Aroma Wisdom The Canadian Aromatherapy Journal
Fall 2019 The Harvest Edition
education, innovation, growth, support
Distilling in Nepal Marco Valussi shares his experiences
Skintellectualism is Here -
Colleen Quinn discusses curation, creation and branding
Student Case Study Review Learning and mood in the classroom
Akiyo Toji looks at how essential oils can help
Sept-Nov 2019
Announcing our Spring 2020 CE Event Aroma Acupoint Therapy Level 1: a hands-on 2 ½-day workshop with Peter Holmes British Columbia Alliance Of Aromatherapy ISSN 2562-2218 $7.99 CND
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Education Innovation Growth Support
Contents 4 Our Contributors 5 President’s Message 8 Announcements 9 Spring 2020 CE Event Information 14 Featured Writer: Essential Oil Distillation in Nepal Part 1 of 2 - Marco Valussi discusses high-altitude distillation and its issues
21 Guest Writer: Skintellectualism LabAroma Founder Colleen Quinn talks Curation, Creation & Branding
29 Student Case Study Akiyo Toji reviews how essential oils can enhance learning and mood in children
32 BCAOA Safety Booklet Order Form 37 Aroma Wisdom Journal Order Form 38 Hops Monograph The CHA of BC Student Subcommittee reviews the history of Hops
41 The Classifieds
DISCLAIMER: THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THOSE OF THE BCAOA, ITS DIRECTORS, THE EDITOR, OR ITS MEMBERS. INFORMATION PROVIDED IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. THE BCAOA, ITS DIRECTORS, MEMBERS, AND EDITOR CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MISUSE OF ESSENTIAL OILS OR ANY OTHER THERAPEUTIC METHODS PRESENTED HEREIN. THE BCAOA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ACCEPT OR REJECT ANY ARTICLE OR ADVERTISEMENT SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION AND DOES NOT NECESSARILY ENDORSE ANY PERSON, PRODUCT, COMPANY, COURSE, OR SCHOOL MENTIONED HEREIN.
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Aroma Wisdom
The Canadian Aromatherapy Journal
Celebrating our second year in print
BCAOA 3928 Michigan Rd, Port Alberni, BC, V9Y 5Z6
Supporting aromatherapists everywhere The Fall Edition ~ September 2019 Cover Photo by vicuschka from Shutterstock
Created and printed in the Greater Vancouver Area of BC Sustainably printed on Sugar Sheet paper ISSN 2562-220X (Print)
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ISSN 2562-2218 (Online)
Lilliane Graie Editor & Design, Advertising editor@bcaoa.org
Social Media Melissa Housser media@bcaoa.org
Secretary Kathleen Jaggassar secretary@bcaoa.org
Continuing Education Events Betsy De Lucca cecoord@bcaoa.org
Treasurer Louise Dawson treasurer@bcaoa.org
Registrar Leah Ursic registrar@bcaoa.org
President Colleen Thompson president@bcaoa.org
Website Andrea Noye website@bcaoa.org
Vice President: Drena Drenic
Directors at Large: Michelle Beukers, Leah Burns, Wendie MacQuarrie
vicepresident@bcaoa.org
Past President: Pat Antoniak
Aroma Wisdom is an educational resource published by the British Columbia Alliance Of Aromatherapy (BCAOA). It focuses on issues important to the alternative health care community with an emphasis on aromatherapy. Published in the Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, Aroma Wisdom is available digitally to our membership for free and to the global public for purchase as a single issue or subscription. To purchase, please see our web store at https://bcaoa.org/store/ or a local bookstore. For our full submission guidelines, go to https://bcaoa.org/membership/submissions/. For other forms of material submission, or if you have questions, please contact the Editor editor@bcaoa.org before submitting. Inclusion of an advertisement does not indicate endorsement of the company, person(s), service(s) or product(s) by the BCAOA, its Directors, members, or Editor. The BCAOA, its Directors, members, and Editor are not responsible for the claims of advertisers appearing in these pages. Advertising guidelines are at https://bcaoa.org/membership/submissions/, or e-mail the Editor for an Advertisers Agreement. Formats, size specifications, and deadlines for ad submissions are found within the Agreement.
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Contributors Thank you to all our wonderful contributors for sharing their knowledge, wisdom, experience and creativity with our community through this journal.
