Essential Oils for Chakras

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Essential Oils are Not Just for Aromatherapy

Essential oils have been used for millennia as aromatherapy, skin support, and for optimal wellness. But essential oils can also be used to help support each of the chakras. Chakras are nothing more than energy centers in the body that give our mind a focal point when we are aiming to foster a certain energy.  Using essential oils to support chakras is simple and easy. Below is a list of essential oils that can be used for each energy center, as well as an introduction to each of the chakras.

Root Chakra

The root chakra is located at the base of the spine, and it is the foundation of our security. When this chakra is in balance, we feel grounded, secure, and have a confident relationship with money. In excess of the root chakra, we can become lazy, overweight, and hoard objects. Conversely, when we have too little, we are flighty, distracted, underweight, and lose objects frequently.

Which essential oils balance the Root?

Oils for the root chakra are grounding and earthy and are often from trees that contain very deep roots. There are also essential oils that support a healthy relationship with money and allow you to bring empowered money to your life. Lastly, there are oils that challenge us to be brave in our pursuit of dreams.

Some essential oils that support the root chakra are: cedarwood, cypress, Idaho grand fir, and vetiver.

Sacral Chakra

The sacral chakra is the water element in the body. Creativity, sexuality, and inner joy are housed in the sacral chakra. When it is in balance we pursue creative projects, flow with the waves of life, and have a normal sexual relationship with ourselves and others. Excessive sacral chakra leads to excessive sexuality and an inability to get real work done because we are constantly pursuing new creative things. Too little of the sacral chakra and we lean towards frigidity in both sexuality and personality.

Which essential oils balance the Sacral Chakra?

Oils for the sacral chakra have a youthful and fun energy. Apply these to the lower abdomen to support the sacral chakra: grapefruit, jasmine, orange, and rose.

Solar Plexus

The solar plexus chakra is a source of power, digestion, and self awareness. This is the part of the body where there is fire, and so we want to use fiery essential oils. When the Solar Plexus is in balance, we have optimal digestion, excellent self awareness, and appropriate assertiveness. But when out of balance, it manifests as excessive assertiveness, manipulation, or as a lack of direction or lack of purpose.

Which essential oils balance the Solar Plexus Chakra?

For the solar plexus, choose essential oils that are spicy, cooling, and empowering. Lemon, ginger, peppermint, sandalwood, Purification, and Transformation are great essential oils to start with.

Heart

The heart chakra is the center of love both for yourself and others. When it is in balance we give and receive love appropriately. And when out of balance we either are unable to love or we are too dependent on others to justify our love. Some people become extremely co-dependent.

Which essential oils balance the Heart Chakra?

Essential oils for the heart chakra are loving and empowering. Start with jasmine, lavender, marjoram, rose, Believe, Joy.

Throat

The throat chakra is the house for appropriate communication. It listens as well as it speaks. A balanced throat chakra brings communications that are authentic, clear, and not in excess or deficit. When the throat chakra is in excess, people talk too much, speak out of context, and have a domineering voice. In deficit, the voice is small, doesn’t convey messages clearly, or doesn’t listen effectively.

Which essential oils balance the Throat Chakra?

Choose empowering essential oils and place them on the center of the throat. Start with frankincense, lavender, peppermint.

Third Eye

The third eye is the seat of vision and dreaming. When it is in balance, we see our future clearly and have memorable dreams. Insomnia, procrastination, and fear result when the third eye is out of balance.

Which essential oils balance the Third Eye Chakra?

Use essential oils that foster vision and open the power of the brain and eyesight. Apply them, with caution, between the eyes. Start with frankincense, geranium, and sandalwood.

Crown

The crown chakra is our connection with the universe or God. It is our energy that reaches up to the sky.  When the crown chakra is in excess, over-intellectualization is common. In deficiency, spirituality may suffer.

Which essential oils balance the Crown Chakra?

Choose relaxing and uplifting oils and apply them to the crown of the head. Essential oils that support this chakra can also serve as a protection from external energy. Apply to your hands and create a shield of energy. Extend your energy protection and create a circle of essential oil energy around you. Frankincense, lavender, petitgrain, and vetiver are excellent options to start with.

Which essential oils for chakras do you use?

Comment below with your favorite essential oils for chakras, how you use them, and what you use them for.

Traveling with Essential Oils

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I Never Leave Home Without Essential Oils.

