Take Control of Your Health and Wellbeing with Essential Oils
While aromatherapy is nothing new, it just might be one of the quickest and easiest ways to jump-start your journey of healing and discovery. Find out what essential oils are, how they work, and how they can help you get the results you want!
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that are often used in aromatherapy and natural remedies. They are made by steam distilling or cold pressing natural plant materials, such as leaves, stems, and flowers. Essential oils are highly concentrated, very potent, and should be used with care. Each oil has different properties and benefits, and each can be used to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
The Brain Connection
When you breathe in the aroma of an essential oil, tiny volatile molecules of essential oils travel through the air, up the nose, and into the upper nasal passage, where the lining of nerve cells is triggered. These cells send electrical impulses to our brain’s olfactory bulb, which transmits impulses to the amygdala (our memory storage unit) and other parts of our limbic system, which acts as a powerful mediator of emotions and reactions. The limbic system also communicates with parts of our brain that control blood pressure, heart rate, and stress levels, which can have many positive effects on our health. The limbic system can directly activate the hypothalamus, our “master gland”, which acts as our hormonal control center. The hypothalamus is responsible for the production of growth hormones, neurotransmitters such as serotonin (the happy molecule), thyroid hormones, sex hormones, and even regulates the sensation of satisfaction after eating.
Scents can evoke memories and emotions before we consciously think of them. Our senses of sight, touch, hearing, and taste all pass information through our thalamus, which relays messages to our cerebral cortex, allowing our thought center to participate in the response. When we smell essential oils, the molecules are tapping directly on the door of our limbic system, and when the nasal lining is greeted by pleasant scents, we can experience profound physiological and psychological benefits. When inhaled, essential oils can help to alleviate stress, negative feelings, and bring energy to your day.
How Are Chaé Organics Essential Oils Different?
Are all essential oils made equally? Not at all! We try to include information on each of our luxurious essential oils explaining the diligent care we take to source and secure only the highest-quality, most sustainable oils. This commitment is also illustrated on the packages of our essential oils: The ToxicFree® Grade A Verification and “Field to Bottle” symbol are reminders that every oil we offer is the result of a direct connection with a specific farm. We ensure that each oil is made only with the most fragrant and sought after parts of the specified plants, grown and harvested in peak conditions by farmers making a positive impact in their community. Whenever possible, we buy our oil distilled by the same farmers who harvest the crops, but we always ensure no chemical solvents (including propylene glycol) are used in the extraction of our oils. We maintain our industry-leading high standards in every step of the process, so you know every Chaé Organics essential oil you try will arrive at its healthiest and most vibrant.
Which Essential Oils Does Chaé Recommend?
In case you don’t have a lot of experience with essential oils - or in case you just want to know our personal favorites - we wanted to offer you some options! These are some of the most effective and essential essential oils that everyone should have tucked away, just in case.
This gorgeous and intoxicating oil blend is designed to promote a profound feeling of loving kindness for self and others. It uses uplifting, relaxing, invigorating, and opening scents to help any person who smells it find the compassion within them and radiate it outward. Many people adorn themselves with our Love Blend with the intention of awakening the compassion in others, strengthening their own commitment to loving kindness.
Peppermint essential oil has been called one of the most versatile oils in the world, and for good reason: sporting noteworthy anti-microbial properties and an almost unrivaled list of issues for which it’s beneficial, peppermint’s menthol content alone would likely make it a refreshing oil, but it’s absolutely packed with sought after chemical constituents. Invigorating the mind and stimulating the stomach, peppermint offers a penetrating feeling of freshness and renewal. Traditionally called a Visionary herb, mint was thought not only to uplift the spirit, but also to enhance our capacities on both mental and spiritual levels, promoting wellness of body, mind, and overall health.
Believed to help improve everything from cold and flu symptoms to skin’s appearance to digestion issues, this essential oil is definitely prized for its healing properties, but where it truly shines is in its ability to replenish the mind. Aids in the stopping of judgmental and comparative modes and beginning healthy new ways of thinking, supporting your mind and body to become more adaptable and harmonious. Feel refreshed with awareness, gratitude, and confidence despite whatever is being thrown your way: an ultimate bounce back essential oil.