Colleen Quinn – Colleen is a clinical aromatherapist, formulator & researcher. Committed to delivering functional therapeutic plant-based products, she has traveled the globe on a quest for knowledge innovation and the best quality in order to create therapeutic benefits in skin and health care. Colleen’s innovative concept to merge aromatherapy and technology lead her to create LabAroma. LabAroma has turned the very complex and mathematical process of formulating cosmetic and essential oil blends into a rapidly efficient and reliable way to tackle natures chemistry. https://www.labaroma.com/en/
Colleen Thompson RA®, EOT®, CAHP – Colleen has worked in the field of Aromatherapy since 1995. She completed her Provincial Instructor’s Diploma Program in 1997 and now teaches a 600-hour aromatherapy certification program through her school Essence of Thyme College of Holistic Studies. She was an Aromatherapy Instructor at West Coast College of Massage Therapy from 2006-2012 and Spa Program Coordinator at West Coast College of Massage Therapy for 3 years. Colleen has written aromatherapy articles for a number of publications and conducted talks, workshops and seminars for a variety of organizations. She was named one of the five top aromatherapists in BC in 2015 and 2016. Colleen is currently the President of the BCAOA Board of Directors, is a Director of the AIA Board of Directors, and sits on the Education Committee of the AIA. Her Titles include: Certified Reflexologist, Reiki Practitioner, Lymphatic Drainage Massage Instructor, Master Formulator, Diploma in Adult Education. Colleen can be reached at info@essenceofthyme.com Akiyo Toji - Akiyo is a student of the West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy. Marco Valussi - Marco has been working with medicinal and aromatic plants for 25 years; he teaches, writes and consults about them. He gained his BSc. (Hons.) in Herbal Medicine in London in 1998, and before that studied the use of essential oils in massage therapy. He is currently the production manager and scientific director of Gadoi in the mountain area near Verona. Gadoi offers a local, short production chain for high quality artisan essential oils and aromatic waters that ensures fair treatment of the growers, environmentally sustainable practices, and organic, artisan products. They also offer consultancy on formulations and distillation technology. Marco is also involved in a second project whose aim is improving Nepal's essential oils production chain to create long-term economic support. https://www.gadoi.it/en/ Student Subcommittee of the CHA of BC - The Canadian Herbalist Association of British Columbia is an organization of herbal practitioners and enthusiasts founded in 1973 to provide leadership and direction for herbal medicine in the 21st century. chaofbc.ca
EOT (Essential Oil Therapist) and RA (Registered Aromatherapist) are Trademarked Occupational Titles of the British Columbia Alliance of Aromatherapy (BCAOA)
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President’s Message Fall 2019
Dear Members, Each time I write my President’s message, I am reminded that the new season is about to begin. It is the last day of August and I am sitting in beautiful Tuscany, which is showing no signs of autumn. The scenery here is breathtaking and our villa overlooks the vineyard, ready for harvest, and the beautiful sunflowers and stately cypress trees. I feel beyond blessed to be experiencing this tiny part of the world. It has been a busy summer for both the BCAOA Board, the CE Coordinators and the Education Committee. Disappointingly and in spite of their best efforts, the Fall CE Event was not to be. However, the Spring CE Event is in full swing and will prove to be equally as good as the 2019 Spring CE Event, which was a hard act to follow. Peter Holmes will be teaching a 2 ½-day workshop on his Aroma Acupoint Therapy in Tsawwassen on April 24th – 26th. This will be an experiential workshop which is something the membership has been asking for. There will be two Early Bird rates and we expect the workshop to fill up fairly quickly. We can accommodate a maximum of 60 people and are advertising the event in Canada and the US; however non-members will pay full price. Betsy and Michelle have worked very hard to bring this all together and I appreciate all of the time and effort they have spent on behalf of the membership. Lilliane has been busy with producing the beautiful journals as well as marketing them and the Safety Books. This is pretty much a full-time job, although she doesn’t get paid for it! Lilliane needs an assistant to help her – if this is something you are experienced in or would like to learn how to do, please contact Lilliane directly at editor@bcaoa.org. Melissa has been busy with our Social Media presence and has increased the BCAOA followers to 213 as of the end of July. She reports that our response rate is up to 90% and followers are actively commenting and sharing. If you haven’t already, please check it out. Andrea has taken on some of the website duties and has some great suggestions for making it better. Stay tuned for some improvements over the next few months. Wendie has created a budget for the Board. As we grow and plan more costly events, it is important that we have some guidelines around expenditures and income. Wendie has created fillable spreadsheets, with pre-calculated fields, making it very easy for a Board member to fill out and will help us stay on track! Leah Ursic, Louise and Kat are really the backbone of the Board and between them make sure that everything is operating smoothly behind the scenes. Without them, the association wouldn’t be nearly as efficient or capture the important historic data and future planning. Pat, Drena and Leah Burns are great with offering suggestions, feedback and overall support for the Board. The Board could use help with various initiatives and if you would like to get a taste of how things operate without committing yourself to a Board position, this would be a great opportunity. Please contact Kat at secretary@bcaoa.org if you are interested. The Education Committee now stands at five members – Lynne Edel, Kim Gale-Gotoweic, Sandra Stavely, Norma Smith and 5
me (Colleen Thompson). We have finished the Code of Ethics for Schools and Instructors and are in the process of finalizing the school renewal application. We’ve had several schools express interest in being recognized by the BCAOA, which would be great because it would increase membership. One school is in the US and two are in Asia. This speaks highly of the regard the BCAOA has across the globe. In closing, although the AGM is 8 months away, I would encourage all members to consider running for a position on the Board. There will be several key positions that will become vacant in April. Serving on any Board is a learning experience and serving on the BCAOA Board is so much more. We truly build a comradery and become one another’s family, not only professionally but personally. Over the years I have been involved on the Board, we have supported one another through personal losses, triumphs, disappointments and lifestyle changes. If you would like more information about joining the Board, please feel free to contact anyone on the Board for feedback. Wishing everyone a wonderful autumn, time for reflection, health and peace. Warmly,
Image by Johannes Plenio from Pixabay
Colleen BCAOA President
By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer's best of weather And autumn's best of cheer. ~ Helen Hunt Jackson 6
Announcements Welcome to our Announcements page for notices of upcoming events and general interest to the community. Members can send personal brags/achievements or special shout-outs to other members (congratulations, celebrations, births, milestones etc.), just be sure to have permission to share any personal information with the community! To send in your announcement request, email the information to the editor with “Announcement Page” in the subject line. Let’s celebrate!!
