AROMATHERAPY / PHYTOTHERAPY

A Gift of Nature

What is Phytotherapy, and specifically Aromatherapy? To experience nature's wisdom in one of its most powerful and delightful forms. Phyto = Plant Highly concentrated healing substances (essential oils) are extracted from botanical sources, from within the cells of herbs, roots, trees, flowers, seeds, etc These essences perform many deep, therapeutic actions. Natural anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, hormonal balancers, etc. Some enhance cellular regeneration for incredibly beautiful skin. While others balance brain chemistry to help with stress and anxiety. The list of therapeutic properties is vast. This pure plant energy enhances physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. 100% naturally. For info on our upcoming seminar on Aromatherapy and PhytoMedicine CLICK HERE MY PERSONAL STORY OF HOW I DISCOVERED ESSENTIAL OILS There I was, vibrating from a triple espresso non-fat latte, battling the beginnings of a migraine headache while stuck in rush hour traffic with exhaust fumes strong enough to choke a wild buffalo. And I asked myself, “Isn’t there a better way to start my day than this?” By the way, if you ever suspect that your headache is a migraine but you’re not entirely sure, just ask yourself the following question: “Does the prospect of having a double-barreled shotgun shoved straight up my butt and fired right now … does that fill me with thoughts of blessed, eternal relief?” If the answer is yes, it's probably a migraine. But I digress. It was around this time I discovered the delightful benefits of essential oils, often referred to as Aromatherapy. Now don’t let the marketing gimmicks fool you. “Aromatherapy” has become a catch-all phrase slapped on the label of anything with a smell. Almost all of this stuff is crap. I’m talking about “True Aromatherapy” … that wonderful world of therapeutic-level PhytoMedicine. The word “phyto” means “plant”, and phyto extracts pack a wallop of healing and beautifying power that will boggle your senses, when used correctly. It’s taking teeny-weeny concentrated plant extracts that are 100% natural, and scientifically blending them into various formulations to achieve certain results. Like pain relief and stress relief, just to name two. With no side effects like drugs … just side benefits, like increased energy and wellbeing. And some formulations are truly remarkable for wowing your sex life. So stay tuned … the sensualizers will be the subject of another article. Back in the days when my health was a mess and stress ruled my life, headaches and insomnia had become my instant not-so-best-friends. One day I wandered into an Aromatherapy wellness store, and was transformed by the scents in there. Not the revolting nauseous smell of perfumes and synthetic chemicals, but the heavenly aroma of pure plant essences. I felt better already. There were rows and rows of tiny little bottles. I wondered, “Are they shooters? Suppositories? Implants?” I couldn’t imagine what one did with these miniature containers. I discovered two very important things. One, when you apply a few drops of a phytoremedy on your skin, it is absorbed through the skin and into your bloodstream. These substances travel through your entire body, performing all kinds of wild and wonderful healing actions. If you don't quite believe me, here's an experiment you can do. Go to your kitchen and chop up some garlic very fine, and stand on it in your bare feet. Within minutes, you will taste garlic in your mouth ... just from standing on it in your bare feet. That's an example of how things get absorbed through your skin and travel through your body. Amazing! And two, much to my astonishment, I also found out that part of my brain is in my nose! The only exposed nerves in your body are located at the top of your nasal cavity. They sense the air for aromatic messages, just like your ears hear and your eyes see. So when you inhale essential oils, they come into contact with these ophthalmic nerves and send messages to the limbic brain. This affects your emotional balance. Even more amazing. So there I was in this lovely store with shelves full of interesting looking bottles, with my frayed nerves and pounding head. The people working there took one look at me and sat me down, then applied some mysterious potion around my hairline, neck and shoulders. Heaven! I was then asked to inhale the essences deeply. