5 Heart Opening Essential Oils
I never quite know how my yoga practice is going to flow. This morning, I found my body itching to create space and open my chest to the sky. It’s all too easy to protect our heart with scrunched shoulders and folded arms, but every now and then, like today, I crave the vulnerability that comes from bearing my heart to the sky in Wild Thing.
This spurred me to share some of my favourite heart opening essential oils that can be used in massage, bath blends, or inhalations.
Rose Otto (Rosa Damascena)
The queen of flowers. It’s no surprise that Rose is found in many skin creams and lotions with its sweet, floral aroma and soothing properties. Rose is also soothing for the heart especially where there is emotional stress or a loss of self-love; Rose opens the heart and soothes feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and sadness.
Marjoram Sweet (Origanum Marjorana)
Warming and comforting, Sweet Marjoram translates as ‘joy of the mountain’ and was historically used as a Funeral Herb to bring peace to the departed. It’s often used today where there is deep emotional trauma like grief to calm the nerves and nourish the heart.
Ylang-Ylang (Cananga Odorata)
A sweet and heavily seductive aroma, Ylang-Ylang has been used extensively in perfumery. As a flower of love, Ylang-Ylang awakens the heart to intimacy. And to the same degree it can clear heat from the heart where there is nervous tension.
Lavender True (Lavandula Angustifolia)
Everyone’s favourite all-rounder. Lavender calms and stabilises the Qi of the heart. It can be used as a Rescue Remedy to calm strong emotions and dissipate nervous tension. A great oil for aiding self-expression.
Neroli (Citrus Aurantium var. Amara)
Neroli has both a soothing and euphoric effect on the heart. And as a result, it is one of the most effective oils for depression. Neroli comforts and strengthens the heart and assists in the release of repressed emotions.
References:
Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit, Gabriel Mojay
The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, Salvatore Battaglia
Essential Oils in Colour, Rosemary Caddy