BCAOA Sponsored Events CE credits are granted for attendees of events The BCAOA is proud to host Peter Holmes for a 2 ½-day workshop this Spring on April 24, 25 & 26, 2020. Peter will be teaching his Aroma Acupoint Therapy and this will include a HANDS-ON portion of the class. Wear comfortable clothing and come prepared to work. Further details and registration information on the following pages. Location: Coast Tsawwassen Inn 1665 56 Street, Delta, BC V4L 2B2 Ph: 604.943.8221 Dates: April 24, 25, 26 2020 Contact: Betsy De Lucca cecoord@bcaoa.org Web: https://bcaoa.org/bcaoa-events/spring-2020-bcaoa-ce-event/ For non-BCAOA sponsored events: According to BCAOA Guidelines, every full day of attendance at a recognised seminar, workshop, or webinar is equivalent to 4 CE Credits. Please contact the registrar at registrar@bcaoa.org if you are unsure of an event’s status. CEC Credits: Please refer to the CE Activity guidelines. Proof of attendance can be sent via hardcopy or electronic mail. Please make sure to include the title of the specific event along with your name and address.
The following are for information purposes only. Inclusion DOES NOT imply BCAOA recognition. Be sure any course/workshop/seminar etc., qualifies for credits before taking it. Sedona Aromatics - Sharon Falsetto: Offers various types of courses and workshops. Ongoing. Information and Registration: Sedona Aromatherapie Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy: Essential Oils for Herpes and Shingles - a downloadable short, easy introduction to the treatment of Herpes, Shingles and Genital Herpes with Essential Oils. 24-page pdf for printing and onscreen viewing. Information and Registration: Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy Other links to explore for upcoming events: Alliance of International Aromatherapists The Canadian Herbalist Association of British Columbia
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Announcing The British Columbia Alliance Of Aromatherapy is proud to announce our Spring 2020 Continuing Education Event With Peter Holmes LAc MH Aroma Acupoint Therapy™ Level 1 - Using Essential Oils is Energetic Medicine April 24th, 25th and 26th, 2020. The event starts in the early afternoon on Friday and finishes on Sunday; it will include a practicum component so there will be lots of information to learn and hands-on work! The location will be the Coast Tsawwassen Inn in Beautiful B.C. 1665 56 Street Delta, BC V4L 2B2 Ph: 604.943.8221 https://www.coasthotels.com/hotels/bc/delta/coast-tsawwassen-inn/ See more information below.
About Peter Holmes Peter is an English-trained medical herbalist, essential oil therapist and practitioner of Chinese medicine with over 35 years' experience of using herbal and essential oil medicines in clinical practice. His extensive training included studies with Oriental Medicine Doctor Ted Kaptchuk, medical herbalist and pharmacist Henri Verdier in Paris, France; medical herbalist Christopher Hedley in London, England; and Elisabeth Roche-Vallee in Paris, France. Peter brings to his courses and seminars over 35 years of study, clinical practice and teaching experience. He has focused on both the physiological and psychological aspects of using essential oils. He has pioneered their clinical use with acupuncture and bodywork, as well in herbal medicine in general. Peter is the author of several acclaimed textbooks on herbal and essential oil medicine: Aromatica Vols. 1 & 2, Clinical Aromatherapy, The Energetics of Western Herbs Vols. 1 & 2, Jade Remedies Vols. 1 & 2, and The TCM Materia Medica Clinical Reference & Study Guide. Peter will be teaching his Aroma Acupoint Therapy™ (AAT) in a combined lecture and practicum. Harness the Power of Essential Oils to Boost Your Practice! In this completely updated and expanded workshop you will discover... 9
• An innovative, gentle hands-on method of treatment that allies the potency of essential oils with acupuncture, bodywork to dramatically enhance your practice — with practicum breakouts to practice and experience this work • How to select the oils and match them accurately to specific acupoints • How to get transformative results treating the basic energetic imbalances that lead to common conditions such as muscle tension and pain, anxiety, overactive mind, depression, insomnia, fatigue, headaches, etc. • How to perform hands-on the clinically valuable Six-Condition Assessment on a new client • The specific actions of the top 20 essential oils to correct a client’s energetic imbalances • How to practice the detailed protocols for applying the oils selected onto the points Acupuncture or bodywork alone are often insufficient for producing the kinds of results we ideally want to see with our clients. So many conditions involve mental and emotional issues, and many of them present chronic disorders that usually respond better to gentle treatment which ends up being more effective. Genuine essential oils when used with specific acupuncture points can bring a powerful new dimension to our practice. Holding certain oils on specific matching points will modulate neuroendocrine functions by activating peptides, thereby triggering profound energetic changes in the individual. Aroma Acupoint treatment can create truly amazing and lasting shifts in treatment outcome. These can be monitored by often rapid changes in the pulse, affect and complexion, as well as providing rapid relief of physical, emotional or mental symptoms. Aroma Acupoint Therapy proves invaluable for patients presenting mental and emotional blocks; for treating infants, children and the elderly, as well as for those afraid of needles. It also excels at treating patients with chronic conditions who are too weak or sensitive to tolerate acupuncture. It also combines easily, of course, with acupuncture itself. In a bodywork practice, it allows the practitioner’s fingers to take a deserved break while the oils are being gently applied to the active points. This information-packed workshop will present the essential practical information needed to start using this effective, safe and user-friendly treatment modality in your practice right away. Aroma Acupoint Therapy or AAT is a gentle, completely safe and profoundly effective treatment modality that utilizes the energetic treatment potential of pure essential oils and acupoints combined. Treatment involves placing particular oils on specific acupuncture points on the body in order to trigger energetic changes in the individual that will bring the client back to a state of balance. Aroma Acupoint Therapy works on the basis of mutual resonance 10
through the systematic and intentional combination of essential oils and acupuncture points, resulting in a more significant clinical effect than using either of these alone.
