So it’s February, and of course Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, for better or worse! It’s either a date you dread or one that you look forward to as something special. The date when lovers celebrate, husbands and partners try to rack up those “browny points” and teenagers wait eagerly for the post to come!
This time last year we focused on aphrodisiac massage blends, so this year we are concentrating on how aromatherapy and other natural therapies can help those who find this time of year a struggle….whilst also featuring blends to help attract that ideal partner and lift your mood in the process.
How essential oils effect your mood
Ever wondered why essential oils can enhance your mood and effect your emotions?
Throughout history the use of “aroma-therapy” has been growing and expanding – based on a profound recognition that certain scents from plants, flowers, roots, grasses and resins from trees, engendered a particular emotional/spiritual response/reaction. Inter-connected with these age-old observations were the obvious medicinal properties. More modern practices have worked to quantify and classify the energetic dimension of natural fragrances – and numerous studies and scientific papers have been generated, working on classifying these qualities.
One of the first “modern” botanist/physicians was Paracelsus (1493-1541) – a Swiss German who believed that we should focus on fundamental observations of nature. He was a powerful revolutionary – being a critic of the ancient Roman texts – and advocating research and observation as being key to new understanding. He was one of the first to focus on many diseases being related to psychological roots – i.e. many forms of ill health have an emotional root cause. Thus, we begin to consider that merely suppressing the symptoms may not be the best course of action.
Philosophers such as Goethe in the seventeen hundreds and Steiner in the eighteen hundreds, elaborated on the “Doctrine of Signatures” advocated by Paracelsus, that explored the connection between the botanical classification of plants and their various medicinal effects on the emotional and physical levels.
In more recent times – one of the most revealing works has been written by Peter Holmes – “The Energetics of Western Herbs” – published in 1998. This work reflects the fusion of Western and Chinese herbal concepts – with a large section of work on aromatherapy. He covers the idea around “fragrance energetic”- proposing that certain essential oils could create specific emotional responses. This “subtle aromatherapy” (the term coined by Patricia Davis) is less recognized than the physical medicinal effects of essential oils, but more information is gathered each year. This appears to demonstrate what aromatherapists have understood throughout the ages – that the essential oil molecules – when inhaled, have a profound effect on the emotions. This is not even taking into account the effects on the physical body through massage and other external applications.
We now understand that the olfactory organ is located at the top of the nose, just below the eyes. These thin membranes are covered in millions of miniscule olfactory hairs – receptors – which arise from the olfactory nerve fibres. These fibres connect to neurons in the olfactory bulb which extends to form the olfactory nerve. The olfactory nerve – which is an extension of the limbic system – is the part of the brain where emotions and memories are seated. The limbic system is connected to both the temporal lobes of the brain – and Jennifer Pearce Rhind describes it as having: “central control over the expressions of emotions, instinctive behaviours, drives, motivations and feelings, and is influenced, at least in part, by the sense of smell”.
More information covers the endocrine response, but whichever research you consider – our sense of smell, and the reactions triggered by essential oil molecules – can have a profoundly powerful effect on our emotions! So when we consider how we feel – and the effects we wish to have on those around us – with particular reference to Valentine’s Day – essential oils are clearly a more powerful ally than we might have realised!
So – bringing us back to practical application for Valentine’s Day! For those who are single and want to make changes, it can be a great time to think about what relationship you might really like to draw into your life. There is a train of thought that says we tend to attract a relationship that most accurately mirrors the one that we have with ourselves.
So, if your self-esteem and self-worth is low – now is the time to work on creating some new momentum in your life and use Valentine’s Day as that extra point of stimulus! If your confidence is poor, take care not to draw in somebody who will reinforce this negative self-image, consider Hypnotherapy, Thought Field Therapy or Cognitive Behavourial Therapy, and move into a new and positive phase of your life! Feel good, stronger within and happiness will be more likely to be drawn in, as if by a magnet of peace and positivity! Nurture and strengthen your sense of self to help you move forwards in the best way possible – here are some aromatherapy blends to help!
Essential oils for attracting a new Valentine!
Remember that the essential oils that make YOU feel your best will be the most effective! Try including some of those aphrodisiac mood elevators too! Here are a couple of options:
Pulse Point Passion Balm
10ml Jojoba Oil, 10ml warmed Coconut Butter, 10ml melted Beeswax. Stir in 4 drops Ylang Ylang, 2 Rose, 2 Neroli, 3 Frankincense and 5 Bergamot. Pour into a jar and allow the mixture to cool and set. Store in the fridge to extend shelf life and massage into pulse points on wrists and neck as required.
Scented Shampoo
Create an alluring waft and a lasting impression. Mix 60ml SLS free Hair Conditioner with 15 drops Ylang Ylang, 10 Mandarin, 6 Geranium, 2 Jasmine and 2 Benzoin. Shampoo hair as normal and apply the conditioner. Leave on for 10 minutes to allow it to penetrate the hair shaft. Wash off as normal and revel in the exquisite and lasting aroma!
Essential oils for confidence on the first date
Stress relieving, anti-depressant, euphoric essential oils are the most beneficial for boosting confidence but remember those that calm and centre the emotions too.
Uplifting Moisturising Lotion
Take 100ml of our fragrance-free Moisturising Lotion, add 5ml Jojoba Oil and 5ml Evening Primrose for that extra richness – to smooth and boost skin condition and help it glow! Then add 10 drops Sandalwood and Orange, 8 Geranium, 4 Neroli and 2 Clary Sage. Divine!!
‘Sensual’ essential oils for a hot date
Create a real impact with this wonderfully fragrant, unisex body spray or skin nourishing body oil!
Sensual Body Spray
Pour 100ml Orange Flower Hydrolat into a spray bottle. Add 10 drops each of Sandalwood and Frankincense, 8 drops each of Lime and Geranium and 4 drops each of Black Pepper and Neroli. Shake well and spray regularly. Remember to do a skin patch test before liberal use if you have sensitive skin.
Sensual Body Oil
Mix 30ml Sweet Almond Oil, 5 drops each of Bergamot and Sandalwood and 2 drops Jasmine. Massage into your skin after a bath or shower to nourish and scent your skin!
Essential oils for soothing a broken heart
There is nothing like a good massage to soothe sadness and ease stress and tension. You can also use the oils in a bath and shower gel to prolong the benefits of your massage.
Heart Tonic Massage Oil
30ml Sweet Almond Oil, 5 drops Lavender, 4 Grapefruit, 3 Frankincense, 3 Clary Sage and 1 Rose. Mix well and apply warm.
Heart Tonic Bath Gel
150ml SLS Free Bath & Shower Gel, 25 drops Lavender, 20 Grapefruit, 10 Frankincense, 8 Clary Sage and 4 Rose. Shake well and add to the bath once the water has run.
Bach Flower Remedies
The following Bach Flower Remedies may also be helpful:
- Rescue Remedy for shock and anxiety
- Cherry Plum for absolute dejection
- Gentian for despondency and discouragement
- Walnut for adjustment to change
Wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day whatever your circumstances!!
Joannah Metcalfe
Consultant Aromatherapist
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