By Brandie M.
Lawrence BS, MS
Holistic Health
Practitioner
Many
of us are familiar with Cedarwood. We
think of backyard fences during a summer BBQ or grandmother’s old cedar
chest. You are most likely being flooded
with memories from different times you inhaled the aroma of the majestic
cedar! Essential oils are such powerful
tools as the molecules literally pass through the limbic system of your brain
(associated with memory storage and making).
They help us process information and so much more.
Cedarwood
essential oil has an AMAZING amount of sesquiterpenes (up to 90%), which
equates to more oxygen getting to the brain.
King Solomon used cedar extensively in his home and the temple. Solomon knew cedarwood had powerful effects
on mental thought processing. Cedarwood
was also important in the worship of God, was considered to clear mental
passages, and mixed with hyssop as a skin cleansing oil in the Old Testament
(Stewart 2010).
My
husband and I love to put on cedarwood when it is time to study or take an
exam. We also diffuse it before bed to
help us relax and get a good nights sleep.
However, one of my favorite ways I have used cedarwood EO is when I anointed
my lips along with ladies from a local Bible Study! The study “Conversation Peace” called for
believers to anoint their lips and pledge to only speak forth the words God
desired them to. I offered both hyssop
and cedarwood to the ladies (hyssop for spiritual cleansing from past mistakes
and to help break addictions; cedarwood as we sought the LORD for wisdom in how
to use our words). Each women dropped
several drops of the oils into the palm of their hand, rubbed it three times in
a circle and then inhaled the oils over their mouth and nose while praying over
how they use their mouth. Some women
also rubbed the oils over their heart and other used the Biblical application
of right ear lobe, right thumb and right big toe (Leviticus 14:1-2, 4, 15-18,54).
The
French also use cedarwood for anger issues, bronchitis, cellulite, hair loss,
nervous tension and urinary infections (Higley 2013). One can diffuse cedarwood, apply directly on
the body, add to Epson salt for a soak in the bath or use the vita flex
technique on hands and feet.
SOME CURRENT RESEARCH ON CEDARWOOD:
The
trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that He
planted. Psalm 104:16
REFERENCES
Higley, A., Higley C. (2013). Reference Guide for Essential Oils. Spanish Fork, UT: Abundant Health.
Stewart, D., Clair, D., Sutter, S.
(2010). Healing God’s Forgotten Gift. San Bernardino, CA: Soundconcepts.