Traveling gives the opportunity to experience new foods, new cultures, and new people. Essential oils can be life savers while on the road. But some people get really worried about traveling with essential oils, so let’s talk about what I have learned in all of my travels with essential oils.

Whenever you travel, take the essential oils that you use the most with you, and be sure to screw the lids on tightly. Nothing is worse than opening luggage and realizing that an entire bottle has spilled during the journey.

Car Journeys

When on a car journey, it is important to not leave your essential oils in a hot car. Heat changes the chemical composition of oils and this can change the aroma or the effect on the body. Some essential oils oxidize in response to heat, which may increase the risk of skin irritation (eg. angelica, celery, cypress, fir, myrtle, spruce, tea tree, and more). Another great tip for car journeys is to bring along a cotton pad or car diffuser. You can make a simple diffuser simply by dropping a few drops of essential oil on a cotton pad and placing it in the air vent of your car. Orange, tangerine, and other lively essential oils can reinvigorate the environment and help keep you alert on the road.

Air Travel

If you are traveling with essential oils on a plane, you may bring them in your carry-on luggage. Most suggestions of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) state that you can bring no more than a quart-sized bag full of liquids, and these are limited to 3.4 ounces or less.

How Many Can I Bring?

In my travels, I have found that (in the United States) the TSA doesn’t care that much about the number of small liquids, but they do care if the liquids are larger than 3.4 ounces. TSA Precheck is also very beneficial for frequent travelers because you don’t have to remove the liquids from your bag.

In London, on the other hand, security will make you throw away any liquids that do not fit into a single quart-sized bag or are over 3.4 oz. (and they are not nice about it at all). Other airports and security agents completely vary: from almost no security in some African nations, to arguably the strictest airport security in the world in Srinagar or Tel Aviv. If I am in an airport I don’t know well, I find it is easier just to ask a security agent.

If you want to take more essential oils than will fit in a quart-sized bag, you may consider getting some very small vials and a carrying case. There are so many carrying cases out there that can easily fit in a carry-on or in checked luggage. I find soft side cases a bit easier to manage in luggage, but hard side cases are more durable and more easily lockable.

But What About X-Rays?

There are some people who worry that sending essential oils through an x-ray scanner will change the frequency of the essential oils. In my experience, I have never noticed a change in aroma or effectiveness after sending an essential oil through an x-ray scanner, even after repeated exposures to x-rays.

Some People Give the Advice to Never use Essential Oils on a Plane

I find this to be rubbish advice. I have used essential oils on hundreds of flights, and I have never once received a complaint. In fact, it is much more likely to strike up a conversation than garner ire from the person next to you. I love a drop of cinnamon bark or eucalyptus essential oil on a scarf, and frequently use cinnamon and clove essential oils in alcohol to spray down tray tables. I use the same mixture to spray my hands after using the airplane bathroom because some studies have shown that the water on the plane is so dirty you may walk away with more bacteria after washing your hands that before washing. (It is non-potable for a reason, for real, don’t brush your teeth with that water please. It is super gross).

Traveling with Essential Oils

Be sure that you take a couple of your favorite oils everywhere you go and treat them well on the road. Traveling with essential oils is simple and easy to do.

What are your favorite essential oils to take on your travels? Comment below with your favorite travel companions!

Come and check out some of my favorite travel essentials.

Want all of my oily education? !

10 Ways to Use Peppermint Essential Oil

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Essential Oils are So Versatile

And peppermint is no exception. In this article, we will cover 10 of my favorite uses for peppermint essential oil. I hope you will share your favorite use down in the comments. Because one thing is for sure, we all use essential oils differently.

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1. Liquid Air Conditioning

When I travel to warm climates, there is nothing I like more than peppermint essential oil under the arms, on the back of the neck, and behind the knees. The menthol in the peppermint essential oil binds the TRPM8 receptor, which then this sends a cold sensation to the brain. So even though the temperature of the skin doesn’t change, the brain thinks it has. I have used this essential oil trick through so many of my Southeast Asian country travels.

2. Hair Tonic

For years I have been putting peppermint essential oil in my hair every morning as a part of my hair tonic. Peppermint essential oil causes vasodilatation and increases blood flow to the hair follicle and can help to stimulate hair growth. Additionally, it also has cleansing properties that help to remove impurities and clean out the pores. Read about how to make my hair tonic here.

