Aromatherapy For Body, Mind, & Home - Part I

Hello All! So sorry for my long "blog" absence! These past several weeks, I've been either attending the Community Herbalist Program classes for my own personal, on-going herbal education, completing another book proposal, writing speeches, or teaching herbal body and hair care classes at the BIG Women's Herbal Conference in New Hampshire. Whew! Hopefully life will give me a bit of a reprieve for a few weeks before I have to teach again.

Anyway . . . This blog will be PART I on the topic of aromatherapy for the body, mind, and home care. Hope you enjoy it:

Lately the word aromatherapy leaves a bad taste in my mouth. In the name of commercialism and profits, it's become tainted. Seems everyone in the industry who utilizes fragrances in their products slaps the word aromatherapy on their label to increase sales and tells you that the aromatic ingredient(s) contained within will whisk away your cares and physical problems with a mere whiff. Hogwash . . . I say!! The term is being applied to a vast array of products ranging from cheap grocery-store scented candles, bubble bath, air fresheners, bathroom soap & scum removers, and carpet cleaners to expensive salon shampoos and cosmetics. I can guarantee you that most of these products contain synthetic fragrance oils and/or inferior quality, highly refined/diluted essential oils whose fragrance will temporarily tantalize your nose - may even possibly even make you sneeze & wheeze - but contribute nothing toward healing your psyche, easing your physical illness, or cleaning your home environment.

True, effective aromatherapy utilizes real, minimally refined, pure essential oils that are of pharmaceutical and aromatherapeutic grade, and they are often processed from plants that are organically raised or ethically wildcrafted. The practice of aromatherapy has scientific roots. The various chemical components in each particular essential oil have been studied to see how their usage can affect the body on an emotional and physiological level. Many essential oils also contain antiseptic and degreasing qualities, which make them superb household cleansing additives. To guide and educate you in this fascinating mind/body healing modality plus teach you how to blend essential oils into effective home care products, I suggest that you purchase an aromatherapy book that outlines the properties and uses of essential oils. Kathy Keville & Mindy Green write terrific scientific aromatherapy books! There are also wonderful books on the market, including my, "Organic Body Care Recipes", that will provide you with aromatherapeutic personal care formulas for you to create at home. Plus I recommend that you find one of Sandy Maine's books on formulating natural home care products . . . effective, chemical-free, and oh-so-fragrant.

Next week I will discuss 11 basic essential oils for home, health, and body care plus tell you how to test yourself for potential allergic reactions - prior to making a full-size product. We'll discuss doing a "patch test". Stay tuned and have a Blessed Day!

AUTHOR DISCLAIMER: The above information is true and complete to the best of my knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of me, the author. I disclaim any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for education purposes only.