13. Unhappiness vs Blessedness

Green emerald, symbol of green healing energy

Human values

Inner peace does not require money or possessions.  Disruptions to our inner peace can include unexplained symptoms.  Research shows depression is association with unexplained symptoms in 70% of cases.

So depression is associated with ailments.

Anatomy Th 6  the regions of stomach, colon, liver, gallbladder and pancreas

Like 8,9,10, gluttony, bitterness and wickedness on the one hand and abstinence, generosity and devotion on the other, the human values 11,12,13 belong together.

St Hildegards Virtues and Vices 14 to 35 I think I'll suggest are left to private study! Indeed whatever your tradition, christian, buddhist, muslim, sikh, hindu, taoist, animist...you'll recognise much here.... But heres a thought. Human values and self knowledge. In the age of Aquarius do we place our trust in these or in overwhelming force?

It was tempting to go quickly through these but well worth reflecting on each one.now we can look at certain of the aromatherapy literature to see in context which essential oils have been found to be of value.

Lying, contention/war, unhappiness on the one hand, truth, peace and blessedness on the other.

Unhappiness
Sadness, depression, blues, gloom, sorrow, misery

Blessedness
Happiness, cheerfulness, delight, pleasure, joy, rapture

 So after our study of St Hildegards values framework we can say that human values lie (irrespective of race, religion, culture and circumstances) on a continuum - does honesty lie between lying and truth? Where you are on the continuum of human values across 35 vices and virtues constitutes what we call character. We must treat ourselves and others with forbearance and forgiveness. No one is perfect.

Now we come to how aromatherapy can help overcome the sadness and depression which can affect us all.

 I didnt know where this was going when I started to work my way through 35 vices and virtues of St Hildegard related as Dr Strehlow does to human anatomy and her art and music and healing. I am very glad I started the journey! We have reached 13 and its certainly deepened my understanding of what Robert Tisserand, Gabriel Mojay and Kurt Schaubelt have been saying for years.

Like most people I tend to think of the brain as this rather substantial formalin preserved organ structure whereas the brain and spinal chord is gel like almost blancmange in quality not this rigid structure and the Nervous System spans our whole body. While the top notes can affect the part of the brain dealing with personality I am going to be looking at the digestive oils again to see how they affect our 'gut brain' and 'gut feelings'. Certainly when this area is upset or under threat our rational brains take a back seat. So it makes perfect sense to take the strain off this area by fasting as St Hildegard recommends. The use of diamond is also interesting to suppress appetite and emerald in depression. 

Ian Brealey
Shirley Price Aromatherapy

Tisserand in his book "The Art of Aromatherapy draws on the work of Professor Rovestri and his own practice of aromatherapy to summarise which essential oils have been found to be of use.

Rovestri notes two pharmacological actions - stimulating and relaxing

Anxiety, nervous tension  - benzoin, bergamot, camomile, camphor, cypress, geranium, jasmine, lavender, marjoram, melissa, neroli, rose, sandalwood, ylang-ylang

Depression, melancholy - basil, bergamot, chamomile, frankinsense, geranium, jasmine, lavender, neroli, patchouli, peppermint, rose, sandalwood, ylang-ylang

The treatment of mental states

Anger - chamomile, melissa, rose, ylang-ylang
Apathy - jasmine, juniper, patchouli, rosemary
Confusion, indecision - basil, cypress, frankincense, peppermint, patchouli
Dwelling on past unpleasant events - benzoin, frankincense
Fear, paranoia - basil, clary, jasmine, juniper
Grief - hyssop, marjoram, rose
Hypersensitivity - chamomile, jasmine, melissa
Hypochondria - jasmine, melissa
Impatience, irritability - Chamomile, camphor, cypress, lavender, marjoram, frankincense
Jealousy - Rose
Panic, hysteria - chamomile, clary, jasmine, lavender, marjoram, melissa, neroli, ylang-ylang
Shock - camphor, melissa, neroli
Suspicion - lavender

The Art of Aromatherapy Tisserand p100-101  http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Art-Aromatherapy-Beautifying-Properties/dp/0892810017/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1351012338&sr=8-2#reader_0892810017

The Fragrant Pharmacy, Worwood p102-110 contains a number  of blends for stress and depression

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fragrant-Pharmacy-Valerie-Ann-Worwood/dp/0553403974/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351012450&sr=1-1#reader_0553403974

Shirley Price's Aromatherapy for Health Professionals is available in a kindle edition.
 http://www.amazon.co.uk/AROMATHERAPY-FOR-HLTH-PROFESSNALS-4/dp/0702035645/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1351012567&sr=8-3#reader_0702035645