Ravensara is a rare delight. Grown only in Madagascar, this sweet and spicy medicinal oil is known to have many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, offering support to the immune system and respiratory health, and acting as a relaxant and analgesic, making it useful for joint pain and in muscle rubs for muscular tension. However, it’s not only been found to be physically reinforcing but mentally stimulating as well, helping to open the mind and experience sensations of deep healing and wellbeing. A truly first aid essential oil
Our geranium rose essential oil is truly a masterpiece. While many geranium oils are made from the stems, leaves, or entire body of geranium, ours is made by a family who lovingly harvests only the “sweet scented geranium” blossoms and processes them on their farm to create an exquisite floral essential oil at the height of freshness. They continue this delicate work because they believe the scent is so beautiful and so beneficial, it can help promote peace around the world. In fact, our geranium rose essential oil is known for the calm strength it supports, making space to balance and reconnect.
How Do I Choose Essential Oils?
Luckily, Chaé Organics is here to help with an easy system. We organize, label, and recommend our essential oils in alignment with the Five Element Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It provides a sort of “roadmap” from where you’re feeling dissatisfied within yourself to where you want to be, closer to what you might consider your ideal self. Each Element has associated with it a wide variety of ways to interact with or alter its indications within your body, which may point toward balance or imbalance in that region.
Out of Balance Attributes | Apathetic Untrusting Restless Driven Insecure | Tense Frustrated Angry Rigid Repressive Compulsive | Anxious Annoyed Hopeless Low Self-Esteem | Unclear Confused Worried Codependent Self-Doubting | Depressed Regretful Pessimistic Vulnerable Avoidant |
Emotional Foundation | Fear | Anger | Joy | Reflection | Grief |
Balanced Attributes | Determined Resourceful Wise | Motivated Organized Easy-Going | Sensitive Intimate Joyful | Attentive Thoughtful Supportive | Courageous Lively Optimistic |
Area of Impact | Will | Spirit | Focus | Wisdom | Beauty |
Functions | Willpower Stamina Creativity | Purpose Planning Adaptability | Awareness Identity Harmony Love | Concentration Intellect Sympathy | Boundaries Instinct Socialization |
Highest Expression | Wisdom | Compassion | Love | Empathy | Reverence |
Essential Oils | Cedarwood Cypress Geranium Ginger Jasmine Juniper Berry Love Blend Ravensara Sandalwood Vetiver | Bergamot Chamomile Grapefruit Helichrysum Lavender Love Blend Melissa Neroli Orange Peppermint Spikenard | Love Blend Jasmine Lavender Lemon Lime Melissa Neroli Palmarosa Rose Rosemary Spikenard Tea Tree Ylang Ylang | Cardamon Coriander Frankincense Geranium Grapefruit Lemongrass Lemon Marjoram Peppermint Ravensara Love Blend Spearmint | Cypress Clary Sage Eucalyptus Frankincense Lemongrass Lime Pine Tree Tree Thyme Verbena Love Blend |
Just pick a feeling from the Out of Balance row, realize that you can accomplish a harmonizing solution, familiarize yourself with the elemental column, and read on to find out more.
If you are hoping to overcome feelings of apathy, insecurity, distrust, restlessness, and overactive drive, this may be an indication of a Water-based imbalance in your body.
Water is mostly noticed in areas of will, and when it’s in balance, usually you will feel determined to reach your goal, resourceful in the acquisition and application of tools, and wise regarding where resources ought to be invested. Water functions within us as our willpower and stamina, influencing whether or not we stay encouraged and continue advancing, and determining whether or not inspiration will strike when meeting unexpected obstacles. Regarding the physical body, you may notice Water balance and imbalance manifesting in the head, hair, ears, bones, kidney, and bladder. Water is emotionally rooted in fear, and its ideal form is wisdom.
If you want to overcome indications of a Water imbalance, these Chaé Organics essential oils can offer you support: Frankincense, Grapefruit, Lime, Thyme, Verbena.
If you are hoping to overcome feelings of tension, frustration, anger, rigidity, or repression, this may be an indication of a Wood-based imbalance in your body.
Wood is mostly noticed in areas of spirit, and when it’s in balance, usually you will feel motivated from within to move forward according to your goals, capable of organizing and managing a great deal, and generally easy-going, able to change course and keep a positive attitude in the face of challenges. Wood functions within us to define and pursue our purpose with satisfaction and gratitude, to see things in the big picture and plan ahead, and to make us present, not stuck on ideas of how things could or should be. Regarding the physical body, you may notice Wood balance and imbalance manifesting in the liver, gallbladder, nails, eyes, tendons, and ligaments. Wood is emotionally rooted in anger, and its ideal form is compassion.
If you want to overcome indications of a Wood imbalance, these Chaé Organics essential oils can offer you support: Cinnamon, Elemi, Geranium Rose, Love Blend.
