Your body enters shock when you don’t have enough blood circulating through your system to keep your organs and tissues functioning properly. It can be caused by any injury or condition that affects the flow of blood through your body. Shock can cause multiple organ failure and lead to life-threatening complications.

There are many types of shock. They fall under four main types, which are based on what has affected the flow of blood. The four major types are:

• obstructive shock
• cardiogenic shock
• distributive shock
• hypovolemic shock

There are several essential oils which are useful in cases of shock. Inhaling Peppermint or Neroli directly from the bottle, or on a handkerchief or tissue can be a valuable first aid.

One of the best treatments for shock, is Dr. Bach's Rescue Remedy, and four drops on the tongue should be given as quickly as possible, and can safely be repeated a little later if necessary. You can give essential oils to smell at the same time. The Rescue Remedy is a compound of five of the Bach Flower Remedies; Rock Rose, Clematis, Impatiens, Cherry Plum and Star of Bethlehem. It can be given before any stressful event, as well as after any trauma, from the hearing of tragic news, to a road accident, a bad fall or an operation.

Arnica is used homoeopathically for shock, and can be given before any event that may prove stressful in the same way as Rescue Remedy, but in this case it is important not to use essential oils at the same time, as the very oil which is most useful for shock - Peppermint - is a powerful antidote to homoeopathic remedies.