Educate Your Senses Holistic Aromatherapy

Aromatic Holidays part 2

2011-12-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

Okay I am on a roll and want to share with you some the easiest and mosteffective ways to change your world and the world of the people around youthrough essential oils.

Let's Make Holiday Logs for the fire. Whether your fireplace isinside or outside, this will surely evoke memories of yesteryear and perhapscreate new ones for years to come.

All you need is one drop of EO, that's right only ONE drop of Essential oilper log per fire. Surprisingly, this one drop will be enough to provide anaromatic boost to the Holiday ambiance. If you make a holiday blend from theessential oils below, simply use ONE drop.

Simply put the "Firewood or Holiday" oil onto the log andleave it to soak in before putting on the fire. I suggest 20-30 minutes, soundsgood. The reason is that Essential oils are flammable so unless the oil hasbeen given time to soak in, you might see more sparks than you bargained for. I usually prepare several logs at a time and set them aside and use asneeded.

FirewoodEssential Oils: Frankincense, Myrrh, Cedarwood, Cypress, Sandalwood

HolidayEssential Oils: Cinnamon, Clove, Bay, Pine, Cedarwood, Mandarin, OrangeTangerine, Frankincense, Myrrh

(Essentialoils can be found at your local natural grocer or specialty store or myfavorite source Aromatics International.)

Happy Holidays from the studio of Aromatic Institute toyour family...As always, thank you for your support throughout the year and asa way to show you our gratitude, use coupon code "thanks"for 20% savings when shopping withus at Aromatic Institute,where we have better SynergyEssential Blends for diffusingor putting on logs throughout the year.

Aromatic Holidays

2011-12-19T21:48:00.000-05:00

As we are full swing in the holiday season, I have foundthat most are getting into the real season of holiday spirit, which is not thematerialistic world of Big Box shopping. This blog is meant to awaken your sensesand bring back fond memories of holidays past.

There is an aroma that most of us know and it definitely warms the spirit andevokes fond childhood holiday memories and that is fresh cut Pine or otherresinous conifer. The simplest way to fill your surroundings with this heavenlysmell is to use it as garland throughout. Dress your windows and doorways,decorate it with ribbons, bows and lights if you like.

The association of a particular aroma varies for many depending on where youwere brought up or lived. Here in the good ole USA memories of happy childhoodholidays may be evoked the aroma of Bayberry, because traditionally at this time ofyear, candles made from Bayberry wax was burned in the memory of the firstsettlers who made all their candles from the Bayberry.

So from my studio to your family, I give to you today a simple recipe for HOLIDAYHOUSE SPRAY.

Recipe:

Pine Essential Oil 8 drops

Orange EO 4 drops

Cinnamon EO 2 drops

Diluted in 1 cup of distilled water in a plant spray bottle.

(These oils are available at your local natural grocer and other specialtystores, or one of my reputable sources for quality oils Aromatics International)

With the help of nature's essential oils, the evocative aromas of the Holidaysneed not be lost. Stay tuned as Part 2 will be here soon.

Please visit Aromatic Institute for all yournatural, organic skincare and aromatherapy needs.

Happy Holidays and Most Abundant New Year!

Heather

Choosing Essential Oils

2011-12-12T13:00:00.000-05:00

There are a variety of companies that sell essential oils. Knowing the reputable ones from the bandwagon ones takes knowledge and further research.

As an professional Aromatherapist, there are several factors I must inquire before purchasing essential oils.

knowing the date of distillation is extremely important as some essential oils begin to lose their therapeutic value and have approximately `1-2 years of shelf life.
I always ask for the GC/MS fore each oil of purchase as this gives me the exact constituents that are comprised in a specific batch of essential oil.
Knowing the conditions in which the oil was grown also lends to the constituent value of a specific oil.

Now with these unique factors in place, your average consumer would not be privy to this information nor would they know how to analyze it. It is my belief that if you want an oil that smells good to freshen your environment, go ahead and purchase it from your local health food store.

There is no way of knowing how long that product has been on the shelf nor can you know if it was adulterated in the extraction process. Unfortunately there are companies that add chemicals or other ingredients to a specific batch of essential oil to "stretch" the yield. Again, to the average consumer, your nose might not pick up on this.

As the holidays approach, we at Aromatic Institute would like to wish you a most merry holiday sewason and Happy New Year!

The Impact of the Safe Cosmetics Act 2011 on Small Businesses

2011-07-05T21:20:00.000-04:00

We urge you to oppose the Safe Cosmetics Act, H.R. 2359. My colleague and friend Kayla Fioravanti from Essential Wholesale has broken down the bill and how this will affect small businesses and big alike which will trickle down to the consumer.

The Safe Cosmetics Act 2011 is now publicly available and you can read it here. I have carefully reviewed every section of The Safe Cosmetics Act, H.R. 2359 and it is my firm belief that the bill is fundamentally flawed and could not go through enough revisions to gain Essential Wholesale’s support. For that reason, we oppose H.R. 2359. You can read my point by point opposition here.

Our objective as small business owners is to gather support to defeat H.R. 2359 rather than to accept the small business exemptions in this draft of the bill, which amount to small and insignificant tokens of compromise when they are viewed in context of the entire bill. I have shared bullet points to explain my opposition of the bill and show the adverse impact on small businesses and the cosmetic industry as a whole.

Looking at the current make-up of the House of Representatives, I am confident that we can stop this bill, especially given the economic environment and the fast approaching elections. Most members of Congress are reluctant to do anything that will adversely impact businesses of any size, including raising fees, increasing taxes, and making it in any way harder for them to increase hiring. Share with your Representative how this bill will impact your business and let your voice be heard.

We ask that all small business owners takes the time to thoroughly read the entire bill, not just the exemptions in a vacuum, and understand all aspects of the legislation prior to supporting it. While it is true that small businesses are exempt from fees and registration, they are not exempt from numerous flawed regulations that minimize any positive impact the exemptions might otherwise have.

If this bill were to pass, small businesses would be unable to comply with even a fraction of what is required, because its overall impact, even with the exemptions, would cost them far more than any fee or registration requirement. And, I haven’t even started discussing the adverse impact this bill would have on the consumers who have benefited from being able to choose handmade soap and cosmetic products made by small and independent American businesses.

I have not come to this conclusion lightly. I have read and re-read the bill in excruciating detail.

Impact of The Safe Cosmetics Act on Small Businesses

Small businesses are exempt from registration and fees, but the costs of complying with the rest of the requirements of the bill will far outweigh these costs.

In addition, these exemptions would place a large target on small businesses for big businesses, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (or as some say "Campaign for Scaring Consumers") and the Environmental Working Group to use to say that cosmetics from small businesses are the only unsafe cosmetics in the world due to lack of compliance.

All small businesses, soapers and crafters would fall under “professional use” and “vulnerable populations” sections of the bill.

Small businesses, and big, could never comply with the “reasonable certainty of no harm” section of the bill that requires omniscient-like knowledge of consumers environment and buying habits to account for “additive effects” and “cumulative exposures” of every potential customer of their cosmetics. The safety standards are simply impossible to comply with and leave all businesses vulnerable to closure, fines and/or private lawsuits.

Small businesses that are not registered will not receive up to date information regarding changes in regulations, ingredient safety and will suffer due to the fact that they are segregated out of the communication loop between the FDA and cosmetic companies.

Consumers would get the impression that the products of big businesses are safer than those from small businesses due to the difference in regulation.

The costs of raw materials will increase for everyone. Small businesses buy ingredients from suppliers who will have to pay the registration fee and comply with the new regulations. The trickle-down effect of the costs of compliance will hit both consumers and small businesses.

Many small businesses use Private Label and Contract Manufacturing companies. These relationships that have long been protected and private will now be forced out into the open with many of the requirements in this legislation. In addition, many of the Private Label and Contract Manufacturing companies are large enough to be required to register and/or pay the fees required in this legislation and the costs will be passed down in higher prices to the small businesses.

All businesses will be required to disclose their supply sources to the government rather than simply INCI names or CAS # of an ingredient.

All finished cosmetics, whether from a big or small business, will require pre-market testing in order to comply with the parts per billion contaminant ingredient listing and MSDS creation. The costs of pre-market testing for contaminants from ingredients, the combination of ingredients and packaging would be a barrier to entry for small businesses and put the majority of them out of business with the enactment of this bill. In addition, all MSDS will be required to be available in any language and small businesses will bear the cost of producing those in all translations.

MSDS are for the handling of hazardous material. The simple fact of requiring a MSDS for all finished cosmetics treats them as if cosmetics are hazardous materials. This creates the wrong impression of cosmetics and will lower the value of MSDS when companies are truly handling hazardous materials.
The paper trail required of MSDS for finished cosmetics and an MSDS for all of the ingredients in each cosmetic is a ridiculous waste of paper and natural resource in the day and age when companies are trying to operate green and paperless.

