Aromatherapy That May Help Relieve Some PTSD Symptoms

[KP the nut]

Wow, thanks for this Amethist. I found this thread just in time. On my shopping list for tomorrow I had essential oils but wasn't too sure which to go for.
I'm now toying with the idea of bergamot, lemon and geranium.
Love
KP

 

[Powder]

Geranium is my favorite one, and is nice is a blend with others. It gives me good dreams. I asked the aromatherapist about it and she looked it up. Sleep and mood are affected positively by it.

PTSD can cause terrible nightmares, so geranium is good.

Thanks for posting these! I would also recommend essential oils used carefully. Some, like Peppermint, cannot be used on children and some adults. Martha Stewart nearly died at a spa when they used it all over her straight, without a carrier oil, in a massage! Her body temp dropped low and her heart slowed way down. She had to go to hospital and was given meds to get her heart back on track. Some are sensitive just like to medication. But for the most part, it's more safe than medication because it's on the outside of the body and in a carrier.

I would love to get certification in this. It has worked for me and it's a real pleasure to have these on hand.

I had a specialist make a very weak oil blend for the diaper area of my baby, and it was very nice for preventing rash before it starts and gave her more comfort. I wouldn't try it on my own for a baby. Too risky, but a certified person is not that expensive compared to having to go to the Dr. when the rash gets out of control.

 

[KP the nut]

I'm now toying with the idea of bergamot, lemon and geranium.

I went for lemon. I will buy the others just need to wait for the pennies to be saved:rolleyes: After reading Muses post I think Geranium next.

 

[KP the nut]

Wow, as we say In England in for a pound in for a penny.

I am now the proud owner of, lemon, lavender, bergamot and geranium. The past 2 nights I have put drops of lavender on my pillow at bedtime. AND I have had the best 2 nights sleep for a long time. I carry the lemon one with me to sniff.

I want to make aroma scent jars next. I'll need to experiment. A couple of years ago in Spain I bought a glass jar which contained a sponge (I think) and lavender oil mixed with some carrier (don't know what). When opened the smell was lovely and it lasted 2 years. All I needed to do was close the lid and turn the jar upside down to soak the sponge again. If anyone knows a recipe, eg amounts of oil to carrier and best type pf carrier and best type of sponge I'd love to know.

I'm now a convert

 

[The Albatross]

I was glad to see the inclusion of mimosa. To my husband's chagrin I planted one next to the house (termites love them) near our front porch. When it blooms in summer the blooms are pretty pink puff balls and in the heavy humid summer air, the aroma "hangs" low so that I get the fragrance when I come and go from my house. I'm after him to pour me a small patio around it to be able to sit and have a cup of herbal tea or iced drinks and get a better "treatment" during summer.

Any idea how to extract the oil? It might be a project I could do this summer. Leaves are just now coming out.

 

[Froggie]

amethist this is great, just 2 crazy questions :
I have a naturally made perfum with neroli and jasmine which is wonderful on me. I even had a bee after my armpits last year ! :rolleyes: This combination has a tendancy to make me feel like a woman ... and this is something that I don't feel easily with what happened ... so ... am I crazy or what ?

2cd, I love to add a mixture of orange and cloves when washing floors - this gives me an uplifting feeling and makes me think of Christmas energy. Again, am I crazy or is there something with this combination that can do some good for PTSD ?

 

[amethist]

Hi Albartross

I have never tried to extract oils myself. There are 2 different types of extraction, plus the distillation process , and to be honest it is cheaper to buy the oils than to attempt it your self. It would cost a fortune to get it right and safe.

Froggie, you are not crazy at all, good for you making your own perfumes. I make different blends for other, to fit what they need, or ask for. Send them across the globe to friends at times too.

The thing with essential oils and aromatherapy is, if you like it and it makes you feel good, then go for it. as long as you follow any safety data, and use the right dilution, then it is fine.

Orange is citrus and has an uplifting effect, so Lemon, Grapefruit, Lime, Bergamot will all do the same thing. It is just a matter of choice. Clove Bud is a stimulant, and is very good for lifting your emotions. But be very careful with this oil, do not get it neat on your skin, and not at all even if diluted if your skin is sensitive. You only need to use this sparingly as it is quite strong, no more than 1 % dilution at anytime.

I will try and post some simple blends to use at home, including some really good bath blends, which I have developed for my husband.

Have fun with them, but take care too.

Amethist

 

[externalsmile]

Loving this thread! I'm turning into a big fan of aromatherapy. I always used lavender for helping me sleep and it did but my nightmares kept up. Then I read that it can actually increase nightmares if you are prone to them. I started using sandalwood for sleep instead and the nightmares have substantially decreased. I only have occasional bad dreams now.

For confidence I use ginger. Either in the oil burner or a sniff straight from the bottle if I am about to do something that requires me to be confident. I took a few sniffs of it before an interview lately. I am the type of person to go to pieces in an interview and I was so far away from being at the level needed for the post I was interviewing for. I ended up going in relaxed (shocking!) and did really well despite being under experienced for the job!

Thanks to my past I have incredibly poor sex drive, actually I have none at all. But thanks to the occasional bit of sandalwood in my bath or the oil burner it is on the up. I heard Neroli is good for those that have issues with the act itself.

I put a drop of cinnamon oil on a bit of cotton wool and slip it into my pillowcase at night. It gives me some lovely comforting dreams.

I got a blend from a book I got for fluid retention with pms. Works great! The book is The aromatherapy bible. I got it on amazon. It has all the basics in there, what each oil does and a couple of basic blends for different ailments or moods.

 

[starshine]

Geranium is also one of my favourites! Along with Rose and Frankincense.

 

[KP the nut]

Geranium is also one of my favourites! .

I have some geranium oil, not sure it may be an aquired taste - well not literally :)

 

[externalsmile]

Hand me some good stuff for PMS NOW!!!!!!

 

[amethist]

Hi externalsmile

I have a few oils you can use for your PMT. It does depend which symptoms you suffer with though, as different ones do different things, though a few can have multiple uses.

A few to be going on with are as follows.

Jasmine or Roman Chamomile if you are weepy.

Roman Chamomile or Cypress if you are prone to irritability.

If it is the depression part that get to you the most, go for any that are uplifting. Like Grapefruit, Bergamot or Geranium. Geranium is cheaper than the Rose Absolute, but smells and works just as well.

Using an uplifting perfume can work wonders too, especially if you blend one yourself and it contains Rose and includes Petitgrain, Roman Chamomile or Neroli.

If you get stuck with any of this, just ask. :)

Amethist