Essential Oils and pH Balance

Introduction

In one of my favorite books, The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Easy, Dr. David Stewart gives a decent explanation of pH balance.  He explains proper pH balance in the body, as reflected in the urine and in the blood.  Dr. Stewart explains what the term, pH, means.  He also explains why it matters to our health.  Most importantly for our discussion today, he then explains how essential oils alkalinize our bodies, making them healthier and more resistant to disease.

Please note the title of the book referred to above.   Do you see the words “chemistry” and “made easy” in the same sentence?  I never, before reading this book, believed that chemistry could be made easy or enjoyable!  Nevertheless, Dr. Stewart makes the chemistry of essential oils reasonably understandable.  I have thoroughly enjoyed this book – every time I have read it!

From Dr. Stewart’s “made easy” explanation of pH, it is easy to see why beginning chemistry books often leave the explanation of pH out altogether.   Students are encouraged to accept pH by rote.  They are taught to use the standard scale that we are all familiar with.  Finally, they learn to make calculations without understanding where these numbers come from or why.   Nonetheless, I find Dr. Stewart’s explanation fascinating and a bit humorous. (They are words in a book, after all.  That is all I need to love reading them!)   I do not, however, intend to attempt to recreate his explanations extensively.

For today we are going to stick to very basic definitions and a few fascinating (to me, at least) facts.  These facts will be limited to those that are relevant to essential oils, for the most part.  For the rest, we are going “by rote” and “by faith” – just as beginning chemistry students do.

Definition of pH

The most simple explanation of pH that I have come across is: pH is a measurement of acidity in an aqueous solution. In other words, in water.  Why the lower case “p” and the upper case “H”?  This always looked strange to me!  The characteristic feature of an acid, chemically speaking, is its willingness to give up positive Hydrogen ions.  An upper case “H” is the chemical symbol for hydrogen.  Hence, the upper case “H”.  The lower case “p” represents the word “potential”.   In a like manner, “potential” is a very good choice of a descriptive word for the process of acidity,  “Potential” is a reminder to us that Hydrogen ions are “potentially” and easily available during chemical interactions.  Thus, “potential Hydrogen” is a very descriptive and well-chosen name for a scale that measures that intensity of acidic action.

Acid, Alkaline, and Neutral

Pure water has a pH balance of 7.0.  This is considered neutral.  A pH value below 7.0 indicates an acid.  It follows, then, that a pH above 7.0 is alkaline or basic.  Alkalinity is the opposite of acidic.  Why is 7.0 considered neutral rather than some sensible number like 0?  That is a complicated explanation and it doesn’t really matter anyway, as long as we remember that 7.0 is neutral.  If we accept this – by faith or by rote – we can use the pH scale to help us achieve and maintain a healthy balance.

When an atom of a molecule loses or gain a proton or an electron, it becomes only a partial atom or molecule.  It is now electronically unbalanced.  Partial atoms or molecules are called “ions.”  They are also called “free radicals.”  Does that term ring a bell in your mind?

Acidity

A hydrogen atom is a single electron orbiting around a single proton.  A hydrogen ion is a hydrogen atom which has donated its electron.  As a result, it is out of balance electronically.  Free hydrogen ions (free hydrogen radicals) are what makes an acid an acid.  The greater the tendency of a compound to give up hydrogen atoms when in an aqueous solution, the greater is the strength of that acid.  In other words, the more acidic that substance is.  Hydrogen ions are extremely aggressive little creatures.  This aggression makes acids corrosive.  It also gives acidic foods a bit of a “bite”.  This is the tartness that we like, a bit, in such things as lemons and orange juice.

The Acid Alkaline Scale

A lower pH value number represents a higher concentration of acids.  The lower the pH value is the more destructively aggressive that compound becomes.

Aqueous (Water) Solutions and Essential Oils

Acid/alkaline, as denoted by pH, has no relevance except for compounds or elements that will dissolve in water.  Essential oils, for the most part, do not dissolve in water.  The term, pH is not usually something that can be applied to essential oils. They are neither alkaline nor acidic in and of themselves.  There are, also exceptions among those substances that are not steam distilled but are still referred to as essential oils.  Essential oil molecules stick together with other essential oil molecules.

Essential Oils and Alkalinity

I know that I will be repeating myself here for a moment.  However, I want to be sure that you are making these most important connections.  I want to be sure that you understand what a blessing essential oils are to us as far as acid/alkaline states in our bodies are concerned.  As I said above, essential oil molecules stubbornly stick together.  This means that essential oils are very reluctant to give up hydrogen atoms as ions.  Simply said, they do not separate into electrically unbalanced parts.  Essential oils refuse to become free radicals!

Remember that I said acids are aggressive little critters.  They really get annoyed at these stubborn essential oils molecules.  The role of an acid is to aggressively break down other molecules.  It is their nature to attack the intact molecules of essential oils.  Because essential oils are living matter – and very stubborn about remaining so – the ensuing battle between the essential oils molecules and the acids becomes quite intense.

