I have to admit, after finishing Self as Sanctuary, I felt a need to be a bit more responsible on the subject of pleasure. Now you may not be familiar with the course that I’m talking about and that’s ok. I just knew more needed to be said; so, I sat down and filmed a video in order to address some potential concerns about ‘pleasure’. As it is, that wasn’t enough. Clearly, I hadn’t thought through what I wanted to say, and that’s ok. It just so happened that I was speaking to someone the very next day and heard myself go even deeper which inspired me to record an audio this time. As I was talking, I happened to mention something about essential oils that deserves additional attention.

In my last post, I talked about positively enhancing the effects of medications with oils. Now it comes up again. Why? Because this is HUGELY important! One of the worst things we can do is use medications and natural remedies for the same reason. For example, if someone is taking an SSRI, the last thing they want to use is an essential oil that stimulates the production of serotonin. The same can be said for any medication due to an undefinable recognition by the body for natural constituents over manmade chemicals. In other words, meds and plant components can end up ‘competing’ for the same cell receptors, depending on their nature which is problematic in the long run when combined without consideration; the result is potentially toxic and could be the reason why many people are not feeling as good as they could.

What I find particularly interesting is scientists have been talking about a vital force throughout nature for hundreds of years; although, we don’t hear much about it these days. That said, as far as I can tell, this isn’t the reason natural remedies aren’t fully appreciated; I believe they do understand the potential within plants. The challenge, however, ranges from the severity of health issues to not understanding how to use herbs and / or essential oils and the inability to guarantee their quality. Truth be told, there are numerous variables affecting plant properties which change between geographic locations; therefore, in a very important way, medications have their place. On the other hand, so do plants and I believe it’s time patients and professionals learn how to incorporate them into a treatment plan.

Now that I’ve shared this, I’d like to go on record by saying that ‘therapeutic’ is not a testable quality. You see, therapeutic, by all rights, is a consequence of medical treatment. Consequences can, of course, be good or bad, making the idea of ‘therapeutic’ being good rather subjective. The current viewpoint, as we know, is when something is beneficial, it’s therapeutic. Well here’s where it gets ‘sticky’ because everything we consume has the potential to cause both positive and negative effects, it depends on the individual system. Quite honestly, to see this on a product label is very misleading and a very good ‘argument’ for seeking assistance with what to use as well as how and when to integrate it into a treatment plan. Additionally, it’s a brilliant idea to have someone to call on for guidance along the way, especially in the event there is an adverse reaction. Not to mention, I strongly encourage you to work with someone who appreciates all aspects of health, not either / or. I'd also like to mention, just because something is considered healthy and natural does not mean the results are positive for everyone.

And on that note, it is my desire for everyone to get the best results possible from their treatment protocol, which brings me back to pleasure; a very important ingredient for good health. The uncertainty is what we end up choosing for pleasure. From my perspective, everyone’s delight is unique and being able to indulge mindfully and with good intention is what I’m talking about here. In no way am I suggesting we harm ourselves with poor choices. At the same time, I am fully aware of how difficult this is for many people which is where the oils come in because ultimately, pleasure is about seeking something to take our minds off the pressures and establishing a sense of peace, if only for a few minutes. For this reason, when our ‘go-to’ stress relief has holes in it, the mindful inclusion of specific essential oils could be what’s needed for clearing the mind and soothing the nerves, in turn, making it easier to form healthier habits. Beyond that, thoughtfully incorporating essential oils into any treatment plan is about the best thing you can do for your body. Want to know why?