This semester I'm taking a class called "Understanding and Treating Sexual Trauma" with one of the world's best professors. Hopefully by the end of this article, you'll understand (at least partially) why I say she's so great. The class is structured so that first half of the semester we learn about understanding sexual assault and the second half we discuss treatments for survivors. Now that we have less than a month of the semester left, we are in the midst of learning various treatment approaches, and last week, my professor brought in various scents of essential oils and other calming forms of aromatherapy that she uses with some of her clients (yes, she is a professor and also owns a private practice; like I said, she's awesome).
Rather than sitting through a long, taxing lecture, we chatted with our friends and classmates about the experience we were having in the moment, and how it might feel as a client to use this type of therapy to heal. In this class, we learn by doing and communicating, by being honest and open, and by expressing our in-the-moment feelings. Last week, when we got to smell various scents of essential oils, we were all exposed to a new world of therapy. The majority of us are interested in becoming therapists, counselors, social workers, or some other type of advocate that could utilize holistic treatments such as aromatherapy.
It should be noted that my professor instructed us not to use essential oils that contain additives. Organic essential oils are always the way to go, even if they are more pricey. The reason? Well, first of all, chemicals are generally unhealthy for you. Second, there are some essential oils can be added directly to one's skin, and it only takes 30 seconds for things put on your skin to enter your bloodstream. Thus, if you put essential oils on your skin and there are added chemicals in them, you are externally ingesting unhealthy contents that could do more harm than good. To put it concisely: be cautious and smart about which oils/aromatherapeutic products you decide to purchase.
In short, I thought it necessary to share a bit about my first experience with essential oils and the positive effects it had on me and my mood in less than an hour. It's amazing what nature can do to heal and revitalize us, so I encourage you to experiment with alternative approaches to treatment for anxiety, depression, PTSD, viruses, rejuvenation of one's energy, sleep disorders, and even symptoms of physical ailments like colds and viruses. The power of aromatherapy is amazing, and the uses for it are boundless!