3. Pregnancy Leg Balm

A cooling leg balm is perfect for pregnant women or just about anyone with tired legs. During pregnancy, leg cramps may be caused by weight gain, changes in circulation, and from the pressure that a growing baby places on the nerves and blood vessels that go to your legs. Peppermint essential oil can help to increase blood flow and bring relief. To make the Leg Balm, click here.

4. Fizzing Toilet Powder

Clean your toilet once a week for 2-3 months with this fizzing powder that will leave your toilet refreshed and clean.

5. Support the Solar Plexus Chakra

The solar plexus chakra governs the digestive system, including the stomach, intestines, spleen, pancreas, liver and gallbladder. Because of this, an imbalance in the solar plexus may manifest itself in the body as digestive issues. If you are suffering from intestinal problems such as constipation, diarrhea, upset stomach, indigestion, etc., try adding peppermint essential oil to your drinking water or apply topically as desired.

6. Recovering from a Late Night

A drop of peppermint essential oil applied to the forehead or the roof of the mouth may bring relief from the “morning after” feeling resulting from too much fun last night.

7. Hair Mask

Use this Hair Mask weekly or as needed to rejuvenate and revitalize limp, over processed hair. In a small bowl. mix two tablespoons of honey, a tablespoon of almond oil,  a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and 5 drops of peppermint essential oils. Mix all the ingredients well and apply it from your scalp to the ends of your hair, with special focus on the damaged ends. Wear the mask for half an hour and then wash it out with a mild shampoo.

8. Clay Armpit Detox

Every now and then we need to give some extra attention to our underarm region. Deodorants can be jam packed with potentially toxic ingredients like aluminum and parabens, so this detox helps to ensure that you remove that ickiness from your system. Create this Armpit Detox to support healthy lymphatic function and to keep those areas fresh and clean.

Simply add 1 tablespoon of bentonite clay to 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and then add 3 drops of peppermint essential oil. Mix to a paste and add as much water as needed to reach desired consistency.

9. Cooling Spray for Outdoor Animals

Keep outdoor livestock animals comfortable with this homemade spray.

10. Homemade Mouthwash

Peppermint is the perfect addition to a DIY mouthwash. Freshen breath and cool and alkalinize the mouth with this easy to make mouthwash.

This is just the beginning!

Peppermint essential oil is obviously super versatile for all things cooling and refreshing, and this is just 10 ways to use it. What is your favorite way to use peppermint essential oil? Leave a comment and let us know.

Love these top ten lists? Come and check out this post on 10 uses for lemon essential oil!

And for all of my oily education,

Homemade Mouthwash with Peppermint Essential Oil

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Why Use a Homemade Mouthwash?

Standard mouthwash from the store is filled with tons of potentially toxic ingredients, not to mention intoxicating alcohol and artificial flavors and colors. Potentially risky ingredients include:

  1. Triclosan – an endocrine disruptor that may weaken the immune system and increase the risk of allergies in children.
  2. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – a foaming agent that may irritate the skin or lining of the mouth, increase the risk of cancer, and disrupt the endocrine system.
  3. Fluoride – may increase the risk of fluorosis which can increase the risk of bones breaking and affect sleep patterns and melatonin output by concentrating in the pineal gland.
  4. Propylene glycol – shown to affect body weight and also adversely affect the immune system.
  5. Diethanolamine – irritates the nose and throat. May burn the skin or impair vision if eyes are exposed.
  6. Microbeads – plastics that contaminate the ocean.

How Did I Pick the Ingredients for this Homemade Mouthwash?

This homemade mouthwash contains natural ingredients that alkanalize the mouth and help to stave off bacteria. People have used baking soda for centuries as a part of dental health care to raise the pH of the mouth and create an unfriendly environment for bacteria.

Salt naturally kills bacteria by disrupting the membrane function of bacteria.

Additionally, peppermint and clove essential oils add great flavor and aroma to the mixture and tea tree has been traditionally used to support the health of gums. Because experts do not recommended tea tree oil for ingestion, I encourage you to only swish and spit this mixture.

Xylitol is a naturally occuring sweetener that also prevents bacteria from sticking to teeth. It also contains no sugar, so there is no risk of acid erosion from using it in this mixture.

Here’s the Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup distilled water

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

4 drops peppermint essential oil

3 drops clove essential oil

2 drop tea tree essential oil

Xylitol, to taste

Directions

Simply combine all ingredients in a glass bottle. Shake well before each use. Swish and spit, but do not swallow.

What is your favorite essential oil DIY? For an effective and strong toilet bowl cleaner, come check out this post!