Flower Power: Oils for Loss and the Stages of Grief

Rose oil: a force of healing.
(Credit: mindbodygreen.com)

5 Tips to Heal from a Loss with Floral Oils:

Overlooking the effects a loss can have on our emotional and physical well-being is not an uncommon scenario. But in the middle of the flurry that is prepping for a funeral or memorial ceremony, it is important to remember that our health should not be compromised. The death of a loved one catalyzes the stages of grief for everyone, but how and when they unfold vary for everyone. There is no single “remedy” for grief, but we’ve found some flower oils that help those suffering a loss to regain some peace and equilibrium in their life.

The flower power of the following oils can be unlocked in many ways. Essential oils can be vaporized, used as mists, in teas, massage oils and used in endless other ways. However, be sure to consult the proper recipes before use of the following:

1). Chamomile for Calm: This flower has been scientifically proven to relax your nerves. Regain some calm before your memorial ceremony with a cup of chamomile tea, or a chamomile body mist.

Fresh cinnamon tea can calm nerves.
(Credit: seasonalove)

2). Cinnamon for Warmth: Cinnamon has been known to calm the stomach, and has a fantastic warming effect on the body. A cup of this stuff is like drinking a blanket: instant comfort.

3). Lavender for the Heart: Lavender has been proven to actually lower rapid heart rates, making it a perfect element to have around the house for someone in the stages of grief. Try running a bath with lavender oil before going to bed.

4). Geranium for Equilibrium: When a loved one dies, we feel like we’ve lost our balance. Geranium can help you feel more centered. The flower has a “small band gap that allows it to respond efficiently to infrared light,” meaning that it “brings about [a] balance [of] the body’s ions.”

Lavender can remind us to nurture ourselves.
(Credit: inthedetails.tumblr.com)

5.) Rose for Energy: The Chinese have long been using rose infusions as a way to increase healthy blood circulation, remove blood stasis and reduce fatigue.

The above flowers can be used in your home after the death of a loved one, or even as a gift for guests at a memorial or funeral ceremony. Though there are many dimensions to passing through the stages of grief, we hope that these simple and natural aids can bring a small dose of  tranquility to you and your loved ones after a loss.

You May Enjoy:

• Learning more about this lavender farm in the Bay Area.
• Explore SevenPonds’ “After Death Planing Guide” page.