Category: Aromatherapy

Natural Strategies for Pain Relief

7/6/2015

Here are some natural strategies for pain relief; I hope you discover some helpful new tips.
I also encourage you to do your own research and consult with your doctor.

Take warm baths with epsom salts. It's essential to use large quantities of salt; 3-4 cups per bath. It's a lot of epsom salts, but it can really help.

Now that it's summer, make sure to get outdoors and do some sunbathing to receive Vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiencies have been associated with a variety of chronic pain conditions.

Schedule massage therapy. Studies of the benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension.

Consider physical therapy. Kinesio tape is a great technique if your therapist utilizes it.

Find a positive, happy distraction (pleasant movie, uplifting book, relaxing music). Mental distractions actually inhibit the response to incoming pain signals at the earliest stage of central pain processing.

Use heating pads. When inflammation is present, ice may be better.

Use citrus oils to alter pain perception. Try diffusing sweet orange essential oil for 30 minutes. This is best used in conjunction with other pain relief therapies.

Take hot baths with Dr. Singha's Mustard Bath. It contains powdered mustard seeds and a highly effective blend of essential oils.

Utilize the anti-inflammatory effects of turmeric. Take organic turmeric in capsules or use it generously in your cooking. I sometimes double the amount of turmeric in my Kitchari recipe.

Ginger is another incredible anti-inflammatory herb. It can relieve nausea, indigestion, menstrual cramps, arthritis, muscle pain, and more.

Try Wu Yang Patches. They feel tingly and a bit hot at first (think Tiger Balm), but they do provide long lasting pain relief.

Consider supplementing with magnesium.

Consult with an herbalist to see if Kava Kava or Valerian may be good herbs for you. Both can help with muscle tension, pain, and spasm. They also ease tension and anxiety. Make sure you buy herbs and herbal supplements from credible sources.

Do yoga. Chronic pain is known to cause brain anatomy changes such as a reduction in grey matter. However, according to a new study, yoga can actually prevent or reverse these changes to the brain.

Get a custom tailored essential oil blend for easing pain.

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French Medical Aromatherapy Intensive

5/18/2015

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Last week I attended a wonderful intensive on a subject I am deeply passionate about -
French medical aromatherapy.

Canandaigua, New York.

Our class included many spirited nurses, naturopaths, herbalists, and aromatherapists. Rhiannon Lewis is the lovely and brilliant instructor who came all the way from France to share her knowledge. We were incredibly grateful to Rhiannon (pictured below) for making the trip.

Here's a glimpse at some French medical aromatherapy supplies and medications . . .

After 4 days of studying chemistry, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and much more, it was exciting to finally begin formulating! Here we are making sure our measurement is exactly precise . . .

Our class formulated essential oil remedies in the form of ointments, inhalers, gels, oral capsules, sublingual tablets, suppositories, and more . . .

We also managed to get out and briefly explore Canandaigua . . .

It was an intense week of study, but a friend and I managed to make it to Niagara Falls on our day off!

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Healthy Seasonal Living ~ Spring Aromatherapy

3/11/2015

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Spring is here! The excitement of newness and growth permeates us as we move forward into the light. Clear out the past and be open to the new. All is restored with life at the beginning of Spring.

In Chinese medicine, Spring corresponds to the Wood element. You may be feeling more anger or impatience at this time of year. Channel this energy into making positive changes in your life.

Spring begins on March 21st, the time of the Vernal Equinox when day and night are equal. It's a great time to make a new start. Take action and go forward in the world. Let those dreams blossom.

A Few Spring Health Tips:

~ Take daily walks.
~ Drink lemon water, especially in the morning.
~ Express yourself in a healthy way. Don't suppress your emotions.
~ Eat fresh greens. Dandelion, nettles, parsley, and watercress are especially beneficial.
~ Try exfoliation and dry body brushing. These practices stimulate lymph and blood circulation, remove dead skin cells, and enhance immunity.