Can’t Wait to Learn It All Including the Hands-on Practicum? Register for the full 2 1/2-day weekend of Friday 1pm-5:30pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am-5pm! Don’t delay! Coffee/Tea and a full lunch are included in your registration for both the Saturday and Sunday classes.
Can’t Make the Full Weekend? No problem! Friday will be a single day Registration!! Join us for Friday the 24th from 1pm – 5:30pm where Peter will be covering theory only with no practicum component that day. Coffee/Tea and light snacks will be included in your registration for this day.
The BCAOA AGM will be held on Friday after the Lecture; further details will be announced closer to the date. Registration for this event is now open! Please go to the BCAOA website https://bcaoa.org/bcaoa-events/spring-2020-bcaoa-ce-event/ for more details and to register. Or contact Betsy De Lucca at cecoord@bcaoa.org There will be a set of hotel rooms at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn blocked off for attendees. For reservations, please call 1-800-663-1144 or the hotel locally at (604) 943-8221 and ask to reserve under the BCAOA group block. The block will be released on March 10, 2020 so don’t delay. Ninety days prior to the event the hotel will begin to reduce the number of available rooms if they are not being booked. This will continue every so often until the cut-off date. There are only 15 rooms available: 11 Comfort Suites and 4 Superior Suites. Prices are as follows: Comfort Suite $144.00 plus tax - One Queen in bedroom and sofa bed in sitting area; or 2 double beds in bedroom and sofa bed in sitting room. Superior Suite $162.00 plus tax - These are 1 and 2 bedroom suites with full kitchens and an expanded living area. 11
These prices are based on single and double occupancy with a $15.00 fee for each additional person. All Guest Suites include: microwave, coffee maker, mini fridge, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, air conditioning, 2 TV’s, pay per view movies, wireless high-speed Internet access, and voicemail. E-mail: https://www.coasthotels.com/hotels/bc/delta/coast-tsawwassen-inn/ The hotel is located in Tsawwassen, BC, near the BC Ferries Terminal for connections to Vancouver Island, 35 minutes from downtown Vancouver and 25 minutes from the Vancouver International Airport. The hotel offers all guests the following services and amenities: • Complimentary continental breakfast for hotel guests • Browns Socialhouse restaurant • Fitness Centre • Complimentary high-speed WiFi/internet access and business centre • Meeting, convention and event facilities including catering • Complimentary in-suite coffee and tea; local calls and electronic newspaper • Underground and over-height parking • Complimentary shuttle service to/from BC Ferries Tsawwassen Terminal (subject to availability, conditions apply) • Special negotiated rate to/from BC Ferries Tsawwassen Terminal and Vancouver International Airport with Delta Green Cab 604-943-1111 The CE event planners will be sending out a separate notice after the 15th to request additional volunteers to join the Event Planning Committee.
The BCAOA Board runs on Volunteers! Have some unique ideas you would like to see happen at these events? Or maybe you would like to learn some new skills? Join us now and help make this event great by putting your name forward to help either behind the scenes or on the day of the event. Go to https://bcaoa.org/for-members/committee-volunteering/
We look forward to seeing and hearing from you all soon!! Feel you’ve got something to teach? Contact us to get your webinar, class or workshop recognised by the BCAOA so our members can learn from you and gain CE credits! Go to our Application page at https://bcaoa.org/education/application-for-course-cec/ to fill out the form. Your application will be reviewed and we will contact you. 12
Essential Oil Distillation in Nepal Experiences of working at high elevations In Part 1 of this article, featured writer Marco Valussi talks about problems distillers encounter at high elevations and how to fix them I would like to start with just a few words about myself to try to frame this contribution and explain where it comes from. I have been working with medicinal and aromatic plants for over 20 years, and one of the many hats I have worn has been that of a consultant for NGOs working in developing countries, for small, local distilleries. Only lately have I made the decision to jump to the other side and become a distiller myself. Thus, much of what I know about distillation comes from field experience. I’ve tried to partially fill-in my lack of formal education in chemical engineering, thanks to some great authors and colleagues who supported me. Hence my decision to illustrate some of the typical critical points in distillation by discussing a real experience I had a few years ago in Nepal. In this way, I hope to help those of you who, like me, have never had formal training in the science of distillation. As I indicated, a few years ago I went on a working trip to Nepal, specifically to the Dolakha district, Janakpur area, in the central-eastern region of Nepal. The area is mountainous but with very fertile land, and is inhabited by various ethnic groups, mainly Gurung and Sherpa. It is a rich area, and it is very difficult to visit there and accept the poverty of Nepal. It is really true, as they say here, that “east is heaven and west is hell�. The trip was partly pleasure, partly work. Together with some Nepalese colleagues I had to visit and evaluate a distillation site for essential oils of Rhododendron (Rhododendron anthopogon) and Juniper (Juniperus indica / J. Recurva). The distillation unit was at approximately 11,482 feet above sea level (asl), while the collection areas were at approximately 13,123 feet asl. In the area there were two other distillation sites at a lower altitude, which distilled Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). We traveled from Singati to the village of Marbu, about halfway from our final destination. The high temperatures and high relative humidity favored lush, green vegetation especially, at the beginning, the gorgeous green of the rice fields.