 In this battle, the essential oils neutralize the acids.  This is a very good thing!
To be healthy and disease resistant, our bodies need to be slightly more alkaline than acidic.                                        

The Benefits of Being  Slightly More Alkaline than Acidic

Being alkaline is critical to overall health!  The benefits of being alkaline rather than acidic include:

•  pH balance protects us from the inside out!  Bacteria and virus-driven diseases cannot take hold and survive in an alkaline environment!
• When we are alkaline, we experience protection against plaque formation in our blood vessels.
• Our bodies are protected from calcium accumulating in our urine.
• We will be less likely to experience kidney stones, kidney disease, and the damage that results from these conditions.
• Because we are alkaline, we will experience less inflammation and less chronic pain are wonderful benefits of keeping ourselves alkaline.
• We will be able to maintain stronger bones and have a better mineral density in our bones.  In other words, we will not suffer from osteoporosis.
• Our muscles will be healthier.  We will avoid muscle spasms and slow the wasting of muscle as we age.
• In addition, we will experience increased protection against chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and arthritis.
• An alkaline state protects us against vitamin D deficiency with all of its related consequences.
• Other tissues and organs become stronger.  They are more resilient and better protected from damage.
• Our immune systems become stronger.  Consequently, we will experience less (or no) allergies and auto-immune disorders.

Alkalosis

It is possible for pH levels to become too high and the body to become excessively alkaline.  This state is called alkalosis.  There are two types of alkalosis.

Respiratory Alkalosis

The major cause of respiratory alkalosis is hyperventilation.  Hyperventilation causes too much carbon dioxide to be expelled from the blood.  Anxiety disorders, as discussed in another blog, are the most common cause of hyperventilation and, therefore, of respiratory alkalosis.  Other causes of hyperventilation and temporary alkalosis include heavy breathing as the result of pain or fever.  An overdose of aspirin can bring on alkalosis.  Interestingly, too much aspirin can also cause metabolic acidosis.

Metabolic Alkalosis

This is a general term for either the extreme loss of acids or the gaining of too many bases.  How can this happen? For example, prolonged vomiting causes loss of stomach acids.  The suctioning of the stomach due to poisoning might be another example.  Ingesting base substances such as baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) can also trigger alkalosis.

Any excessive loss of fluids and electrolytes affects the kidneys’ ability to maintain the blood’s acid/base balance.  An overactive adrenal gland or the over-use of diuretics may cause such of loss of electrolytes.

Symptoms of Alkalosis

• Sore muscles
• Creaking joints
• Bone spurs
• Irritability
• Protruding eyes
• Drowsiness
• Hand tremors
• Muscle twitching
• Numbness or tingling in the face, hands, or feet
• Seizures
• Edema
• Night cramps
• Asthma
• Chronic indigestion
• Itching skin
• Hard dry stools

While alkalosis may be caused by anxiety and hyperventilation, these two conditions can also be the result of alkalosis.  Treatment for alkalosis is usually directed at reversing or stopping the cause.  First, treat whatever is causing the prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, if that is the problem. Replace water and electrolytes as quickly as conditions allow.  If the problem is respiratory alkalosis, the first step is to increase the oxygen that the person is getting.  Find a way to relieve the pain, the anxiety, or the fever.  In addition, breathing into a paper bag may help raise the carbon dioxide levels in the blood.  As a result, pH levels will return to normal.

The Downsides of Acidosis

Well, just think of the negative reverse state of all of the above conditions.  When we expose ourselves to too many acid-producing substances, our kidneys use up electrolytes such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium to bring us into a pH balanced state once again.  As a result, these electrolyte minerals are no longer available for the bodily functions that require them.  Mineral deficiencies lead to a host of other, constantly spiraling downward, conditions.

Bacteria, yeast, and fungi thrive in an acidic environment.  As they grow and flourish, they secrete toxins and micro-toxins.  These toxins are poisonous to the human body.  In other words, they make us sick!  Micro-organisms that were created or flourished during an acidic period in our lives can hibernate during healthier, more alkaline times.  As long as we are either alkaline or pH balance is neutral, they sleep.  When we allow ourselves to become acidic, they attack!

Symptoms of Acidosis

When we are acidic, we are likely to experience many of the following ailments:

• Frequent sighing
• Insomnia
• Recessed eyes
• Migraine headaches
• Low blood pressure
• Kidney stones and kidney disease
• Inflammation and pain
• Muscle spasms and pain
• Hypertension
• Vitamin D deficiencies
• Allergies, asthma, and congestion
• Auto-immune disorders
• Fatigue
• Frequent colds
• Skin problems
• Ulcers
• Weigh gain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Foul smelling stools with burning at the anus
• Alternating constipation and diarrhea
• The sensitivity of the teeth to vinegar and acid fruits

Symptoms of More Severe or Long-term Acidosis

If the acid state becomes severe or goes on for too long a time, it will lead to more serious health problems, including but not limited to:

• Arthritis
• Cancers
• Diabetes
• Fibromyalgia
• Heart disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Osteoporosis
• Stroke
• Changes in brain function leading to confusion and memory loss
• Seizures

When we die, our body immediately starts turning acid and the decomposition process begins.  Think about that for a moment.  Certainly, an acidic state is a decomposing state!  A blood pH of 7.0 or below can result in death in less than 15 minutes.

Neutralizing Acids with Essential Oils

Essential oils, although having no pH rating of their own, lower acidity in the body.  As we pointed out above under the heading, Essential Oils and Alkalinity, essential oils have no free Hydrogen ions.  However, essential oils willingly sacrifice themselves by engulfing the free H+ ions.  In other words, they destroy free radicals and neutralize the acids produced by them.

