Here’s everything you need to know about holistic health and how you can use essential oils to look after your body, mind and soul.
What is holistic health?
You can think of holistic health as a method of wellness that doesn’t limit your treatment or support to the symptoms alone. Instead, it addresses our many-faceted selves in all our glorious complexity, treating our mental, physical and spiritual facets that each contribute to our overall health.
You cannot be healthy if you’re physically fit but mentally exhausted and spiritually desolate. However you approach your overall well-being, aromatherapy can help you get to a good place in terms of holistic health care. And it may be as simple as adding the right essential oils to your routine.
Understanding holistic health care
Holism is the theory that all parts form a whole and each one is intimately interconnected. This hypothesis tells us that to study just one part, or even to study them separately, is a mistake.
Learning how they work together and affect one another is the key to wisdom. Holistic health thus takes the whole person into account rather than reducing them to the physical manifestations of a particular injury or disease.
Holistic health care asks you to take careful consideration into how your body, mind and spirit coalesce because these aspects significantly affect your health outcomes and overall well-being.
What does holistic health take into account?
As you start taking the holistic health approach, you’re urged to examine your body, mind and spirit.
Your body
To start practising holistic health care, you’ll need to determine your physical needs as far as exercise, nutrition, rejuvenation and sleep are concerned. If you’re suffering from physical pain, what could the underlying cause be? What steps can you take to ameliorate these aches? Or do you need to find the best way to live with them?
What actions can you take right now to prevent disease, illness and/or injury?
Your mind
Begin your holistic health journey by exploring your need for creative expression, curiosity, mental stimulation and wonder. What information and lessons is your current emotional state offering you? What does an embodied account of the physical and the mental look like for you?
How are you intellectually connected to others and the space you’re in?
Your spirit
Last but certainly not least for holistic health care, think about what rituals and practices you follow to connect you with something larger than yourself, whatever that means to you. How do you connect with the divine, nature and your ancestors?
Where do you find your purpose and meaning?
Holistic health and aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a popular holistic healing treatment that uses the natural extracts of plants to promote holistic health. It’s sometimes also referred to as essential oil therapy since it uses these oils therapeutically to positively influence the health of your body, mind and spirit.
Regarded as both an art and a science, aromatherapy has been practised for thousands of years by an array of cultures, including the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Recent scientific research is confirming what humans have known for a long time: the world around us—in this case, plants specifically—can have a massive impact on our health.
How do aromatherapy treatments work?
Aromatherapy works on us in two ways: either on our sense of smell or via skin absorption. We inhale the scent of certain plants, the smell of which lights up our brain’s emotional centres while being absorbed into the bloodstream via our airways, or we can put them on our skin to absorb them and reap their benefits.
If you’re going the latter route, please follow the guidelines for diluting your oils. These oils are very concentrated, and if they come into contact with your skin in their pure form, they may cause irritation. Always do a patch test first and, in the unlikely event that you have a negative reaction to whatever oils you’ve chosen, discontinue use at once.
When you’ve mastered the art of dilution, you can use your new knowledge to integrate essential oils into your holistic health care routines in a variety of ways.
Use aromatic spritzers
You could create your own spritzer with a spray bottle, water and essential oils, or purchase a ready-made mist to address whatever issue is ailing you. You can use these on your linen, furniture, as room sprays and, in some cases, as a body or face mist.
Essential oil-based cleaners
While some may not consider cleaning as part of a holistic health care regimen, we beg to differ. If you’re wanting to reduce toxins and chemicals in your home while working in sync with nature, essential oil-based cleaners are not only safer and healthier for you and your family, they’re also an environmentally friendly way to manage your surroundings.
Add them to your spray bottles, scrubs and polishes to get rid of germs (without creating superbugs) and keep things clean and fresh! And your home will smell so good after that you might actually enjoy cleaning more!
Add essential oils to your bath
When you’re putting oils in the bath, remember that they’re not water soluble. Small drops can adhere to your skin, so make sure you dilute essential oils properly first. Then you can enjoy their benefits of both skin absorption and inhalation as you relax in aromatic, spa-like luxury.
Add oils to body lotions for massage or topical application
Add roughly one drop of essential oil per six teaspoons of carrier oil or lotion before you use it. Then rub it wherever you need it most, keeping clear of openings and sensitive areas. Be sure to use a non-comedogenic carrier oil if you’re prone to clogged pores or if you plan to use it on your face.
Diffusers
Ultrasonic diffusers, the most popular type of diffuser, work using an internal ceramic disc that vibrates, creating ultrasonic waves. These break down the oil inside the diffuser into tiny particles which blend with the water you’ve added to disperse a healing mist.
This mist scents your space which, depending on the oils you’ve chosen, can help purify the air, keep pests away, boost your mood, help you relax, help you focus, help you sleep and so much more. Not only that, but it’ll create an inviting space for you, your family and your guests in which you can create memorable connections.
Apply hot or cold compresses
For this holistic health care option, you’ll need to fill a bowl large enough to dip your cloth into with very hot or very cold water. Add between 6 and 12 drops of your essential oil and carrier oil dilution to the water and swish it through to disperse it.
Take your clean, absorbent cloth and dip it into your infusion before applying it to the area of the body you want to treat.
Make a clay mask
You can enjoy a homemade spa session with a clay mask to boost your holistic health with just a few ingredients. Mix two teaspoons of bentonite clay with the same amount of apple cider vinegar and three drops of essential oil. Apply it to your face, avoiding the area around your eyes, nose and mouth and let it dry. Rinse off with warm water and moisturise.
Making the most of your mind
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has a helpful definition of good mental health, stating that it is a condition wherein you can handle the normal stresses life throws at you and still work productively while realising your potential.
