The Powerful Pulse Points for Essential Oils You Should Know About
If you're looking to get the most out of your essential oils for topical use, you might be wondering where is best to apply them. You may be surprised to learn that there are some powerful pulse points on your body where essential oils will be most effective. But where are these pulse points for essential oils, and how do you go about making the most of them?
In this article, we'll talk you through some of the most powerful pulse points on your body, as well as explain how you can use these to your advantage to harness the maximum benefits of using essential oils topically.
Content/Quick links
- What are pulse points?
- Benefits of applying essential oils to pulse points
- The most powerful pulse points for essential oils
- Neck
- Chest
- Inner elbow
- Wrists
- Temples
- Behind the ears
- Where to apply essential oils for stress
- How to use essential oils on skin
- In summary
What are pulse points?
If you've been researching aromatherapy, you might have come across pulse points. These are places on the body that provide a direct route for essential oils to access your bloodstream and, in turn, your brain.
Pulse points in aromatherapy refer to a few specific locations on the body where major arteries run closest to the surface of the skin. This means that anything applied to the skin at these points diffuses more quickly into the bloodstream than anywhere else.
So, if you're planning to apply essential oils topically, it's best to do so at one of your pulse points.
Benefits of applying essential oils to pulse points
As we've already mentioned, using essential oils on your pulse points is a good way to quickly absorb their beneficial properties into your bloodstream. As such, applying essential oils at these pressure points can give you increased benefits over topical application in other areas of the body.
Essential oils applied to pulse points also exert a powerful effect on the limbic system, which is the emotional centre of the brain. When using essential oils on your pulse points, you trigger a direct response from this part of your brain, so using them at these pressure points will have an immediate emotional effect on you.
Another benefit of applying essential oils topically to pulse points is that they go directly to work on the area they're nearest to. When diffusing essential oils into the air with a diffuser, you'll find that their effect is diluted as they are inhaled and permeate your body. Of course, there's nothing wrong with using them in this way (especially if you're using an ultrasonic diffuser), but putting some aside for use at pulse points will give you a much more concentrated benefit.
The most powerful pulse points for essential oils
There are six key pulse points that are particularly effective for using essential oils topically. These are the neck, chest, inner elbow, wrist, temples and behind the ears. Let's take a look at each of these pulse points and how you can use essential oils on them.
Be sure to dilute the essential oils with a small amount of carrier oil before applying them topically to minimise the risk of skin irritation and to prolong their presence on your skin and their effects! More on how to do this further on.
Neck
The neck is one of the more readily-available pulse points, but it's also one of the most powerful. You can use this pulse point to enjoy a range of different benefits. Essential oils on your neck will quickly permeate your brain, and you’ll also get the added benefit of being able to smell the essential oil that you’ve applied, doubling up on the limbic benefits.
The best area of the neck to apply the essential oil is the dip where your collar bone joins your sternum.
If you're having trouble sleeping at night, applying essential oils such as lavender and chamomile to your neck before bed could be a good way to get your body ready for sleep, and improve your mood so that you wake up the following morning feeling refreshed.
Chest
The chest is another easily accessible pulse point, and applying essential oils to it can be a great way to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy.
If you're suffering from a cold or blocked sinuses, you could benefit from applying a blend of eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils to your chest, combined with a carrier oil. This can help unblock your sinuses and airways, allowing you to breathe more freely and easily.
Inner elbow
The inner elbow is a surprisingly powerful pulse point, and you can directly target it with your essential oils.
For an extra burst of energy, try applying uplifting essential oils to your inner elbow, such as bergamot, sweet orange or grapefruit. Of course, wearing essential oils such as these on your pulse points can double up as a natural perfume, a pleasant and energising smell for yourself and those around you throughout the day!
Wrists
You may be surprised to learn that the wrist is one of the most powerful pulse points in your body. This is because the arteries and veins are so close to the surface of your skin in this area, meaning that essential oils can be easily absorbed into your bloodstream.
