A New Year’s Resolution – Releasing Emotions that hold you back

January 5, 2010 – 7:30 pm
Essential oils are wonderful tools for releasing blocked emotions.  In Candice Pert's book "Molecules of Emotion" she describes her discovery that the body contains a complex system of communication for emotional pathways in the same way there is cellular communication for physical pathways.  This is something many people know intrinsically, but for a NIH trained scientist to discover it somehow becomes more defined and accepted. So what essential oils work to remove blockages on the emotional pathways?  I like working with blends that are made specifically for this purpose.  My favorite blend, and one I use extensively in my practice, is called Release.  Very simple - it facilities release of emotions.  It contains Ylang Ylang - which balances male & female energies; Lavandin - which helps to regenerate tissue; Geranium - helps to release negative memories; Sandalwood- a powerful oil high in sesquiterpines which cross the blood brain barrier and may ...

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Essential Oils & Flu virus

September 27, 2009 – 10:41 am
A recent article in The New York Times highlighted how cinnamon oil can kill common & hospital acquired infections like streptococcus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.  MRSA has received a lot of press attention because it is resistant to known antibiotics as the bacteria is constantly changing and antibiotic research cannot keep up. Flu virus is also constantly changing - hence the need to create new vaccines every year that may or may not be the exact match to the virus that is circulating at the moment. In nature nothing is stagnant - it is constantly evolving and perfecting itself. The constituents of the essential oil that give it the cherished antiseptic/antiviral propeties are also evolving making it easy to see how an essential oil would be able to kill these mutating bacteria & viruses.  What wonderful tools we have in essential oils that through daily application and use we may be able to protect our health.  I ...

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Scientifically Speaking…..

June 14, 2009 – 8:36 am
Aromatherapy is an age old practice.  The research we see now coming out about aromatherapy is to verify what users of Aromatherapy already know - it works.  We live in an age of Science as Religion. In the past the healer's were the Shaman's, Priests, and Elders.  These healer's had a spiritual connection that enabled them to connect to the healing power of Source Energy, God, Omnipresent Power or whatever else you call the power behind your breath. Now we get all excited when a study comes out that verifies lavender is relaxing.  OK - we already know this.  What has happened here?  The pharmaceutical companies have hijacked healing and today's doctors have no sense of the spiritual root of illness.  Yes, some of the pharmaceutical products may be helpful but they are so harmful that studies need to be done to ascertain side effects - a funny term in my opinion ...

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It’s the Therapy

April 26, 2009 – 11:33 am
What is it about aromatherapy that it evokes so much emotion?  I am not talking about when you use it - I am talking about when you don't.  Aromatherapy is not only about smell.  Let's say that again-- AROMATHERAPY is NOT only about SMELL.  Let me tell you why..... First off, what is about smell?  Our sense of smell is the only one of our senses that is not interpreted by local receptors for processing by the brain.  Smell goes directly into the limbic part of the brain where emotions are stored.  Second, what about application on the body?  There are patches that people use for pain, contraception control and deep heat. How does application work and what is it's role in aromaTHERAPY? For a massage therapist your tools are your hands.  When you include aromatherapy your tools are the essential oils.  The term aromatherapy was created to encompass two aspects of essential oils - aroma ...

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If It Smells Good Is It Good Enough?

March 15, 2009 – 11:23 pm
Many therapists ask me about diffusing essential oils in their practice space.   The first thing you have to decide is what do you want to offer to your clients.  There are different grades of essential oils and which grade you use will determine the result you will get. If I just diffuse an essential oil does it matter what grade I use?  The answer is yes, if you want to receive the benefit of the essential oil.  Can something that smells good but is not pure make you feel good?  Sure. Think of cookies baking. They smell mighty good and can induce an emotional response but don't you want more for yourself and your clients than a temporary response?   Most often, the essential oils found in spas and at essential oil retailers are Grade A (even if they say therapeutic grade on the bottle) which means they are manipulated to a standard. Any oil that is produced to ...

