Essential oils for soul: Weekly scents and remedies, week twelve
Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at 4:42PM | by robin Here's a great topic, now that I have the hormone balance covered...
Restful sleep matters
Sleep. A good night's sleep is golden. Without it you feel it most. I give it my utmost priority but haven't discussed it much yet in this essential oils blog because it's not an ailment for me—because I've got it covered! However, with a recent decadent weeklong vacation, I am reminded of the power of sleep.
I'll start with an essential oil by doTERRA that was initially branded to be for sleep, but was then changed. It's called Serenity®. I've written about it before and how it helps to access emotions that take me off track.
Serentiy® Restful Blend, Calming Blend
Serenity has changed, how?
I wrote about Serenity® (Calming Blend) before and its effects on emotional health. How has this blend changed?
It used to contain: Lavender, Sweet Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Hawaiian Sandalwood, Vanilla Bean Extract.
The same ingredients still exist in the newer Serenity® (Restful Blend) but a few have been added: Cedarwood, Ho Wood and Vetiver.
Sleep aid, sleep elixir at bedside
Is there honestly a difference in the way the blends make me feel? Here's an example. I've taken some time to research this within myself before commenting.
I use the original Serenity® (Calming Blend) while I'm at my desk typing, thinking, contemplating. It is handy when I'm feeling words rush through me without a place to ground themselves. It calms me from wishing to plan my weekend, or month or life, for that matter. As I discussed in a past article, Serenity® (Calming Blend) has the added benefit of subduing overly excited states. It calms emotions, in particular, that can get in the way of focusing on what's important in life.
Now that I have the Serenity® (Restful Blend), I have that little brown bottle of elixir on my bedside table—and it goes with me in my travel bag on vacations—to rub on my wrists and under my nose before bed (and even on my pillows). I have always been a big fan of sleeping well. Always. (And luckily I gave birth to 3 babies who also believe this; yes, I got lucky.)
Wake with clarity and ease
Through trials and tribulations of getting the best night's rest, I've tried many herbal and natural remedies. I'm a firm believer in the drowsy effects of Valerian Root. Best night's sleep for years. However, in the last few years I've aspired toward the goal of waking up early for my Ashtanga yoga practice. Over time, I've desired to wake up earlier and earlier.
Now, I wake up for Pranayama before Ashtanga yoga with my teacher and a small candlelit group. At first I felt like a warrior, drinking too much coffee just to make sure I was there by 5:59 a.m., heart pumping strongly but at least I was there.
Now I aspire to something much greater. I wish to be awake and present and calm and breathing freely—holding my breath in retentions freely—during my one hour of goodness. And then I wish to practice Ashtanga yoga for two hours, with my spirit guiding the way while physically challenged to the max, body and spirit on auto-pilot.
Sleep without being trapped under something heavy
The only way to be all this is to *not* take Valerian Root before sleeping because, with it, I'm partially trapped under something heavy when my alarm goes off. I'm in the search of clarity while waking yet dreamy sleep (and with dreams to remember).
The answer to my quandary is the new Serenity® (Restful Blend). The added essential oils—Cedarwood, Ho Wood and Vetiver—make a difference. First of all, Vetiver is the essential oil of centering and rooting in life; it invites focus on self-awareness and roots to your source of intelligence and spirituality. I've been experimenting with it for some time. I don't like the scent of it on its own, so have created many blends with it as the main event, both for topical use and through the diffuser. I've come to the conclusion that it makes me drowsy. I've performed various experiments to make sure it was, in fact, the Vetiver that caused this. It is from my experience.
Cedarwood is calming to the hormones. So, if they are what keep you up at night—male or female—then this essential oil with assist. For example, it's my go-to essential oil for PMS to rub on my palms and take a big inhale. Its effect is quick.
Ho Wood is an essential oil I have yet to experience on its own. It's one of the ingredients in one of my favorite, daily blends Balance® (Grounding Blend) which I apply each morning to my chest and bottoms of my feet before yoga. This blend is known for bringing you back to earth but what I like the best is that it is said to assist with oxygenating the blood. That's the Spruce included in the blend as it's capable of dialating the bronchial tract which improves oxygen exchange. Disease cannot live in an oxygenated body.
Complement to serenity
In summary, I'm a big fan of the new Serenity® (Restful Blend)... I have recently been experiementing with the new Serenity® (Restful Complex) gel caps to be taken before sleeping. I couple all of this with the following combination in my diffuser by my bed:
Petitgrain - calms Nervous System
Jupiper Berry - enhances dreams
Bergamot - balances emotions
Now, when I wake, I'm awake. I'm ready. No more 'Snooze.' Sleep well... zzzzzzzzzz
[If you want to try some dōTERRA® essential oils yourself, here are two ways to do it. 1) Shop here for retail purchases directly. 2) Join to get wholesale prices. Ships internationally.]
Namaste.
~ Robin Ellen Lucas, M.A.