Many small businesses specialize in natural and organic cosmetic products. There is no exemption for botanicals and no guarantee that they will be among the first 300 ingredients given listing and approval in the first year. All cosmetic chemicals already have safety data that will make it easier for non-botanical cosmetics to prove safety before the natural industry.

The requirement for all suppliers and manufacturers to submit safety data and information for their ingredient will virtually end the supply of fair trade and small farm natural botanicals. It will be impossible for small farmers in the United States, overseas or in the small villages that supply fair trade ingredients to comply with this regulation. The safety data would require the testing for and disclosure of all contaminants in parts per billion requiring sophisticated testing procedures.

The bill requires that the Secretary send “notification of failure” to “each known customer” if the Secretary fails to act in time to a cosmetic or ingredient. This would require small businesses to track their customers, even if they sell at a craft or farmers market. This is simply impossible and over-reaching.

Suppliers of ingredients would be required to do pre-market testing on their ingredients based on what “the supplier expects may be used in a cosmetic” which would be costly and simply an impossible act of mind reading and again omniscient knowledge.

Many times throughout the bill there are requirements for tests to be repeated even if the ingredient was tested already by another source. Even if the supplier of an ingredient has complied the manufacturer of the cosmetic must repeat the process for the finished good in the retail packaging.

The 24 hours given to respond and appeal a “cease distribution” will require small businesses to have 24 hour legal representation on hand. This will simply cause small businesses to fold in the case of a cease distribution order, even if it is unwarranted.

Small businesses will be unable to afford to “petition for information to remain confidential” which will put them at a distinct disadvantage to those who can afford a legal staff.

All small businesses who think they got a pass with the registration and registration fee need to be well aware that your products will not be exempt from this random testing. I think my favorite part of this is “or other relevant issues of concern (as determined by the Secretary).” Which makes these random tests like the ultimate of pop quizzes – you won’t even know how to prepare for the test because you don’t know what it might cover.

Universal Flaws of SCA that Impact the Entire Cosmetic Industry

Label Confusion: There is no exemption for contaminants that occur in nature and appear in botanicals. In addition, the process of writing a descending order label with all components and contaminants of every ingredient will require percentages of each to be known and merged like a Rubik’s cube. It will take a math whiz to accurately produce a correct label.

International Confusion: American made cosmetics will be completely out of step with the rest of the world and simply confuse consumers with long, unrecognizable ingredient lists.

Aromatherapy: All essential oils will be required to list constituents and contaminants making it impossible to recognize the essential oil used and wrongly alarming consumers.

Authoritative Source: The Secretary and resources for safety information are less qualified to address the safety of cosmetic ingredients than the current CIR Panel. This will cause confusion and the listing of ingredients never used in cosmetics and information unrelated to the topical use of ingredients.

Duplication of Registration: In Sec 619 of the bill the manufacturer and distributor of a cosmetic are both required to have a registration number. This would force even more layers of red-tape and expenses into the cost of cosmetics for consumers.

New wild, wild West: Small businesses, and big, would all be at risk of the new wild, wild West created by this bill. According to Sec. 620 ANY “responsible party” that has ANY “reason to believe that a cosmetic” is adulterated or misbranded by the definitions of this new legislation and has ANY reason to “present a reasonable probability that the use or exposure to the cosmetic (or an ingredient or component used in any such cosmetic) will cause a threat of serious adverse health effects or death to humans” has the right to turn your into the Secretary.

It will be your duty to defend yourself against ANY and ALL inaccurate “probability” that someone has that your product will cause “adverse health effects or death to humans” despite the fact that no cosmetics EVER have.

Adverse Health Effects: The term adverse health effect is not clearly defined in the bill, despite being peppered throughout the language of the bill. In reality an adverse health effect could be an allergic reaction, which given the range of allergies in the world would be impossible to avoid in one in a million people.

You can help stop this bill by sharing your opposition at Open Congress, writing your Representative and spreading this message through your channels of influence. If you are are twitter please use #no2sca to help quickly spread the message.

This petition is for crafters, owners of small and big businesses and consumers of cosmetics. If you love cosmetics from small and big businesses and handcrafted please sign this petition to formally oppose The Safe Cosmetics Act 2011.

The Oppose H.R. 2359: Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 is ready for you to sign.

Thank you for taking the time to read and educate yourself of a topic that we in the industry have be battling and getting revised for quite some time now. We need your voice. We must rise up together to break down a system that does not have the people's best interest at heart.Remember that we at Aroma Pharmica provide an array of organic chemical free skincare products that are infused with therapeutic essential oils that create healing effects for the mind and body.

Until next time, XOH

Cats and essential oil safety

2011-06-21T15:45:00.001-04:00

This post comes from the infamous Robert Tisserand, one of my mentors in the essential oil realm. What a pleasure to know and work with him as his passion and knowledge are tremendous! Thanks Robert! This is a much needed topic of discussion to be aware of. He and Vicki co-wrote an article that can be found in the post below. She and I met at an AIA conference a few years ago. Great woman with a passion for animal care and aromatherapy. I love my feline companions, thanks for a great article.

Myrtle

I recently helped Vicki Rae Thorne with an article about cats and essential oil safety. You can find the article here, and it appears in the July 2011 edition of Animal Wellness Magazine. Vicki canvassed many opinions, and it’s an excellent piece, though I will say that I am not quite as concerned as it might appear. It’s true that cats are missing an enzyme (glucuronyl transferase) that humans do possess, and which is important in the metabolism of many essential oil constituents. Therefore, there is a theoretical risk of increased toxicity to cats.

Menthol, for example, is primarily metabolized (in humans and rodents) through glucuronidation, and toxicity testing shows that menthol is 3-4 times more toxic to a cat than a rat (Opdyke 1976). We don’t know for sure that the greater toxicity to felines is because of the missing enzyme, but it’s very likely. But, while 3-4 times is a significant difference, it’s not a massive one. I certainly don’t advocate dousing your cat in large quantities of neat essential oils – ever. And cats are quite susceptible to toxicity from nutmeg oil and tea tree oil. But, a small amount of any essential oil, and a moderate amount of most, will not harm your cat.

In 1995 a Japanese film crew came to my house in Brighton England, to film me and my cat Myrtle. It was for a Japanese tv show about famous people and their cats, but the focus was clearly on Myrtle, not me. And, I guess you did not have to be an A-list celeb to be classed as “famous” (though aromatherapy is more popular in Japan than in the US, and with my father-figure status…I’m just saying…)

The shoot with Myrtle was difficult. She was not a very social creature even with her family. At one point she hid under a bed, and my two (then little) girls decided to jump up and down on the bed, to “encourage” her to come out. The film crew’s focus went down to floor level in order to film Myrtle steadfastly staying where she was, with the mattress bouncing up and down on her head. This went on for some time.

Somehow Myrtle survived a further 13 years and when she passed away she was replaced by Ziggy.

Ziggy

Ziggy is a Maine Coon, a breed of cat ideally suited to cold climates. Maine Coons have long hair, even between their toes, and long, bushy tails. So, not exactly perfect for Southern California weather, but when we got him as a kitten he didn’t look especially hairy! I have never used essential oils on Ziggy, because I have never had a reason to. I did use tea tree oil on Myrtle once, when she had an infected puncture wound. I squeezed out the pus, and dripped one drop of tea tree oil into the hole. I repeated this treatment over next two days, and she healed up fine after that.

However, an “overdose” of tea tree oil could be lethal to a cat. A total of 60 mL of undiluted tea tree oil was applied to the skin of three cats, as a treatment for severe flea bites (the cats had previously been shaved but there were no nicks) and to prevent further infestation. Later the same day, one cat was hypothermic, uncoordinated and unable to stand; one was comatose with severe hypothermia and dehydration, and one was trembling and unsteady. After intensive treatment two of the cats recovered and one died (Bischoff and Guale 1998).

The outcome is perhaps not surprising considering the very large amount of essential oil used, 20 mL on each cat. Given that a typical cat weighs 3-5 kg, this is equivalent to 4.0 – 6.6 mL/kg, although not all of it would be absorbed. The cat that died had elevated liver enzymes, suggesting hepatotoxicity. Several cases of toxicosis have been reported when tea tree oil was applied dermally to dogs and cats. In most incidents the oil was used to treat skin conditions at inappropriate high doses. The typical signs observed were depression, weakness, incoordination and muscle tremors. Treatment of clinical signs and supportive care has been sufficient to achieve complete recovery within 2-3 days (Villar et al 1994). But perhaps the greatest aromatherapy-related threat to a cat’s health comes from pennyroyal oil. On the NOW Foods website you will find the following:

“Fun fact: Back in the days of yore, pennyroyal was also known as “pudding grass” for its use in a stuffing made of pennyroyal, honey, and pepper that was often used in hog’s pudding. Pennyroyal is a member of the mint family, and exudes a fresh, minty, herbaceous scent. While its scent is actually a bit more powerful than other mints, its therapeutic value is actually not as strong. Pennyroyal was used frequently by Ancients for a variety of ailments, and remains current in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, which recommends it for flatulence, intestinal colic, the common cold, delayed menstruation, and gout. However, its primary use in today’s world of aromatherapy is in pet care. Pennyroyal was a favorite of Pliny the Elder in the fight against fleas, and remains a favorite natural enemy of fleas to this day.”

