Aromatherapy for Winter Blues

HOW TO: Incorporate the use of Essential Oils into your life to Aid with Depression

It’s that dark time of year once again and while the celebration of Tradional Holidays and a bright New Year are something we all look forward to, for a lot of us, the decrease of sunlight affects our moods. S.A.D (Seasonal Affective Disorder) affects 1 in every 4 Canadians leaving us with feelings of sadness, restlessness, negative thoughts , fatigue or insomnia, and sometimes anxiety. While  medication is not often prescribed or even necessary there are many things we can do naturally to avoid depression during the winter months.

Today i’m going to talk about the the use of Essential Oils using Aromatherapy.

I have found this method to be very successful and grew accustomed to it’s value after becoming educated in all of it’s properties. Each essential oil has it’s own purpose, most often aiding in more than one area. Professionals become experts at blending these oils to create the most effective combination for their client’s concerns.

The Citrus Group of Essential Oils is used to treat depression.

Below are brief descriptions of the aromatic properties of each of the most popular citrus oils:

Lemon Oil –  is a strong germicide and astringent, a wonderful air disinfectant and freshener. It is used in cleaning solutions for its clean scent and disinfecting action.Lemon Essential Oil has fever reducing action as well as effective germicidal action, so it’s a good oil to use to aid in treating colds and fevers. Lemon oil stimulates the immune system, and stimulates circulation.

Orange Oil –  For Brightening. The familiar orange scent makes this one of the world’s most popular oils and the heart of many floral blends. Sweet orange’s gentle, clarifying nature cheers the heart and brightens the mood. Diffuse it often to maintain a wholesome, positively charged atmosphere.

Grapefruit Pink Essential Oil – is believed by aromatherapists to be a spiritual up-lifter, and to ease muscle fatigue and stiffness. It is also a purifier of congested, oily and acne prone skin and is sometimes added to creams and lotions as a natural toner and cellulite treatment. Grapefruit Essential Oil is reputed to ease nervous exhaustion and relieve depression.

Lime Essential Oil –  has a crisp, refreshing citrus scent that has been used by aromatherapists for its uplifting and revitalizing properties. It can also act as an astringent on skin where it is reputed to help clear oily skin.

How to Use these Citrus Oils?

There are many ways to incorporate these oils into your daily life such as diffusing, as an air freshener, through massage, or in the bath. All of  these methods offer the same advantage to us, INHALATION. This is ONLY way that Essential Oils should be used. If you are using these oils for massage you would mix approx 5-7 drops per 1oz of a carrier oil (such as almond oil or olive oil) and if you’re using them in the bath you would drop approximately 10-15 drops for a full tub of water. Never apply these oils directly onto your skin; they are very powerful and unless they are diluted you will most definitely see side affects.

The easiest and safest way to use these oils is to mix a blend of approximately 75-100 drops of oils to a 4oz spray pump bottle of water. You can spray the air, your furniture, or your bed sheets with this custom made air freshener.

Another very powerful and versatile Essential Oil is Lavender Oil. This is not a part of the citrus family, but i recommend it as part of your blends to target winter blues. Take a look at the many properties and uses of Lavender Oil; It’s incredible!!

Lavender Oil – Properties of Organic Lavender Essential Oil include analgesic, anti-convulsive, anti-depressant, anti-phlogistic, antirheumatic, antseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, bactericide, carminative, cholagogue, cicatrisant, cordial, cytophylactic, decongestant, deodorant, and as a diuretic. Herbalists regard Lavender as the most useful and versatile essential oil for therapeutic purposes. Lavender is the essential oil most commonly associated with burns and healing of the skin. It also has antiseptic and analgesic properties which will ease the pain of a burn and prevent infection.

It also has cytophylactic properties that promote rapid healing and help reduce scarring. Lavender is a popular choice among both aromatherapists and massage therapists for its combination of therapeutic quality and pleasant floral scent.

Best Oils for the Bath?

Clary Sage Oil – Clary Sage Essential Oil is viewed by aromatherapists as an antidepressant, antispasmodic, deodorant, emmenagogue, nervine, sedative, and uterine tonic. It is thought to provide a mild euphoric action, balancing uterine problems, and as an agent to clean greasy hair. There is also some documentation on its effectiveness in helping to relax spasms caused by asthma.

Geranium Oil – Geranium Oil can be used to help in the treatment of the following: acne, bruises, burns, cuts, dermatitis, eczema, hemorrhoids, lice, mosquito repellent, ringworm, ulcers, breast engorgement, edema, poor circulation, sore throat, tonsillitis, PMS, menopausal problems, stress and neuralgia. Its reputation as an extremely versatile essential oil is well documented.

I want to leave you with some of my favourite blends to try at home. Have fun with this and share your feedback with me about how they’ve worked for you:)

Simple Blend #1 – 3 drops Orange : 2 drops grapefruit

Simple Blend #2 – 3 drops Orange : 2 drops ginger

Mood Lifter for Irritable Depression

10 drops Bergamot essential oil

5 drops Grapefruit

4 drops Sweet Orange

1 drop Geranium essential oil

1 drop Ylang Ylang essential oil

Soothing Blend for Anxious Depression

8 drops Lavender essential oil

8 drops Grapefruit essential oil

2 drops Marjoram essential oil

1 drop Chamomile essential oil

1 drop Geranium essential oil

Citrus Purification

7 drops Tangerine

5 drops peppermint

10 drops Grapefruit

5 drops Lemon

3 drops Lavender

I’ll leave you with this helpful video as well:

Cara Robertson, Founder of Para Vida      email:info@shopparavida.com

The VIVA GLAM Masterpiece by MAC

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Cara Robertson, Founder of Para Vida
Email: info@paravidabycara.com

HOW TO: Discover What you Want

How To: Discover What you Want

When someone asks you what dreams you have for your future, can you describe them? Have you always felt as though you’re meant for something bigger in life, but can’t get to the core of what that something is?