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! The inhalation of that remedy gave me an instant energy boost and a feeling of … hmm, how does one describe it … a feeling of ahhhh. The colour came back into my cheeks and I no longer looked like a walking corpse. Within minutes, my headache was completely gone. I felt fabulous. Discovering Aromatherapy was a rather transformational period of my life. All of a sudden I could use these divine remedies instead of drugs. A host of symptoms started fading away, one by one. My immune system got stronger, and my energy levels blasted higher and higher. The skin on both my face and body became more youthful, with a healthy and radiant glow that I hadn’t seen in years. Aromatherapy had me … hook, line and sinker. It still does. I’d have to say it’s one of the best addictions I’ve ever latched onto. I was so intrigued, I went back to school to become a Certified Aromatherapist. Therapeutic-quality essential oils work, and they are fabulous fun. You can sniff ‘em, bathe in them, or use them to rubby-dub-dub with. So tickle your senses and enjoy! For info on our upcoming seminar on Aromatherapy and PhytoMedicine CLICK HERE   AROMATHERAPY/PHYTOTHERAPY 101: Does it Really Work? Article by Christina Awram and Jean-Pierre LeBlanc, Certified Therapists What are Essential Oils? Essential oils are highly concentrated therapeutic compounds found in herbs such as peppermint, tree leaves such as eucalyptus, flowers such as lavender, seeds such as fennel, woods such as sandalwood, and roots such as ginger. These essences have the ability to powerfully stimulate our body's natural healing abilities and cellular regeneration, while being gently aromatic (thus the name Aromatherapy). When these plants are harvested for essential oils, the concentrated essences are distilled immediately while the plant is still powerful and alive. This is one reason why essential oils are 70-90% more powerful than dried herbs. As an example, it takes thirty roses to get just one drop of essential oil of Rose. What is Aromatherapy/Phytotherapy? True Aromatherapy is the science of using these pure and natural essences in various scientific formulations, usually to improve health and beauty. Your skin is your largest organ, and it has a great ability to absorb essential oils. The circulatory system that feeds your skin will pick up and distribute this natural medicine through topical application. The tiny molecular structure of these essences can thus reach your capillaries and start moving through your whole body. When applied topically, they are absorbed and stay in the body 8-10 hours performing deep therapeutic actions. When they're inhaled, they send messages to the limbic brain and affect your emotional balance and physiology. The Power of Smell Something happens when you inhale, and here are some facts. When you inhale, particles known as molecules are moving through the air and actually connect with the only exposed nerves in your body, located at the top of your nasal cavity. Neurologists tell us that those ophthalmic nerves are made of the same neurons as the brain. Yes, that means a part of your brain is in your nose! It is sensing the air for aromatic messages just like your ears "listen" and your eyes "see". This has a significant impact on your emotional or physiological reactions. How Do You Know It Works? An easy home experiment can be done with garlic. Stand barefoot on crushed garlic, and within minutes your breath will be as sociable as your feet! When you realize how the garlic had to go through the skin on your feet, then through your bloodstream and various organs to be expelled by your breath (and how fast!), you get an idea of how efficient your body is with natural botanicals. The real test, of course, is when you use the remedies. Some examples of the therapeutic properties of essential oils are pain relief (natural anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant and analgesic properties), stress relief (brain chemistry balance, mood enhancing, and central nervous system and hormonal balancing), increased productivity and focus (energy stimulating, memory and immune-boosting), skin care (powerful cellular regenerators and balancers), and last but certainly not at all least ... sensual aphrodisiacs (more on this another time!). Why is this Preferable to Drugs & Chemicals? Drugs are not a bad thing in and of themselves. However, they have generally become very over-used and will build up toxic residue in the cells of our bodies, and this compromises our immune system (amongst other things). And the bottom line is that all drugs have side effects. Essential oils, however, only have side benefits. Petrochemicals, on the other hand, are basically a byproduct of petroleum (gasoline) and are commonly used in personal care products because they're so cheap. Read the label of your shampoo or skin care products one day, and review the ingredients. As previously noted, your skin is your largest organ. What do you think is happening when you put these chemicals in