Aromatherapy | Wellness | Weight Loss
Motivational change
Finding the energy to cast aside any sluggishness is often one of the hardest parts of following a weight loss program. All of the essential oils listed here help to improve your state of mind and get you moving again.
Ginger is particularly recommended if you think you may need a bomb stuck under you before you’ll make any changes.
- Frankincense, Grapefruit, Juniper, Ginger, Peppermint
Emotional Eating
Do you comfort eat when things are going badly? Reward yourself with food when things go well? Eat if you are bored? Do you have a snack drawer at work? Do you stop eating if you are profoundly unhappy? These can all be signs of a tendency towards ‘emotional eating’. If you know you do this, then it may be that you need to tackle your habits too – and separate the associations you make with food.
Try any of the following essential oils to help you break any habits you have developed as a result of linking your emotions to your eating habits.
- Lemongrass, Melissa, Frankincense, May Chang, Geranium, Palmarosa, Juniper, Cypress, Sandalwood.
Try keeping a Food/Mood diary for two weeks – this can be a powerful reminder of just how closely your emotions are tied to your eating habits.
Self Image, Self Confidence, Self Worth
The great thing about a wellness “weight loss program” is discovering a new you as you slowly shed the burdens you have been carrying. If you know that how you feel about yourself right now is making it harder for you to maintain an appropriate weight, then consider adding any of the following to the tissue going into your shirt pocket. All of these essential oils help to lift your spirits. Most are also known aphrodisiacs and can help you to feel better about yourself.
- Sandalwood, Patchouli, Black Pepper, Jasmine, Neroli, Rose, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang, Geranium
Cyclical Cravings
If you know you gain or lose a regular amount each month as a result of your menstrual cycle, then it is quite likely that you are faced with more than a bad case of water retention.
Each of the following essential oils are known to help regulate the menstrual cycle as well as to suppress the appetite. You may find that certain essential oils are more appealing at different times of the month.
- Try Geranium, Clary Sage, Jasmine, Patchouli, Rose or Fennel
Detox and CM Loss
Try giving yourself anti-cellulite massages. Use up to three of the essential oils listed here (and three drops each of the essential oils in 20 mls of a carrier oil like Sweet Almond oil, I also like Coconut oil). Apply the massage oil to the areas you want to focus on such as your legs, hips and thighs). Then massage vigorously using plenty of percussion movements (like hacking and cupping). Daily application of this style of treatment can result in visible cm loss (as well as an associated improvement in muscle tone) within six weeks of starting the treatment.
- Use Rosemary, Grapefruit, Juniper, Angelica, Cypress, Lemon, Bergamot in this blend. Juniper or Angelica are key oils to consider if you are focusing on detoxing.
If you find you have an increased urge to urinate it means the blend is working. Keep drinking plenty of water too. This will help the body to remove any toxins.
How to Suppress Your Appetite
The easiest way to use aromatherapy to suppress your appetite is to create a blend that you can put on a tissue – and then place in a blouseor in your bra. Wear it throughout the day if you know you tend to graze or snack a lot. Add three drops each of up to three essential oils to a tissue and inhale as required.
- Essential oils with the most effective track record for appetite suppression include Grapefruit, Vanilla, Benzoin, Peppermint, Cinnamon, Clove, Fennel, Lemon, Marjoram, Orange, Mandarin, Ginger and Black Pepper.
- Choose essential oil(s) that remind you of the foods you like – this will increase the effects. If you know you love sweets, biscuits or chocolate, focus on Vanilla, Cinnamon, Grapefruit or Orange for your blend.
