Introduction to Synergy
When I first started researching synergy, I realised how incredibly complex synergy is when studied in depth. I contemplated how it plays such an essential part in many aspects of our life, whether it is through a balance between good quality sleep and work, or addressing anxiety, or even treating a skin condition. Synergistic blends address not only the branches or the symptoms you experience, but they also address the roots, the cause of your problem and where the issue is originating. You may have heard of the word synergy or synergistic before. This means that when a number of essential oils are blended together, they have a mutually enhancing effect on each other. In other words, they support each other. They work in harmony together and this is referred to as synergy. If I wanted to make a blend that was invigorating for example, it would be important to blend oils together that have similar invigorating qualities. Examples of invigorating oils include orange, lime and pine. These three oils combined have an uplifting effect on the mind. These blends can be incorporated into a room spray and instead of buying their artificial counterparts, a synergistic blend is so much better, and healthier.
The concept of synergy is an important and valuable in aromatherapy. The idea is that by adding harmonious oils together it will increase the activity of the oil as a whole. However, an antagonistic effect can also occur and this is when the effect of one or both individual oils is less when joined together than when individually applied. Ideally, for a therapeutic effect, oils that have the same therapeutic property are blended together; for example, antispasmodics, such as Lavender and Ravensara. Lavender has the therapeutic qualities of being an antispasmodic, antibacterial and calming, and Ravensara is antispasmodic, antimicrobial and a muscle relaxant, as well as inducing sleep . Ravensara is also an expectorant, and can be used for cough. When these oils are combined, they can produce a very effective vaporiser or chest rub, for example.
Synergy can also be applied to producing a fragrance. A fragrance is made up of top notes, middle notes and base notes. These notes all need to be in harmony with each other so that when combined, they will produce a fine perfume, not one that is harsh to the senses. For example, a fruity blend might contain blackcurrent, vanilla, pear and cucumber.
Synergy makes sense when you look at your own body and the way it functions. The body is an interaction of systems, for example the nervous system or the cardiopulmonary system. An interaction is occurring at all times between different elements of our body and for good health it is therefore important that we have a balance in our body. A lack of balance can bring about disease. Even more importantly, approaching our body from an energy point of view, any shift in energy can alter our wellbeing and this is when it becomes important to restore or rebalance ourselves to obtain an optimal state of well being. Aromatherapy oils are of great use in this area as they work on a synergistic level. Before reaching for a pharmaceutical drug for that headache, or anxiety or whatever your condition may be, consider a more natural approach to treatment with the use of synergistic aromatherapy blends.