The back label of NOW pennyroyal oil

Here’s another fun fact – using undiluted pennyroyal oil to treat your cat’s fleas could also kill your cat. We know that pennyroyal oil is toxic to the liver in both rodents and humans. We don’t know about toxicity to cats, but it can’t be any less toxic. Many websites do contain warnings about pennyroyal oil, and using dried, crushed pennyroyal leaves is perfectly safe. However, the fact that you can buy a 1 oz bottle of pennyroyal oil, and that neither it (see left), nor the above (related) website specifically tell you (a) not to use pennyroyal oil undiluted on your pet, nor (b) how much to dilute it for it to be safe, is worrying. (The reference to “aromatherapy” on the label is intriguing – what constitutes “aromatherapy use”? I certainly can’t think of a scenario in which undiluted pennyroyal oil would be safe.)

The rat oral LD50 value for pennyroyal oil is 400 mg/kg (Opdyke 1974) compared to 1,900 mg/kg for tea tree oil (Ford et al 1988) so pennyroyal is approximately 4.75 times more toxic than tea tree. Since 20 mL of dermally applied tea tree oil is lethal to a cat, then the probable equivalent lethal dose of pennyroyal would be 4.2 mL. I have little doubt that, in sufficient concentration, both essential oils will kill fleas, but there has been no published research on essential oils and cat fleas, dog fleas or human fleas. So we really don’t know what would be a toxic concentration to fleas, while being nontoxic to cats. My advice – tea tree oil is fine to use at up to 5% on cats, and pennyroyal at up to 1%. Whether these concentrations would repel or kill fleas I have no idea, but I would suggest not using pennyroyal oil as a pet flea treatment. Sensibly used, most essential oils are safe to use in pet grooming products.

References
Bischoff K, Guale F 1998 Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil poisoning in three purebred cats. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 10:208-210

Ford RA, Letizia C, Api AM 1988 Monographs on fragrance raw materials. Food & Chemical Toxicology 26 supplement, p407

Opdyke DLJ 1974 Monographs on fragrance raw materials. Food & Cosmetics Toxicology 12 supplement, p949-950

Opdyke DLJ 1976 Monographs on fragrance raw materials. Food & Cosmetics Toxicology 14 supplement, p471-472

Villar D, Knight MJ, Hansen SR et al 1994 Toxicity of Melaleuca oil and related essential oils applied topically on dogs and cats. Veterinary & Human Toxicology 36:139-142

Mood Enhancing Beauty Products...

2011-05-14T16:13:00.001-04:00

Beauty products that make you happy (or calm, or sexy) were the hottest trend for 2010, but it seems they’re still abuzz as a reporter contacted HBP a few weeks ago looking for info on “mood enhancing” products for a story she was working on.

These products supposedly create a sense of well-being in the user through ingredients that act on the brain’s neurotransmitters. The reporter mentioned several mainstream products that contained pheromones and synthetic chemicals to create “happiness”.

When I offered to connect her with an aromatherapist or a cosmetic formulator who works with natural ingredients, say, essential oils (said to affect mood), she declined. But I figured there was no reason why I couldn’t cover the story from a natural perspective for HBP.

Contacting Andrea Butje, LMT, Clinical Aromatherapist and instructor at Aromahead Institute, seemed like a good place to start. Aromatherapy, a practice dating back thousands of years, is the use of therapeutic oils extracted from natural plants and thought to promote overall well-being, but for this article, I’m most concerned with how aromatherapy can be used for mood enhancement. Here are the questions I asked Andrea.

Can you explain the benefits of aromatherapy? What sorts of things can it help?

The primary benefit of aromatherapy is that it can be used to support a variety of health and emotional concerns without the use of synthetic chemicals. It’s a well-researched, natural option for skin care, mood support, healing and a wide variety of other issues.

The average shopper may not be aware that true aromatherapy is the use of pure essential oils. Because there’s no regulation around using the word aromatherapy in marketing, anyone can create a synthetic fragrance product and call it aromatherapy. Real aromatherapy uses essential oils distilled or extracted from plants and unaltered in any way.

Can mood be positively affected by scent?

Human emotions, or moods, arise from a part of the brain called the limbic system. Originally, the limbic system was referred to as the rhinencephalon – meaning “nose brain.” The term rhinencephalon reflected the enormous impact that smell had on the functioning of this part of the brain.

All of our senses impact the limbic system. Any of the senses can have a positive or negative effect on our mood. For example, our sense of vision can have a positive impact. When we observe a person who is happy and smiling, this observation can lift our spirits. When we smell rotting food, we are repelled. When we smell tasty food cooking, we feel ourselves getting hungry and happy as we anticipate eating a satisfying meal.

All of these sensations – hunger, anticipation, happiness and eagerness – arise from the interplay of different parts of the brain’s limbic system. By paying attention to what scents lift our mood, we can consciously impact our mood by smelling certain scents.

Is there scientific study backing this up?

The science behind scent and mood comes from the basic anatomy of the brain, and from decades of research.

From a purely anatomical perspective, we know that the nerves from our nose that are receiving the scent connect directly to the limbic system. In fact, the nerve connections between the smelling apparatus of our nose to the limbic system are faster than those for sight and sound.

Scientifically speaking, the sense of smell is called olfaction. The smelling (olfactory) apparatus is located high in our nose. It is called the olfactory membrane. This little area contains millions of nerve cell receptors that analyze the air we inhale for odor. The olfactory membrane of humans is only about 0.8 inches square, yet contains 10-20 million olfactory receptors. It is able to identify between 2000-4000 different chemical stimuli (molecules).

Scientific research on scent and it’s effect on behavior is what originally led scientists to name the limbic system the rhinencephalon, “nose brain”. A great deal of that research is used by the perfume and personal care industries to devise hundreds of products that consumers buy all the time.

The 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to the team that finally uncovered the mechanics of identifying scent.

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2004/press.html (Interesting science)

Essential oils have been studied extensively for decades, particularly in Europe. Oils are analyzed using a process called Gas Chromotography/Mass Spectrometry, a test that identifies all the chemical components of an oil. Many of those individual components have been researched in clinical studies.

How do scents work on the brain to change mood?

The limbic center holds our instinctive behaviors, drives, and automatic emotional responses. The limbic system also plays an important role in memory and learning. The key to understanding how scents affect the brain is to remember that the information gathered in the nose from the olfactory bulb goes directly to the emotional center – the limbic system.

Because of this direct neurological connection between scent and the limbic system, we can use aromatic products to impact our moods and emotions as well as our ability to learn, remember and recall. The limbic system facilitates memory storage and retrieval. Long-term memories can be evoked via the limbic system. This response can be noted when a certain smell may bring you instantly back to your childhood and your mood is deeply impacted.

Can EOs used in skin care and other beauty products be as effective in enhancing mood or does it need to be the straight oils?

It is very effective to blend essential oils in beauty products – often lotions or organic oils – for application on the body.

Can anyone blend their own mood enhancing oil blends or do they have to come from someone who’s trained in how to do it?

If safe dilution guidelines are followed, anyone can begin blending. It does take a reasonable amount of education to blend therapeutically, especially for emotional concerns. While some blending approaches are based in the chemistry of essential oils and require education, we can also blend using methods related to plant parts, plant families and our intuition. That being said, inhaling an essential oil you love or applying that lavender lotion after your shower can bring such pleasure. Sometimes it really is that simple.

Are there oils associated with “happiness”?

Many essential oils are emotionally uplifting. We love using citrus oils in particular to create a feeling of spring and sunshine and health. During the winter months, these oils can be especially helpful. We add them to our sponge for cleaning, in a diffuser for uplifting and to our liquid soap.

Lavender is a calming oil, but may also conjure a feeling of happiness through relaxation of the senses. Stronger florals like Ylang Ylang or Rose have heady, sensual aromas that can create an entirely different feeling of happiness.

Pure essential oils contain an incredible range of aromas from plants. When you love an aroma, we would call that happiness!

