Using Essential Oils to Support Emotions from Sexual Abuse

Sexual Abuse is not an easy topic. It is difficult to find an accurate definition of what sexual abuse is. Most studies include forced vaginal, oral, and anal sex when defining sexual abuse, other studies include both attempted and completed assaults, while others document only completed assaults.

Sexual Abuse a crime of violence. Most sexual abuse is perpetrated upon the victim by someone they know. Only 17 percent of female victims and 23 percent of male victims were raped by a stranger. (Tjaden and Thoennes 2006) Sexual abuse is also most often committed in private settings and by one person (78.2 percent), while multiple assailants are responsible for just over 20 percent of reported rapes . (Tjaden and Thoennes 2006) In addition, a strong correlation exists between those who experience physical abuse and sexual assault in that 68 percent of physically abused women also reported having been sexual assaulted. (McFarlane and Malecha 2005)

Perpetrators of sexual abuse also differ in each stage of a victim’s life with children tending to be victimized by relatives, adolescent women by intimate partners and acquaintances and adult women were most likely to be raped by an intimate partner. (Tjaden and Thoennes 2006)

Survivors of sexual abuse experience painful psychiatric injuries such as negative self-esteem, distorted body image as well as feelings of anxiousness and deep sadness or despair. Emotional abuse often coincides with sexual abuse which can make it even more difficult to function. Survivors of abuse can have difficulties trusting or maintaining relationships.

Just as the sexual abuse is different so are the essential oils that can assist in their healing. Over the last couple of years I have been working with Dr. Kim Palmer to work through the nightmares and triggers. We have use rapid eye therapy and essential oils to assist in my healing and move me through the triggers. As I continue the work at home I use the essential oils topically and aromatically in a diffuser. I have used the information I have been learning from doTERRA as well as additional literature to select the oils and blends to assist me move through the triggers and the emotions it invokes, finding compassion and forgiveness and returning to peace and joy.

I use different oils for the same emotion based on what triggered that emotion. Sometimes for my anxious feelings I use Breathe - Respiratory Blend when I am triggered by something to do with my children. Other times I need Balance - Grounding Blend and Lime together for the feelings that is triggered by nightmares. And as I stated before I use Citrus Bliss - Invigorating Blend when I experience fight or flight triggered by a scent that reminds me of my X-husband.

I use the following to support my emotions from my sexual trauma with a carrier oil such as coconut oil:

*Cinnamon on the navel (Sacral Chakra)

*Grapefruit on the abdomen (Solar Plexus Chakra)

* Frankincense on the navel (Sacral Chakra)

* Forgive – Renewing Blend over liver and on forehead (Third Eye Chakra)

*Jasmine on the neck (Throat Chakra)

* Myrrh on the abdomen (Solar Plexus Chakra)

*Rose on chest (Heart Chakra)

In Emotions & Essential Oils: A Modern Resource for Healing and the Emotions & Essential Oils Wheel book it states the following oils and blends can assist in the emotions from sexual trauma:

  • Jasmine - Unresolved sexual trauma, resistance to sexuality, sexual addiction
  • Cinnamon - Sexual Abuse, body rejections, fear, controlling, jealousy, sexual repression, over-active sexuality
  • Clove -Victim, defeated, dominated, enslaved, fear of rejection, intimidated, controlled by others, co-dependent
  • Helichrysum - Intense pain, anguish, turmoil, hopeless, despair, sexual trauma, trauma, wounded
  • White Fir - Feelings that are generational or hereditary, burdened by the issues of others
  • Cardamon - Inebriated by anger, easily frustrated, objectifying others, blaming, unable to think clearly
  • Hope Blend - Despairing, traumatized, shameful

In Emotions & Essential Oils: A Modern Resource for Healing and the Emotions & Essential Oils Wheel book it states the following oils and blends can assist in the emotions about body acceptance which is often difficult for survivors of sexual abuse:

  • Cinnamon - Sexual Abuse, body rejections, fear, controlling, jealousy, sexual repression, over-active sexuality
  • Fennel - Lack of desire, shameful, weak sense of self, numb to body signals
  • Grapefruit – Hate for the body, addiction to food or dieting, eating disorders, anxiety over appearance
  • Patchouli - Boby shame and judgment, disconnected from body, ungrounded, body tension
  • Metabolic Blend (doTerra Slim & Sassy) - self-criticism, worthless, disgust or hate for physical appearance, strict, self-judgment
  • Rose - Bereft of divine love, constricted feelings, closed or broken heart, wounded

In 2015 doTerra release their Emotional Aromatherapy System contains six unique essential oil blends that have been formulated to support for targeted emotional health benefits.