A few of my favorite essential oils for Spring:

Bay Laurel ~ Relieves stagnancy and congestion that builds up over the winter. Supports the lymphatic system and eases aches and pains.
Cedar - Gives physical energy and endurance. Leaves you feeling grounded, supported, and prepared. The name cedrus originates from the Arabic word, kedron, meaning "power."

Clary Sage ~ Imbues an alive, vibrant feeling after a long, cold winter.
Eucalyptus ~ Decongests, opens breathing, supports immunity.
Geranium ~ Promotes a sense of well being and self worth. Balances emotions.
Grapefruit ~ Inspiring and fresh. Eases feelings of tension and frustration.
Jasmine ~ Euphoric and sensual. Reawakens passion.
Lemon ~ Brightens moods, encourages trust and clarity. Anti-infectious.
Rosemary ~ Improves mental alertness and concentration. Refreshes the spirit.
Sweet Orange ~ "Brings in the sunshine." Emotionally uplifting and joyful.

If you're interested in more seasonal wisdom for Spring, take a peek at my newest offering; Spring Aromatherapy.

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The Individual Remedy

3/3/2015

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"To reach the individual we need an individual remedy. Each of us is a unique message. It is only the unique remedy which will suffice."

~ Marguerite Maury

People are generally conditioned to think "x treatment is for x disease," but from a holistic standpoint, the individual person matters and everyone has a unique constitution.

Or in other words:

"It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has." (Hippocrates).

Holistic aromatherapy acknowledges and honors the whole person - body, mind, and spirit.

If you would like to receive a customized aromatherapy blend just for you, learn more about our personal aromatherapy consultations.

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Yule & Happy Holidays

12/9/2014

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Decorating for the Solstice

Yule is an old name for the Winter Solstice, which usually falls on December 21st. It is the longest night of the year, and the shortest day. It is also the first day of Winter.

Right now, as we approach the Solstice, we are experiencing some of the darkest days of the year. Many of us feel some sadness as the outer light diminishes. Now is a good time to focus on generating your own inner light. While this time of year is often challenging, I try to focus on reading inspiring books, cooking, creating, yoga, and spending time with my loved ones.

The darkness gives us an opportunity to pause, rest, and look within ourselves. One year is ending, and another will soon begin.

A few of my favorite essential oils for the Solstice:

Bay Laurel
Frankincense
Juniper
Rosemary
Sage

A few herbs associated with Yule:

Blessed Thistle
Evergreen
Holly
Juniper
Mistletoe
Oak
Pine

These herbs and oils have inspired me to create a Solstice Salt Scrub. In addition to being a wonderful indulgence, aromatic salt scrubs also improve circulation, support the lymphatic system, boost our moods, as well as exfoliate and soften our skin.

The longer, lighter days will soon return.

In the mean time, how will you celebrate the Winter Solstice?

Wishing you a very blessed and nourishing holiday season . . . .
Miriam

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PS: Stay tuned for some VERY exciting news about the Solstice and Winter Aromatherapy!

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Healthy Seasonal Living - Winter Aromatherapy

11/11/2014

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Winter is an inward, sensitive time. Nature is in her resting season and you, too, may be deeper within yourself. It's a time to reflect, make plans, dream, and replenish your energy before Spring.

Dec. 21 marks the first day of Winter, and it is also the Winter Solstice. It is the longest night of the year, but the good news is that every day after will slowly become more light filled.

Good nutrition, exercise, warmth, and rest are essential for staying healthy in Winter. Journaling, contemplation, and spending more time at home with family and friends is recommended by many healing traditions.

Abhyanga is an Ayurvedic practice that is wonderfully nourishing. Abhyanga is an anointing and massage of the body with warm oil often infused with herbs and/or essential oils. This self massage is a deeply restorative practice. It softens skin, increases circulation, and calms the nervous system.

A few of my favorite essential oils for Winter:

Bergamot - Brings in the sunshine. Boosts optimism, eases sadness and tension.
Black Pepper - Known as the "King of Spices." Improves circulation, helpful for muscular aches and pains, imbues a sense of determination.
Cardamom - Warming and stimulating. Restores an "appetite for life."
Cinnamon leaf - Revitalizing. Combats apathy. Try using Cinnamon leaf in a diffusor.