This interview was from The Healthy Beauty Project. To learn more from Andrea, visit her blog. And to ask a network of natural beauty enthusiasts about their experiences with aromatherapy, visit our beauty social network, www.healthybeautysocial.com

At the Aromatic Institute along with its product line Aroma Pharmica, the possibilities are boundless as over 125 pure essential oils are synergistic blends to create nature's most powerful medicine. Stop by, peruse the store and leave empowered by plants and their healing gifts. Use the coupon "thanks" for 20% off your purchase. That's our way of says thanks for caring about your health and happiness.

Until next time,
XOH

World's Oldest Perfumes Discovered...

2011-05-09T12:37:00.000-04:00

The world’s oldest known perfumes have been found on the island reputed to be the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, lust, and beauty, Italian archaeologists announced. Discovered on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus in 2003, the perfumes date back more than 4,000 years, said excavation leader Maria Rosaria Belgiorno of the National Research Council in Rome.

Remnants of the perfumes were found inside an ancient 3,230-square-foot (300-square-meter) factory that was part of a larger industrial complex at Pyrgos. The buildings were destroyed during an earthquake in 1850 B.C., but perfume bottles, mixing jugs, and stills were preserved under the collapsed walls. The artifacts are currently on display at the Capitolini Museum in Rome, along with modern reproductions of the centuries-old scents.

Dwight Loren is a perfumer and fragrance consultant with Essential Creations in New Jersey and a member of the American Society of Perfumers. He said Grasse, France, is considered to be the center of modern perfume making, but the industry is known to have ancient roots. “How sophisticated it was we don’t know, but certainly people were looking at natural ingredients to enhance either their own body or their environments or to use them in medicine,” he said.

Scents re-created
Belgiorno’s team analyzed the remains of the mixing jugs and identified 14 fragrances native to the Mediterranean region used in perfume production. Extracts of anise, pine, coriander, bergamot, almond, and parsley are among the ingredients the ancient perfume-makers preferred. The team also discovered four “recipes” concocted with the different fragrances. An experimental archaeology center in Blera, Italy, recreated these perfumes using techniques described by Pliny the Elder, a Roman author who died observing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. Plants and herbs were ground up and mixed with olive oil in clay jugs, then distilled in a clay apparatus, Belgiorno explained.

The smell of the perfumes is “a nice experience that re-creates in our mind a sort of ancestral reminder,” she said in an email interview. Parsley, she noted, “is a terrible fragrance if used alone, [but it] forms a nice scent if blended with other fragrances.” The re-creations are not yet for sale to the general public, but the excavation team is looking for a partner to market them. Proceeds would fund further archaeological work. Loren, the perfume industry consultant, said such a venture could prove viable if marketed to the appropriate niche, such as museum visitors, and packaged in a similar way to the ancient concoctions.

Aphrodite Connection
Aphrodite was likely recognized as the goddess of Cyprus because the island was already well known for its perfumes by the time the myth arose, according to Belgiorno. Many perfumes today are considered aphrodisiacs—substances believed to boost sexual desire. “The Cyprus perfumes were born before Aphrodite, and after Aphrodite they remained linked to the island and its goddess” Belgiorno said.

The archaeologist added that she doesn’t know why the people of Cyprus started making and wearing perfumes 4,000 years ago. In ancient Egypt, she noted, perfumes were used for cosmetic and pharmaceutical purposes as well as religious ceremonies. Regardless of how the Cypriot perfumes were used, she believes today’s fragrances just don’t compare. “We have lost the real world of natural fragrances,” she said, “because most of the perfumes of today are chemical reproductions of the natural fragrances and scents.”

from John Roach, National Geographic News, March 29 2007

This great article came from Robert Tisserand.

Join me in exploring the depth and beauty of the natural realms of fragrances through the use of Essential Oils. Get you own custom perfume blended specific for your needs by our Aromatherapist at the Aromatic Institute.

We are settling in to Greatness...

2011-04-28T19:17:00.000-04:00

As the end of yet another week comes to a close, we at the Aromatic Institute are getting our groove on. We are settling in to the new studio and ready for full formulations.

There have been several themes whirling around with clients and customers as of late. One is "Busy mind syndrome," that keeps you from sleeping fully, which creates a depleted immune system, which will lead to sickness. I want to let you know of one of our Inhaler Blends called "Night Night Sleep Tight." This synergestic remedy is perfect for the busy mind as it grounds you and allows your mind to rest on one thought, sleep.

The next the swirling and whirling is a result of the above syndrome, which is a weakened immune system. We have a blend called "Enviro Support," which is available in an Inhaler, a Room and Body Spray and a Diffuser Oil. This remedy has incredible boosting essential oils and great fighters of germs to support and assist in restoring your body to optimum.

I am pleased to offer you a coupon for 20% off your next order at Aroma Pharmica. Simply type the word "Thanks" in the coupon section of the checkout process and you will be well on your way to natural health and wellness. Enjoy, be well and laugh often!

Until next time,
XOXH

New blends, New Day, New, New, New...

2011-03-27T15:41:00.001-04:00

As we all continue to flow through the energies of late, I have been blessed with the assistance of nature through the use of incredible plant botanticals in the form of essential oils.

As the Aromatic Alchemist, I was commissioned to create a collection to assist in the dramatic shift that we are all experiencing in some way, shape or form. We are each creating new realities that serve our highest good, which has created uneasiness, fear and uncertainty for many. This is because we are entering into a new spectrum of the rainbow that we have never experienced before. This color is Purple. We have lived in the Red aspect for the last 1000 years, no wonder we are feeling unsure.

Aroma Pharmica has just released these to be masses, it is called the Power Up Kit. Now you can conquer, release, replace and renew with ease while smelling incredible AND creating powerful immune building components to your incredible vessel.

Essential oils are God's greatest gift to us as they are energetically comprised of the plant from which it came, thus empowering wee mortals with the components and constituents that have sustained and survived the elements. Embrace the gifts, continue to grow, life your very best life now, 'cause we only get one go in this Earth School.

Aromatic Kisses and Heavenly Wishes,
Heather A. Howell

Getting over the Big Box Image of Aromatherapy

2010-12-05T22:39:00.001-05:00

In the United States, big business has created an image that Aromatherapy comes in a Glade Plug-in, a Yankee candle or a Phthalate filled reed diffuser. Most Americans are not privy to the medical application of Aromatherapy where certain essential oils have powerful anticancer activity with tumor cell specific cytotoxicity.

With that being the thought process, Aromatherapy's image problem is this: when people hear or see the word, they believe it has to do with "the smell of things, rather than the things that smell."

Aromatherapy is the complete branch of medicine that uses the chemically volatile constitutients of plants for treatment of a wide variety of ailments.

I will tell you just as any other professional Aromatherapist, the incredible medical promise of Aromatherapy does not reside in their pleasing aromas, but rather in their ability to treat a wide range of infectious illnesses like MRSA, their action as chemotherapy agents, anti-inflammatory agents, wound healing agents and other medical applications.

Aromatherapy is making huge advances in the scientific community through the studies and research of the medical therapeutic applications of essential oils. Vital studies are being released every month showing the strong efficacy of certain essential oils in treating serious bacterial infections.

Now, when you google Aromatherapy, thousands of results come up and there are sites that belong to allopathic professionals who chalk it up to New Age spiritualism or folklore. With very limited investigation, aroma medicine has been lumped into the psycho-emotional aromatherapy healing. Many of these practitioners of conventional medicine have chose that natural medicines are ineffective at best. The well educated natural therapist is not necessarily being recognized by our traditional medical system and the FDA demands that instructions for these treatments be in the most vague form possible.

The ONLY reason Americans correlate Aromatherapy and Glade Plug-ins is there is a lot more money pushing the Glade Plug-in concept. Essential oils can not be patented as medicines, which means big business profits are negligible.

Gone are the days of Granola crunching, Peace loving hippies being the only people to benefit from nature's medicine. I, Heather A. Howell vow to educate and provide natural medicine in the form of essential oil infused products, Aroma Pharmica to every human being on this planet.

You need to know that plant medicine has kept human beings alive for millennia. Essential oils provide a system of medicine support that is in biochemical harmony with the human body. Essential oils are just very active molecules produced by plants and Aromatherapy is so called as it deals with the therapeutic applications of these aromatic molecules.

Now you have it, an article that properly informs you in the versed truth of Aroma medicine. Pick up your phone, search the internet or email a trained professional Aromatherapist and be on your way to wellness, Naturally.

Heather A. Howell has love, compassionate and great reverence for plant essences and their healing power. As a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist, Heather serves many businesses and organizations as the Aromatic Alchemist. Currently at Aroma Pharmica, an Organic Skincare Company and at Seeking Indigo, a Holistic Wellness Oasis in Historic downtown Charleston, SC, where she custom blends, create signature perfumes, consults and teaches workshops. Heather is also at The Wellness School, an integrative approach to health. And she serves as a Director on the Board and the National Representative of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists. Heather also teaches therapeutic uses of Essential Oils to medical field professionals, massage therapists and other healing modality practitioners as well as those who want to assist themselves and their families. In her private practice, Heather assists her clients’ issues, guiding them in obtaining wellness through the natural medicine of essential oils. Passionate about natural healing, Heather has over a decade of experience in the realms of Aromatherapy and healing modalities. Life with three incredible children based on holistic living, energetic presence and nature is rewarding and fulfilling.

