Face Map

Just like reflexology, face maps come from Chinese medical practitioners. They swear that internal health issues manifest themselves on the face.  They believe that the face is basically a map of health issues.  This comes from centuries of observations.  Since reflexology is so accurate, I tend to accept their wisdom for face maps at least for adults (teenagers probably have lots of different things going on).  These issues show up as rashes, dark circles and acne. If these are persistent or there is a cluster of pimples in one area, getting to the root of the problem and solving it will improve your health and in turn help your face clear up.  Healing is where oils come in.  I made this diagram of the zones and listed the issues below along with suggested oils.

1. Neck = Illness/Infection

It is believed, that pimples or rashes in this area signal that there is an illness or bacterial infection that the body is fighting.  My first go-to oil would be a blend. I would take it internally in capsules and use 20 drops in my 10 ml roller bottle with FCO on the bottom of my feet. Other oils to consider would be cinnamon, oregano, melaleuca, rosemary, clove and frankincense.

2. Chin = Stomach

The stomach is responsible for disintegrating food using stomach acid.  Oils that help are basil, peppermint, and lemongrass.  These can be taken in a capsule or diluted and applied topically.

3. & 4. Side of the Chin = Hormones/Endocrine System

For support with hormone balance, females usually turn to several different blends for women.  Oils that help with hormones are rose, geranium, ylang ylang, clary sage, jasmine, ginger, fennel, and thyme. Oils for the endocrine system are frankincense, sandalwood, geranium, ylang ylang, clove, lemongrass and rosemary.

5. & 6. Cheeks = Respiratory System

My favorite oil to support the respiratory system is ....respiratory blend.  Other popular oils include eucalyptus, peppermint, white fir, cinnamon, and protective blend.

7. & 8.  Ears = Kidneys

Kidneys are organs that filter waste and extra water from the blood. They convert waste into urine.  They also play an important role in hormone production.  Oils that are used to support kidneys include lemongrass, rosemary, lemon, eucalyptus, and juniper berry.

9. Nose = Cardiovascular System

There are many components to the cardiovascular system.  This system is responsible for transporting blood to the various tissues throughout the body.  Wild orange and cypress are beneficial for the overall system. Other oils include ginger, Ylang Ylang, lavender, lemon and lavender. General circulation can be supported using cypress.  The heart tends to benefit from ylang ylang, marjoram, and geranium.  

10. & 11. Under the Eyes = Kidneys

See 7 & 8

12. Between the Eyes = Liver

The liver helps with digestion, produces cholesterol, removes waste products and old cells from the blood, and metabolizes harmful substances and toxins into harmless chemicals. Oils for supporting the liver include clove, geranium, helichrysum, and digestive blend. Frankincense and myrrh helps too.

13. & 14.  Lower Forehead = Bladder and Digestive System

Lemongrass, rosemary, cypress, juniper berry, and thyme aid with bladder support. The digestive system is comprised of a series of organs and glands. Overall health of the system benefits from peppermint, ginger, lemongrass,and fennel.

Basic Guide to Essential Oils for Foot Reflexology

Most of us like a nice foot rub.  By providing a basic map of the foot (aka reflexology) and suggested essential oils, a simple foot rub could evolve into an amazing foot massage. This should help:

Essential Oils for Pregnancy

Essential oils can be a wonderful tool to use during pregnancy.  I have been asked by several different women what oils I would recommend. Sadly, this is not a topic I can share my personal experiences with. It has only been a year and a half since I first started using essential oils and my baby is 6 1/2 years old.  Picking an oil or several oils really depends on the exact issue someone wants to address.

Here is a quick breakdown of these oils:

1. Geranium - This is a powerful floral oil. It supports several systems in the body including the liver, gall bladder, pancreas, and kidneys. It has been known to help with emotions, hormones, and oil on skin and hair.

2. Ylang Ylang (I love the way this one smells) - It is commonly used as an aid with hormones, libido, mental fatigue, anxiety, frustration, stress, stomach issues, oily skin, and emotional balance.

3. Lavender - The top uses for this oil are sleep issues, stress, anxiety, teeth grinding, focus, concentration, pains, headaches, and emotional balance. It also promotes skin healing.

4. Grapefruit - This oil is cold pressed from the rind of grapefruits. It is often used to aid with weight loss and cellulite, sugar cravings, oily skin and acne, detoxification, lymphatic and kidney systems, breast and uterine health, hormones, gallbladder support, and emotional well being.

 5. Roman Chamomile - This oil is steam distilled from flowers. It has been known to assist with stress and shock, dry skin and sore nipples, sleeplessness, cramps, anger and irritability, and emotional balance.    

While I have no intention of getting pregnant again (I'm 41 years old), I wish I had been using essential oils back when I was pregnant.  I can see that Ginger (aids with nausea), Peppermint (relieves digestive upset) and wild orange (energizes and lifts mood) could be on the top of the list too. Here is a picture of me when I was pregnant:

I still remember being horribly uncomfortable and exhausted. I made a decision to avoid caffeine, soda, and pain killers, which means I would have LOVED using essential oils for little pick-me-ups. Oh well, live & learn, right?