Clary Sage - Euphoric and uplifting. Helpful for menstrual cramps and PMS.

Cypress - A great oil for transition, weariness, and self-doubt. Strengthens the spirit.
Eucalyptus - Supports the immune system, decongests.

Frankincense - Deeply calming, great for meditation and yoga. Helpful for dry and mature skin.

Geranium - Emotionally balancing and helpful for anxiety.

Ginger - Warming and invigorating. Good for muscular aches and pains.
Lemon - Refreshing, uplifting, clears stagnant energy, eases anxiety.

Rose - Deeply soothing and nurturing. Restores trust. Wonderful for the skin.

Saro - Amazing support for the immune system.

If you're interested in more seasonal wisdom for Winter, take a peek at my newest offering: Winter Aromatherapy .

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Healthy Seasonal Living ~ Autumn Aromatherapy

9/21/2014

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www.jlashuaart.com

The season of the Harvest is here!

Fall begins on September 23rd this year - the Equinox. The Equinox is a time when the hours of daylight and darkness are equal. After that, Autumn begins the dark, yin cycle when the daylight lasts less than 12 hours. This peaks at the Winter Solstice on December 21st.

Autumn brings inspirational ideas and an increasing awareness of inner processes. It is a good time to finish up projects started in Spring or Summer. It's also a good time to begin reflective, inward, and home-oriented projects.

A Few Autumn Health Tips:

- Drink ginger tea.
- Eat more healthy soups and stews. Warm, cooked foods are beneficial during this time.
- Increase more pungent foods such as garlic, ginger, horseradish, and mustard.
- Allow more time for rest, relaxation, and quiet contemplation.
- Try something new. Take a class or cook a new recipe. This will stimulate your mind and breaks up patterns that keep you stuck/stagnant.

A few of my favorite essential oils for Autumn:

Blood Orange - Incredible, vibrant aroma. Uplifting and refreshing.
Cardamom - Warming, stimulates an "appetite for life."
Clove Bud - Comforting aroma, good for cold and flu prevention.
Eucalyptus - Supports the immune system, decongests.
Frankincense - Deeply calming, great for meditation and yoga.
Ginger - Warming and invigorating. Good for muscular aches and pains.
Patchouli - Balances an overactive mind.
Palo Santo - Considered to be spiritually protective and clearing.
Rosemary - Improves mental alertness and concentration. Great study aid!
Saro - Supports the immune system.
Sandalwood - Centering, grounding oil that is helpful for anxiety.
Vetiver - Promotes deep relaxation, good for overthinking and worry.
Ylang Ylang - Exotic, sweet aroma. Relaxing, sensual, and euphoric.

If you're interested in more seasonal wisdom for Autumn, take a peek at my newest offering: Autumn Aromatherapy.

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Quality of Essential Oils: What a Label Reveals

9/20/2014

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The following should be included on the label of an essential oil:

(Note: This is not an exhaustive list, yet it's a good place to start. Be aware of what is written on the label of your essential oils! If this information is missing, it may be a negative sign about the quality of the oil/supplier. In some cases this information will be listed in the product catalog or website).

- The common name: Lavender, Neroli, Geranium, etc.

- The Latin binomial: This is the botanical name of the plant. It includes genus and species. An example: Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender). This is extremely important! Think about it: There are over 250 species of the eucalyptus genus. Which one are you using? Each one has its own unique chemistry and therapeutic applications.

- The country of origin of the plant material: France, USA, Italy, etc. This can affect the aroma and the chemical composition of the oil.

- Part of plant used: Bark, leaves, fruit, seeds, flowering tops, etc.

- How the plant is grown: Organic, Wild-crafted, etc.

- Method of Extraction: Steam distilled or expressed.

- Standard Safety Warning: Usually something along the lines of: "Not for internal use. Keep away from children." When a label says the oil is not for internal use, this does NOT mean anything about the quality! This is a legal decision that companies make to protect from lawsuits.

