Chapter Fifteen - Essential Oil Blends

Synergy and Blended Oils

A blended essential oil combines two or more pure single essential oils in such a manner that the result is an oil blend that is more effective than if those oils had been used separately. When oils are mixed together in the correct order and in the correct proportions, a chemical compound is created that is very particular and very powerful. The frequencies of each single oil seem to act both separately and as part of the unique frequency of the blend. Often a drop or two of the blended oil will accomplish what a drop or two of each of the singles oils would do. It will also give you the unique healing properties of the blend itself. As a simple example: the anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile are greatly increased by adding lavender in the correct proportion. This cooperative effort by the ingredients in a blend is referred to as synergy or synergism. The interaction of particular essential oils upon each other gives a dynamism to the blend which could not be achieved by using the single oils separately.

There are several factors that contribute to the effect that oils have on one another. One factor that drastically affects the properties of an essential oil blend is what kind of 'note' the individual single oils are. The term note, at least in part, refers to the evaporation rate of a single essential oil. Top notes are those oils which evaporate (diffuse into the air) most quickly. Oils that disperse more slowly are considered middle notes and then, finally, base notes are those oils which evaporate the slowest.

In general, base notes are considered to ground our energies. These oils, especially those from the conifer family, ground us to earth while allowing us to keep our vision lofty and pointed toward heaven. Their impact is often on the lower chakras, or on the energy that vibrates between the crown and the sacral chakra. This energy must vibrate smoothly if we are to be vibrant and healthy.

Middle notes are usually essential oils that are derived from the leaves, seeds, spices, or herbs, and are healing to the individual organs and systems of our bodies. They bring nutrition and balance to us physically. The higher notes, usually fruit or floral oils, resonate with us on emotional and spiritual levels. Individual essential oils contain constituents which cover a limited range of frequencies, and operate on all three levels. A well-done blend operates deeply at many frequency levels in the body. A comparison can be made to listening to 3 violins playing well together, or listening (and responding to) music played by a famous orchestra.

The notes of the individual components of a blend enable it to work on all aspects of a problem and a person in the most correct and effective order. A well-blended oil, comprised of several individual essential oils, works in layers when applied to the body or inhaled. The top note oils clear the spiritual aspects of the situation and then evaporate off. The middle notes, according to their various diffusion rates, clear the emotions and begin working on the digestion, respiration, and metabolism before they evaporate off. Finally, the deeper notes finish the process by stabilizing the physical body and grounding the emotions.

Blended oils have the added advantage of being less likely to cause a reaction or any kind of problem. For example, there is quite a long list of cautions associated with the use of clary sage. However, in a blend, there is rarely more than a very small percentage of this oil. All the best effects of the use of clary sage can be accomplished, along with the benefits of the other oils in the blend, with much less risk of side effects or over-dose of any one oil. This is a very great advantage when working with pregnant women, children, the elderly, or those who suffer from seizure disorders or other major health concerns.

It should be noted, before a discussion of essential oil blends begins, that there really is no such thing as an essential oil that works only on the emotions or only on the physical body. Every physical ailment either has its roots in the emotions, or because of the stress and disruption to life that it has caused, has created emotional components that need to be dealt with.

There are a few blends discussed in the remainder of this chapter that have few physical aspects listed. This is not because they do not affect the physical body. Negative emotions can wreak havoc anywhere in the body. It would be almost impossible to list all of the organs and systems that may have been affected by those emotions. Always keep an eye out for an emotional description of an oil that seems to match you (or the person you are working with). Pay attention, after you have used the oil for a little while, to what has improved physically in the body.