Let’s have a look at the essential oils that can help get you there.
Cedarwood
Steam-distilled from the bark, branches and trunk of the tree that gives it its name, cedarwood essential oil has stress-relieving properties. This makes it a great choice if you have a high-pressure job or experience excessive stress levels at school.
Roman chamomile
The fruity, herbaceous, sweet fragrance of Roman chamomile essential oil is from the flowers and stalks of Anthemis nobilis, a type of daisy. Inhaling it helps bind our brains’ benzodiazepine receptors, causing us to experience mild sedation. This makes this oil an excellent choice for an overactive mind.
Frankincense
Frankincense is categorised as a herb with anti-inflammatory properties, and this is not lost when the hardened gum resins are tapped from the Boswellia tree to make the oil.
Frankincense essential oil contains sesquiterpenes. These are chemical constituents that assist in increasing how much oxygen gets to the brain’s limbic system. Frankincense has been used for thousands of years to enhance spiritual experiences, so use it to ground and calm yourself, enhance your meditation and reduce stress.
Lemon
Using a steam extraction process, lemon essential oil is created from the peel of fresh lemons. Being exposed to its scent not only lifts your mood and promotes relaxation but it can also ease anxiety and depression. It also increases levels of norepinephrine, a chemical in our brains linked to motivation and decision making.
Rosemary
Rosemary essential oil is steam distilled from the twigs, flowers and leaves of the Rosmarinus officinalis herb commonly used in cooking. It can reduce your stress levels and minimise nervous tension. It can also boost mental activity, relieve brain fatigue, and support insight and clarity.
Boosting your bodily health
Physical health is everything from an acceptable level of fitness to the absence of illness or disease. Critical for holistic health, it can be affected by your diet, how physically active you are and other behaviours.
There are also essential oils that can help protect your body and boost your physical health.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the Eucalyptus tree. Ointments with eucalyptus essential oil in them can be safely used to relieve congestion in the chest and nose and can help loosen phlegm, making it an invaluable tool when treating coughs, the flu and even bronchitis.
Grapefruit
Extracted from the oil glands in the peel of the fruit, grapefruit essential oil can help with everything from boosting energy levels to reducing appetite. It’s also amazing when it comes to treating a variety of skin conditions.
Lavender
If you have frequent restless nights due to insomnia, lavender essential oil, created by steam distillation from the blooms of the plant, can improve not only the quality of your sleep, but its quantity too.
Peppermint
Taken from the flowering parts and leaves of the Mentha piperita plant, peppermint essential oil is a brilliant resource for asthmatics and those of us who tend towards severe allergies. It opens airways and relieves congestion.
Ylang Ylang
Important research has shown the incredible effects of this oil on blood pressure. Steam distilled from the Cananga odorata plant, ylang ylang essential oil also has a calming effect on our hearts and can work as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Setting your soul free
Tending to our spiritual selves looks very different to everyone. Maybe you practise a faith or religion, maybe you view nature as more than can be understood with the eye alone, or perhaps you’re contentedly atheistic and are just focused on enjoying the time you spend on earth meaningfully.
Whatever you believe, certain essential oils can help you reconnect with your inner self and the world around you.
Bergamot
Collected from the oil from the rind of the fruit, bergamot essential oil works well when you want to relieve feelings of depression, grief and stress. Its scent is said to speak directly to our higher selves, and you may find it enhances your feelings of strength and joy.
Geranium
Steam distilled from the Pelargonium graveolens plant, geranium essential oil will help you get through even the most soul-searing heartbreak - literally and figuratively! It can do this while also deepening your ability to love others and yourself, warts and all. Transporting you to the likes of a flower garden, it will soothe your soul and help you heal.
Lemongrass
Derived from the fresh or partly-dried leaves of Cymbopogon citratus, it is thought that lemongrass essential oil helps to balance the Manipura Chakra, located above the navel. When everything is as it should be here, you’ll find the momentum you may have been lacking to move forward to reach your goals.
Spruce
Spruce essential oil comes from Picea abies or Picea mariana tree needles, and it’s believed in many circles since ancient times that it can develop our intuition, enhance our connectedness and instil balance. It may even inspire you, deepen your sense of spiritual belonging and strengthen your trust in the world around you.
Sweet orange
Extracted by cold pressing of the rind of Citrus sinensis, sweet orange essential oil can help us raise our levels of spiritual awareness. Sweet orange oil is very much about innocence and may make it easier for you to connect to your inner child, imparting energy and a positive attitude.
Make holistic health part of your life
Taking a holistic health approach means you’ll be addressing the issues causing your problems rather than just managing the symptoms. You’ll need to take everything into account as you take charge of your health and well-being.
Prevention is best, and the only way to offset the likelihood of getting sick in the future is to take care of your holistic health in the here and now. Turn away from band-aid solutions and start appraising situations three-dimensionally to ensure your benefit over the long term.
Incorporating essential oils and their various methods of use into your life can help you begin or deepen your holistic health care journey. And with nearly 100 different oils to choose from, you can select whatever suits your needs at the time. Each essential oil has its own unique set of healing properties, effects and uses. So, be sure to do your homework, and remember that blending them may unlock even more benefits since certain oils can bring out the best in each other!
The rise in popularity of aromatherapy in recent years means essential oils are available more widely, but do yourself a favour and stick to purchasing them from reputable suppliers such as Volant. Our oils are 100% pure and organic, so you can rest assured they don’t contain any chemicals and are packed with goodness.
Let Volant’s diffusers and essential oils get to work for you, and you’ll soon see why holistic health is a practice that an ever-growing number of people are embracing. Inhaling exceptional smells has never felt this good, or been this rewarding.