One of the biggest battles waging in a person’s mind, body, and soul in early recovery is trying to get past those cravings and triggers. Cravings are part of having addiction, with both psychological and physical roots. Regardless of where they come from, they are bothersome and stressful. Some aromatherapy can put them at bay and support the healing process.

Getting Started

Getting used to aromatherapy can take time. From finding the right essential oils to deciding which smells work best, it can be a challenge to find the one or two that seem to be a good fit. Try these four different oils to get started:

  • Grapefruit: diffuse throughout the day in a vapor diffuser or place it into a small jar for best effects
  • Black pepper: dip a wooden toothpick into oil and chew several times daily
  • Apply 1-2 drops under the nose or diffuse 2-3 drops in a vapor diffuser
  • Cinnamon: Add 1-2 drops of oil to hot water or herbal tea. May also drop a few drops onto the neck or throat

More Tips on Oils

The first year of rehab can result in many challenges, so essential oils can help provide some relief to the mind and body while it heals.

Try these tips for mental clarity: 1-2 drops of sage under the nose or diffused in a diffuser, 1-2 drops of ginger oil into hot water or herbal tea

Try these tips to help stay present and focused on mindfulness. Staying present can help bring clarity of mind and loosen the binding thoughts that keep a person from being present: sandalwood or cedarwood oils on the hands, rubbed together, can create an aroma that brings clear-mindedness

Try these tips to help with physical ailments. This symptom of Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) is one many struggle with in early recovery. Use of essential oils for massage and reflexology can serve as a buffer for common aches and pains as long as it has been evaluated first by a medical provider. Give these a try for some support: peppermint for headaches and sinuses, clove for neck and shoulder tension, and rosemary for stomach issues.

Emotional regulation is also important as people in sobriety are not always able to self regulate well. It is a learned behavior with addiction. To have an expectation a person will develop emotional regulation in early recovery is to think too much of the process this early on in the game. Aromatherapy can help relax and support emotional healing but it takes time to develop the skills to fully lean into their usefulness for the long haul of recovery. Chamomile is a great relaxing oil, along with lavender and eucalyptus oils. These will help keep a peaceful flow

The wellness journey of recovery starts with small steps to healing. We embrace the different pathways of healing for people but understand medical and emotional needs that have to be met to support long term recovery. Springboard Center’s addiction treatment programs are tailored to meet the needs of each client. By utilizing a set of diverse methods of addiction treatment, we are able to deal with your addiction from all angles and concentrate on every aspect of your healing process. Call us to get started: 432-620-0255