Essential oils to fight superbugs

2010-11-28T19:16:00.000-05:00

Essential oils could be a cheap and effective alternative to antibiotics and potentially used to combat drug-resistant hospital superbugs, according to research presented at the Society for General Microbiology’s spring meeting in Edinburgh.

Professor Yiannis Samaras and Dr Effimia Eriotou, from the Technological Educational Institute of Ionian Islands, in Greece, who led the research, tested the antimicrobial activity of eight plant essential oils. They found that thyme essential oil was the most effective and was able to almost completely eliminate bacteria within 60 minutes.

The essential oils of thyme and cinnamon were found to be particularly efficient antibacterial agents against a range of Staphylococcus species. Strains of these bacteria are common inhabitants of the skin and some may cause infection in immunocompromised individuals. Drug-resistant strains, such as meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are extremely difficult to treat. “Not only are essential oils a cheap and effective treatment option for antibiotic-resistant strains, but decreased use of antibiotics will help minimise the risk of new strains of antibiotic resistant micro-organisms emerging,” said Professor Samaras.

Essential oils have been recognised for hundreds of years for their therapeutic properties, although very little is still known about how they exert their antimicrobial effects in humans. Australian aborigines used Tea tree oil to treat colds, sore throats, skin infections and insect bites and the remedy was sold commercially as a medicinal antiseptic from the early 20th century. Various scientific studies have demonstrated that essential oils are not only well tolerated, but are effective against a range of bacterial and fungal species. Their therapeutic value has been shown for the treatment of a variety of conditions, including acne, dandruff, head lice and oral infections.

The Greek team believes essential oils could have diverse medical and industrial applications. “The oils — or their active ingredients — could be easily incorporated into antimicrobial creams or gels for external application. In the food industry the impregnation of food packaging with essential oils has already been successfully trialled. They could also be included in food stuffs to replace synthetic chemicals that act as preservatives,” they said. Source: Society for General Microbiology

***It is time to make a change for the better in your life through the assistance of essential oils. Please visit Aroma Pharmica as a source of therapeutic remedies for life's ailments. Roll-ons, inhalers and diffuser oils are very effective as alternatives to conventional medication.

Frequency555.com: Heather A. Howell, Aromatherapist

2010-11-22T08:51:00.000-05:00

Holiday Gift Making with the Aromatic Alchemist

2010-11-07T22:50:00.000-05:00

In this world where there is too much stuff, why not gift the one's you love or those who impact your life in a positive way with something that benefits their wellbeing. Give them self-care products that you customize especially for them with pure essential oils. Make 6 Organic, Luxurious, Therapeutic gifts from over 20 Aromatic recipes. These classes will be held at Seeking Indigo 445 King St. Charleston, SC
Choose from:
Healing Bath Salt,
3oz Aromatherapy Spray,
Bath Bomb Cookie (4),
6oz Body Candle,
4oz Body Crème,
2oz Organic Body Oil

You can mix and match products. Cost: $75. Great way to give gifts that will keep on giving while learning incredible wellness tips from Heather A. Howell, Certified Clinical Aromatherapist.

Dates: Saturday Nov. 13 1-3pm - Saturday Nov. 27 1-3pm - Saturday Dec. 11 1-3pm

Call today to reserve your spot (843) 725-0217 as these classes fill up quickly!

Essential Oil Recipes for Wellbeing

2010-10-17T11:47:00.002-04:00

The following are creative ways to use essential oils: to bring peace, relaxation, and simplicity into one’s space.

Lighten the air: Put a few drops of essential oil in the bag or filter of a vacuum cleaner. This will fill the room with aroma while cleaning. This instantly changes the energy of a room and the people in the room too. Lavender is calming; Lemon is uplifting and an incredible germ killer.

Aromatic House Spray to evoke memories of holidays past.

o Recipe:

Pine Essential Oil 4 drops

Orange EO 2 drops

Cinnamon EO 1 drop

Diluted in 1 cup of distilled water in a spray bottle.

Fragrant Linens: Put 3-6 drops of essential oil on a handful of cotton balls and place them throughout one’s closet shelves. Next time one reaches for new sheets or towels, a waft of the heavenly scent will be present. Do the same thing to one’s dresser drawers, desk drawers, etc. Use your favorite essential oil or blend, one that leaves a feeling of elation.
Essential Clean: To clean one’s fridge, put a few drops of orange, mandarin, mint, lavender, or lemon oil in a spray bottle of water. Not only will it disinfect and clean the fridge, but it will leave a wonderful scent when done.
Stove Top Potpourri: Simmer a few drops of Cinnamon and Nutmeg essential oils and other spice to create a warm and delicious scent in one’s kitchen. OR make a pot of incredible air freshener by adding cinnamon sticks, cloves and sliced lemon to water and simmer on the stove. This eliminates any odor in the kitchen.
Stress Buster: Take 30 minutes to relax in a sensuous bath infused with 5 drops lavender oil, 4 drops orange oil and 4 drops ylang ylang oil. This fragrant bath with entice one’s senses while leaving you calm, rejuvenated and refreshed.

Aromatic Logs for the fire. Whether the fireplace is inside or outside, this will surely evoke memories of yesteryear and perhaps create new ones for years to come.

Just one drop of EO, that's right only ONE drop of Essential oil per log per fire. Surprisingly, this one drop will be enough to provide an aromatic boost to the ambiance.

Simply put the "Firewood or Holiday" oil onto the log and leave it to soak in before putting on the fire. Suggested wait time before putting into the fire is 20-30 minutes. The reason is that Essential oils are inflammable so unless the oil has been given time to soak in, there could be sparks. Prepare several logs at a time and set them aside and use as needed.

Firewood Essential Oils: Frankincense, Myrrh, Cedarwood, Cypress, Sandalwood

Holiday Essential Oils: Cinnamon, Clove, Bay, Pine, Cedarwood, Mandarin, Orange Tangerine, Frankincense, Myrrh

Use 2-4 oils and blend together to create a unique blend for special occasions.

These are a few quick and easy ways to enhance one’s mental and emotional health through aromatherapy, but one should consult a trained Aromatherapist who can read the chemical composition of an essential oil profile and make an educated decision about the safety of an essential oil before delving into this healing modality.

Delve into the realms of nature's medicine and perfumery by scheduling an appointment with the Aromatic Alchemist, Heather A. Howell in person or via distance consultation for your very own custom blend of essential oils that assist in your advancement on your journey. Call toll-free 866.697.4367 or visit Aroma Pharmica

Heather A. Howell has love, compassionate and great reverence for plant essences and their healing power. As a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist, Heather serves many businesses and organizations as the Aromatic Alchemist. Currently at Aroma Pharmica, an Organic Skincare Company and at Seeking Indigo, a Holistic Wellness Oasis in Historic downtown Charleston, SC, where she has an Aroma Bar for custom blends, consultations and workshops. Heather is also at The Wellness School, an integrative approach to health. And she serves as a Director on the Board and the National Representative of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists. Heather also teaches therapeutic uses of Essential Oils to medical field professionals, massage therapists and other healing modality practitioners as well as those who want to assist themselves and their families. In her private practice, Heather assists her clients’ issues, guiding them in obtaining wellness through the natural medicine of essential oils. Passionate about natural healing, Heather has over a decade of experience in the realms of Aromatherapy and healing modalities. Life with three incredible children based on holistic living, energetic presence and nature is rewarding and fulfilling.

How Aromatherapy Works - a scientific glance - Part 2 The Limbic System

2010-10-10T20:20:00.000-04:00

The limbic system helps us to remember events that caused strong emotions. If someone were to be attacked, the limbic system would first produce fear and then perhaps rage. The fear would energize the body to help you to run away, if possible. If not, your limbic system might trigger a rage, which would prepare the body to fight in a ferocious manner, to protect yourself or your loved ones.

The Hypothalamus is the hormonal control center. It releases chemical messengers, produces growth hormones (for youth and longevity, sex hormones, thyroid hormones and neurotransmitters (i.e., serotonin), and is the "master gland".

The olfactory system actually begins in the roof of the nasal cavity. The olfactory receptors are ciliated epithelial cells with an array of receptors capable of detecting thousands of different odors like antennas into every part of the body.

The moment you smell an oil, these hairs send a frequency to the receptor sites on the cells and change the energy so that transformation can take place. The benefits of aromatherapy from the application of essential oils to inhalation of the aromas are tremendous.

