How to Choose the Right SOC Application and Answer Your Own Questions
When it comes to selecting the right Symphony of the Cells application, the process can feel overwhelming. But don’t stress! Overthinking may cause you to lose focus on the fact that the body will love any essential oil, so keep things simple and take it one step at a time. Here, we’ll walk you through a few tips for making this choice easier and more intuitive.
Understanding SOC and Body Systems
SOC organizes its approach by targeting specific body systems. For example, there’s the Emobic application for the enteric nervous system and the Infectious Disease application for the immune system. But the human body is complex, and each system doesn’t operate in isolation—there’s a lot of overlap. When you’re choosing a SOC application, it’s helpful to keep in mind that one application can benefit multiple systems. An application isn’t limited to a single purpose; instead, think of it as a tool that may positively impact various parts of the body.
Choosing An Application Based On Body Systems
When choosing the right Symphony of the Cells (SOC) application, it's essential to understand which body system is most impacted by your condition. Researching your illness can help you identify the system involved—whether it’s the digestive, nervous, or another system—allowing you to select the most effective SOC protocol. Additionally, it’s important to consider the root causes of your condition, such as poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, or emotional trauma. By taking responsibility for your health and learning about the underlying factors contributing to your illness, you can better tailor your SOC application to not only address symptoms but also support deeper, holistic healing.
How to Decide Between Applications
Choosing the right SOC application doesn’t need to be stressful or overly rigid. Here are some tips:
View applications as Flexible Guidelines: Rather than adhering to strict rules, think of SOC applications as adaptable guidelines. A particular application might generally target one area but still offer benefits to other body systems, which often overlap in their functions. This also applies to the idea of following the exact order for oil application as there is no need to stress if you don’t follow a perfect order. While flexibility is always an option, also keep in mind that applications have been created based on successful outcomes and it is wise to follow the suggestions listed.
When Conditions Overlap Across Applications: Sometimes, a condition may appear under multiple applications. For example, ADHD and Multiple Sclerosis appear under ‘possible conditions’ for both Sensory and Neurological applications. Keep in mind that one application doesn't only fit one body system because body systems overlap. SOC’s flexibility means that it’s often beneficial to use a combination of approaches, especially when your goals are holistic and preventive. If you’re trying to decide between two options, you don’t necessarily need to pick just one. Sometimes, the best approach is to alternate between applications. This keeps the body engaged and responsive rather than habituated to a single routine.
Substitutions and Quantity of Drops
The use of specific essential oils is important, considering they each have unique properties. But like body systems, essential oil properties and uses overlap, so don’t be overly concerned about it. Here are some ways to go about choosing:
When Two Oils Are Listed On One Line: When you see “Melissa/Arborvitae” listed as one of the steps in the application for example, this means that either essential oil would be a great choice for this step. Instructions like this will often be due to strong similarities in EO properties, so either one will be beneficial. This can be helpful if you only have one of the two oils on hand, but if you happen to have both and would like to use them both, there is no harm in doing so and the body will love it.
If You Do Not Have An Oil: There is a guide in the back of each SOC booklet that contains a plethora of oil substitutions you can make if you don’t have one specific oil on hand. The oil substitution chart is listed in order of Boyd’s “first choice” to his “third choice”. The substituting oil will likely have similar properties to the original one listed. If you don’t have any of the substitute oils, it is okay to simply skip that oil.
Deciding How Many Drops To Use: A general guideline is to use 4-6 drops of each essential oil during SOC applications. Boyd specifically notes that it’s not necessary to count each drop, and he tends to apply more liberally himself. However, keep in mind that for young children, older adults, or those who are ill, it is recommended to start with only 1-2 drops of each oil AND use more carrier oil.
Choosing Essential Oils for Different Health Concerns
Each essential oil offers a unique set of properties, making them effective for various needs. But with so many oils available, how do you know which one to choose? Here are some helpful resources:
The DoTerra Oil Wheel: This tool provides a straightforward guide to the properties of each oil. When in doubt, it’s a quick way to see which oils might best suit your needs. https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/science-research-news-doterra-oil-chemistry-wheel
Remember: Keep It Simple and Enjoy the Process
The most important thing to do here is to get essential oils on your body. Your journey with SOC applications and essential oils doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Stay flexible, experiment with different applications, and focus on what feels best for you. Ultimately, this is about enhancing your body’s natural balance, so let intuition and observation guide your choices.