by Patricia Bonnard, PhD
Aromatherapy for the Spring
Lots of people ask me what are the best essentials oils for a particular season. So, I decided to create four blogs – one for each season.
I think the choice of essential oils and aromatherapy applications largely depends on how a particular person experiences a season (e.g., allergies, dry skin), but there are some general responses we humans have to the changes in climate (e.g., increased metabolism in the colder months to generate more body heat).
Spring
Spring can run from early March until mid June in the Washington, DC area. Our spring is beautiful. While the temperature can widely vary, it tends to stay between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It rains, but we typically experience thundershowers and few grey and dreary rainy days. The rain, longer days and warm temperatures yield an amazing proliferation of blossoms – our famous cherry trees, conspicuous azaleas and lots of less obvious maples, elms, oaks, etc. Gardens are plentiful in our area and everyone seems to garden.
Probably the most common complaint in our area is plant-based allergies. This means nasal congestion, headaches, fogging thinking and more. Spring is also a time when lots of people think about renewal – weight loss, detoxification, outdoor physical activity (running, biking, hiking, etc) and more active social schedules. Generally, everyone gets less sleep.
Some Good Essential Oils for Spring
- Detoxification – Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi), helichrysum B. (Helichrysum italicum), juniper berry (Juniperus communis), lemon (Citrus limon), mandarin (Citrus reticulata), orange (Citrus sinensis) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis).
- Hay fever and allergy symptoms – Sometimes hay fever and allergies are symptoms of, or exacerbated by congestion in the liver and lymph. So, essential oils that detoxify or clear the liver can be very beneficial. These include cypress, helichrysum B., juniper, lemon and orange. Hay fever and allergies are typically accompanied by headaches, nasal congestion and mental fogginess so oils listed under these conditions can also provide relief.
- Headaches – Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), marjoram (Origanum marjorana) and peppermint (Mentha piperita).
- Mental fogginess – Basil (Ocimum basilicum), black pepper (Piper nigrum), peppermint and rosemary.
- Muscle stiffness – Black pepper (Piper nigum), clove (Eugenia caryophyllus), blue gum eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and nutmeg (Myristica fragens).
- Nasal congestion and stuffiness – Hay fever and allergies typically come with congestion and sinus inflammation. Some essential oils that act as antihistamine, clear decongestion and calm include: cypress, pepprmint eucalyptus (Eucalyptus dives), hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), helichrysum B. (Helichrysum bracteiferum), pinon pine (Pinus edilus), ravintsava (Cinnamomum camphora), rosemary and Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris).
- Restless or difficult sleep – Lavender, marjoram, orange and German, Roman and Cape chamomile (Matricaria recutita, Chamaemelum nobilis and Eriocephalus punctulatus).
- Cuts, scratches and scraps – Frankincense (Boswellia cateri), helichrysum I (Helichrysum ilaticum), myrrh (Commiphora myrrha), rock rose (Cistus landiferus).
Aromatherapy Applications
Some of the typical spring aromatherapy applications are scrubs, inhalers, diffusers, balms and salves, and abyhanga/massage oil.
Scrubs are wonderful for detoxification. Natural clays are a soft and soothing way to detox the skin. Plant-based scrubs such as finely ground nuts or fruit kernels add a bit of natural abrasive action as well as nourishment. Natural sugar and salts such as epson, sea and dead sea salt are more abrasive, but can be finely ground to reduce the abrasiveness and still offer the beneficial stimulation.
This abrasive action of scrubs stimulates and exfoliates the skin and improves circulation in both the physical and energy bodies. Clay and detoxifying some essential oils listed above can be added to a bath. Alternatively, essential oils can be blended with plant-, sugar- or salt-based scrubs, gently rubbed over the skin and followed by a bath or shower.
Be careful to select essential oils that appropriate for the application. Those extracted from citrus fruits (e.g., lemon, grapefruit and mandarin) can cause skin irritation in the bath, but are typically fine when applied to the skin in the form of a scrub.
Abyhanga/Massage Oils are great ways to nourish and detox the skin and body. Abyhanga is a type of massage and plays an important role in Ayurvedic practice and healing. Lots of warm all-natural vegetable oil is stroked onto the whole body. It can be practiced as a self massage on a regular (daily) basis.
Inhalers can offer a convenient, portable and personal treatment. A personal inhaler can be filled with a blend that to clear the sinuses, promote sleep, clear mental fogginess and increase focus. (see our blog on personal inhalers and Starchaser personal inhalers.)
Diffusers can be used as an alternative or a complement to personal inhalers. Essential oils can promote better sleep when diffused in the bedroom at night. Diffused essential oils can help clear the sinuses day or night and increase mental clarity and focus during the day.
Therapeutic Balms/Butters/Lotions are great for aches and pains, muscles stiffness, bruises and cuts and scratches. Lotions absorb into the skin quickly while balms and butters stay on the skin longer. The application choice is partly a matter of personal preference but not completely. For surface issues like cuts and scratches, it’s best to apply something which will stay on the skin longer such as a balm. (see Starchaser therapeutic balms.)
NOTE: Essential oils are extremely concentrated and can cause irritations when used improperly.
As general rule use the following dilutions:
- 3% for products applied to specific limited areas of the body
- 1-2% for body oils and other applications that are applied to large portions of the body (e.g. body butter)
- 1% dilution for children, the elderly and those with sensitive skin or compromised systems
- 100% essential oil or essential oil blend for inhalers
- 2-6 drops (100% essential oils or essential oil blend) for a diffuser (for a 12 ft x 12 ft room). Much less for energetic blends.
Some are counter-indicated for people with certain medical conditions. Consult a professional aromatherapist to determine the appropriate essential oil blend for you and your specific condition or intention.
See other Essential Oils for the Seasons blogs: Winter, Summer and Fall.
For more information contact us.