your body day after day, year after year? Remember the garlic test! In Summary Important Note: All essential oils are not created equal. There are many sub-standard and synthetic products on the marketplace, as there is currently no regulation on the use of the word aromatherapy. And unfortunately, using the word Aromatherapy has begun to be used as a marketing ploy. So consult with a Certified Aromatherapist, approach stores that specialize in aromatherapy/phytotherapy and natural remedies, and always read the ingredients list of every label. When buying pure essential oils or therapeutic remedies, they should be contained in small amber or blue glass bottles, never clear glass or plastic. Look at the prices - if Sandalwood and Lavender are both the same price, they're definitely not pure. When looking at skin care and other personal care products, watch the ingredient list for multi-syllabic long words with hyphens and numbers - these are likely petrochemicals or synthetic preservatives, which all compromise your immune system. Insist on 100% pure! If you allow yourself to be touched by the power of these wonderful substances, you will discover the gift of a new world that is actually thousands of years old - the renaissance of True Aromatherapy/Phytotherapy. For info on our upcoming seminar on Aromatherapy and PhytoMedicine CLICK HERE POWERFUL NATURAL CHOICES FOR COMMON CONDITIONS No Side Effects ... Only Side Benefits Important Notes - Essential oils must be diluted in a "carrier" before being topically applied to the skin. Never apply undiluted essential oils to the skin (except Lavender and Tea Tree). Keep essential oils out of the reach of children. Never take essential oils orally. Avoid contact with your eyes. If you are pregnant or nursing, only use essential oils in consultation with a duly licensed health care practitoner. For particularly sensitive skin, test products on lower arm first - if irritation occurs, dilute further. Therapeutic actions of essential oils and contraindications (if any) are listed separately on the Therapeutic Action Chart. Also review the Articles page for "whole-istic" programs. Allergies: Lavender, Geranium, Myrrh, Peppermint, Roman Chamomile. Recipe: Put 20ml plant-based carrier oil (eg grapeseed) in tinted glass bottle, and add 3 drops Chamomile, 3 drops Lavender, 3 drops Geranium, 2 drops Peppermint, 1 drop Myrrh. Shake gently to mix. Application: Apply 5 drops to sides of neck, and 3 drops on sinus area (including forehead). Use 10-20 drops in bath. For skin allergies, apply directly to affected area (after a patch test). Use twice a day, or as needed. Aches & Pains, Arthritis, Rheumatic Pain, Muscle Pain, Stiffness: Black Pepper, Chamomile, Ginger, Juniper, Lavender, Marjoram, Peppermint, Rosemary Recipe: In a 30ml amber glass bottle put 15ml Grapeseed oil, 8ml St. John's Wort oil and 5ml Carrot seed oil. Add the following essential oils - 6 drops Lavender, 3 drops Chamomile German, 3 drops Peppermint, 3 drops Rosemary, 3 drops Black Pepper, 3 drops Juniper. Shake gently to mix. Application: Apply 5-10 drops to affected area(s). Use 10-20 drops in bath. Use 2-3 times a day, or as needed. Blisters Lavender (neat). Apply 1 drop Lavender on blister and cover with a bandage. Re-apply every few hours. Burns, Sunburn Lavender (neat), Chamomile, Geranium, Peppermint Always ice/cool the burned area, to stop the heat for deepening the burn. For a small burn, apply 1 drop Lavender on burn, and re-apply every hour. Sunburn (larger area): Soak a hand towel in a bowl/basin of icy cold water to which you've added 6 drops of Lavender and 6 drops Peppermint - apply this poultice to the burnt area until the towel starts warming up, and then keep reapplying. Once you've brought down the initial heat, make up a blend of 30ml aloe vera gel to which you've added 12 drops Lavender, 6 drops Peppermint, 6 drops Chamomile and 3 drops Geranium. Apply every hour initially, and then every 2-3 hours. Headaches: Camphor, Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary Recipe: Put 22ml plant-based carrier oil (eg grapeseed) in tinted glass bottle, add 6 drops Peppermint, 6 drops Lavender, 3 drops Chamomile, 3 drops Camphor, 2 drops Eucalyptus and 2 drops Rosemary. Shake gently to mix. Application: Apply 5-8 drops to back of neck and shoulders, and 3-5 drops around entire hairline. For chronic headaches sufferers, use twice a day for two weeks as a preventative measure, then as needed. For occasional headaches, apply at the very first sign of a headache - don't wait to see if you're getting a headache, nip it in the bud right away! MORE TO COME ... page still under construction, check back soon. For info on our upcoming seminar on Aromatherapy and PhytoMedicine CLICK HERE