Summer Time Cleaning with Essential Oils

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...

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!

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