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During the trek we recognised numerous plants: Caster Bean (Ricinus communis) and various species of Amaranth (Amaranthus), Yellow Berried Nightshade (Solanum xanthocarpum), Physic Nut (Jatropha curcas) and Tiger’s Milk Spruce (Sapium insigne); among the trees there were many Fig (Ficus) and spontaneous Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp). In Marbu, at 8,202 feet asl, the environment changed quite quickly; we entered a warm-temperate forest dominated at first by Nepalese Alder (Alnus nepalensis) and Himalayan pine (Pinus wallichiana). At around 10,170 feet asl, we entered a beautiful arboreal Rhododendron forest, right before arriving at the distillation unit (11,482 feet) where we found three woodand-plastic sheds where the workers slept, one of which was equipped with a stove to cook for everyone (Fig. 1).
For those who have never seen an essential oil still, we will describe this apparatus as a steam distillation set-up, specifically a water-and-steam still, or direct steam still (as opposed to a steam still, or indirect steam still). In this particular case the steam source is directly under the plant material, in the same distillation tank. The plant material is loaded inside the boiler (Fig. 2), on a perforated or metal mesh surface, above the water level. The distillation boiler is sealed by a lid equipped with a connecting pipe, once called a swan neck. The lid is usually attached and fixed to the boiler by a series of clamps or bolts, but in this case the “water seal” method is used (Fig 3), i.e. the lid fits into a channel on the edge of the boiler, which is filled with water that prevents communication with the outside.
Fig. 1
The distillation unit – called a Balem damgi – together with two others located at lower altitudes, were purchased by a local Cooperative that was looking for ways to develop the essential oil industry in the area.
Fig. 3
This method, little used nowadays, allows an easy opening of the boiler and speeds up the loading and unloading procedures, but it is not able to ensure a watertight seal in case of particularly high pressures (not an issue in this case). When the water reaches the boiling point the flow of saturated steam passes through the plant material, interacts with it and the essence contained in it, partially extracts it then transports it to the space saturated with steam above the load of plant material. Although normally we wouldn’t elaborate on the issue of the boiling temperature of water, in this case we need to do it. Fig. 2
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The boiling point of water decreases as atmospheric
pressure decreases, which means as altitude increases. Roughly speaking, there's a drop in half a degree Celsius every 500 feet. Which means that at 11,482 feet the boiling point of water is roughly 88 degrees Celsius. This fact has some consequences. First, that the distillation temperature of this set-up was lower than usual, with some positive effects on essential oil quality, since molecules with some thermal instability would survive better. On the other hand, when the working pressure is lower than normal, the steam is also less dense than normal, which means that it is less efficient in vaporizing the volatile molecules in the material. This translates to a longer distillation time and perhaps in a larger waste of water. Thus, a probable increase in quality is accompanied by a reduction in efficiency. In any event, since the pressure wasn’t a parameter that could be changed in this case, there was nothing that could be done. However, this is an issue worth considering when deciding whether or not to use low-pressure distillation set-ups. At this point, the mixed vapors of water and essence pass from the boiler to the condenser through a connecting pipe (Fig. 4).
to be stopped. Secondly, because of its length and the coiling, it is difficult to clean the coil properly. Thirdly, and most importantly, the heat exchange area offered by the coils is quite limited so there is only a certain amount of steam flow it can possibly condense, and in order to increase this area we need to build very large condensers. The shotgun condenser (the condenser used in this instance) is quite a nice contraption that allows a far larger heat-exchange area to be contained in a relatively small condenser. It has multiple, water-cooled, countercurrent tubes: the vapors pass from the connecting tube to a series of smaller tubes that run parallel to it, and are immersed in a watertight container where the stream of cooling water flows in a direction opposite to the flow of steam. The counter current design allows for a more efficient heat exchange, and the presence of internal baffles that force the cooling water to flow in a zig-zag fashion increase this efficiency. It is therefore a preferred solution for larger setups or, in general, for high-steam flows, as in this case. The condensed liquid is then collected in a container called a Florentine flask (Ff) (Fig. 5) which is used both to collect and to speed the separation between the liposoluble essential oil and the distillation water enriched with watersoluble volatile compounds (the hydrosol).
Fig. 4
There are different types of condensers that can be used when distilling, but the two most common ones (not considering lab glassware stills) are the coil condenser and the shotgun condenser. The coil condenser is very common in small distilleries using traditional copper set-ups, where the steam flow produced, usually by a gas stove, is never very strong. The coil condenser, however, has many drawbacks. First of all, it has only one long, coiled pipe, which means that if for whatever reason the pipe gets blocked, the distillation has
Fig. 5
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The Ff is built with an overflow pipe that allows the automatic drainage of excess hydrosol while preserving the essential oil (Figs. 6 & 7).
1) a good Ff should be structured so that the flow of distillate does not disturb the surface layer of essential oil (in cases of lighter-than-water essential oils), because any such disturbance slows the natural stratifying process and pushes small droplets of essential oil downwards, where they can be lost with the hydrosol. This can be achieved quite simply by adding a funnel with a stem that reaches below the essential oil layer, or, as in this case, by building the entry funnel at the side of the Ff so that it never comes into contact with the surface layer. 2) To avoid having to constantly watch the levels of oil and water in the container, a good Ff should have a way to constantly separate the excess hydrosol from the containers while at the same time keeping the essential oil in the container. This is done via an overflow drain that takes the hydrosol from the bottom of the Ff any time the level in the Ff exceeds the set limit.
