Your mental health is closely linked to your temperament, which influences your emotions, reactions, and behavior when faced with stress. Knowing your dominant temperament can help you better understand your emotional needs and use natural solutions to regain your balance. Among these solutions, aromatherapy, and more specifically essential oils, offers valuable support for reharmonizing your emotions according to your temperament.
In this article, I invite you to discover the four main temperaments: sanguine, bilious, lymphatic, and nervous. You can identify which one suits you best with a quick and fun quiz. Once your temperament is determined, I'll give you examples of essential oils suited to help you restore emotional and mental balance. Each rebalancing suggestion is an introduction to what you can explore further with an aromatherapist, ensuring personalized support.
Understanding the Four Temperaments and Their Influence
What is temperament?
The concept of the four temperaments dates back to ancient medicine, particularly to the theory of humors developed by Hippocrates. Each individual is said to be composed of a mixture of four elements (air, fire, water, earth), giving rise to four major temperaments: sanguine, bilious, lymphatic, and nervous. These temperaments directly influence our reactions to life events, our emotions, and our behavior.
Far from being fixed, temperaments are dominant tendencies that can evolve depending on our lifestyle, diet, and psychological balance. Today, they are often used in modern psychology and aromatherapy to understand the specific emotional needs of each individual.
The influence of temperament on behavior and emotions
Your dominant temperament plays a key role in how you manage your emotions and react to stress. For example, people with a sanguine temperament are generally cheerful and communicative, but can tend to become scattered and lack focus. Conversely, people with a bilious temperament are determined and serious, but may sometimes lose their temper or overwork themselves.
The lymphatic temperament, calmer and more persevering, can find itself in a state of inertia if it lacks stimulation, while the nervous, analytical and reflective temperament, often has difficulty disconnecting and can suffer from nervous tension.
Understanding these dynamics allows you to adapt your approach to well-being, including using natural solutions like essential oils to rebalance your emotions.
The 4 Temperaments: A Quiz to Discover Yours!
Who are you? Take the test
The first step to rebalancing your mental well-being is to understand your dominant temperament. While each person is a unique blend of the four temperaments (sanguine, bilious, lymphatic, and nervous), one of them is often more pronounced and influences your behavior, emotions, and how you handle life's challenges.
I'm offering you a quick and intuitive quiz to determine which temperament dominates you. Simply answer the questions according to your first instinct.
1. Which sentence best describes you?
- “I am enterprising, dynamic and I like to make decisions!”
- “I am calm, dreamy, and I take my time before acting.”
- “I am cheerful, communicative, and I love sharing my ideas!”
- “I am thoughtful, sometimes anxious, and I always rely on my logic.”
2. When faced with stress, you...
- Stress makes me angry, but it pushes me to act!
- I stay calm... but too much stress sometimes paralyzes me.
- A little stress? It's perfect for moving forward! Too much, and I lose my composure.
- Stress is my daily companion: I anticipate it and manage it (sometimes badly).
3. In a group, you are the one who...
- Take the reins and guide everyone.
- Listen and follow, taking the time to observe.
- Talk to everyone, liven things up and make them laugh!
- Analyze each situation and propose thoughtful solutions.
4. Your relationship with emotions:
- My emotions? I hide them well, but sometimes they explode!
- I keep everything inside, and it ends up exhausting me.
- I express everything! No question of keeping anything to myself.
- I prefer to think and keep my emotions to myself. It's easier.
5. When you were a child, you dreamed of...
- Become a doctor, lawyer or fighter against injustice.
- Gathering all those I love around me for a warm moment.
- Be a star, a princess or drive a convertible.
- Becoming a researcher or a professor, in my tidy room.
How to interpret your results?
- Majority of A's: Bilious Temperament – You are energetic, determined, and like to make decisions quickly. You excel under pressure, but be careful not to burn out and your tendency to get carried away.
- Majority B: Lymphatic Temperament – You are calm, persistent, and enjoy peace and quiet. You are an excellent observer, but you must be careful not to become passive.
- Majority C: Sanguine Temperament – You are cheerful, outgoing, and communicate easily with others. However, it is important to stay focused so as not to get distracted.
- Majority of D: Nervous Temperament – You are thoughtful, analytical, and sometimes anxious. You have a strong tendency to over-rationalize your emotions, which can create internal tension.
Understanding your dominant temperament will allow you to better manage your emotions, recognize your strengths, and identify your areas of vulnerability. This quiz gives you an initial clue, but it's always recommended to refine these results and develop a personalized wellness plan.
Rebalance your temperament with essential oils
The principles of aromatic rebalancing
Aromatherapy is a powerful natural approach to restoring emotional harmony based on your dominant temperament. By using essential oils tailored to your personality, you can soothe tension, boost energy, or enhance focus. Each essential oil has specific biochemical properties that interact with your body and mind, helping to restore optimal emotional balance.
The principles of aromatic rebalancing consist of using essential oils in synergy, that is to say by mixing several oils to maximize their beneficial effects.
It's important to emphasize that, while using essential oils is a natural method, their use must be carefully monitored. Here, I've provided examples of rebalancing for each temperament, but it's essential to refine these suggestions with an aromatherapist for personalized follow-up.
Examples of rebalancing
1. The sanguine temperament – Need for calm and refocusing
People with a sanguine temperament are often dynamic, outgoing, and communicative. However, their boundless energy can cause them to become distracted, leading to impatience and a lack of concentration. To rebalance this temperament, essential oils that bring calm and serenity are recommended.