The Amygdala has two parts, a posterior and anterior portion. The posterior portion ties into all of your fears and traumas which is why when you have a feeling of negativity from a smell, your body is remembering a prior incident which also contained the same smell as part of the situation. If you witness an accident and store a certain aroma, every time you encounter this smell you will be returned to that memory and the trauma involved. The anterior portion of the Amygdala is the gateway to the frontal lobes which is where the positive, peaceful emotions live.

The olfactory epithelium lies within the nasal cavity. The nerve endings are sensitive to molecules floating about in the air that get stuck on the mucous surface. The contact of such molecules with the cilia of the olfactory receptors is transduced into neural messages (see diagram).

Essential oils have the power of instant relief from a wide range of life's ailments and challenges, including but not limited to headaches, skin conditions, muscle aches, stress, anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, digestive issues, ring worm, colds/flu, PTSD, respiratory issues,insect repellent (including bed bugs,) and the list goes on and on. You can get a custom blend of nature's medicine specific for you by going on-line for a distance consultation or make an appointment at Seeking Indigo, 445 King St. Charleston, SC 843.725.0217.

Heather A. Howell is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist serving as Skincare Formulator at Aroma Pharmica, an Organic Skincare Company and the Aromatic Alchemist at Seeking Indigo, a Holistic Wellness Oasis in Charleston, SC and serves as a Director and the National Representative of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists. Heather also teaches aromatherapy to health practitioners, professionals in the medical field, massage therapists and other healing modality practitioners throughout United States. In her private practice, Heather assists her clients’ issues and obtaining wellness through the natural medicine of essential oils. Life with 3 incredible children based on holistic living and nature is rewarding and fulfilling.

How Aromatherapy Works - a scientific glance - Part 1

2010-10-03T22:03:00.000-04:00

How do we get oils quickly into the system? Through the olfactory nerve, to the pineal, pituitary, Amygdala. When you breathe an oil into the system, and through the nasal cavity, it is first picked up by the neurons that hang down from the olfactory, right between the eyes at the top of the sinus cavity. Those oil molecules are carried within milliseconds into the center of the brain.

Now they have found that through the inhalation of Essential Oils into the mid-brain system, they will cause a secretion of antibodies instantly, endorphins and neurotransmitters.

Now we're seeing a direct response on the immune system from the inhalation, and topical application of Essential Oils like none other that has ever been created.

When a smell enters the nasal cavity, it meets up with over 50,000,000 receptor neurons which are located in the upper part of the nose and nasal septum, and the receptors are specialized in such a way that certain react to certain smells. These receptors then convert the presence of a smell into a message which is sent to the olfactory bulb (which is seen as part of the forebrain and its main sensory input) where the processing of the smell is started and is then passed onto other areas of the brain which control emotions, behavior as well as basic thought processes. Enkephalin reduces pain and creates a feeling of well-being. Endorphins also reduce pain and induce sexual feelings. Serotonin helps relax and calm. Because the olfactory nerves are a direct extension of the brain's limbic system, reaction to smell is relayed immediately.

Essential oils have the power of instant relief from a wide range of life's ailments and challenges, including but not limited to headaches, skin conditions, muscle aches, stress, anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, digestive issues, ring worm, colds/flu, PTSD, respiratory issues,insect repellent (including bed bugs,) and the list goes on and on. You can get a custom blend of nature's medicine specific for you by going on-line for a distance consultation or make an appointment at Seeking Indigo, Charleston, SC 843.725.0217.

Heather A. Howell is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist serving as Skincare Formulator at Aroma Pharmica, an Organic Skincare Company and the Aromatic Alchemist at Seeking Indigo, a Holistic Wellness Oasis in Charleston, SC and serves as a Director and the National Representative of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists. Heather also teaches aromatherapy to health practitioners, professionals in the medical field, massage therapists and other healing modality practitioners throughout United States. In her private practice, Heather assists her clients’ issues and obtaining wellness through the natural medicine of essential oils. Life with 3 incredible children based on holistic living and nature is rewarding and fulfilling.

Aromatherapy for Babies

2010-09-12T22:02:00.000-04:00

Baby Aromatherapy 101... This week I had the privilege of assisting a new momma with her birthing process by creating a blend for her and baby. It was loved by all and when this new soul made his entrance into the world, he was smiling. Testament at it's best.

Essential oils are highly concentrated plant essences. They are comprised of 1000's of chemical constituents. Unlike synthetic substances, which have no vital force contained in them, essential oils are filled with living, pulsating vibrations.

For babies and toddlers, the ratio is very low for use. Example for lotions, massage oils, etc. newborn to 6 months - 1-3 drops to 1 ounce of lotion or carrier oil: 6-12 months - 1-5 drops to 1 ounce lotion or oil, 1-4 years old - 5-10 drops to 1 ounce lotion or oil.

Only use lavender, mandarin or chamomile on newborns and you can add eucalyptus, tea tree, geranium and rose otto after 2 months, then after 7 months you can add palmarosa, petitgrain, tangerine and cardamom. The list continues to grow after 2 years old and so on.

Please be so careful when using essential oils on your own with your children, there are essential oils that one drop on a child has toxicity levels to shut down their liver and other vital organs.

Please advise a certified aromatherapist or research before going too far with these highly effective and powerful gifts from nature. Reference book: Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child by Valerie Ann Worwood.

If you are not familiar with EO's, it is best to use to products designed for children with specific applications in mind. Aroma Pharmica has a blend called "Peaceful" for infants and children, p.s. it's great for sleep deprived and stressed parents as well.

When buying, please read the labels and buy products without parabens, sulfates or other chemicals in products for your babies.

Summer Time Cleaning with Essential Oils

2010-07-13T22:27:00.000-04:00

The dog days of summer are on their way and nothing is better than cleaning with essential oils. Not only does your environment appreciate this, but you are changing the minds of the people who are in this environment by infusing the uplifting power of therapeutic essential oils into the air.

Essential oils are nature's medicine. By using them to effectively clean your home, office or vehicle, you are eliminating harming chemicals and instilling this very medicine into the air you breathe. You are taking a step toward self care and wellness.

One of the best essential oils for cleaning is Lemon essential oil, which boosts the effectiveness of cleaning with natural products and leaves a fresh, clean scent all around. Why switch from commercial products with ingredients like bleach and ammonia? Because those cleaners can irritate your eyes, airways, skin, and nervous system, AND they also pollute and contaminate your indoor air and the water sources they wash into when they go down the drain.

Below are recipes to deodorize, disinfect, degrease, polish, and brighten your environment, naturally. You will be empowering your immune system, your health as well as those in your environment. Just think, you will be enhancing the lives of many, just by cleaning naturally with essential oils.

Everyday Disinfectant:
• Fill a 8oz. spray bottle with water
• Add a squirt of plant based soap
• Add 5-10 drops each of lemon, lavender, and pine essential oils (can use individually)
Shake well and apply to all surfaces.

Mold & Mildew Spray:
• Pour 2 cups distilled white vinegar into a spray bottle
• Add 5-10 drops lemon essential oil and 5-10 drops tea tree essential oil
Shake well and spray on infected area

Enjoy your days, laugh often and shine your light from the inside out!

Heather A. Howell is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist serving as the Master Aromatherapist at Aroma Pharmica, an Organic Skincare Company and Seeking Indigo, a Holistic Wellness Oasis in Charleston, SC and serves as a Director and the National Representative of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists. Heather also teaches aromatherapy to health practitioners, professionals in the medical field, massage therapists and other healing modality practitioners throughout United States. In her private practice, Heather assists her clients’ issues and obtaining wellness through the natural medicine of essential oils. Life with 3 incredible children based on holistic living and nature is rewarding and fulfilling. Aroma Pharmica is located on James Island, SC.

How Aromatherapy Works...

2010-06-22T16:06:00.000-04:00

Most people do not realize that essential oils which are the basis of aromatherapy enter the blood stream of the body via skin absorption or inhalation and act as catalysts to create balance in the cells and organs.

This is a simplified journey with a molecule of essential oil through the body:

• To begin, the molecules of oil are small due to the distillation process. Their small size and the polarity determine how fast the oil molecule will penetrate through the outer layer of skin, the epidermis. They often go through via a hair follicle or sweat gland. The oil molecule then travels to the dermis and enters the blood capillaries there. Eventually it passes to the arteries and veins throughout the body. As the oil molecule moves through the blood stream, it finds the right cell receptor for binding. For example, a molecule of Rosemary travels to cell receptors on the liver. Finding the right cell receptor, it acts to regenerate and balance this vital organ. The oil molecule will leave the body in 4 to 24 hours. Usually, it is processed by the liver to become water-soluble. It then moves out of the body through the kidneys into the urine. This is an amazing gift from God that we have been bestowed. To imagine and realize that essential oils are so smart in frequency that they can find the correct cell receptor that needs its qualities of healing surpasses any lab created medicine.