Fig. 6
3) A good Ff should be of a suitably large diameter so as to reduce the loss of essential oil droplets into the hydrosol. The hydrosol will always contain a certain amount of very small dispersed droplets of essential oil. Because of their small diameter, these droplets rise through the hydrosol very slowly, and if their speed upward is lower than the speed at which the hydrosol flows downward, then they will be lost. A simple method to minimize this loss is to decrease the speed of the hydrosol flow by increasing the diameter of the Ff (the smaller the diameter, the higher the speed of the hydrosol, and vice versa). Once the distillation is finished, the lighter essential oil is collected by adding water to the Ff, from which it is then extracted via a tap (Fig 8).
Fig. 7
It is worthwhile spending a few words about the Florentine flask, an often-overlooked piece of equipment. While in small set-ups it is still feasible to collect the distillate into a separatory funnel, draining the excess water from the bottom every now and then, for larger distillate flows this is time consuming, wasteful or plain impossible. Let’s see what the issues are:
Fig. 8
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After collecting the essential oil, it is time to prepare the unit for the next load, so any water left at the bottom of the retort needs to be drained away. Unfortunately, I have no picture of the drained water, but it will help to know that it was deeply colored, a dark brown, cloudy and strong smelling. Why is this important to know? The color and smell of the drained water do tell us many things about what went inside the still. The drained water was clearly colored in part by the metal of the still (it was not a stainless steel one), but it was also obviously colored – and aromatized – by the vegetable material that had been distilled. Now, if the water was colored by the material that sat on top of it, it means that either the splashes from the boiling water reached the bottom of the charge, and/or that part of the steam that condensed inside the charge travelled downwards and reached back into the bottom of the tank. In both cases, this is a bad sign. If water did drench the bottom part of the charge, this will have negative consequences for distillation, since the water-logged material will be an obstacle for the steam front; and if the steam condensed and refluxed back, there will be losses of hydrosoluble essential oil molecules. We will see below what perhaps can be done to prevent or minimize these issues. After draining the water, the exhausted load must be eliminated and the next load prepared. In this case the distilled plant material was the branches and leaves of Juniperus recurva, one of the two Junipers in the area, together with the Juniperus indica (Fig 9).
Fig. 9
Part 2 of this article continues in our Winter Edition. 19
References Baser, K.H., Buchbauer, G (2015) Handbook of Essential Oils: Science, Technology, and Applications. CRC Press Denny, E. F. K., (1991) Field Distillation for Herbaceous Oils (2nd Edition.), DennyMcKenzie, Assoc., Lilydale, Tasmania, p. 265 Guenther, E (1948) The Essential Oils - Vol. 1. Van Nostrand Company Harman, A. (2015) Harvest to Hydrosols: Distill your own Exquisite Hydrosols at Home. BotANNicals Hunter. M (2009) Essential oils: Art, Agriculture, Science, Industry and Entrepreneurship: a Focus on the Asia-pacific Region Kahol, A. P., (1984) “Distillation Technology”. In: Practical Manual on: The Essential Oils Industry, Wijesekera, R. O. B (Ed.), UNIDO, Vienna Lawrence, B. M., (1995) “The Isolation of Aromatic Materials from Natural Plant Products". In: A Manual on the Essential Oil Industry, Tuley De Silva (Ed.), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Vienna, Austria Valussi, M. (2016) "In the quest for greater quality and purity... Sustainable and ethical essential oils production: two case studies from Italy and Nepal" IJCA 11(1):39-51
Marco Valussi has been working with medicinal and aromatic plants for 25 years; he teaches, writes and consults about them. He gained his BSc. (Hons.) in Herbal Medicine in London in 1998, and before that studied the use of essential oils in massage therapy. He is currently the production manager and scientific director of Gadoi in the mountain area near Verona. Gadoi offers a local, short production chain for high quality artisan essential oils and aromatic waters that ensures fair treatment of the growers, environmentally sustainable practices, and organic, artisan products. They also offer consultancy on formulations and distillation technology. Marco is also involved in a second project whose aim is improving Nepal's essential oils production chain to create long-term economic support.
SKINTELLECTUALISM IS HERE. ARE YOU READY? CURATION, CREATION & BRANDING Guest writer and creator of LabAroma, Colleen Quinn discusses getting started with your very own brand. How many times have you thought ‘I would love to create the brand I dream of’ but then tell yourself a million reasons not to… ‘there are thousands of brands already’, ‘I am not experienced enough’, or maybe you think your idea is not strong enough? There is a powerful trend gaining momentum in our beauty and plant space, a movement calling out for creative product ideas based on plant science.
The ‘skintellectualism’ movement has arrived. Our customers are smart, they know what they want, and they are flexing their skin intelligence. Statistics from a 2018 Nelson report state that consumers are no longer satisfied with generalizations and indefinite or vague promises from brands. They are looking for solutions to specific skin care and lifestyle issues. The solutions they refer to require the knowledge, research and science of experts. The days of mediocre products with uninspiring formulations, packaged with no or limited sustainable conscious thought, are no longer being accepted by us, the consumer. We are adopting a much more investigative approach to the products we choose to use on our skin every day, vigorously educating ourselves about the best
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ingredients for every aspect of our skin and body care rituals.
planning, and guidance then executed with authenticity and some powerful truths behind your brand message.
Market analysis and consumer behaviour support these emerging trends by clearly telling us that consumers are now choosing aromatherapy and plant minerals as the ingredients they trust for their skin. Between March 2017 and March 2018, the bath products category sales grew 1% overall, while sustainable bath product sales grew 12%, driven by environmental marketing claims and the presence of minerals, organic ingredients and essential oils in this market category.(1).
