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Adaptogens

Carina Falck

Oils adapting to your needs


Lavender & peppermint?

When I first heard from someone that a mixture of lavender and peppermint relieves headaches, I was somewhat taken aback.

From what I understood, peppermint is stimulating, and lavender is calming.

 

It's not that simple then!

Oils such as lavender, peppermint and rose geranium are known as oils with adaptogen properties. This means that the oil will respond to the body's need and adapt to it to achieve a state of homeostasis or balance.

It will therefore calm or stimulate – depending on what your system needs.

 

Among other things, these oils affect the autonomic nervous system - i.e. the functions of the body that you don't consciously think about.

Examples are heartbeat, breathing, digestion and the function of organs such as the liver, kidneys etc.

 

Lavender can e.g. calm you down when you're anxious and can't sleep, but can also inspire and motivate you when you feel paralyzed by anxiety.

Peppermint cools the skin, but at the same time it improves blood circulation to the brain.

 

The combination of lavender and peppermint therefore lowers tension, improves blood flow to the brain and relieves the paralyzing feeling of anxiety. 

Both oils are pain-relieving – result – tension headache relief!


To try

Tension headache

For your handbag

6 drops lavender

3 drops of peppermint

Mix on 10ml of carrier oil in a roller bottle and keep in your handbag for stressful days.

 

For the bath

40 drops lavender

20 drops of peppermint

Mix with 50 ml of carrier oil and add a little to your bath water.

 

 

For a linen spray:

40 drops lavender

20 drops of peppermint

5ml of alcohol

 

Mix and add to 50ml water in a spray bottle.

Use it on linen, your pillow, and in your towel cupboard.

 

Other oils with adaptogen properties:

Lemon

Lemon promotes clear thinking - in Japan an experiment was conducted where typists made up to 54% fewer mistakes when lemon oil was distributed in the office.

Lemon also helps when you feel confused.

This cheerful oil calms emotional outbursts, or even prevents them.

 

Hospitals

In England, aromatherapy is commonly used in hospitals.

Lemon is used to control odors in cancer wards and to counteract depression and fear.

 

Asthma

An interesting combination is Roman chamomile (calming) and lemon (cognitive stimulating), which is used together with hyssop to treat asthma.

 

Lemon blends

Massage blend for hay fever

2 drops of roman chamomile

1 drop rose geranium

1 drop of lemon

Mix and use 3–5 drops on a teaspoon (5 mL)

carrier oil.

 


 

Rose geranium

This oil is calming, but at the same time it stimulates people who feel depressed, to get going.

The oil is described by Battaglia as 'sedative yet uplifting'. The oil is ideally suited to stabilize volatile emotions linked to hormonal changes.

 

Blend for hormone balancing

Any woman can benefit from blending rose geranium, rose and palmarosa oils for a remarkably feminine scent that balances your entire female system.

 

Blend

2 drops palmarosa

3 drops rose

3 drops rose geranium

Use in your diffuser or mix onto 10ml of carrier oil.

 

 

 

 


Sources:

Battaglia, S.

The complete guide to aromatherapy, 2 nd edition.

The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy, Brisbane, Australia, 2003

P206-207

 

Fischer-Rizzi, S.

Complete Aromatherapy Handbook, English Edition 1990.

Sterling publishing Company Inc. New York USA. pp 118-124.

 

 

Contact: Carina Falck 060 526 1422

Disclaimer

The use of essential oils must be done responsibly and does not replace any medical treatment. It is used at your own risk.

 

 

Kind regards

Carina Falck

Aromatherapist

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