I want to share some ideas with you about how to begin the process of accomplishing anything you desire. Our main focus here is on career, but this could apply to any area of your life. For those of us who are still struggling with WHAT our desires are, the focus should be DETERMINING them.

If we know WHAT we want, we can have it!

There are many proven strategies to achieve the results we desire, but the very first step is the commitment to discovering and following through with the goals we set for ourselves. 

It is our individual responsibility to TRUST the possibilities and take the steps towards achieving our goals OR living our dreams, even when there is NO evidence that any of it will happen.

“until one is committed, there is hesitancy…The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occured. A whole storm of events raising in one’s favour…unforseen incidents and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way”       W.H. Murray, from The Scottish Himilayan Expedition

Once we are committed to our goals, committed to success and committed to achieving results we begin to experience positive change.

Setting goals is hard for many of us though, isn’t it? Why do we often find ourselves shying away from our OWN dreams?

Are we afraid?

Do we somehow feel unworthy?

Do we feel that others will see our focus as selfish?

I want to stress how important it is to forget these notions, because the truth is that YOU are the only thing standing between yourself and everything you’ve ever wanted. Taking the steps towards the things you desire is a DECISION controlled ONLY by YOU and regardless of any path that someone else has planned for you, it is always you who can decide to ACT UPON YOUR OWN DECISIONS and change your life.

People will often struggle to get on the right path in their lives. Things may get frustrating, leading them to believe it’s not meant to be. You can’t allow your frustrations to guide you; Instead, push through them and focus on the OUTCOME.

You could wait forever for something to LOOK easy!

I want to start by suggesting that you quickly compose a list of goals or dreams on a piece of paper (yes, the old fashioned way). You will discover the impact of this later. Write from your heart and imagine that the possibilities are infinite and NEVER too big; never too much to ask for.

Now i want you to underline or highlight the ones that are the most important to you. Be careful not to over analyze this; This process is gradual and the outcome is precise. The ACT of writing this list (even if you hide it away for 5 years) is enough to ALERT your sub-conscious mind about what you really want!!

Now that you have some ideas about what direction you would like to take, i want you to  FOCUS ON THE OUTCOME! In fact, LIVE THE OUTCOME, imagine it everyday, write it down if you can and describe WHY you want this. HOW will it change your life? WHO will it affect? Focus on how you will FEEL when it happens and WHAT life now looks like for you.

The more focused you can train yourself to be, the more dedicated you will become to achieve your desires.

At the very least, i want to get you thinking about new ventures in life, in love, or in your career. I will be touching upon more specific strategies about how to succeed very soon.

Your Playing Small does not serve the World; Who are you NOT to be Great? Nelson Mandela

Cara Robertson

Founder of Para Vida

Email: info@paravidabycara.com

The Real You vs. The Conditioned You

The Real You vs. The Conditioned You

How many times have you tried to change and been successful for a day or two (maybe and hour or two), only to slip back into your old patterns, which, even if they are destructive or unhealthy, feel suddenly as comfortable as an old pair of jeans?

It’s difficult to wrap our minds around the ideas or promises that the present will get us what we want in the future if only we do the right things, look a certain way or feel the right things. This mental conditioning begins at a young age pressuring our youth in many ways. It often carries into adulthood, leaving some with feelings of failure and complete confusion about who they really are, who they should be and most importantly where they will end up.

I’m going to ask you this – What if?

• What if everything that we think we want now is not what we end up desiring in the future?
• What if you focus all of your efforts on that one thing (soulmate, talent, money, success) only to realize that although it made others happy, it wasn’t true to YOU?
• What if everything that you already are, is everything that you need to be?
• What if all you need is the tools, guidance and proper resources to help you survive and feel fulfilled everyday?

We set unrealistic goals for ourselves, striving to be at the top, looking like that model or having that prestige that everyone looks upon in envy, but it is not until we are comfortable living in the PRESENT moment that we can fully accept who we are. We need to be happy with our authentic selves before we can see real change in any aspect of our lives.

And isn’t that what we’re doing everyday? Isn’t the cycle of setting goals, motivating ourselves, and researching how to be “better” all a part of getting to know ourselves more intimately? The success of being able to look at yourself in the mirror, knowing exactly who you are far exceeds any notion of being the prettiest, the wealthiest, or having the perfect relationship.

Who are YOU? You already know.

So if you’re looking in the mirror and struggling, it’s internal. You are holding your own self image against what the rest of the world tells you you SHOULD be. You’re striving for everyone else’s perfection (which doesn’t exist anyways), instead of focusing on your own definition of self worth.

Why give that celebrity, that model or author from a fashion magazine the rights to define perfection FOR you?

Let’s focus on TRUE beauty – what makes you YOU!

Let’s do this together!

Cara Robertson

Founder of Para Vida

Email: info@paravidabycara.com