Aromatherapy: Balancing Yin and Yang - a TCM Approach

Aromatherapy: Balancing Yin and Yang - a TCM Approach

In this modern world it is easy to become imbalanced with so many responsibilities such as family, work, friends, house duties as well as distractions everywhere - from social media, to gossip, as well as bad news, and social issues. Too much doing (yang), and not enough time being (yin) leads to imbalance (emotionally, mentally and energetically) and physiological stress. On the contrary, too much sitting around (yin) and not enough exercise (yang) also leads to imbalance and lack of energy (to gain energy, you need to use it).

Essential oils affect your body physiologically -  creating change in the mind, emotions, and hormones via the limbic system in the brain as well as making their way into the bloodstream and affecting the different systems in the body such as the respiratory system, digestive system, musculoskeletal system, and so on. However this life force (Qi) that runs through the meridians in the body is also influenced by essential oils. 

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Aromatherapy: Part 3 - Emotions

Aromatherapy: Part 3 - Emotions

I will now delve into the topic of using essential oils to improve our emotional state. Essential oils are complex and unaltered from nature. Even if scientists try they can never truly be recreated in a laboratory. Their many components create a synergistic value that is in biochemical harmony with our bodies because we too are part of nature. Many aromatherapists, such as myself, like to use essential oils as a tool to help bring our minds and emotions back to a state of balance and harmony. We see aromatherapy as both an art and a science. Most of all, aromatherapy is very enjoyable - it is sensuous and restorative and works on the mind and emotions rapidly.

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Aromatherapy: Part 2 - The Science

Aromatherapy: Part 2 - The Science

Inhalation of essential oils is the best way to assist with emotional problems such as stress, anxiety and depression as it reaches the limbic system in the brain quickly. The forebrain is the largest portion of the brain and consists of the two cerebral hemispheres (left brain, right brain) and also contains the limbic system. The limbic system consists of many parts. These parts control integration of information from our senses, voluntary movement, higher abstract thought, logic, speech and emotions. The limbic system establishes emotional states (happiness, fear, anger) and links to both conscious responses such as movement, as well as autonomic (unconscious) functions including hormones. It also facilitates memory storage and retrieval. 

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Aromatherapy: Part 1 - An Introduction

Aromatherapy: Part 1 - An Introduction

Aromatherapy isn't just about beautiful, natural aromas. It is an actual therapy, meaning that it may assist with relieving a disorder and bring about wellbeing as part of an integrative healing approach. In aromatherapy, volatile plant oils, otherwise known as 'essential oils', are used with different application methods to assist with a particular health issue (such as pain, headaches, digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, mood disorders, insomnia, colds/coughs, etcetera), or to influence the mind and body to a particular wanted emotional state (calm, happiness, energised, focused), etcetera. 

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