Essential Oils Through the Lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), everything is connected—our organs, emotions, and even how Qi (life-force energy) flows through us. When that flow is disrupted, we feel it physically, mentally, and spiritually. Essential oils, with their unique ability to restore balance, offer a simple yet profound solution when blended based on TCM energetics and using those blends, as well as single notes on acupressure and acupuncture points.
Each oil carries a unique, energetic quality. Warming oils like ginger and clove ignite Yang energy, moving stagnation and cold. Cooling oils like peppermint and eucalyptus soothe heat and clear the mind. Floral oils such as rose and jasmine nourish the Heart, helping to heal emotional wounds and lift the Shen (spirit). One of my favourite ways to use essential oils is by applying them to acupuncture points in the clinic.
A drop of lavender on Pericardium 6 can ease anxiety and open the Heart. Frankincense on Yintang (the third eye) brings clarity, and—sandalwood on Kidney 1 grounds restless energy, reconnecting you with yourself. And then there’s the scent itself—just one breath of oil can transport you, dissolving tension, unlocking old emotions, or restoring a sense of peace.
The beauty of this practice is that it’s deeply personal. Healing isn’t one-size-fits-all, and how we respond to scent is unique. One person finds lavender calming, another feels energized by it. The wisdom of plant medicine needs to be honoured and cherished so that we understand ill effects as well as welcomed ones. We can weave essential oils into our daily rituals with TCM principles to create a bridge between
nature and our inner world. Healing becomes less about fixing something broken and more about remembering how to allow flow, just as our Qi expects.
Dr. Melanie Snell is a Doctor of Acupuncture and a Holistic Practitioner who practices at two locations in SE Calgary. She also has an essential oil line called Soul Lux Herbals, which is based on Traditional Chinese medicine. To learn more, please visit www.SoulLuxGlow.com.
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Numerology April 2025!
April is a universal 4 month in the universal 9 year of 2025. While we are all experiencing the universal energy of the 9, we can expect a continuous theme of change, letting go, completions and endings, emotions, drama and an urge to become more of a compassionate humanitarian.
By letting go of certain ideals and embracing an attitude of understanding, we can all take greater steps towards a peaceful evolution in our world.
The 9 is ultimately an energy of healing. The 4 energy in April will support us to apply more structure and organization to our lives. It is a great time to look at all areas that require attention and to create systems that support us going forward. The 4 is the number of hard work and can be demanding, but very supportive to getting things done. In the case of adding April, a 4 month, to the present 9 year, it becomes 13. With this number, we can expect and experience 2 months of radical change and expansion on a global level.
The 4 always shines a spotlight on what is not working and forces us to remove the rose-tinted glasses and face reality. This is the time to deal with the hard truth of any situation, but again the 4 supports us with a reality mind-set.
Especially pay attention to health matters during this time, as well as, find ways to spend time in nature. 4 is a grounding energy and asks us to stabilize the world around us. On a global scale, we can expect governments and organizations to try and assert their dominance with the old patriarchal system trying once more to maintain its rigidity and power over others.
But in hope, there is optimism that nothing ever remains the same and we will experience radical change this month and in May as well. In these times, it is ultimately up to the will of the people to awaken to a new consciousness and to find a better path moving forward. - Astrid Serafini
