Aromatherapy for Stress Relief at Work

Most people work a 40 hour week so we can estimate that we typically spend about 2,000 hours at work each year. And many people work even more than this. Yet we often dont take the time to ensure that our job setting is a pleasant place to be. Our jobs are often very stressful and stress is a known trigger for many common ailments and diseases. Many studies have been done on the relationship between job stress and a variety of ailments. Mood and sleep disturbances, upset stomach, headaches and disturbed relationships with family and friends are examples of stress related problems that are quick to develop.

Before you think about stress reduction, start by identifying the particular stresses in your work and the effect they have on you. What, specifically, is it about your work situation that makes you feel anxious, angry, frustrated, burned out, depressed, etc? Do you have a difficult boss or co-worker? Do you have too much work and not enough time to do it? When you come up with your list of stressors, address them one at a time.

Managing stress is a slow and measured process that should take place over time and not all at once. Take stock of the situation and make a note of the things that are causing you the most concern. Look at things that you can do, or ask for support that will ease the situation, no matter how small. Set some achievable goals towards removing the problem. Think back to some similar situations you have overcome and apply these lessons.

A common reaction to a stressful situation is to try to escape, at least temporarily, by taking a coffee break or a quick smoke. But this only adds to the toxins in your body and does not attempt to deal with the underlying causes. A more effective response is to confront the tasks that cause you stress. Develop healthy habits one day at a time. Take a short walk in the morning, eat regularly, take time over your meals, and keep in touch with your mind and body.

It can be very beneficial to change your own outlook and actions rather than trying to change others who you believe are the cause of your stress. No matter what the causes of your tension and stress are, there are many strategies you can use to help protect you against the ill effects of stress. We elaborate on a different strategy to relieve stress each month in this newsletter.

Implementing aromatherapy into your life can go a long way in easing your stress as well as the stress levels of others around you. One of the main attributes of pure essential oils is their ability to relieve stress with immediate positive benefits. Because of the emotional elements which are at play in stress-related conditions, the choice of essential oils depends largely on the causes of the problem and the temperment of each individual and how they respond under pressure. Only use oils that appeal to you. If you do not like the scent, it will not have the desired effect.

There are many ways to bring aromatherapy into the workplace. Diffusers heat essential oils and allows their molecules to be released into the atmosphere. Inhaling different essential oils can alter your mood, stimulate creativity, help concentration and rid an area of airborne viruses and bacteria. Scenting your office with Lavender essential oil is said to reduce computer errors at least 25%.
If you have to work in an air conditioned or stuffy building, using essential oils in a diffuser or spritzing a spritzer can really clear the air. Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint and Rosemary are all excellent for a quick pick me up. Try Chamomile, Lavender, Orange or Sandalwood oil. All are thought to help combat stress and tension. Here are a few more ideas to get you started.

If you cant use a diffuser at work, simply put a drop of essential oil on a tissue and keep with you to sniff whenever you need to.

Put a few drops of your favorite essential oil on the cardboard tube inside a roll of toilet paper to fragrance the bathroom at work.

Let scent be your calling card. Simply add your favorite essential oils to cotton balls and place your business cards and the cotton balls in a box with a lid. Keep tightly closed for at least 1 week.

Mix 5 drops of Lavender essential oil (or your favorite oil) into about a
teaspoon of Jojoba or Almond oil. Dab on a cloth and wipe the surfaces of your desk
and top of the computer. When the heat of the computer warms the oil there is a
pleasant fresh fragrance wafting through the air.

There is help for your stress! Aromatherapy has been proven to be excellent for stress relief as well as increasing productivity and efficiency levels. The possibilities are only limited to your imagination. For more ideas and information, check out our website that is over 100 pages large and growing.

Susan Stewart is co-founder and partner of It's My Nature, an Aromatherapy business based in Florence, Oregon. Providing dried herbs, essential oils and many comfort and stress reducing products. Catering to the beginner with small sizes, recipes and an informative monthly newsletter. See It's My Nature's large, informative website at http://itsmynature.netor a free brochure is available by calling 1-888-445-5051.

Aromatherapy: How and When to Use Essential Oils

To repeat where we are, my sweetie (my wife June) had breast cancer a few years ago and we opted 1) to have a lymph-ectomy (mistake) and later 2) radiation (good decision). Regardless of whether it was a mistake we did it and the result is that she has to be very careful about not injuring her right arm. Last summer and fall she burned herself on our oven three times, one of them very seriously. There are other articles covering where else we have gone, but this is on how and when to use Aromatherapy.

Remember the effect of the Lavender oil? She happened to go on an outing with several girl friends right after the bad burn and in talking it over with them they decided to put therapeutic-grade lavender essential oil on the burn. She could feel it healing immediately and in spite of this being a large burn (2 x 6) it healed with only a very small scar, about the size of a half-quarter (like a half-moon shape).

Needless to say, we are sold on the therapeutic grade of essential oils from Young Living. They can be used in several ways, very effectively. These methods of use, or application, are: 1) Apply the oils directly to the bottom of the feet (more on this as we go on), 2) apply the essential oil directly to the bruised or wounded area, 3) diffuse your essential oils into the air, and 4) add certain edible essential oils to water or food for both exotic and exquisite flavorings.

1) In the Orient they have been using acupuncture and acupressure for centuries, perhaps millennia? What is perhaps more surprising is that essential oils, when applied to the bottom of the foot, are absorbed rather quickly into, and dispersed throughout, the body. As a liquid they are also immediately used by the body as anti-whatever and begin their healing actions almost immediately. Because they are pure therapeutic grade there is nothing within the compound to hinder the healing effect, nor to slow it.

2) Apply the essential oil directly to the bruised or wounded area. As in the example of the Lavender applied directly to the burn, apply Lavender or Melaleuca oil directly to the cut, scrape or bruised area. This will provide maximum relief directly to the affected area, where it is needed most. But be careful of the oils you use in this manner. When using spearmint, for example, keep it completely away from the eyes; it can cause severe itching and burning and lead to blurred vision for several hours.

3) Use a diffuser and diffuse your essential oils directly into the air you breathe. You will need to have a very good diffuser, such as the one available from Young Living, in order to do this more effectively. We have used several but discarded them all. Only the Young Living diffuser seems to literally radiate the oil scent throughout our home, but to do it efficiently. It costs about $100 US but it has proven many times worth it.

4) You can add add certain edible essential oils to water or food for both exotic and exquisite flavorings. Such spiciness will enhance your cooking and enhance the therapeutic (medicinal) value of your foods as well. You cannot use all essential oils in cooking so it might be prudent to purchase one of Young Livings how to books. They can be ordered directly from the web site.

Finally, all the good health and good nutrition and exquisite flavorings in the world will not make you healthy if your body cannot use the nutrients you are feeding it. Good digestion is the basis for good health. Without good digestion most of the nutrients in your body are going to waste you might as well have a gigantic tapeworm siphoning off your food. In order to enhance your digestion you should also be using, at least periodically, a proven organic greens product as a digestive aid, one such as Bio 88+ (Plus).

Loring Windblad has studied nutrition and exercise for more than 40 years, is a published author and freelance writer. Junes and Lorings latest business endeavors are at
http://www.organicgreens.us
http://junedawn.younglivingworld.com