The Smelly Truth

What evokes a wonderful memory for you? Is it the smell of cookies? Did you make cookies with your mom or grandmother?

A friend & I used to make cookies, he even let me eat most of them. We used to get creative in concocting snacks. So weirdly for me, the smell of peanut butter, chocolate chip & sugar cookies reminds me of him & his antics. Ahhhhh Cooookies!

The art of aromatherapy involves using essential oils to evoke the senses & to bring a sense of well-being.

People who suffer from PTSD & C-PTSD can benefit from aromatherapy. It's important to remember that any association with a smell, even if it's a good smell like jasmine could have negative connotations. For example, perhaps an alcoholic abusive grandmother wore jasmine perfume. In this case, that oil should be avoided. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid essential oils. Essential oils are dangerous to be consumed and dangerous for pets too. Epileptics and other medical conditions can be exacerbated by scents so it's vital to take caution. Contacting a qualified and licensed Aromatherapist is the best option.

I've found sage, rosemary, clove, sweet orange, lavender, ginger, jasmine, vanilla, & lemon to all be helpful. They evoke warm happy memories for me, and have some fascinating properties that are evoked. I've worked with a therapist to find the ones that work the best for me. It's important to use a carrier oil that agrees with your skin. Use caution if you have any sensitivities to oils, nuts, soy, and mineral oil as they may cause reactions. I have sensitive skin, yet I've found certain oils that I can use like argan oil, olive oil, almond oil, & coconut oil. Both mineral oil & any oil with soy gives me some weird looking bumps, so I now stay clear of them! Of course some oils you may simply enjoy fragrantly without any topical application.

At http://aromatherapycouncil.org/​

you can find a list of registered aromatherapists in your area

Sage: Is helpful to clear negativity out of a room. It's helped me to clear negativity out of my mind, & to help ease anxiety.

Rosemary: Helps to relieve headaches & assists in relaxing me if I feel a panic attack rising. It also has helped me to gain positive memories. I was told both Rosemary & Sage are good for PTSD

Lavender: Is relaxing, it's not just for me, for the husky too! Lavender is used in shelters to keep dogs calm. It's helped to ease depression. It must be noted that too much lavender can exacerbate depression.

Sweet Orange Oil: Is a calming and soothing oil that I find to be refreshing and uplifting.

Vanilla: Quite honestly smells like cookies to me. Who doesn't want to smell like cookies? I love it! It's warm, relaxing, and sweet. It brings back happy memories for me, & I get complimented on smelling amazing when I wear a favorite vanilla essence oil.

Jasmine: Is wonderful to relax with and has helped my skin immensely. I used to have a few issues & found jasmine, vitamin E, & coconut oil to be helpful.

Clove: Is a warm, rich, and sweet scent that has helped me with complex grief issues.

Lemon: Is uplifting, energizing, & brings out a positive mood in me.

Ginger: This oil isn't just one of my favorites, my mother LOVES it so much that I get her a ginger perfume every year for Christmas! I've made scrubs with sea salt or sugar & almond oil & give them as presents. It's good to ease aches & pains & when inhaled it helps to clear the mind. Fresh ginger root made into to a tea with or without fresh lemon helps to ease tummy troubles. (It tastes better with a smidge of honey!)

I hope this helps at least one person.