If you are hoping to overcome feelings of despondence, hypersensitivity, agitation, nervousness, or low self-esteem, this may be an indication of a Fire-based imbalance in your body.
Fire is mostly noticed in areas of focus, and when it’s in balance, usually you will feel engaged in and stimulated by the world around you, intimate with yourself and your surroundings, and abundantly joyful. Fire functions within us to keep our awareness sharp, to shape our identity, to establish harmony, and light the flames of love. Regarding the physical body, you may notice Fire balance and imbalance manifesting in the heart, pericardium, mind, blood vessels, tongue, and complexion. Fire is emotionally rooted in joy, and its ideal form is love.
If you want to overcome indications of a Fire imbalance, these Chaé Organics essential oils can offer you support: Birch, Lemon, Peppermint, Ravensara.
If you are hoping to overcome feelings of confusion, indecisiveness, worry, over-protectiveness, dependence, or self-doubt, this may be an indication of an Earth-based imbalance in your body.
Earth is mostly noticed in areas of wisdom, and when it’s in balance, usually you will feel attentive to the needs of yourself and others, thoughtful consideration of thoughts, feelings, and situations, and the ability and energy to offer your support. Earth functions within us to call upon concentration when it’s needed, to engage and expand our logic and reason, but also the ability to understand situations from others’ perspectives and feel sincere sympathy. Regarding the physical body, you may notice Earth balance and imbalance manifesting in the spleen, pancreas, stomach, and in the blood. Earth is emotionally rooted in reflection, and its ideal form is empathy.
If you want to overcome indications of an Earth imbalance, these Chaé Organics essential oils can offer you support: Bergamot, Cypress, Helichrysum, Spearmint.
If you are hoping to overcome feelings of melancholy, regret, pessimism, vulnerability, avoidance, or isolation, this may be an indication of a Metal-based imbalance in your body.
Metal is mostly noticed in the body, and it is closely tied to some of our most human, existential drives and feelings. When it’s in balance, usually you will feel excited to take on new challenges, full of courage and lively energy, full of faith in yourself and hope for the future. Metal functions within us to defend and integrate us safely, set healthy boundaries, honor our instincts, and play a key role in our socialization. Regarding the physical body, you may notice Metal balance and imbalance manifesting in the lungs, intestines, skin, nose, and body hair. Metal is emotionally rooted in grief, and its ideal form is reverence.
If you want to overcome indications of a Metal imbalance, these Chaé Organics essential oils can offer you support: Blood Orange, Lavender, Lemongrass.
If you want to learn more about how aromatherapy works in relation to the Five Elements as referenced above, we highly recommend Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit: A Guide to Restoring Emotional and Mental Balance Through Essential Oils by Gabriel Mojay.
How Do I Use Essential Oils?
Since essential oils are very potent, you will generate beneficial results by diluting them in your preferred carrier oil, such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, apricot kernel oil, sweet almond oil, olive oil, argan oil, rosehip oil, black seed oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, or sunflower oil. If you haven’t tried or don’t like any of these, be sure to do your research! Depending on your skin type, some oils may irritate skin or worsen a preexisting skin condition. When mixing, add approximately 5-10 drops of essential oils per ounce of carrier oil.
Essential oils can sometimes be used directly on the skin, but may be irritating at full strength (“neat”). Use wisely - it is not appropriate to use any essential oil or essential oil product in the immediate eye area or on sensitive areas. Some essential oils are safe to be used “neat” on the bottoms of feet, palms of hands, and wrist pulse points if your physician has given no restrictions on use.
To fill your space with gorgeous fragrance, add up to five drops per 100 ml of water to your diffusing method of choice and enjoy! Or you can make a mist: 10 drops of essential oil per ounce of water or 15+ drops per ounce of vodka, gin, etc. (The essential oil will dissolve in alcohol, but will remain separated when mixed with water, so always be sure to shake the bottle before you spray!) When using homemade products, spraying homemade mists, etc., avoid the eye area, avoid open flames, and avoid coming into contact with fabrics that haven’t been spot tested in an inconspicuous place. At Chaé Organics, we have an abundance of recipes for essential oil blends and methods of use, so let us know if we should share more tips!
Some essential oils may carry unique warnings, so always read labels and cautions before use, and consider a patch test when using any ingredient you haven’t encountered before. If pregnant or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician, and always keep essential oils out of reach of children. This blog is for informational purposes, has not been reviewed by the FDA, and is not intended to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure disease. Always consult a physician or qualified health care practitioner for medical advice and health care decisions.
And remember:
You can accomplish a harmonizing solution!