Firstly, you have to have that burning idea which solves a genuine problem for your target customer. A product packed with delicious ingredients and housed in stunning packaging is no longer enough. Even the big beauty houses are stepping up their ingredient intelligence as well as their sourcing and packaging consciousness in order to meet the needs of the freshly educated customer.
The presence of minerals and essential oils were the leading growth drivers for sustainability within the category, generating dollar sales growth of 16% and 18%, respectively. Furthermore, essential oil containing products grew 18 times faster than the general bath and body category. (2) The global aromatherapy market generated $1.2 billion in revenue for 2017 and was projected to showcase a compound annual growth rate of 9.4% during 2018. This growth is attributed to the rising awareness about the therapeutic use of essential oils, increasing consumer preference toward natural products, and the increasing prevalence of lifestyle diseases. (3) One of the most influential newly launched skincare brands is Dr Barbara Sturm. Dr Sturm, the creator and founder, says, “I think it is important to have a very deep understanding of ingredient science, as well as of the functions and scientific processes of the skin.”
UNDERSTANDING THE STEPS The evidence is calling for new brands, especially from aromatherapists and plant experts. So, what does it take to turn your idea from a seed to a brand? There are very clearly defined steps you need to understand when creating a farm-to-face brand, all of which need to be accomplished with deep thought,
Your brand idea may have competitors; actually, I would be surprised if it did not. But how will you do it better? How will you deliver a better product? How will you solve their problem more creatively? How will you connect with them in a more personal and passionate manner? If you can answer these questions with confidence, then your idea has a foundation to build upon. Don’t be scared of competitors. Firstly, you will have them before you launch and a growing number after you launch. If Chanel had of dismissed her brand idea as she sketched it on a napkin because she was scared of L’Oréal (who launched a year earlier in 1909) our lives as women and creators would not be as inspired or rich today. See competitors as validation and inspiration but focus on your idea, your uniqueness, your mission, and your distinctive vision.
EVIDENCE IS VITAL Now for the serious stuff, gaining the proof! You have two things to prove with solid evidence to be a credible brand: that your products are safe and that they work. Initially and vitally you need to prove your formulations are safe and that they won’t hurt, irritate or damage anyone’s skin. There is no more direct and trusted way to prove this than with cosmetic compliance testing. Unlike the EU, in the USA there is no pre-market regulation system for cosmetics. Instead, the FDA has a reactive approach to compliance in the States, so there is no pre22
market regulatory guidance. In the EU however, there are clear allergen, ingredient inclusion parameters and specific cosmetic compliance tests required before you can legally launch your brand. There is even a public portal registration requirement. There are regulations in the States and products must comply with both federal and state regulations, but this is not considered ‘pre-market’ guidance. Generally an EU Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) is sufficient to prove that the product formulation is compliant from a safety perspective, although there are additional ingredient checks that must be performed against Proposition 65 and the California Safe Cosmetics Act (CSCS). Even if there is no intention to place the products on the market in California these obligations still apply since the law is applicable to any product used in California, regardless of where it is bought. This means a consumer can purchase a product in Arizona then travel back to California and initiate legal action if the product does not comply with Proposition 65. There are additional labelling requirements for the US, mainly if a product is considered an over-the-counter drug (OTC). Cosmetic compliance companies in the EU can offer advice on labelling and product classifications as they review your product’s formulation and label art work. The vigorous EU testing available for cosmetics ranges from safety assessments, challenge tests, microbial limit tests, allergen testing and various other product specific tests, all leading to the achievement of a cosmetic product
safety report per product. Of course, there are different scenarios in which you would subject your product to different tests. I have outlined various tests and the reasons for them below. Regardless of where you sell or what level of compliance testing to which you need to adhere; you still must gain compliance testing for the safety and comfort of your customers.
Cosmetic Tests Definitions STABILITY TEST All cosmetics sold in the EU must have undergone stability testing. This testing exposes the finished product to variable conditions to ensure that it does not denature or undergo any changes during foreseeable terms of use. This can be done on water and oil-based products. CHALLENGE TEST All cosmetics sold in the EU must have undergone challenge testing, which is designed to check that the product is not susceptible to microbiological contamination. Products with an extremely low or zero percentage water content can be considered as low risk; however, a reduced challenge test is recommended. Usually this testing takes 35 days from receipt of your product sample before a final report is generated. This test is normally reserved for water-based products because typically oil-based products do not provide an environment for bacteria to grow therefore a lot of brands do not consider this test relevant to their oil-based products. MICROBIAL LIMITS TEST This is only applicable to products that are specifically intended for microbiologically vulnerable areas such as lips and eyelids. Results are typically available 10 days after receipt of your product sample. If you want to sell your products in the EU, you will need to appoint a person to be responsible for each and every cosmetic product placed on the European market. This 24
can be your European-based distributor, manufacturer or testing lab. The person responsible could also be a third party such as a consultancy firm specializing in cosmetic compliance. You will also need to submit your Product Information Packaging (PIP) to the lab doing your cosmetic compliance. Your PIP should include: • • • •
• • • •
Product Description Safety Report Method of Manufacturing Evidence of compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) - this can be obtained from your manufacturer Proof of the effect claimed if relevant (where justified) Data on Animal Testing, if applicable Labelling (taking into account the container and outer packaging) Data on Serious Undesirable Effects
The second action of evidence you can take to support the efficacy and validity of your product is to carry out a consumer trial or consumer perception trial. What is the difference between a consumer trial or consumer perception trial, you might well ask? An independent consumer trial is carried out in a controlled environment typically by dermatologists using various laboratory-level measuring tools to test things like reduced skin redness, reduced inflammation, increased cell renewal rate etc. The data provided by a consumer trial is analytical and factual with, depending on the individual test, photographic evidence of how your products affected skin cells, texture, tone and colour. On the other hand, a consumer perception trial can be carried out independently or be managed by your team in-house. This testing model is different in that it offers less analytical data and is more subjective in manner but equally valuable to a brand, especially at the beginning when validation is essential. This trial involves giving the product to a focus group of users who will use your product as directed for at least 14 days. They watch how they feel while using the product, 25
how their skin reacts or changes and they give feedback on the differences they notice during the period of time in which they tried it. They report back to you via a directed questionnaire so you can then correlate all the trial users’ feedback to create marketable data to help promote your products. You have probably seen Head & Shoulders’ advertising where they have said that their shampoo ‘Helps you be up to 100% dandruff free’. They didn’t make this up; they carried out a consumer perception trial and that powerful brand statement was the feedback data they received.