If a person is in an unhealthy acidic state, ANY essential oil will search out and neutralize those acids.  Simultaneously, it will go to work on the toxins being produced by the colonies of bacteria that are flourishing in the acidic environment.  Toxins, while being destroyed, can create some unpleasant reactions.  Because of these reactions, the aroma of the oil may seem to be “nasty” and unpleasant.  A person who is acidic is likely to experience some of these symptoms when first using essential oils.  Even people who use essential oils regularly may experience symptoms.  Allow ourselves to ingest too many acid-producing foods is not a good idea.  Being in an acidic state always has consequences.  It takes real carelessness or deliberate ignoring of good dietary habits to be acidic in the face of essential oils use.  It is, in today’s world of sweets and treats, all too possible, however.

More often than not, when a person has reduced his acidity and toxicity levels, they will come to enjoy the fragrances they could not tolerate before!

Symptoms of bacterial die-off

• A headache
• Foggy thinking
• Fatigue
• Increased bowel movements
• Kidney stress as the dying bacteria pass through the kidneys in order to exit the body
• Bloating
• Chills
• Possibly, short-term depression and anxiety
• Insomnia

Sometimes, people mistakenly refer to these reactions as an allergic reaction.  Technically, with pure distilled essential oils, an allergic reaction is not possible, even if you are allergic to that particular plant in real life.  Distilled essential oils do not contain the proteins that cause allergies.  In Europe, only distilled products are referred to as essential oils.  Cold pressing and CO2 extracted oils are sometimes referred to as essential oils in many places these days.  These types of oils may contain these types of proteins.

The Acidic State and Essential Oil Usage

If your blood and tissues are in an acidic state, you may not be getting the health benefits from your essential oils that other people report.  When you are acidic, the essential oils you apply to your body are being used to neutralize acids first.  This is because those acids aggressively destroy organs and tissues.  The essential oils want, first and foremost, to prevent that destruction.  You will need more essential oil in order to have enough left over to achieve any other healing function.  While other people are experiencing pain relief and reduced inflammation, the oils placed on an acidic person must neutralize acids first.  Then, if there is anything left over, they can relieve pain, reduce inflammation or rebuild nerves.

It will take more essential oils to bring about the results that you desire and expect if you are living your life in an acidic state.

Avoiding Acidity

Blood pH is regulated in three basic ways.  These are:  (1) From what we eat, (2) By how we breathe, and (3) By our kidney functions.

(1) What we eat

What we consume metabolizes, in our bodies, into acids or alkalines.  You may be surprised at which foods are which.  Paradoxically, citrus fruits, although highly acidic, metabolize into alkalines in our bodies.  For this reason, eating citrus can be a way to raise pH, thus increasing alkalinity.

Some other alkaline-forming foods include apricots, avocados, corn, dates, grapefruit, grapes, lemons, millet, oranges, raisins, and vegetables in general.  Honey, molasses, agave, and maple syrup are examples of alkaline-forming sweeteners.

White sugar is one of the worst possible things that you can eat if you are trying to be alkaline.  Like everything else in nature and in the world, acid-forming foods come in degrees of trouble.  I do not eat sweets very often and my urine never tests acidic.  However, I eat many of the foods on the low to mid-range acid-forming lists.  I eat a lot of eggs, cottage cheese, salmon, turkey, and chicken.  I also eat a lot of vegetables, beans, and healthy fats.  Basically, I guess I am saying that we each need to find what works best for our own bodies.

The actions of alkaline earth elements in our bodies are, very likely, the most important factors in the regulation of pH levels in our bodies. These elements are Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), and Magnesium (Mg).  The best sources of these alkalizing minerals are fruits and vegetables.

(2) Breathing

Breathing lowers blood acidity.  In other words, breathing increases alkalinity.  Shallow breathing, or holding one’s breath, increases acidity in the body and in the blood.  I used to breathe very shallowly.  In addition, I would also hold my breath when concentrating or nervous.  Changing these band habits took a lot of effort.  My pH balance reflects the improvements I have made in this area.  Excess breathing, hyperventilation, (as we have discussed), can raise the pH into the alkalosis range.  Aerobic exercises that encourage deeper breathing can help us achieve and maintain an appropriate alkaline state.  The breath is the quickest way to raise pH levels and increase alkalinity than are the kidneys.  In fact, proper breathing is the most important thing we can do to help our bodies maintain a healthy, slightly alkaline state.

(3)  The Kidneys

The kidneys are longer-term regulators of pH balance.  Therefore, urine that is more acidic may mean that the body is working hard to rid itself of excess dietary acid-forming foods.  A good urine strip never lies.  A pregnant woman with a fully functioning pancreas may get away with consuming quite a lot of sweets without the strip showing abnormal glucose levels.  However, the pH part of the strip is much more sensitive to sugar consumption as it takes so little sugar to throw our pH levels off.  Urine will be slightly more acidic than blood levels because eliminating acids is one of the jobs of the kidneys.

Acidic Emotions

We discussed, above, the way in which essential oils engulf acids and neutralize them.  How essential oils attack bacteria and, quite literally, kill them off was also discussed.  We talked about how this die-off can make an essential oil seem unpleasant to a person at that time.  The same is true of toxic emotions.  Negative and destructive emotions such as hate, envy, anger, resentment, bitterness, etc. are spiritual acids.  They aggressively eat away at our peace of mind.  They gobble up our happy moments.  Without a doubt, they come between us and other people.  Certainly, they come between us and God.