Skin absorption factors:

• Skin Hydration - A hot bath or shower can increase the absorption of essential oils.
• Occlusions - Covering the skin with clothes, bandages etc. will increase the temperature and absorption of essential oils
• Temperature - Warmth of air or water increases blood capillary circulation and absorption of essential oils. Heat due to exercise increases absorption also.

Olfactory: the inhalation of Essential oils:

The other main path for essential oils to enter the body is through the olfactory system. As a person inhales the essential oil, the molecule of oil goes up into the back of each nostril to the postage size Epithelium patch. The molecules attach to receptors on the cilia hairs in the nose space. They turn into nerves on the other side of the mucous patch, which sends the odor info on to the olfactory bulb. This means the essential oil itself is not sent to the brain, but instead a neural translation of the complex essential oils. The millions of nerves enter through the bone to the olfactory bulb and merge into two large nerves that go back to the limbic brain in the inner center of the head. The right nerve goes back to the Amygdala, a center for emotions in the limbic system. There the aromatic info is connected to the emotions of the situation.

Because the limbic system is directly connected to parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels, and hormone balance, scents can have physiological and psychological effects.

Essential oils are also absorbed through the skin when directly applied, such as with massage. They then travel into the lymphatic system, which circulates them into the blood stream, where again they can have physiological effects.

For example, a person smells a bouquet of fragrant roses and suddenly receives traumatic news; they will always have an uneasy feeling about the smell of these flowers. The opposite effect is true as well, if one were expressing fresh squeezed orange juice and surprised by their partner with acts of affection, they will smile inwardly every time they smell oranges.

The nerve information is sent on from the Amygdala to the Hippocampus, a center for short term memory in the Limbic system. So, right away, the smell, emotion, and memory are commingled, as they are stored in the Limbic system. Then this information goes on to the Hypothalamus for long-term memory. It is passed on to the Pituitary or master gland and eventually the whole endocrine system.

I hope this informative was able to guide you gently into the realms of natural health and wellness through Aromatherapy.

Heather A. Howell is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist serving as the Master Aromatherapist at Aroma Pharmica, an Organic Skincare Company and Seeking Indigo, a Holistic Wellness Oasis in Charleston, SC. Heather also teaches aromatherapy to health practitioners, professionals in the medical field, massage therapists and other healing modality practitioners throughout United States.

In her private practice, Heather assists her clients in addressing issues and obtaining wellness and prevention through the natural medicine of essential oils. Life with 3 incredible children based on holistic living and nature is rewarding and fulfilling. Aroma Pharmica is located on James Island, SC. 843.330.5941 On-line at http//:www.aroma-pharmica.com

Healing through Nature, with Nature, by Nature, Naturally!

2010-05-22T17:33:00.000-04:00

Is it a phase or fad, something that only “those people” use? The answer is No. The art of Aromatherapy has been used for tens of thousands of years; it is not new to this world. The ancestry of this practice is entrenched in history as the earliest people discovered by chance that some of the leaves, berries, roots and flowers gathered for food actually made sick people feel better, while the juices from some of these plants made wounds heal faster. The art and science of using plant oil in treatment is a brief definition of aromatherapy. It is a truly holistic therapy that takes into account and heals three vital aspects of a person: mind, body and spirit.

Many do not realize that by simply walking in nature has aromatherapeutic effects, inherently our daily lives are inundated with the presence of aromatherapy. The feeling that occurs when one smells a rose happens to be an aromatherapeutic experience, it is a gentle but potent antidepressant, instantly bringing a feeling of calm into their world. If one were to rub a petal in between their fingers, a slight amount of oil would be released and absorbed through the skin, creating a mind, body, spirit encounter. Another fine example of common occurrence would be when twigs from certain bushes or trees are thrown onto a fire for fuel. The smoke and aromas they give off have changed the emotional states of people such as feelings of happiness, security, drowsiness and so on. Also when one cooks with fresh herbs, aromatic molecules are released and inhaled thus healing oneself naturally through nature.

Essential oils are the base in which aromatherapy is applied to heal, repair and shift perception. One of the best ways to effectively receive the benefits of essential oils is to use skincare products blended with pure unadulterated oils. There are essential oils that have constituents for anti-aging, rejuvenating, cleansing, toning, soothing and balancing the skin. Facial products that offer essential oils in the mix give the user added advantages as their skin will receive complementary benefits and their mind and spirit will also gain vast healing by nature.

Essential oils are part of nature’s handiwork. One can not expect to change the world, yet one can change their immediate environment, however; the actions that are put into play create a wave of energy or vibration that extends out into the world, thus creating change or awareness. In the aspect of healing through nature, with nature, by nature, naturally, an awareness is being created that one can truly live a life based on the knowledge that one can use an array of holistic methods to maintain and promote a healthy lifestyle while contributing to the greater good of our planet.

For centuries, people have been committed to healing themselves and others through the power of flowers, leaves, berries, roots and bark in the simple practice of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is simply a fragrant lens which provides physical healing to the body, a window to spiritual nature and balance to the human emotions. Experience the insight and wisdom of true holistic aromatherapy from certified practitioners and let nature be an intricate part of daily life.

Heather A. Howell is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist serving as the Master Aromatherapist at Aroma Pharmica, an Organic Skincare Company and Seeking Indigo, a Holistic Wellness Oasis in Charleston, SC. Heather also teaches aromatherapy to health practitioners, professionals in the medical field, massage therapists and other healing modality practitioners throughout United States. In her private practice, Heather assists her clients in addressing issues and obtaining wellness and prevention through the natural medicine of essential oils. Life with 3 incredible children based on holistic living and nature is rewarding and fulfilling. Aroma Pharmica is located on James Island, SC. 843.330.5941 On-line at http//:www.aroma-pharmica.com

May Chang :: Litsea cubeba and how it made its way to me

2010-04-08T15:05:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I am a blending temptress of essential oils today in the studio. Ipod blasting in my ear, dancing and receiving healing energy from these oils. I love when the heavens open and I am blessed with breakthroughs and aha moments for my clients and especially myself.

As I began working on a blend for a client who is suffering from PTSD, I am given a gift of healing. Research done, essential oil components done, blending begins. When I am finished, I realized that this blend is not for my client, but for myself. You see, I am reading "Summer's Path" by Scott Blum. This story allowed me to rediscover that we as human beings store our negative emotions in our cells and organs. To make a long story short, Essential oils have the power to erase receptor sites and cells clean, fresh, new. With this ability, we have to be ready to release these emotions and traumas of yesteryear. I had an aha moment when this blend was created and now another healing journey begins for me.

So later in the day, I am formulated for another client who wants to love themselves and wants to embrace who they really are. With this case, May Chang came onto the radar, along with Jasmine, Helichrysum, Angelica, Blue Tansy, and a few more.

May Chang is refreshing and rejuvenating. Stimulating and balancing. Its aroma inspires and brings fresh energy; clears the mind. May Chang says, stop allowing yourself to be overlooked. It stimulates your will which creates the power to rise above your circumstance. Only you can create change, the change that you so want for yourself.

So I then decided that my family could use a little May Chang in our lives, so I blended it into a kitchen dish and hand liquid soap. There will be no "poor me" or "why me" mentality in my household. We are here to be the best us we can be. When life gives me lemons, I make the best dang lemonade this side of the tracks. I'll keep you posted on the results. You are always welcome to visit the store and learn more about nature's healing medicine.

Until then, sweet kisses and aromatic wishes...

Demystifying Holistic Aromatherapy

2010-04-03T18:05:00.000-04:00

One can simply inhale an essential oil, which is the essence or life blood of a plant, and instantly feel the healing effects. Every essential oil has a different quality or characteristic, which heals different aspects of one’s being.

Through aromatherapy, increasing moods, treating ailments, improving sense of well being and purify the environment are just the tip of the iceberg in a vast land of natural healing.

Aromatherapy works two ways: inhalation through the nose or topical absorption through the skin. Essential oils applied to the skin are absorbed into the bloodstream for an immediate effect. For instance, if one were to ease a headache, simply apply a lotion or oil base that has pure essential oils of Peppermint, Rosemary, Lavender or Eucalyptus for instant relief by massaging into the temples and base of the head.

From a chemistry stance, constituents with various properties and abilities make up each individual essential oil. There are no two alike. Essential oils can be placed into categories and subcategories, be cross referenced and so on. For all intents and purposes, these oils are powerful healers from Nature, that when combined become more than the sum of its parts.

As an Aromatherapist in daily practice, the integrity that these oils stand up to is quite magical. Over 10 years of formulating and treating clients has been my gift from Gaia herself. They have become integrated in daily life knowing their true purpose is healing on every level of the human body. Having tackled ailments that modern medicines could not solve and within days seeing major improvements in a safe holistic way has led to the pursuit of more experiences.

