Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below — what’s your biggest takeaway about different plant parts and their therapeutic uses?

As we continue to explore the therapeutic uses of essential oils, it’s important to understand how different parts of the plant are distilled into essential oils, each targeting a different part of the body’s Triple Heater System, also known as the San Jiao. 

In Chinese Medicine, the body is split into three Heaters, forming an organ system with function but no form. The first is the Upper Heater, which encompasses the head, throat, heart, lungs, and respiratory system. The second is the Middle Heater, which encompasses the abdomen and digestive system. And the third is the Lower Heater, which includes the legs, lower legs, genitalia, and reproductive system.

Each part of the plant has physiological and therapeutic effects on one or several of the body’s heaters, maintaining harmony within these systems. 

The components that we will be exploring here are the flowers, peels, twigs, needles, leaves, bark, roots, and seeds of the plant. 

Flowers: Lift Your Spirits 

When the flowers of the plant are distilled into essential oils, they have an impact on the Upper and Middle Heaters of the body. Flower essential oils can help lift your spirits and treat mood disorders, headaches, and an overactive mind. 

For those who struggle with obsessive-compulsive thinking, apathy, or fatigue, essential oils distilled from flowers can calm the Heart and stabilize the Shen, or the spirit. 

When the Heart is unsettled, your Shen, which is held in the blood of the Heart, also becomes unsettled, which can cause the development of insomnia, restlessness, and mania. Therefore, flower essential oils are important for stabilizing your Shen and alleviating anxiety, calming the mind and body.

Flower essential oils also open the sensory orifices, opening your portals and allowing for a more expansive sensory experience of the world. The process of opening your portals can change and shift your perception of the world. 

For those who perceive the world as full of fear and negativity, opening the portals can alter your reception of the world, transforming it into a more positive place. 

No matter what happens in the world, the most important thing is how you perceive it. As we learn to shift our perspectives during a climate of fear, we can open our portals to counter negativity.

From the perspective of Chinese Medicine, fear impacts the Kidney system and can compromise the adrenals, resulting in a chronic state of sadness, apathy, fatigue, and weakened immunity. During times of COVID, it’s essential to keep the Kidney system strong and healthy, strengthening the body’s ability to battle pathogens.

Examples of essential oils that are distilled from flowers are Neroli, Orange Blossom, Lavender, and Ylang Ylang.

Peels: Regulating Qi 

Essential oils distilled from the peels of the plant also target the Upper and Middle Heaters, especially the respiratory and digestive systems. 

According to Chinese Medicine, the two main organs of digestion are the Spleen and the Stomach, and by harmonizing these organs, peel essential oils alleviate bloating or constipation, allowing for easy digestion.

When the Spleen and Stomach are in disharmony, it means that the direction of Qi flow within these systems has been disrupted. 

The Spleen’s natural course is to ascend energy, moving it into the Lungs to help the respiratory system, and up to the face to nourish the sensory orifices.

The Stomach, on the other hand, descends Qi, moving it down to stimulate peristalsis to support waste excretion and detoxification.

When the Spleen descends instead of ascending, counter its normal flow, diarrhea and prolapse of organs can result. When the Stomach ascends instead of descending, counter its normal flow, acid reflux and constipation can result.

Peel oils mostly come from citrus fruits like orange peel, tangerine, mandarin, lemon and lime. They regulate Qi and help Qi circulate throughout the body. This results in less pain, fewer spasms, cramping, gas, and less tension throughout the body. They can also detoxify and dry dampness, alleviating conditions such as candida or fluid stagnation in the joints.

Leaves, Needles, & Twigs: Spreading Qi to Support Immunity

Oils distilled from the leaves, needles, and twigs of the plant strengthen the Upper and Middle Heaters by spreading Qi throughout the chest and abdomen. This helps relieve muscle cramps, poor circulation into the limbs, joint pain, and the symptoms of arthritis. 

Spreading Qi supports the immune system and its ability to protect the body against pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. 

To learn more about leaf, needle, and twig essential oils, check out our previous podcast on Evergreen Essential Oils, which contains more information on the therapeutic uses and immune-boosting benefits of essential oils distilled from needles in particular. 

Roots: Relaxing the Body

Oils distilled from the roots of the plant have a calming quality and descending nature, targeting the Lower Heater.

Similar to roots themselves, they have a grounding effect on the body. It’s important to note that some natural perfumes contain essential oils, and it’s crucial to understand the ingredients so you can use oils that are good for your body and target the specific conditions that are affecting  you.

Essential oils that are distilled from roots such as Valerian act as relaxing sedatives and are effective for treating insomnia.

 Ginger and turmeric essential oils, on the other hand, contain powerful anti-inflammatory effects and invigorate the blood. They also target the Middle Heater, alleviating digestive problems and trapped dampness inside the body.

The calming effect of root oils is different from the calming nature of flower oils: While flowers target the Upper and Middle Heaters, calming the body and lifting your spirits, root essential oils have a more sedating effect, grounding  the body to encourage deeper  rest. 

Seeds: Harmonizing the Earth element 

Essential oils distilled from seeds can increase metabolism, helping to rid the body of accumulated dampness that result in phlegmy coughs or a chronic post nasal drip. In concert with a good diet, seed oils support detoxification and contain anti-fungal properties.

Seed oils, such as cumin, fennel, dill, coriander, and cardamom, regulate Qi and harmonize the Earth element of the Spleen and Stomach, alleviating gas and flatulence. These seed and spice oils are commonly used in cooking, harmonizing the fats and salts in food and allowing for easier digestion. 

To learn more about spices and spice oils, and how they can bring zest to your life, revisit Episode 4 of our podcast.

Barks & Resins: Targeting all Three Burners

Oils distilled from woods and resins can be used in all three Heaters of the body. Wood oils such as Cinnamon twigs  or bark warm the body, strengthening Yang Qi. 

On the other hand, Sandalwood is cooling, calming the Shen and settling the mind. This alleviates anxiety and strengthens your sense of self. It also brings energy to your Ming Men, also known as life gate fire.

Just as resins heal the wounds of the plant, resin oils such as Frankincense and Myrrh are wound healers, regenerating and reinvigorating the flesh. This can target skin conditions such as keratosis.

Tips for Exploring Different Parts of the Plant

As you explore essential oils distilled from the different parts of the plant, here are some tips and reminders for using them safely and effectively.

1. Remember that different oils can be used in balance and combinations to create a particular effect. To treat the upper body, use the tops of plants, as well as fruit peels and flowers. To treat the middle of the body, use leaves and seeds. To treat the lower body, use roots, woods, and resins.

2. Try beginning with aromatherapy. Rather than applying oils “neat” (applying them directly to the skin without diluting first), which can be irritating, start by diffusing the oils. 

3. Look into cautions and contraindications. Before experimenting with an essential oil, make sure to research cautions and contraindications to ensure that you will not experience an adverse reaction.

4. As you experiment, observe your body and its energy. Take note of the impacts on your body, and don’t be afraid to learn through exploration.

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