In our ever increasingly busy lives, it seems the levels of stress keep rising. We're not quite certain if the stress levels are, indeed rising, or if, as a general population we are losing our abilities to cope with it any further. On the news you hear of road rage, child abuse, murders and other indescribable crimes against humanity. The financial worries never seem to end, as there is always someone out there who wants more of the precious little you have. There seems to come a time in each individual's life when the warning lights start going off in his or her head predicting an impending meltdown unless steps are taken quickly to calm things down.

Our suggestions at Green Valley are nature's answer to a non-invasive coping mechanism. The garden is filled with many plants, flowers and herbs capable of offering to us peace and tranquility, even if it is only for a short time. Having used the gifts essential oils impart to us, the once intolerable stressors seem not so much so any longer. When the body and spirit are soothed, it is easier to sit down with a clear head and rationally deal with whatever it was that had us off the edge before. The essential oils listed below are well known for their calming and soothing properties. These can be used in massage, in the bath, in a diffuser, in a room spray, or merely inhaled as needed from a tissue or hanky. Above all, it helps to learn to express gratitude to the universe for the positives in our lives (and even for the negatives, as they usually end up teaching us some amazingly positive lessons, though we usually can't see that when we are in the middle of them!). Feeling grateful for the right to be allowed to wake up each day with the opportunity to create the day you desire is a tremendous gift that many of us take for granted. Ask someone who has a terminal illness, or who has suddenly lost a loved one about the value of each day, and remember things are not usually as bad as we think. That alone can help to relieve a great deal of self-inflicted stress. Breathe deeply your essential oil blends and give thanks for the day. It really works!

• Lavender (anti-anxiety)
• Geranium (balancing)
• Mandarin (calming)
• Bergamot (relaxing)
• Ylang Ylang (sedative)
• Neroli (anti-depressant)
• Rose Otto (helps with grief and hysteria)
• Jasmine (sedative)
• Lemon (tonic)
• Melissa (balancing, induces confidence)
• Palmarosa (calming to the mind)
• Patchouli (helps with stress-related issues)
• Petitgrain (nerve tonic)
• Sandalwood (sedative)
• Spikenard (sedative, helps in dealing with death and grieving)

To assist you in your journey toward peace and tranquility, may we recommend our own blends of StressBuster, Tranquility, Sunshine, Peace and Aroma2000, all blended 100% pure essential oils designed to assist the body, mind and spirit in calming, relaxing and rejuvenating. See our web store for further information!

This is educational information and any opinions expressed here do not replace professional medical advice. If you are ill, see a suitably qualified medical practitioner.