It is very important to clarify that not all products that say “aromatherapy” are pure in nature. Derived from pure plant parts, true aromatherapy benefits your physical and emotional health and well being. There are certain companies that produce air fresheners and candles that use words like aromatherapy and essential oils, while adding synthetic fragrances derived from petrochemicals that when burned, release toxic carcinogens into the air and lungs that then create a toxic build up in your body and anyone else's who are in that breathing space.

There is a travesty in our current policy making system. Manufacturers of household products such as cleaners, air fresheners, disinfectants, etc., are not required to list the ingredients of these products on their labeling or packaging under a household trade secret law agreement.

Companies that produce natural, environmentally friendly products are held accountable for their ingredients by various companies that hold certifications. The labeling and packaging of these Green companies are complete and thorough as they have nothing to hide and proudly list their ingredients. So the next time you are shopping ~ check the labels, if they are lacking an ingredient list, they are chemically enhanced and usually have synthetic fragrances that are potentially harmful.

We at Aroma Pharmica®, believe that a holistic approach to living ~ one that recalls the relationship between physical and spiritual health and our natural world ~ brings true happiness, well being and a healthier planet. By gently activating the body’s own healing energies, Aroma Pharmica Aromatherapy helps to restore balance to your body, mind and spirit in a very natural, holistic way. Aroma Pharmica Aromatherapy can help boost your immune system, help you reduce and manage stress, alleviate anxiety and tension, and minimize the physical aches and pains these ailments can cause. Aroma Pharmica Aromatherapy has a positive influence on the emotions by assisting to regulate your moods by either uplifting and energizing, calming and sedating or restoring balance to the physical, mental, and emotional bodies. Stop by our website, experience the power of nature yourself.

The Benefits of DMAE

2010-03-15T09:03:00.000-04:00

DMAE is a naturally occurring nutrient found in high concentrations in fish, salmon and sardines in particular. Our brains maintain a small amount of it, which plays several crucial functions. Most fundamentally, this nutrient protects the integrity of cell membranes. The deterioration of cell membranes can lead to premature aging.

One of the best DMAE benefits is that it promotes healthy skin, by preventing the manufacture of arachidonic acid, which is a substance that leads to the formation of wrinkles. For these cosmetic purposes, it can be both taken as a nutritional supplement and applied topically via a cream.

Several controlled studies have tested the ability of DMAE, which is one of the B vitamins to improve the appearance and condition of aging skin. One study (reported in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology in 2005) measured DMAE benefits by comparing a group of volunteers using a topical gel containing the molecule for 16 weeks, with a group who used a gel that did not contain DMAE. At the end of the study, researchers found improvement in wrinkles in the forehead, around the eyes and nose, and on the throat. The shape and fullness of the lips also showed improvement. When the volunteers stopped using the gel for two weeks, the skin did not regress to its former condition.

DMAE information from studies indicates that the topical application of this product is safe: short term use was not found to cause redness, peeling skin, dry skin, itching or other discomfort. Further study found no significant problems after one year of use. Adding to DMAE benefits, it is apparently an anti-inflammatory, and continued use results in an increase in skin firmness. It seems as though this product may indeed have a role in anti aging skin care.

DMAE has become very popular as a result of Dr. Nicholas Perricone, M.D.'s top-selling book, The Wrinkle Cure, in which he promotes supplementing with DMAE as a treatment for reducing wrinkles. When applied to the skin DMAE would stimulate acetylcholine release which would trigger a response in the muscles of the face. This activity creates a firmer facial tone and less sagging.

Aroma Pharmica has created an incredible face moisturizer called DMAE Hydrator. Loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to give you skin all its daily needs, while providing instant and lasting results from this amazing nutrient that extends the life of cells, inhibits the cross linking of proteins, which gives the skin a tone and firm appearance. This moisturizing serum is very light and can be put on over or under the makeup. The firm appearance that DMAE can bring to the skin occurs within about 20 minutes and wears off by the end of the day.

Integrative Wellness with Aromatherapy

2010-03-11T12:22:00.000-05:00

I am here today to tell you about essential oils and how for hundreds of years, they have been used successfully for healing and deserve serious consideration as a current therapeutic option.

Briefly, the stance of aromatherapy as an alternative medicine in the present social and cultural landscape can be applied as a self care method, returning the power to the patient, lessening the dependency on the authority of the medical establishment.

With a population growing impatient with the expense and complexity of managed health care - it is time to return medicine to our communities. The warlike fighting of disease is an expression of masculinity along with the creation of the "health care" system of the last 50+ years. Let's explore the realms of creatively solving problems of life through the feminine; our first mother - Earth.

God has laid before us a plethora of healing plants. In the garden of Eden, he provided absolutely everything we will ever need to keep ourselves well. To maintain harmony with nature and to prevent illness, we can take that first step by boosting our immune systems with essential oils. These are the life blood of a plant and within each drop of essential oil are tiny molecules that can penetrate into every cell, administering healing therapy at the most fundamental levels of our bodies.

The medicines manufactured by man cannot compare with the healing capabilities of essential oils. Man-made pharmaceuticals lack the life force, the intelligence imbued by God and the vibrational energy found in healing oils. The point here is that essential oils are a gift from God to us, his children. They are special. They have been a gift too long ignored and misunderstood. The time is now to correct these misunderstandings and bring the art of aromatherapy back into the uses for which God intended.

Please join me at Aroma Pharmica, where we can together bring our energy bodies into complete health and wellness. I would love to hear your thoughts and views on how we can integrate with nature and live an optimum life.

The Essence of Health and Healing with Aromatherapy

2010-02-02T15:21:00.000-05:00

If good things come in small packages, then aromatherapy is Mother Nature’s greatest gift to one’s health.

Aromatherapy is the ancient healing art of using essential oils, which are highly concentrated aromatic extracts from plants and flowers. These oils all contain unique healing properties that can both prevent and cure an array of health problems. Some oils possess properties that fight infection and inflammation. Some oils can relax sedate, invigorate, enhance memory, ease pain, balance the four energy bodies and rejuvenate. Aromatherapy is one the most popular treatments worldwide in clinics and spas throughout Europe. Aromatherapy also refers to the medical practice of using essential oils in some countries.

In our hustle and bustle world, often we forget to nurture ourselves as we are so busy making sure everyone else is taken care of. Aromatherapy is one way to experience self care and wellness on many levels at once. Essential oils are so powerful that one or two drops are all that is needed to perform healing actions. These oils are so potent that one drop of peppermint essential oil equals thirty cups of herbal tea in terms of concentration. Not only have essential oils been shown to improve mental health and well-being, but they are also a great way to invite serenity into one’s home and keep each room smelling heavenly.

The following are creative ways to use essential oils: to bring peace, relaxation, and simplicity into one’s space.

• Put a few drops of essential oil in the bag or filter of a vacuum cleaner. This will fill the room with aroma while cleaning. This instantly changes the energy of a room and the people in the room too.
• Put 3-6 drops of essential oil on a handful of cotton balls and place them throughout one’s closet shelves. Next time one reaches for new sheets or towels, a waft of the heavenly scent will be present. Do the same thing to one’s dresser drawers, desk drawers, etc.
• Add a few drops of essential oil to water in a spray bottle to freshen up one’s linen or spray on clothing before ironing. (Don’t use dark oils on white clothes, I learned the hard way, smelled great though!)
• To clean one’s fridge, put a few drops of orange, mandarin, mint, lavender, or lemon oil in a spray bottle of water. Not only will it disinfect and clean the fridge, but it will leave a wonderful scent when done.
• Simmer a few drops of Cinnamon and Nutmeg essential oils and other spice to create a warm and delicious scent in one’s kitchen. OR make a pot of incredible air freshener by adding cinnamon sticks, cloves and sliced lemon to water and simmer on the stove. This eliminates any odor in the kitchen.
• Take 30 minutes to relax in a sensuous bath infused with 5 drops rosemary oil, 4 drops lemon oil and 4 drops clary sage oil. It is believed that Rosemary will stimulate one’s thinking process, lemon will refresh, and clary sage promotes an all-over feeling of well-being.

These are a few quick and easy ways to enhance one’s mental and emotional health through aromatherapy, but one should consult a trained Aromatherapist who can read the chemical composition of an essential oil profile and make an educated decision about the safety of an essential oil before delving into this healing modality.

Heather A. Howell is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist and owner/formulator of Aroma Pharmica, an organic skincare company and custom blend practice in Charleston, SC. Her life revolves around her 3 incredible children, nature and holistic healing. Aroma Pharmica is located in Charleston, SC. Contact Heather at 843.330.5941 On-line at http//:www.aroma-pharmica.com