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What’s That Smell?

January 12, 2009 – 8:40 pm
I just read an interesting post on MSN Health about smell and depression.  In particular, the article mentioned citrus scents as being uplifting but then went on to suggest you purchase Calvin Klein or Armani citrus colognes. These types of articles really get to me because they are so off the mark.  Most cologne does not contain natural scents and are actually toxic pollutants.  If you look at the list of ingredients - such as Diethyl Phthalate, a solvent which is a carcinogen, mimics hormones thus blocking receptor sites from real hormone acceptance, and can cause disruptions to the Central Nervous System, how could you ever recommend someone use it for depression?  This is just one of the ingredients - imagine the synergistic soup when you combine all the other synthetic fragrances and solvents. It's great to get on the Aromatherapy bandwagon.  But first let's get a grasp on what aromatherapy really is before we go endorsing products ...

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Essential Oils and Autism

December 2, 2008 – 10:57 pm
Many times I am asked about using essential oils for autism.  There are various theories on how autism presents itself, Some of these are: mercury from vaccinations, allergic reactions to wheat, corn, soy, or high glycemic sugars, and other environmental factors. The question is will using essential oils help someone with autism? Essential oils contain powerful constituents that can clean out receptor sites that contain agents that block the body from performing natural hormonal functions. These constituents can help detox the body and regulate proper signals to and from the brain and various organs. In addition, stimulation of the limbic brain through inhalation of essential oils may help to open up the emotional and hormonal centers in the brain, leading to clearer thinking and greater concentration. In my practice I have found that using essential oils in combination with massage are very beneficial for autism as well as other neurological disabilities.  Essential oils induce ...

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How Green are Your Essential Oils?

November 2, 2008 – 12:29 pm
Are you living and working green? Green is not just about the car you drive, reusing your shopping bags or deciding whether or not to buy organic food.  Green is about the products you use, what goes into making them and the well being of those who produce what you use. What is green when it comes to the products you use? Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources to produce the products Protecting the health of the employees and the users  No use of pesticides or additives in any part of the process Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation Sustainability of the agriculture used So, how green are the essential oils you use?  Are they free of chemical pollutants? Are they produced in such a way that the earth and environment are honored in the production process?  Are they direct from nature or manipulated to mimic nature? Does the company who grows, distills, bottles, and sells the oils give their ...

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What is Aromatherapy? Really….?

September 30, 2008 – 6:35 pm
When I worked in a spa setting, the offering of aromatherapy - with a $10 price tag - was little more than an application of some highly diluted vague smelling oil with a name like Tranquility. Is this what aromatherapy really is? When you look at the historic roots of aromatherapy it is the use of pure, undiluted, unaltered, essential oils for healing the body, mind, and spirit. After all, the father of modern day aromatherapy, Rene Gattefosse, put his hand in a vat of undiluted lavender oil and his severe burns were healed.   So how did this wonderful modality that can do everything from heal burns, repair tissues, and clean out receptor sites turn into such a watered down offering? Let's take a look at how aromatherapy is taught, presented, and represented. We are taught you must dilute 95% with carrier oils so the oils will do no harm (and this is because....?), ...

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What Are The 3 Most Important Things to Consider When Choosing An Essential Oil? Grade, Grade, Grade!

September 1, 2008 – 11:16 am
The grade of essential oil that you use trumps your knowledge of how to use it. You can spend a lot of time and money learning about the different properties of essential oils, but if the oil you are using is perfume or food grade oil, the results you are looking for will either not be there, not be as optimal as they could be, or even be harmful. The grade of the essential oil that you use is MORE important than which particular oil (lavender, basil, etc.)  you are choosing to use. The first question to ask when choosing an essential oil is: does the oil have the ability to deliver the full content of the plants underlying benefits? Almost all essential oils say on the label 100% pure or 100 % (lavender) essential oil or therapeutic grade but is the description on the label really what is in the bottle? There are no ...

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