Anxiety / Nervous Tension

Anxiety is a vague, uneasy feeling, the source of which is nonspecific or unknown to the individual. The defining characteristics may be subjective or objective.

Subjective:

• Increased tension and apprehension
• Painful and persistent feelings of helplessness
• Feelings of uncertainty and inadequacy
• Fear
• Feelings of over-excitedness, distress, jitteriness, or worry

Objective:

• Cardiovascular excitation
• Superficial vasoconstriction
• Pupil dilation
• Restlessness, insomnia
• Glancing about, poor eye contact, trembling and extraneous movements
• Facial tension, quivering voice, continuous focus on the self
• Increased perspiration and expressed concerns regarding change in life events

Essential Oils:

Anxiety, agitation Angelica archangelica rad. [angelica]; Cistus ladaniferus [labdanum]; Citrus aurantium var. amara fol. [petitgrain bigarade]; Citrus aurantium var. amara per. [orange bigarade]; Citrus bergamia [bergamot]; Citrus sinensis [sweet orange]; Cymbopogon martinii [palmarosa]; Eucalyptus staigeriana [lemon scented ironbark]; Leptospermum scoparium [manuka]; Lavandula angustifolia [lavender]; Litsea cubeba [may chang]; Melaleuca alternifolia [tea tree]; Nepeta cataria var. citriodora [catnep]; Ocimum basilicum [basil]; Origanum majorana [sweet marjoram]; Pelargonium graveolens [geranium]; Pogostemon patchouli [patchouli]; Thymus vulgaris [thyme population]; Valeriana officinalis [valerian]

Nervous tension Citrus reticulata [mandarin]

Reflexology areas to emphasize:

• Head/brain/neck – to ease tension
• Solar plexus/diaphragm – to ease tension
• Work in a lot of relaxing desserts/smooth techniques; – rub and slide over all areas of the foot; index clean, chest stretch, squeeze and release