Essential Oils? Only for stress? Think again -- Laurean Brooks

My interest in Essential Oils piqued a few months ago when I watched a holistic doctor and his wife on television, who swore by them. Previously, I had used the occasional drops of lavender or chamomile in my bath water for relaxation. Now, I dab scented oils, depending on my mood, in a diffuser for aromatherapy, on my wrists as a perfume, and sprinkle drops on my pillowcase at night to help me sleep.

The use of Essential Oils goes back thousands of years. 

In China, the first use was recorded during the reign of Huang Ti, the Yellow Emperor around 2697 to 2597 BC.

The wise men brought Frankincense and Myrrh to the Christ Child. Even in Biblical days, perfumes were made from blends of aromatic oils.

You may recall the Bible story of a woman who poured an alabaster jar of precious oil over Jesus' head. Could it have been Rose oil? Did you know it takes 22 pounds of crushed rose petals to make a 5 ml bottle of oil? No wonder Rose oil one of the most expensive Essential Oils!

While browsing the web, I discovered essential oils which not only help with sleep, stress, physical and mental fatigue, but those which aid emotional healing by helping us through grief, experience peace, joy, and release unpleasant memories.

A few of these are:

Geranium, Bergamot, Lavender, Cedarwood, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang, Frankincense, and Clary Sage.

Until I began my research, I did not realize the wide selection of oils available. Each has a distinctive scent. While some are either woodsy or flowery scented, others are fruity or citrusy.

Add a couple drops each of Vetiver, Myrrh, Sandalwood, and Bergamot to a diffuser for a peaceful night's sleep. The tantalizing fragrance lingers in the bedroom for days.

 The sense of smell breaks down the blood/brain barrier and is closely linked with memory, more so than the other senses. If you prefer not to use a diffuser, put a few drops on your pillowcase before you retire.

Those with full olfactory function may be able to recall certain smells that evoke particular memories; the scent of an orchard in bloom or the spicy scent of Mom in the kitchen baking cookies.

Below is a rundown of a few of my current favorite aromatic oils.

Bergamot oil is known for its healing effects on physiological distress. Use it when you’re feeling sad or overwhelmed and need to find balance.

• Cortisol levels
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Depression

Patchouli oil is often used to relieve the feeling of emptiness or emotional disconnection. Use it when You are feeling disconnected from yourself or community.

Sandalwood oil is known to move stagnant energy, helping with centering or grounding. Use it when you're feeling stuck where you are and need a boost to feel at peace.

Frankincense can help improve your body's ability to protect and heal. It is also useful for relieving feelings of grief or emotional trauma. Use it regularly as a preventative measure or during painful times, like losing a loved one. 

Lemon essential oil can help reduce excess congestion mentally, physically, and emotionally, and provides lightness. It can also:

• Relieve anxiety
• Reduce anger and agitation
• Uplift emotions
• Relieve depression

Rose oil is excellent for improving mental well-being and boosting loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. This oil is known for its sedative healing properties, providing emotional relief due to:

• Excessive worry
• Anxiety
• Grief or loss
• Jealousy
• Post-traumatic stress

For joy and happiness, blend together a couple drops each of Ylang Ylang, Cypress, and Marjoram. It will quickly pull you out of an emotional slump. Some writers swear that massaging a few drops of Citrus oils into the area below the belly button, inspires creativity.

The many uses of essential oils boggle the mind. I urge you to try them for yourself. Start with a few bottles--maybe one for energy, another for joy, and the third for relaxation. You can add to your collection as the need arises. I keep Peppermint Oil, on my desk for mental clarity, and Rosemary to boost the memory, On my headboard and nightstand, I keep oils for relaxation.

I have gradually added to my bottles of Essential Oils and will add more as I research and learn of their properties. I urge you to try them, starting with four or five. 
Here's a link to get you started. I hope your experience with Essential Oils is as productive and exciting as mine. 

                  

OVER THE COALS

Jill knows Rob has a dark secret. Why won't he confide in her? And why does he become evasive when she asks perfectly innocent questions about his past? Can their relationship survive the test of trust?
Over The Coals - an intriguing, heartwarming summer romance

SPRINGTIME MEMORIES ON THE FAMILY FARM

by

Laurean Brooks

As a child growing up in the country, I have many fond memories of the days my siblings and I spent exploring the woods and wading streams. I especially have sweet remembrances of the pets we made out of farm animals. 

When I was seven, I doted on a neighbor's half-grown Guernsey calf and named her Dusty, while my sister made a pet out of their Holstein bull she called Cloud.

In tears, we soon left Dusty and Cloud behind when Daddy bought a farm a few miles down the road. It was there our uncle brought us a half-dozen bantam chicks. I claimed a little red hen, Sandy, which I taught to jump on my shoulder to eat corn from my hand.

Besides two dogs of questionable heritage, we soon had a cow, a pony, chickens, and a pair of goats. My older brother bought two pigs to add to the mix. He named them, Porky and Ham. With each spring, came bursts of new life. While the fruit trees blossomed and the locust trees gave off their sweet fragrance, baby chicks pecked out of their shells to venture out into a new world protected by their clucking mother.

One spring while the baby chicks hopped around their Mama, a new addition to our farm animals made his appearance. “March” was the first goat born on our farm, and by far the cutest little creature I had ever seen. The little white goat and I immediately bonded. I claimed March as my own and named him for the month in which he arrived.

A fallen Catalpa tree in the barnyard became the perfect prop for us to compete for “King Of The Log.” I couldn't wait to come in from school to play our game. March and I spent countless hours winning and losing the crown.

I would climb up on the log and yell, “I'm the new king of the log!” My coronation lasted about five seconds before March butted me off with his surprisingly hard noggin. Before I could pick myself up, he sprang up on top of the log to announce himself as the victor of the coveted title. After a playful struggle, I regained the title. But only for a moment. March nudged me off the log again. So, the game continued.

Those childhood days have drifted farther from me with each subsequent sunrise and sunset, but I would be fibbing if I said I didn't yearn for those simpler times and special moments on the farm. Rural living is a busy life and the chores are never-ending, but greater are the rewards.

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If you enjoy heartwarming romance with a bit of mystery, check out  my ebook,

OVER THE COALS. 

Jill doesn't know how to take Rob. One minute he's boisterous and outgoing,, the next minute, he's close-mouthed. When she asks him about his childhood, he starts avoiding her.

Rob has a secret. What is he hiding? Will Jill's uncovering of the truth destroy their budding relationship?

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