Spiritually and emotionally acidic people may respond negatively to the aroma of even the most pleasant essential oil.  Such reactions only mean that unpleasant thoughts or feelings are being brought to the surface by the essential oil.  Is the essential oil forcing that person to face something that they would rather keep stuffed inside and deeply hidden?  Perhaps.  They can, however, always choose to avoid that essential oil.  On the other hand, they can make use of the opportunity to find, explore, and release these dark emotions.

Healing Spiritually and Emotionally in Order to Heal Physically.

Essential oils are amazing adjunctives to any type of emotional release therapy.  It has long been my belief that it is impossible to use any essential oil for purely physical healing.  Essential oils lend themselves to the repair or engulfing of broken ions (free radicals).  Similarly, essential oils engulf our negative emotions with peace and healing.  They fill our souls with the healing balm of gratitude and generosity.  When there is more than one essential oil for healing a physical problem, I always turn to the emotional pictures of the essential oils to finalize my choice.  In fact, the emotional “personality” of an essential oil is the thing that I look at first and foremost.  I have found that if I focus on healing myself spiritually and emotionally, I have fewer physical issues to worry about!

Getting the Most from Your Essential Oils

To get the most benefit possible from your essential oil purchases, you should:

• Keep your body pH levels in normal ranges by paying attention to diet, good exercise routines, lowering stress levels, and avoiding the use of antibiotics and pharmaceutical drugs.  (Drugs dramatically increase acidity!)
• In addition, teach yourself to breathe properly.
• Work on yourself spiritually and emotionally.  As my first energy teacher used to say, several times a day in every class, “Work on your own spiritual self first and do it every single day!”
• Make use of essential oils to raise body pH and to maintain proper pH levels.  Moreover and more importantly, use essential oils in your spiritual and emotional work.
• Recognize that essential oils also raise and stabilize one’s spiritual and emotional pH levels.  Use essential oils to bring peace, calmness, and joy into your own lives.

(Acknowledgment and thanks are given here to Dr. David Stewart for recognizing and teaching about the spiritual effects of essential oils. His book, The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Easy,  is subtitled”God’s Love Manifest in Molecules”.  This tells us a great deal about this man.  It also tells us a great deal about essential oils and their healing capacities for human emotions and spiritual ailments.)

Acidic Emotions and Essential Oils

While ALL essential oils neutralize acids in the body, some specific essential oils are very adept at reducing spiritually and emotionally acidic emotions.  I have not mentioned every oil that might possibly help with each emotion listed.  Neither have I given long explanations for each essential oil blend.  These descriptions are meant to be reminders of the emotional assistance that we can get from the use of essential oils.  For further information about each oil listed, simply click on the oil name.  As a result of that quick click, you will immediately find additional descriptions and suggestions.  (Seriously, I realize that the following “short” list is long but there is a lot more information on the website and in the book, Butterfly Miracles with Essential Oils.  

Anger

^LeAngel

^LeAngel promotes feelings of being safe and loved.  More often than not, using this blend helps one let go of the anger left from traumatic memories of abuse. ^LeAngel is especially helpful for releasing feelings of insecurity, helplessness, and rage.  ^LeAngel can help a person reach a place of safety in their minds from which to release and process their memories.

^LeCherish

^LeCherish helps us replace anger with a clarity of purpose as well as sensitivity and compassion for others.  Hence, this blend is perfect for the aftermath of quarrels and traumatic events.  This blend, when I use it, always makes me want to do better and behave in ways that will make life better for myself and others in the future.

 ^LeExpressions

Contains many of the highest frequency essential oils, thus making this blend perfect for emotional work of any kind. The energy of this blend is far more effective than any of the single oils on their own.  It is, however, particularly useful for working with anything where anger is a factor.

^LeInsight

When the trust of a child in his personal safety and the love of his caregivers is broken, there is deep damage to the personality.  ^LeInsight is powerful in for Inner Child work.  I like ^LeInsight when working with issues that are keeping the angry inner child at the forefront of everyday life.

^LeLetting Go

Just as the name implies, this is an oil for letting go of any and all negative and emotionally toxic emotions.  Consequently, this blend will be listed under most of the emotions that will be written about here today.  ^LeLetting Go is a mild liver support blend.  Because of this, it should be applied over the liver as well as the aroma inhaled.

^LeLivN

^LeLivN is another blend for cleansing the blood and the liver.  As such, it cannot help but release and relieve feelings of anger and frustration. ^LeLivN tends to give us more patience with the people around us and the events of our lives.

^LeQuiet Essence

Deeply held pain – pain that is held at the cellular level – can dramatically alter our perspective.  Reality, then, becomes relative to our perceptions.  Life becomes centered around the next triggering of emotional pain.  Sometimes there is anger, perhaps even towering rage, at the people and situations that trigger this pain.  ^LeQuiet Essence can bring us peace, patience, and perspective.  As a result, it will be easier to be calmer in our own centers and kinder to those around us.

^LeRevitalize

^LeRevitalize is another blend for liver health.  This blend has proven useful for anger management.  Actually, it is more like it works for letting go of anger altogether.  ^LeRevitalize was of great value to my husband after his horrible burns.  It was not that he was angry.  He would just get so very tired and, sometimes, discouraged.  I would apply ^LeRevitalize to his feet.  Within minutes, I could see the change in his energy and in his emotional state.