~ Size of bottle/essential oil content: Most companies use the metric system. 5, 10, or 15 milliliters is a common size.

- Chemotype: Should be listed when relevant. (I will write more about this in a future post).

- A batch number: This is used to identify a specific batch of essential oil, from a specific supplier, during a specific year. Batches vary based on a number of factors that change.

Do you have any questions? Feel free to let me know in the comments below.

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Healthy Seasonal Living - Summer Aromatherapy

7/12/2014

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Following the rains of Spring which help prepare the earth, the brilliant sunshine of Summer allows nature to flourish.

Summer is associated with the Fire element in Chinese Medicine. The fire element relates to the energy of creativity, intuition, and motion.

Diet and exercise are important to keep the fire element balanced. Eat plenty of cool, light foods such as fruits and vegetables. Try fresh basil, sliced tomatoes, salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar with olive oil for a delicious salad.

Summer is the perfect time for outdoor exercise, gardening, playing sports, getting together with friends, and taking hikes in nature. Instead of staying inside and feeling shy, try your best to get outdoors and meet new people.

A few of my favorite essential oils for Summer:

Lavender - The perfect all-around oil for Summer. Excellent for bug bites.
Roman Chamomile - Helps promote restful sleep.
Peppermint - Cools the body and helps relieve pain.
Vetiver - Grounding and promotes deep relaxation.
Clary Sage - Supports women's health, eases PMS, and uplifts the spirit.
Basil - Helpful for muscle cramping and indigestion.
Tea Tree - Disinfects small cuts and scrapes.
Lime - Refreshing and uplifting. I use lime in my homemade deodorant recipe.
Sandalwood - Sensual, meditative, and deeply relaxing.
Geranium - Emotionally balancing and helpful for anxiety.
Rose - Deeply soothing and nurturing.

Try some of the above plants in hydrosol form! Hydrosols are light, aromatic waters that are extremely gentle. Try Neroli or Rose Hydrosol as a refreshing facial mist.

If you're interested in more seasonal wisdom for Summer, take a peek at my newest offering; Indian Summer Aromatherapy.

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Learning more in Atlanta

4/12/2014

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Last weekend, I attended a fascinating seminar on Aromatherapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The speaker, Gabriel Mojay, is the enthusiastic and poetic author of one of my favorite books: Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit.

One of the first things I noticed in Atlanta was the plethora of beautiful vegetation: Dogwood tress, Azaleas, Redbuds, and Wisteria. It was the perfect time of year to visit!

We learned about various diagnostic patterns in Chinese medicine and corresponding essential oils. This helps one pinpoint and correct the underlying, root imbalance that is causing a health challenge (instead of just treating symptoms). Additionally, the seminar covered research on the pharmacological effects of essential oils. We also had the opportunity to taste forty aromatic waters!
My favorite was Cardamom, which tastes delicious and definitely stimulates one's appetite! (Luckily, we had a lunch break soon after). We concluded the event by studying Rose, "the queen of flowers" - a beautiful oil which is calming, nurturing, and promotes trust and self-acceptance.

It was an upbeat weekend filled with inspiration, new knowledge, and camaraderie amongst twenty other holistic health specialists. There was an especially nice sense of harmony in the group.
Here we are together:

(I'm on the far right, wearing a white shirt).

A few of the interesting tidbits I discovered:

~ Spanish Sage oil is a neurotonic (brain tonic) and has been shown to effectively treat dementia.
~ Cypress oil can be helpful for an individual with low energy, menstrual pain, and cramping.
~ Thyme Geraniol oil smells amazing! Sweet, floral, and almost like candy.
~ Caraway hydrosol can be helpful for bloating and fluid retention.
~ Ester rich essential oils are great for regulating qi (energy) in the body.

The seminar was held at Heal Center Atlanta, which hosts classes on topics like reflexology, nutrition, and Metamorphic technique. I hope to attend another event there soon!

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