Good morning and welcome to the last in my series of the A – Z of Aromatherapy. What a journey we have been on. Are you ready for the final letters? Today we are looking at the letters Y & Z. Whilst there isn’t many words beginning with Y or Z in relation to aromatherapy, let’s take a look and see what we can find out.
Y
Ylang Ylang – This essential oil is sweet smelling and warming and is steam distilled from flowers. Ylang Ylang means ‘flower of flowers’. If you or someone you know has had a fright or a shock, this oil is great to help calm and slow down a racing heart. I would recommend using in a vaporiser or mix with a carrier oil and give yourself a relaxing massage. As an anti-depressant and a sedative it is a calming and relaxing oil and can aide in the treatment of anxiety. The balancing effect of Ylang Ylang means it can help if you suffer from greasy skin, acne or spots. Mix one drop into 10ml of your usual moisturiser and apply to your face. Alternatively mix with jojoba oil and give yourself a facial massage. If you find the scent too sickly, it might be an idea to mix in a drop of citrus essential oil, such as lemon as this can really help to counteract the smell. One note of caution, using too much ylang ylang can give rise to a headache or can make you feel nauseous, so use it sparingly.
Yoga – If you practice yoga, add some essential oils into your practice. There are several things you can do. Place a few drops of the oil of your choice on your mat and wipe it over, take a moment to breathe deep and enjoy the scent before you begin your practice. You could use a vaporiser and place several drops of your favourite oil with water and let it diffuse the air around you as you practice. If you are doing a practice before bed, use a sedative or calming oil such as Lavender, Camomile or Bergamot, if you are ready to start your day, use an uplifting or stimulating oil such as geranium, black pepper or peppermint. You can change it to suit your mood each day. Bring a little more to your yoga practice by using essential oils to help you wellbeing on the mat.
Z
Zzzz – To help you sleep or drift off, use lavender or camomile essential oil. Both are sedative oils and can help promote a good nights sleep. Put a drop on your pillow or use a pillow spray made up of boiling water that has cooled along with several drops of lavender/camomile oil. Spray once or twice and inhale the aroma and close your eyes. Ylang-ylang can help with insomnia as well but use sparingly. You can also use these oils in a bath, but make sure the water isn’t too hot and you have an hour or two before bed. This gives you time to cool down afterwards before you fall sleep.
Please note: never ingest essential oils, use them internally or use them undiluted on your skin. If you are epileptic or pregnant, there are some oils you should avoid entirely, always check first. If you suffer an allergic reaction please discontinue use. Always proceed with caution and if in doubt, do not use or seek advice in the first instance. Always buy and use 100% pure essential oils, there are many imitations out there so please be aware.
I hope you have enjoyed reading my final A – Z of aromatherapy post, what a journey we have been on. Thank you for joining me and I’ll be back next week with a blog. For now the A – Z series is complete.
Thank you for reading. Have a great week and look after you!
Love Emma xx
Wellbeing with Relaxing Lavender 