Cedarwood for Mind-Body Connection
You are designed to give and receive love in a supportive community.
How Essential Oils Support Our Emotions
When I first began using essential oils for emotional purposes, something I couldn’t let go of was wanting to know HOW. HOW was this oil that I was applying to my body somehow making this abstract leap into supporting or influencing my feelings and thoughts?
After learning some about the complex flow of hormones and chemicals in the body, it was easier to understand how an essential oil, with its own unique chemistry, could support and influence body chemistry. I learned how many health issues are specifically connected to emotions. I also started using essential oils according to Traditional Chinese Medicine practices, which considers thoughts and feelings as a part of the flow and function of health and focuses on balance in the mind, body, and environment.
For example, the adrenal glands are responsible for producing adrenaline. These glands sit on top of the kidneys. In TCM, it is said that the kidneys “hold fear”. From a western medicine perspective, the adrenals react to stress with adrenaline for the fight or flight response. Then the kidneys can adjust for and regulate the adrenals by changing reabsorption of sodium and secretion of potassium to regulate blood pressure.
There is a definite and measurable effect of stress in the body, regardless of which perspective you look through. It is now more widely known and published in studies, that many aspects of our environment, behavior, and habits affect gene expression and cell function.
Cedarwood benefits for the body:
Cedarwood relaxes and soothes airways for deep and easy breathing. Slow, intentional breath helps to regulate the nervous system, release the body from the stress cycle of the endocrine glands, and even stabilizes heart rate and improves mental energy and focus. Heartmath has been releasing fascinating research on the complex connection of very simple mindful breath.
It’s great for clearing the mind, easing into rest, and improving quality of sleep. Many people mention dreaming more when using this oil to help them rest because they’re staying in deeper realms of sleep for longer. Allowing the mind to do its filing and cleanup work with thoughts and feelings from the day is incredibly healing, as well as energizing and refocusing even into the next day.
Using this oil topically promotes even skin tone by prompting the regeneration process of new healthy cells, as well as being cleansing to help clear up blemishes. It also stimulates healthy blood flow, so using it in shampoo or with a carrier oil for a scalp massage promotes healthy hair growth. It’s a favorite ingredient to add to DIY beard oil.
Working cedarwood into daily grooming and self care is a great way to get its benefits for the mind and the body.
Cedarwood for the Mind:
Once you understand how Cedarwood works in the body, seeing how it supports the mind isn’t a far stretch. It’s comforting, refocusing, and has a warmth to its scent that feels connecting and grounding. One study showed that inhaling Cedarwood improved struggles with inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
Putting Mind and Body Together
While there are so many benefits of how Cedarwood works between the mind and body that you could choose to focus in on any one of them, the general feel and effect of this oil is a feeling of centering, connectedness and community. When you feel overstimulated by the shifting world around you and lack the ability to tap deep into your source of inner strength and support, cedarwood helps to remind you that all you need is already within or will be provided for you as you need it. You can be confident that you belong and are supported. When you act and live from this mindset, the way the world interacts back with you will reflect your belief of being connected and belonging.
Use this oil when you’re stuck in thoughts of being disconnected or overlooked and lonely or when you are drawn to isolation. Purpose happens in community. You are designed to give and receive love in harmony and discover more about your unique gifts that you being to the world by interacting with others.
Ways to use Cedarwood:
OIL FACIAL CLEANSER AND SERUM
Add 15 drops to a 2oz bottle with a carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil or jojoba oil, for a facial cleanser and serum. Massage into face to dissolve dirt and impurities. Cover your face with a steaming cloth for about 20 seconds and wipe clean. Apply a couple drops of the same blend as a serum after cleansing for an even warm glow.
BEARD OIL
Use the above blend as a beard oil to nourish and support follicles for healthy hair growth.
HAIR GROWTH
Add a couple drops in your hand with shampoo when you wash your hair to strengthen and boost hair growth.
SLEEP
Rub a drop behind ears or on bottoms of feet before bed for deeper rest.
BLOCK OUT OVERWHELM
Apply a drop down the back of neck and along tops of shoulders when you need to settle and block out overstimulation.
CONNECT TO SELF
Apply a drop over the heart area when you feel lonely or disconnected. Place your hand over your heart, and breathe deeply, inhaling for 4 seconds, holding for 4 seconds, and exhaling for 4 seconds.