, nervous system, sciatica, teething, 

Yarrow - acne, arthritis, burns, calming, candida, grease,   inflammation,  joints, osteoporosis,  rheumatism, rosacea, spasms, wrinkles, 

Ylang Ylang - calming, emo stress, grief, fertility, libido, migraines, PMS, romance,