Why we use aromatherapy in grief seasons

When I say essential oils are our first line of defense for most things, I’m totally serious.

Before you skip the rest of the post because it’s going to be too crunchy, or you think essential oils are silly, or your doctor says they don’t do anything—pause for just a second.

I used to think people who used oils for everything were strange. This was a long time before my PCOS diagnosis, and my journey of learning to manage my health naturally—another story for another day.

Just know… I was one of those people. I thought it was weird. I thought any benefits people saw from essential oils were probably all in their heads. I went to the doctor anytime I got sick. And if you’re one of those people, I get it. But also, keep reading, because there are reasons why I changed my mind. :)

How it started

I first started researching essential oils when I was considering moving home to Michigan after working in Orlando for several years. I used to get persistent sinus infections and bronchitis from environmental allergies in Michigan, usually resulting in a prescription of antibiotics. These were issues that didn’t trouble me in Florida.

Before moving home, I invested in some oils from a reputable company (not all of them are) that supported respiratory health and seasonal allergy issues. I’ve been back in Michigan for more than seven years and haven’t once needed an antibiotic for sinus or respiratory issues. To the best of my memory, I don’t believe I’ve been on any antibiotics since I’ve moved home.

When I saw how effective essential oils were in this particular area of life, I began to learn more and apply them to other areas of physical and emotional health. I could spend all day telling you about different benefits from different plants. I have yet to be disappointed.

How it’s going

I totally get it… it may sound a little “woo woo” to support our bodies through the things we smell, but essential oils do more than just smell good.

This paragraph from Essential Oils: The Complete Home Reference, explains some of the science behind why oils can be so effective.

“Our sense of smell is the only one of our senses that is connected to the limbic system of the brain, which is like the emotional control center. In addition to controlling our emotions, the limbic system also supports functions like behavior, motivation, and long-term memory. This system is connected to the parts of the brain that control heart rate, hormone balance, blood pressure, breathing and stress. The emotions we feel—such as joy, fear, anger, frustration, anxiety or sadness—all come from this region of the brain. When you breathe in essential oils, it does more than just smell nice. It produces benefits for your body and mood.” 1

This never ceases to amaze me. Read it with me again.

Our sense of smell is connected to the part of our brain that controls our emotions.

And our heart rate, hormones, blood pressure, stress levels… the human body is amazing.

God did not make mistakes when he created the plants that cover the earth, or when he created our bodies. This is why in our house, we use aromatherapy to help navigate grief. And stress. And anxiety. And fear. And all the “negative” emotions that come up in life, along with a wide variety of health issues.

We remind each other of truth—who God is and who we are in the midst of challenging emotions or extended seasons of grief. And then we use the tools at our fingertips to support our bodies and our emotions.

If you have questions, or you’ve been thinking about using essential oils and aren’t sure where to start, let me know. I’m happy to help. You can reach me at emiliebirkenhauer@gmail.com.

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Coming soon: A post that details which specific oils we reach for first to support our bodies and emotions in seasons of grief.

1. Essential Oils: The Complete Home Reference. First Edition. Printed in the USA. Life & Science Publishing. May 2021.