Essential oils to favor:
- Petitgrain bigarade
- True lavender
- Roman chamomile
- Ylang-ylang
- Incense…
Example of a rebalancing synergy for the sanguine temperament:
Ingredients :
- 2 drops of Roman Chamomile essential oil
- 2 drops of Frankincense essential oil
- 6 drops of Petitgrain Bigarade essential oil
How to use:
- Place these drops on a wick of an inhaler stick and breathe deeply. This synergy helps calm the mind, soothe agitation, and promote concentration.
2. Nervous temperament – Need for comfort and stability
A nervous temperament is often characterized by a strong propensity for analysis, a tendency toward anxiety, and difficulty managing stress. For this type of personality, it is crucial to calm internal tensions. Relaxing and stabilizing essential oils are ideal for this purpose.
Essential oils to favor:
- Ravintsara
- Ho Woods
- Garden marjoram
- Palmarosa
- Neroli…
Example of rebalancing synergy for nervous temperament:
Ingredients :
- 4 drops of Neroli essential oil
- 2 drops of Palmarosa essential oil
- 4 drops of Ho Wood essential oil
Instructions for use:
- Place these oils on a wick of an inhaler stick and breathe deeply to calm nervous tension and regain a feeling of inner security.
3. Bilious temperament – Need for relaxation and moderation
People with a bilious temperament are strong-willed, determined, and energetic, but can also be prone to irritability and overwork. Essential oils with soothing and relaxing properties are particularly effective in moderating this intense energy.
Essential oils to favor:
- Lemon litsea
- Lemon verbena
- Lemongrass
- Melissa
- Peppermint
Example of rebalancing synergy for bilious temperament:
Ingredients :
- 4 drops of lemon litsea essential oil
- 4 drops of Lemongrass essential oil
- 2 drops of Peppermint essential oil
Instructions for use:
- Breathe in this synergy through an inhaler stick to calm the mind and avoid excess energy.
4. The lymphatic temperament – Need for dynamism and energy
The lymphatic system, which is more calm and composed, sometimes needs a boost to break out of its inertia. To stimulate energy and motivate the lymphatic system, invigorating and revitalizing essential oils are perfect.
Essential oils to favor:
- Mandarin
- Bergamot
- Exotic basil
- Noble laurel
- Black spruce…
Example of rebalancing synergy for lymphatic temperament:
Ingredients :
- 3 drops of Black Spruce essential oil
- 3 drops of Mandarin essential oil
- 4 drops of Bergamot essential oil
How to use:
- Inhale this synergy for a boost of energy and motivation. Ideal for those times when you need to energize your day.
These rebalancing examples offer natural solutions tailored to each temperament. Remember that these recipes should be refined for personalized support, ensuring optimal use of essential oils.
General precautions for the use of essential oils
- Consult an aromatologist for a personalized rebalancing: Depending on your dominant temperament and the imbalances you face, they will be able to guide you towards a more precise and safe use of essential oils. With personalized follow-up, you will obtain an emotional rebalancing program that takes into account not only your dominant temperament, but also your health history, your lifestyle, and your olfactory preferences.
- Dilution: Always dilute essential oils before skin application to avoid irritation.
- Tolerance test: Before use, carry out a skin tolerance test by applying a small amount of the diluted synergy to the inside of the elbow and wait 24 hours to check for an allergic reaction.
- Do not use in children, pregnant or breastfeeding women without medical advice: It is imperative to consult the essential oils sheet and consult a health professional before any use in these specific cases.
- Precautions for medical conditions: People suffering from chronic illnesses (asthma, epilepsy, hypertension, etc.) should consult their doctor before using essential oils, as some may have adverse effects or be contraindicated with their treatment. Your doctor is the only primary player in your health.
- Beware of photosensitizing oils: Some essential oils, such as citrus oils (lemon, bergamot, grapefruit), can cause skin burns or spots if exposed to the sun after application. Do not use them before direct sun exposure.
- Avoid mucous membranes and eyes: Essential oils can cause severe irritation. In case of accidental contact, rinse thoroughly with a carrier oil, not water. Consult your doctor.
Psychic rebalancing with essential oils is a natural and effective approach to harmonizing your emotions based on your dominant temperament. Whether you are sanguine, nervous, bilious, or lymphatic, essential oils offer specific solutions to address your emotional needs, whether it's calming agitation, reducing stress, or increasing your energy.
While this article has helped you better understand your temperament and the essential oils that can help, it's only the first step toward complete rebalancing.
I wish you to enjoy lasting well-being in harmony with your temperament.
Bibliographic references
- Michel Faucon, Treatise on Scientific Medical Aromatherapy, Sang de la Terre Edition, May 29, 2015, 880 p. ISBN: 978-2869853256
- Yves Vanopdenbosch, Temperaments: a tool for knowing oneself and others, Amarys Editions, November 21, 2012, 208 p., ISBN: 978-2875520135
- Laurent Ayache. Medicine and Wisdom. Essay on Hippocratic Philosophy. History, Philosophy and Sociology of Science. University of Nice - Sophia Antipolis, 1997. French. NNT: fftel-02990447 https://theses.hal.science/tel-02990447v1/file/M%C3%A9decine%20et%20sagesse.pdf
Maison Jacynthe disclaims all liability. All information contained on this page is not intended to replace justified allopathic treatment or to disregard the expertise of the medical profession. It is up to each individual to take charge of their own health, to inform themselves, and to make the necessary changes to improve their condition. Therapeutic supervision by a qualified health professional is obviously recommended.
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