  • Motivate – Encouraging Blend – Discouraged, Lack of Motivation, stagnant, unable to move on
  • Cheer – Uplifting Blend – Burdened, hopeless, heavy hearted, helpless
  • Passion – Inspiring Blend – Self-denial, regimented, dutiful, joyless
  • Forgive – Renewing Blend – Critical, judmental, resentful, bitter, cynical, angry
  • Console – Comforting Blend – Grief, loss, traumatized, anxious, restless, emotional pain, unsettled
  • Peace – Reassuring Blend – Controlling, attached, afraid

In The Essential Life book it states that the following oils and blends can be used topically and aromatically to assist in abuse trauma. To the side of the oil or blend are the emotions that they assist as listed in Emotions & Essential Oils: A Modern Resource for Healing and the Emotions & Essential Oils Wheel.

  • Frankincense - Abandonment, spiritually disconnected, distant from father, unprotected, spiritual darkness
  • Cedarwood - Inability to form bonds or social roots, loneliness, feeling disconnected or separated from the human family, antisocial
  • Focus Blend (doTERRA’s InTune) - Distraction, lack of physical presence or awareness, daydreaming, procrastination, scattered
  • Joyful Blend (doTERRA’s Elevation) - Caught in love vibrations, depression, dark, serious, stern
  • Comforting Blend (doTERRA’s Console) – Grief, loss, traumatized, anxious, restless, emotional pain, unsettled
  • Geranium - Abandonment, loss, distrusting, unforgiving, unloving, disheartened, heavy hearted, grief
  • Juniper Berry - Irrational fears, recurrent nightmares, restless sleep
  • Melissa - Depression, darkened, dreary, suicidal, overwhelmed
  • Roman Chamomile - Purposeless, discouraged, drudgery, frustration, unsettled
  • White Fir - Feelings that are generational or hereditary, burdened by the issues of others
  • Encouraging Blend (doTERRA’s Motivate) – Discouraged, Lack of Motivation, stagnant, unable to move on

In addition to the oils listed above I have supported my emotions and healing with the following:

  • Balance – Grounding Blend – Undergrounded, unwilling to take responsibility for self or life, disconnected, unstable, scattered
  • Bergamot – Despair, low self-esteem, self-judgement, unloveable, hopeless
  • Breathe – Respiratory Blend – Sadness, grief, unloved, distrust
  • Citrus Bliss – Invigorating Blend – Fear of self expression, stifled, emotionally imbalanced, low will to live
  • Deep Blue – Soothing Blend – Resistant to pain, avoidance of emotional issues, hysteria in painful situations, depression
  • Lime – Apathy, resignation, grief, suicidal thoughts and feelings, discouragement
  • PastTense- Tension Blend – Stress, overworked, nervous, burnout, overwhelmed, fatigued
  • Serenity – Calming Blend – Resentment, bitter, anger, sadness, perfectionism, unwilling to forgive

Essential Oils are an amazing companion to therapy and energy work, they have their own energy that help accelerate the healing. I am grateful for the guidance I have received from Emotions & Essential Oils: A Modern Resource for Healing and the Emotions & Essential Oils Wheel and the dōTERRA Oil Properties Wheel to help me find the oils I need to support my emotions and healing process. I have also been introduced to a powerful book called The Healing Questions Guide by Wendi Jensen . It asks specific questions that correlate with the emotional and psychological roots that create pain, then introduces a new possibility to the mind, release stale, toxic subconscious programming and activate healing in the body. I have been able to see that limiting beliefs and toxic program that was imprinted as I was in my abusive marriage. I have also been able to see imprinting from my childhood as well as from my ancestors.

Emotional Aromatherapy Training featuring Laura Jacobs

Dr.Hills, Founding Partner of doTERRA International presented the following research using Essential Oils for Emotional Health.

Laura also presented at doTerra Aspire Convention in 2016 on the topic of Emotional Aromatherapy the following is a approximately a 30 minute video class.

The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.


The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.