^LeTranquility

In my opinion, ^LeTranquility is the best blend in the Butterfly line for helping us take a step back from an intense situation.  When we step back from an emotionally charged situation, we are often better able to see possible solutions.

^LeTrust (or, more accurately, lack of the ability to trust)

Sometimes, we forget that we need to learn to trust ourselves as well as learn to trust others.  In like manner, we tend to forget that the trust this blend inspires is sometimes the trust we need to have in ourselves.  ^LeTrust, quite simply, helps us to be more accepting, tolerant, compassionate, and forgiving of ourselves and others.

^LeTurmoil

Surely, anger is one of the natural stages of grief.  It is not, however, a pleasant stage.  Nor is it a stage that we want to stay stuck in.  ^LeTurmoil is an essential blend for helping us move through the anger stage of grief or loss.  For some people, sometimes, anger can take the form of hyperactivity and nervousness.  Perhaps, it is an attempt to burn off their anger in socially acceptable ways.  If I find myself jumping from one project to another, unable to settle down and organize myself, ^LeTurmoil is the blend I reach for.

^LeUnity

This essential oil blend just about has to be experienced to be believed! ^LeUnity, without doubt, really does promote feelings of harmony within our own selves.  This internal harmony then promotes unity and cooperation with those around us.  I have found, more importantly, that this blend makes me more prone to listen to counsel from Heaven.

^LeWisdom

One of the best aspects of this blend is that it anchors us in the present time.  Past experiences become stepping stones instead of stumbling blocks.  Accordingly, we can see them as learning experiences that created the wisdom we enjoy today.  This blend is often used in Inner Child work when there is still some unresolved anger at the past and the people who were part of that past.

Anxiety

^LeAssurance

^LeAssurance is ALL about working with anxiety.  The best thing about this blend, however, is that it seems to help people put the anxiety aside enough to get back to the tasks they need to perform.  ^LeAssurance does this because it helps us sort out the reasons, realistic or not, that we have for putting off reaching for our goals.  Procrastination would be another good name for this blend.

^LeCherish

High-frequency essential oils are said to be especially useful for emotional health and resilience.  Jasmine and Osmanthus, two of the three oils in this blend, are members of the same exotic family.  They are used, in the perfume industry, in only the most costly and extraordinary fragrances.  These two oils are multi-faceted and multi-dimensional in their aromas and in their healing capacities.  This intense blend requires only a drop or two to be effective.  In fact, I prefer to use just the aroma.  As much as I love this blend, it tends to stay with me and follow me around for what feels like forever once I have put it on my body.

^LeEZ Traveler

Initially, ^LeEZ Traveler was created to calm travel anxiety.  It does that very well.  Additionally, ^LeEZ Traveler promotes feelings of calmness and emotional fortitude in just about any situation.  Interestingly, this blend has been used, successfully, in treatments for anorexia.  Anxiety and self-doubt of some kind or another seem to always be a part of eating disorders.

^LeGoodNite

The calming effects of ^LeGoodNite encourage restful and anxiety free sleep, for me at least.  That is an interesting statement because ^LeGoodNite also seems to promote the processing, calmly and painlessly, of deep emotions.  I sometimes go to bed stressed and worried about something, as well all do, I expect.  If I fall asleep to the aroma of ^LeGoodNite, I wake in the morning better able to think and speak more clearly about the situation.  For that reason, ^LeGoodNite is one of my favorite blends for bedtime.

^LeGrace

^LeGrace is for helping us set aside our fears, whatever they may be.  Of particular note, among the fears ^LeGrace work best with, is the fear that we are somehow not quite good enough or smart enough.  We may fear that we are going to be unable to accomplish the things that are most important to us.  Our failure will be due to the fact that we are not all that we should be.   ^LeGrace was so named because it was meant to help us connect with God’s view of our potential.  It helps us to see ourselves as God sees us.

^LeHeartSong

^LeTranquility is, absolutely, the best blend for anxiety and panic attacks.  If it fails to work, however, ^LeHeart Song is almost always the blend that is needed!  You do not need to be suffering serious anxiety or grief, however, to benefit from this blend.  By all means, carry this one with you throughout your day.  You will find that it will be a very great blessing in your life.

^LeSego Lily

^LeSego Lily is a very versatile blend.  It is just as good in a crisis and it is when used to bring its calming influence into our lives every day.  ^LeSego Lily is very nice in the bath.  Among its many aromatic effects, ^LeSego Lily inspires us to show more love and appreciation to others.

^LeSolitude

I am a person who requires a certain amount of alone time.  I don’t often get it, however.  ^LeSolitude, diffused even in the most hectic of circumstances, make me feel as though I have found a bit of peace and quiet.  ^LeSolitude makes me feel as though I have spent time in solitary thought and regeneration of myself.

^LeTranquility

As I have said before and over and over again, ^LeTranquility is the very best of the Butterfly line for dealing with anxiety and panic attacks.  In addition, it is useful as a sleep aid.  Though certainly an emotional blend, ^LeTranquility, nevertheless, can be a blend for some interesting physical conditions.  Circulatory problems, migraine and tension headaches, as well as inflammation and pain that has its roots in stress, are some of these conditions.

