Spring Awakening

Springtime symbolises rebirth and renewal on many different levels, but it always seems particularly relevant to our state of health. On a mental level we often undertake new beginnings at this time of year by seeking a new career or relationship, or perhaps by making a determination to walk a more spiritual path in life.

On a physical level, spring is the traditional season for rejuvenating and cleansing because as the seasons change, so do our bodies requirements. In fact many people visit their acupuncturist four times per year, in accordance with the four seasons in order to balance the seasonal energy changes. The importance and benefits of preparation in readiness for the growth of all things both spiritual and material has been understood for aeons.

These seasonal cycles are very important to our holistic health, and if we harmonise our bodies with them we can benefit tremendously. Aromatherapy can be used effectively to help renew vitality and restore the balance to your body’s efficiency. And this is the perfect time of year to do it.

Avoid the stress

Surrounding yourself with revitalising aromas is one of the finest ways of boosting your energy levels quickly, and it is so easy to do since all you need is an aromatherapy burner of some kind. It does not matter what type you use, the results are the same – you will feel uplifted and happier. And living a happy, resilient and optimistic life is so much better for your health because being happy actually protects you from the stresses of life.

Remember, stress has been identified as a primary cause of heart disease, so anything that you can do to reduce stress will benefit your health tremendously. Relaxing essential oils can help directly with this, but revitalising oils can help too because they energise and lift your mood in the same way that taking a walk outside in nature can. So using essential oils at home is an ideal alternative if you are unable to get outdoors right now.

Revive and refresh

The aroma of pine or silver fir essential oil conjures up images of green forests with clean fresh air, so it will come as no surprise that these are both excellent oils to use to energise you and invoke the feeling of spring. A few drops in a vaporiser refreshes the air around you and is highly invigorating when you are suffering from the late winter blues. Grapefruit is another reviving essential oil that is guaranteed to pep you up at absolutely any time and it blends easily with many other essential oils.

For a thoroughly enlivening experience, add 2 drops of pine or silver fir, 2 drops of grapefruit and 1 drop of litsea cubeba to your vaporiser and you will feel refreshed and more alive immediately. Substitute the litsea cubeba with basil and the fragrance begins to develop a real ‘springtime’ feel which is perfect for this time of year. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the proportions of each essential oil, since this is how you learn to produce a nice balanced blend.

Other energising oils that you can use to awaken your senses include; bergamot, eucalyptus citriodora, juniper berry, lemon, lemongrass, lime, orange, peppermint, rosemary and spearmint. Of course all of these oils can be used in the bath or in a massage if you prefer, but don’t use more than 2 drops of peppermint in a bath since it can irritate the skin. Be sure to use a bath dispersant to distribute the oils evenly and agitate the water properly before stepping in.

Cleanse and detox

After spending all winter huddled by the fireside eating stodgy comfort foods you may feel that it’s time to detox your body. You might not have over-indulged in alcohol or junk food, but the amounts of preservatives and other added chemicals to our everyday foodstuffs should convince most of us that we do need to give our body a cleansing once in a while.

The ideal detox treatment encourages the body to deal effectively with toxins in a natural way, without putting the body under any strain. Effective detox treatments include exercise, fasting, skin brushing, colonic irrigation and of course, aromatherapy using detoxifying and stimulating essential oils.

Aromatherapy can be a tremendous help when used as part of a detoxification routine because some essential oils are known to stimulate the lymphatic system which assists the eliminations of toxins.

The following essential oils can be used in a bath or massage, whichever you find the most convenient. For a powerful detox bath, add 2 drops each of juniper berry, cypress, fennel and grapefruit to a warm bath and joy a long soak.

Massage offers the most benefits in an aromatherapy detox routine due to its beneficial effects on the circulatory system. Mix a blend of 1 drop each of the above oils to 10mls of carrier oil and feel those toxins melt away! Repeat this routine for a few weeks and you will be cleansed, energised and ready for summer!

Copyright © Quinessence Aromatherapy Ltd 2009