ITS AROMATHERAPY AWARENESS WEEK
My Top Five Essential Oils for Aromatherapy Awareness Week
It’s Aromatherapy Awareness week, #AAW17, so I thought I would share with you my top five essential oils. Not an easy task I hasten to add, I work with over seventy essential oils, all aromatic, all diverse and all amazing!
So, in 5th place its: Cardamon – Ellettaria cardamomum
The oil comes from the seeds and has been used for over 3,000 years in Ayurvedic medicine. The seeds were often chewed to sweeten the breath (prior to toothpaste) and were called ‘grains of paradise’
In Aromatherapy, it is used as a digestive tonic, for muscular aches & pains, and as a stimulant.
Aromatically its uplifting and clarifying and one of my favourite essential oils to vaporise to give me motivation and support.
In 4th place is Bergamot – Citrus bergamia
If any of you know me well you will know that I love the citrus oils, they are truly wonderful in their aromatic offerings!
The oil is taken from the skin of the small inedible fruit that resemble a small orange. It has been traditionally used in Italian folk medicine.
In Aromatherapy, it is used as a skin oil, useful for many skin complaints including psoriasis and dermatitis. It may also be useful as an immune booster. I mostly use it to uplift and calm.
Aromatically it is sweet with a dry overtone with a mellow citrus note. You may recognise if from Earl Grey tea as it used for flavouring the tea.
In 3rd place I have chosen Vetiver –Vetiveria zizanoides
What a great botanical name, Vetiver is wonderful sedative and the word zizanoides always makes me think of sleep; zzzz
Extracted from the roots of this tall tropical grass its known in the East as the ‘oil of tranquillity’.
This aroma is a bit like Marmite – love it or hate it – I obviously love it! Aromatically its warm, earthy, secretive & sensual. The aroma is very tenacious and you only need a little for it to penetrate a blend.
In Aromatherapy, it is used for muscular aches & pains and may be helpful as a restorative when life has gotten a bit too much! It can also be helpful for skin complaints.
In 2nd place I have chosen Sweet Orange –Citrus sinensis – yes back to Citrus!
Originally from China, Citrus fruits are now grown worldwide and we all have access to them, In the west they do have an infinity with winter and Christmas.
Taken from the peel of the fruit and still used today in Chinese medicine for respiratory, digestive and lymphatic problems.
In Aromatherapy, the oil is used for skin care, a digestive tonic and to lift the spirits.
I just love the aroma, sweet, fresh and sunny, always good to smell on days when I need to feel uplifted. It’s such a simple pleasant fragrance.
And in top place is ….Neroli – Citrus aurantium…more citrus ?
Orange blossom, sweet, heady, perfumed wonderfulness! The flower oils are so aromatically beautiful! Its named after a 17th C princess, Anna Maria de la Tremoille, Princess of Nerola who perfumed her gloves with the oil.
In Aromatherapy, the oil is used for skin care, digestive disorders, a sedative and to calm the nerves. One drop on a tissue can bring about a sense of calm and tranquillity.
I have never put all these five oils together in a blend…but you know what I am going to right now!
So, whatever you’re favourite essential oils are, now is the time to use them, revisit them, learn about them, Its Aromatherapy Awareness Week so, do something aromatic!