^LeVision

If you tend to be irritable when you are feeling anxious, this blend is for you.  Anxiety about the future or the inability to see the path ahead of you clearly can also be transformed using this blend.   I find ^LeVision helpful when I am unsure of myself and, as a result, have begun to rely on other people’s opinions a little too much.

Depression

Being blessed, as so many of us are, with plenty and opportunity, we should be among the happiest people on earth, wouldn’t you think? And yet, it has to be acknowledged that we also have many reasons to feel stressed, anxious, and even depressed.  Depression can rob a wonderful person’s life of joy and satisfaction.  Can an essential oil really make a difference with depression?  I believe that it can.  I believe this simply because I have seen it happen so often.

^LeAcknowledge

^LeAcknowledge nourishes and strengthens the nervous system.  In addition, it helps us to accept that not all things in life are perfect, or even perfectly fair.  ^LeAcknowledge helps us to move forward, even when the circumstances of our lives are not what we would wish them to be.  Moving forward with the peace brought by acceptance and faith is what the blend, ^LeAcknowledge, is all about.  In addition to nourishing the nervous system, ^LeAcknowledge also balances both the heart and the sacral chakras.  What does this mean to depression?  The heart chakra, among its many functions, helps us to accept the love and sympathy of those around us.  The solar plexus chakra, on the other hand, helps us project our own strength to others.  It helps us, in spite of our circumstances, to be a blessing to others.

^LeGrateful Heart

Sometimes, perhaps even many times, gratitude for what we do have can be a powerful antidote to depression.  Discontent, dissatisfaction and, certainly, full-blown depression are destructive to both the nervous system and the immune system.  ^LeGrateful Heart contains many of the most physically and emotionally strengthening essential oils available.  Because of the outstanding synergy of the oils in this blend, ^LeGrateful Heart has been used, to good effect, in such varied physical problems as the blood sugar lows of hypoglycemia and the treatment of auto-immune disorders.

^LeHeart Song

We have talked about ^LeHeart Song previously.  We will probably do so again.  The realm of action of ^LeHeart Song, however, is depression.  This is true when the depression is a case of post-partum baby blues.  It is equally true whether the roots of the depression lie in physical pain and limitation or in emotional stress or sorrow.  ^LeHeart Song, simply stated, allows the heart to find its joy.  It helps the soul learn to sing again in its heart.

^LeMeditation

The purpose of ^LeMeditation (both the blend and the practice) is to bring us to a place where we can feel Heaven’s love for us and be more able to hear Heaven’s loving counsel.  The result of this “meditating” is a greater ability to walk away from negative thought patterns and from discouragement.

^LeSego Lily

^LeSego Lily promotes feelings of love and appreciation.  As a result of these feelings, we are better able to see in ourselves the good things that others see in us.  Additionally, we are able to understand that they really do love and appreciate us.  From this warm and delightful place, we are likely to become inspired to show our own love and appreciation for others.

^LeTurmoil

^LeTurmoil helps us view our lives, and our trials, from a more positive perspective.  This blend is especially suited to the anger stage of grief when that stage seems to be setting into depression.  There is something of every type of essential oil in ^LeTurmoil.  I included flower oils and citrus oils.  That amazing oil, frankincense, is a resin.  Sandalwood and rosewood bring the stability of the woods to this blend.  The synergy of ^LeTurmoil, while not smelling really pleasant, is absolutely amazing.  Make no mistake, ^LeTurmoil does not smell bad.  It just does not have the flowery scent you might expect from a blend that contains zanthoxylum, rose, and sandalwood.  I think it is the spikenard.  Spikenard, however, is essential to the nerve building properties of this blend.

Fear

We have mentioned fear in many essential oils discussions, previously.  Because of that, I have included only two additional blends under this heading.

^LeAboutFace (fear of death)

^LeAboutFace is a blend of various frankincenses with one close frankincense cousin essential oil.  Frankincense essential oils have been valued the world over for centuries.  There are so many emotional depths to frankincense.  However, I find that one of the most comforting uses for ^LeAboutFace is to bring comfort to those who know that they are dying.  Diagnosis with a terminal illness or the last days of such an illness can be very difficult times, also.  This blend of frankincense oils seems to bring Heaven close in a way that brings both comfort and courage.  I speak of the fear of death here, but ^LeAboutFace is equally effective for other types of fear, in fact.

^LeFaith (abandonment, poverty)

^LeFaith is, specifically, a blend that is useful for fears concerning abandonment.  It is for those people who, realistically or unrealistically, have a great fear of being left alone to cope with situations for which they do not think they are adequately prepared.  If you are prone to useless worries and fears about things that you cannot change, this blend may be good for you.  Faith and fear simply cannot coexist!

Frustration

^LeCinnamonBear

This is a delightful blend!  The spruce grounds our energy to earth.  The citruses lift our mood and our spirits.  The cassia and clove clear our minds and sharpen our senses.  The rosemary provides support for a very wide range of physical and emotional systems.  Besides all that, ^LeCinnamonBear simply smells delightful.  I remember taking this blend to a class of FootZone students as gifts.  The immediately fell in love with both the aroma and the effect it had on their energy, mood, and feelings of confidence and capability.

