An Uplifting Blend...

There are many essential oils that have uplifting, calming and invigorating properties and below are a few of my favourites that can be used alone or in a blend together. You can use them in the bath within a base oil such as Sweet Almond or Grapeseed Oil or dilute in a base oil for self massage. You can also add them to water in an oil burner and fill the atmosphere with gorgeous aromas! Perfect for Springtime or any time of the year (See below for dilutions & contraindications).

Clary Sage                                                                                                                                                                      
This wonderful oil is uplifting, balancing and especially comforting and soothing. It has a warm, mellow and musky smell and is native to southern Europe. Like garden sage it cools inflammation and is especially useful for throat and respiratory infections. I find Clary Sage useful for menstrual cramps and a few drops diluted in a base oil and massaged on the abdomen and sacrum can offer great relief. It is also useful for digestive disorders as well as being a general nerve tonic and is soothing for muscular aches and pains too, so if you have stiff shoulders you can self massage (or ask a partner or friend to) with it diluted in your favourite base oil. Clary Sage is also said to be a euphoric oil with revitalizing and rejuvenating qualities.

Rose Geranium                                                                                                                                                         
This versatile oil is not only uplifting and an anti-depressant; it is also great for assisting with hormonal balancing, helping to regulate the menstrual cycle. Through stimulating the adrenal system it has a profound ability to help stabilize the emotions, which is especially useful for pre-menstrual and menopausal problems, as well as general stress related conditions. It has a fresh, warming and floral smell and often used as a mosquito repellent, it can be seen adorning Mediterranean window sills and balconies in an awash of reds, pinks and purples. Rose Geranium is native to S. Africa and widely cultivated in many countries, however the oil is extracted from the lemon plant, often displayed in Greek restaurants! It is excellent for use in skin care, including eczema, acne and bruises to name but a few. It’s also great for the circulatory and respiratory system and like Clary Sage, is an anti-inflammatory useful for throat infections. This is a very relaxing and balancing oil. I love it!

Lavender 
My all time favourite – this is probably the most versatile and safest of all the Essential oils and can be used neat or in a dilution, by itself or blending well with most oils. It has a sweet smell, combining a woody with floral scent. The Romans loved it and probably introduced it to the UK. It’s great for many of the body systems, including emotional support for depression, stress, nervous tension and period pain. It is fantastic for skin conditions, including burns and scalds (it stimulates cell growth and can also help to deal with the psychological shock of injury), allergies, eczema, sunburn and athlete’s foot. It is also great for helping alleviate muscular aches and pains. I find it very useful to massage Lavender neat into the forehead and temples when I have a headache, especially at bedtime (be careful not to overdo it though as it can become too stimulating).You can also sprinkle some on a tissue to have near your pillow to help with insomnia. As with the oils described above, Lavender is useful for inflammatory conditions and throat infections and is an all round tonic. Although Lavender has certain sedative properties, in a blend with Clary Sage and Rose Geranium, it will help you to feel calm and uplifted simultaneously.

Dilutions of Essential oils:                                                                                                                                      
Adults: 

• 5 – 8 drops of essential oil in 1 -2 tsps of base oil for the bath   
• 2 - 3 drops for a shoulder or tummy massage, in a tspn of base oil
  

NB Essential oils are highly concentrated plant matter and use of them with children, should be supervised by an adult. Here they should be diluted at a ¼ of the adult strength and even more so when adding to the bath. Always consult a doctor when conditions are serious.

Contraindications                                                                                                                                                    

• Take care to avoid using Clary Sage during pregnancy or whilst having alcohol in the system, the latter potentially inducing nightmares.
  
• Generally Rose Geranium does not cause allergic reactions, however it may cause dermatitis in hypersensitive individuals. Avoid during the 1st 3 months of pregnancy.
  
• Lavender is generally safe with babies and young children, however like Geranium, it is not to be used in the 1st 3 months of pregnancy 
  

Bibliography: The Encyclopaedia of Essential Oils and The Complete Illustrated Guide to Aromatherapy by Julia Lawless; The Fragrant Pharmacy by Valerie Ann Worwood; Herbs and Aromatherapy by Johannah Metcalfe