If you suffer from anxiety or low mood, relaxing essential oils such as lavender, bergamot and ylang-ylang are ideal. Mix a few drops of your favourite essential oils with a small amount of carrier oil and apply the mixture to your wrists. Not only will it be absorbed into your skin, but you can also smell your wrists throughout the day to help to ease anxiety and enable you to get the most out of your daily life.
Temples
If you suffer from headaches or migraines, you might benefit from applying essential oils to your temples.
If you're prone to headaches or migraines, particularly at the start of your day, applying lavender essential oil to your temples can help to combat the onset of a spell. The scent of lavender has been shown to reduce pain in those who suffer from migraines, so be sure to apply some before you head out for the day. And it’s easy to put a portable supply in your bag or purse to take with you so you never have to go without.
Behind the ears
The behind-the-ears pulse point is very similar to the temples, but it's slightly more difficult to reach. However, you might find that this pulse point provides more of a calming effect than your temples do.
If you’re suffering from sinus pressure, you might find it beneficial to apply a small amount of eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil behind your ears. This can help to open your sinus passages, relieving pressure.
Where to apply essential oils for stress
Stress can be extremely damaging to mental health and make it difficult for you to go about your daily routine. This leads many people to turn to essential oils as a natural remedy to ease stress. But where is the best place to apply essential oils to ease stress?
While you could try any one of the pulse points, the two most popular options are the wrists and the temples.
If your stress level has reached its peak and is preventing you from sleeping, applying essential oils to either side of your wrist before bed is an effective way to ease anxiety and help you get a good night's sleep. For relaxation and sleep, we'd recommend the soothing scent of lavender and chamomile essential oils. Alternatively, you can try volant's ready-made Sleep blend of essential oils, to help you to get a restful night of sleep and recover from your stress.
Applying essential oils to your temples is another option, especially if you find that stress is causing headaches or migraines. Lavender and peppermint essential oils are perfect to ease stress, as well as reducing your chances of suffering from a headache or migraine attack.
How to use essential oils on skin
If you're considering applying essential oils topically to your pulse points, you might be wondering how best to go about this. There are a few different ways to do this, so in this section, we'll talk you through the different methods available, as well as some important safety information that you should be aware of before applying essential oils topically to your pulse points.
First of all, it's important to note that essential oils should always be diluted with a carrier oil before being applied to the skin. This helps to minimise the risk of skin irritation, as essential oils are potent substances. One tablespoon of carrier oil such as jojoba or sweet almond oil is sufficient for diluting up to 5 drops of essential oil.
The easiest way to apply essential oils to your pulse points is by diluting the essential oil in a carrier oil and then massaging it into your skin. This is a simple technique that does not require any special equipment, other than the essential oils and carrier oil of your choice.
Alternatively, you could purchase a roll-on bottle for essential oils, which you can fill with your chosen mixture of carrier oil and essential oils. You can then keep this bottle in your handbag, rolling the mixture onto your skin whenever you need a boost from essential oils. This is particularly useful for migraine sufferers who need to keep their essential oils close in case of a migraine attack.
You might also find that using a combination of essential oils helps to boost their properties even more. For example, you could try combining lavender and chamomile essential oils if you're having trouble sleeping, or eucalyptus and peppermint to ease migraines. Take the time to experiment with different essential oils until you find the perfect blend for your individual needs.
In summary
Pulse points are powerful areas of your body where the arteries of your body pass close to the skin. This means that pulse points provide a unique gateway for essential oils to quickly enter your body and unleash their powerful benefits.
In aromatherapy, we typically talk about six key pulse points: the neck, chest, inner elbow, wrists, temples and behind the ears. These are some of the best areas of the body to which you can apply essential oils to quickly receive their benefits.
In this article, we have explained the different pulse points for essential oils, as well as exploring how essential oils can be used on these pulse points. If you're interested in discovering the benefits of using aromatherapy on your pulse points, take a look at some of volant's high-quality, pure, organic essential oils and create your perfect blend.