^LeDiscernment

This blend can help us achieve a healthy balance between our analytical left brain hemisphere and our more intuitive right brain side.  Frustration, for me, too often accompanies a need to decide whether to solve a problem from an analytical standpoint or to let my intuitive side lead out.  ^LeDiscernment helps to take counsel, calmly, from both sides of my nature.  This blend also helps me to find a balance between saving and preparing for the future and living with joy and peace today.

^LeLetting Go

^LeLetting Go does exactly what the name implies.  This blend helps us let go off negative emotions and perceptions.  One, but only one, of those emotions, is fear.  Letting go of our fear and getting on with the things that we would like to be doing can energize the entire body and the mind.

^LeWhispering Hope

This blend is named for a hymn that was special to one of my grandmothers.  One of the possible healing effects of this blend is to help us cope with the frustration we feel as the result of other people’s choices.  It can be frustrating to know that it is wrong of us, and impossible anyway, to step in and do it for them our way.

Irritability

^LeBenediction

The aroma of ^LeBenediction can increase the integrity of the energy fields which surround and protect our bodies.  With our personal boundaries strengthened, we are much less irritated by the minor faults and foibles of those around us.

^LeConnection

The blend, ^LeConnection, is designed for people who have unrealistic expectations of themselves.  Sometimes these unrealistic expectations extend to the people around them.  Regardless of what has caused their disappointment, ^LeConnection can be a great help in calming the irritation that they feel at themselves and others.

^LeInner Peace

Because ^LeInner Peace helps us feel genuine compassion for others, it is an excellent blend for calming any irritable feeling we may have towards others.  ^LeInner Peace, like ^LeBenediction, protects us from the negative energy of others.  It is much easier to feel compassionate, instead of irritable, if our own energy is not being drained either a person or the situation we are in with them.

^LeMillenia

^LeMillenia helps us move forward with confidence and faith.  We know what is really necessary for happiness and contentment.  As we become stable within ourselves, we find the struggles of those around us easier to handle.  The desire to irritably criticize or snap at them is moderated to a great degree.

^LeBalance and ^LeWoman Wise

These two blends are for the balancing of hormones.  We all agree I am sure, that we are never more irritable than when our hormones are out of whack!  ^LeWoman Wise is, also for the younger set and for women in their child-bearing years.  ^LeBalance is a blend for men and for women who have already achieved menopause.  (I say achieved because I happen to like being a menopausal woman!)

Jealousy  Envy

^LeGrace

The experiences of my life have shown me that jealousy and envy can sometimes cloud even the most decent person’s thinking.  Before they know it, they are behaving in irrational ways.  Their actions become destructive of their relationships.  They lose the respect of their associates.  Often they mess up the very relationships that are most important to them.

^LeReconciliation

It has been my experience that jealousy and envy (coveting another person’s things or their life), is the root of many nasty things in relationships.  Three of the four essential oils in this blend are flower oils.  They each will improve our loving connection to others – if we will let them.  Vanilla, the grounding low note of this blend.  Vanilla is a very warming and welcoming essential oil.

^LeSynopsis

The focus of ^LeSynopsis is digestive issues brought on by emotions.  Whether or not we have the digestive issues, Synopsis can help with emotional issues.  One emotion for which Synopsis is suited is the need to look good, or even be the best, in every situation we find ourselves in.   The driver for this demanding and exhausting emotion can be either fear or envy.  Either way, we would be happier if we could put such an emotion out of our lives.  ^LeSynopsis can help.

See Unity under the title “Quarrelsome”

Judging, Being Judgmental

^LeBenediction

Besides its many other marvelous attributes, ^LeBenediction can moderate our tendency to judge others unkindly.  Sometimes, we tell ourselves that they created the mess they are in.  We justify our inaction by telling ourselves that since they created the mess they are in, we are justified in leaving them alone to fix it.  It is difficult to maintain that attitude in the face of ^LeBenediction.

^LeGrace

The aroma of ^LeGrace can help us feel assured that we are in the right place doing what we were meant to do – if this is really true for us.  Even if it is not, ^LeGrace can help us know that we are loved by Heaven and of value.  ^LeGrace helps us find our place and move gracefully toward that place, whatever it might be.

^LeKadence

^LeKadence has such a perfect aroma that it can be worn as a cologne or a perfume.  That is one of the things that I like best about this blend.  The second thing that I like about this blend is that it makes me feel good.  In my book, I say that the focus of ^LeKadence is exhaustion brought on by work and worry.  Since writing that short statement I have asked myself why ^LeKadence makes me feel better all over.  I don’t believe that I am exhausted by work.  I love what I do every day!  So, it must be that I worry.  I do tend to do that!  ^LeKadence quiets my mind.  This frees up energy for my physical body.

^LeKadence brings vitality to the heart chakra and the heart muscle.  With my health history, this is something that I can always benefit from.  What does all of this have to do with being judgmental?  A closed heart chakra, or a physical heart that is in trouble, always results in an attitude that is less than compassionate.  In other words, judgmental!  By the way, ^LeKadence also improves our body’s ability to uptake nutrients.

^LeReconciliation

I am going to quote directly from my book, Butterfly Miracles with Essential Oils.   “The aroma of ^LeReconciliation helps us find peace with the past, joy in our relationships as they are today, and hope for the future of our connections to loved ones near to us or far away.”  I love this blend!  It is hard to be cranky and judgmental with ^LeReconciliation being diffused into the room!     

^LeTrust

Again, quoting directly from the essential oil book, “^LeTrust helps us be more accepting, tolerant, compassionate, and forgiving or ourselves and others.”  That phrase is about as close to the opposite of judgmental as one can get!

See ^LeUnity under the title “Quarrelsome”

Loneliness

^LeBelieve

The blend, ^LeBelieve, works at the cellular level of memories.  Sometimes, we are not even aware of the drivers of the emotions that we feel.  For some people, it is possible to feel lonely, even in a crowd.  For some other people, being in a crowd is actually the most lonely of social situations.  One of the benefits of ^LeBelieve is that it helps us move past the need to protect ourselves emotionally.  Instead of walling ourselves off we find ourselves in a state of joyous anticipation of whatever life, and the people around us, have in store for us next.

^LeKey to My Heart

This blend has an effect on the physical and emotional rhythms of the heart.  ^LeKey to My Heart has a particularly dramatic impact on the pericardium.  Again, both physically and emotionally.  The name of this blend is so descriptive.  The effect of this aroma is to encourage us to give those around us a “key to our hearts.”  Balance in the pericardium helps us perceive other people’s intentions accurately.  Openness here allows us to give and receive love.  Because we feel connected to those around us, loneliness evaporates away.

^LeMagi

The loneliest feeling in the world is to feel that brought on by lack of self-confidence.  If we feel that we have little to contribute, we are likely to set ourselves apart from other people.  ^LeMagi can be of assistance in overcoming doubt and negative feelings about one’s own abilities.  It may even help us accept compliments and congratulations for jobs well done and feel good about ourselves at the end of the day.

Overwhelmed

^LeGrace

One of the healing aspects of ^LeGrace is the regulation of the electrical impulses of the heart.  This effect is most pronounced when the heart problems are driven by the feeling that we do not have the ability to do all that is required of us.  In other words, we feel completely overwhelmed by our life and our responsibilities.  ^LeGrace helps us relax.  This blend helps us understand that our best is good enough. ^LeGrace reminds us that there are times and seasons of life.  We have another day, after this one, to achieve our full potential in all aspects of ourselves.

^LeSanctuary

The predominance of wood oils in this blends creates feelings of being in a very safe and restful place.  From this safe place, we can see our world more clearly.  Perhaps there are things we can eliminate or things we can do in a more efficient manner.  One of my favorite poems has some lines that say something like this:  “Dusting and sweeping can wait ’till tomorrow.  Children grow up, we’ve learned to our sorrow.   So settle down cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.  I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.”

^LeWhispering Hope

As I said before, this blend is named for a hymn that was special to one of my grandmothers. ^LeWhispering Hope is meant to stimulate a feeling of hope and a sense of potential as an antidote to discouragement.  The aroma of this blend can help us move away from feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.  This blend is applicable to many of the stages of life.

Quarrelsome

^LeSynopsis

One possible emotion that ^LeSynopsis might be applicable for is the need to be in charge or in control of every situation in our lives.  Another aspect of ^LeSynopsis is, also the need to be right – and the other person wrong.  Now, there is a recipe for a quarrel!  Many a quarrel has been started because one, or both, parties felt that they were being criticized or rejected in some way.

^LeUnity

The blend, ^LeUnity, promotes harmony within ourselves, with those around us, and with Heaven.  I used to diffuse this at the breakfast table.  It seemed to make the day with my teenage children run smoother.  ^LeUnity is the best oil that I know of for dealing with feelings of stubbornness, anger, judgment, and jealousy.

Resentment   

Resentment is so often a kidney or kidney meridian issue.  This is the meridian of winter energy.  Surviving in winter seems hard to them.  When the kidneys are struggling, a person may unfortunatley feel, emotionally, that they need special care and attention.  Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to give them sufficient attention to satisfy them.  At these times – when the kidneys or kidney meridian are out-of-balance – these people live in a world of resentment.  It is quiet resentment.  They rarely speak it out loud.  It is there, nevertheless.  This resentment can create a host of ills, both physically and emotionally.

^LeLitN

In the Butterfly essential oil book, the description of ^LeLiteN doesn’t state directly the reasons why this blend is good for resentment.  The description talks about food cravings that are the result of stress, fatigue, or boredom.  Resentment can be a strong trigger for food cravings.  When a person resents what they don’t have or is resentful because people do not care enough about them, it feels like a big emotional hole.  Filling it with food is a natural – not healthy, but natural – reaction.  ^LeLiteN tends to increase energy levels.  It also stabilizes blood sugar.  Low blood sugar can also bring on fits of resentment.

^LeReconciliation

The aroma of ^LeReconciliation helps us to find perspective and peace.  We live within ourselves, not expecting others to completely understand us or meet our needs.  ^LeReconciliation can help us learn to articulate what it is that we think we need from them.  It also helps us find the perspective to be appreciative and grateful for the kindness and love of those around us.

Anthopogon

Anthopogon is a key ingredient in the blend, ^LeReconciliation.  This essential oil brings the blessing of helping us focus on the good times and the good in people.  When we see the good, rather than focus resentfully on negatives (real or imagined) we will reap many benefits.  Anthopogon is very strengthening to the immune system.  Besides strengthening the immune system, anthopogon has been shown in testing to reduce cancer cell growth.  Astonishingly, this effect was found in all of the three types cancer and types of cells tested.  These cancers and cells tested were ovarian, cervical, and colon – known to be three of the most deadly cancers.

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