THE MAGICAL ROLLERCOASTER The creative branding and formulation aspect of building your brand is for most of us the most enchanting portion and is sometimes the main driving force behind curating your brand in the first place. We will dive into the many facets of this creative part of brand building in Part 2 of this business series. In the meantime, a few words of wisdom… the reality is that you need to gather experienced people around you as you plan and grow your brand. While you immerse yourself in this adventure, having mentors around you is vital and just smart! Others have done this before so asking for help is not vulnerable, it is clever. Curating, developing and birthing a brand is as magical and electrifying as a rollercoaster can be thrilling – there is excitement mixed with anticipation as you start the climb; wonder as you approach the launch; nervewracking fears before the free-fall; delirious excitement in the free fall; shock on the curves; and gut-wrenching worries on the dips. The difference with a traditional
rollercoaster and building a brand is the branding-induced rollercoaster ride doesn’t stop! If that ride excites you and you know (or hope) your stomach is strong enough, jump on, grab hold and it will be the most significant learning curve of your life.
References 1 - https://www.hempbizjournal.com/size-of-us-hemp-industry-2017/ 2 - https://www.gcimagazine.com/marketstrends/segments/natural/Go-Green-See-Green-In-Bath-Products-Sustainability-Sells498535581.html 3 - https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/aromatherapy-market
Colleen Quinn is a clinical aromatherapist, formulator & researcher. Committed to delivering functional therapeutic plant-based products, she has traveled the globe on a quest for knowledge innovation and the best quality in order to create therapeutic benefits in skin and health care. Colleen’s innovative concept to merge aromatherapy and technology lead her to create LabAroma. LabAroma has turned the very complex and mathematical process of formulating cosmetic and essential oil blends into a rapidly efficient and reliable way to tackle natures chemistry. www.labaroma.com
aroma@labaroma.com
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Explore our new educational products then buy and download to watch or listen at your own pace. Presenter: Patricia Antoniak Date: September 10, 2017 Length: 4 hours, 44 minutes (In 2 parts) Description: The Dynamics of Addiction This 2-part webinar discusses the use of aromatherapy with addiction, addictive personalities, and some of the causes and expressions of this difficult and damaging disease.
Presenter: Peter Holmes L.Ac., M.H. Date: April 2018 Length: 9 hours, 53 minutes (In 8 parts) Description: Day 1 Topics - Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Medicine: Exploring the psychological and physiological functions of essential oils. Fragrance Qualities and Pharmacology: The psychosensory approach to using essential oils as remedies Day 2 Topics - Essential Oils as Bioactive Remedies: Evaluating the integrity of essential oil production and identity. Symptom Versus Terrain: Differentiating treatment priorities with the six diagnostic conditions 27
Coming This Month! Presenter: Dr. Timothy Miller ND. MAc, LAc, RA Date: April 2019 Length: 9 hours, 53 minutes (In 7 parts) Description: Day 1 - AromaChemistry: Get ready to see chemistry in a whole new light! Dr. Tim is going to show you how fascinating AromaChemistry is and how you can use it in a profound and impactful way. Some of the basics of chemistry is revisited, as well as explore functional groups and their generalized therapeutic indications. This will help enhance and deepen your understanding of chemistry and AromaChemistry. Day 2 - Pharmacokinetics: Pharmacokinetics is how the body interacts with essential oil components and how these compounds are metabolized and excreted from the body. A vital aspect of aromatherapy and can enable practitioners to maximize the effects of their treatments, and can guide the oil(s) and interface(s) which they might use.
Presenting The BCAPA Proceedings Manuals 2001-2014 Between the years 2000 and 2014, the BCAPA published the presenters’ notes from Continuing Education Events and meeting notes of Chapter Group forums in a bound format as their annual Proceedings Manual. The hard copies of the Proceeding Manuals were discontinued in 2015 but the they contain such a wealth of information that, now that the BCAPA and BCAOA have amalgamated, we are able to sell them at a very affordable price online in digital format. These wonderfully informative manuals are available singly or buy the whole collection for an amazingly discounted deal! Journal Update: We have a few of our Summer issue left, but our past editions are available online at Issuu. Thank you all for your support! Essential Oil Safety Booklets: These lovely and profitable publications are always available in print to order at https://bcaoa.org/store/essential-oil-safety-booklet/ or online at Issuu. 28
Aromatherapy Student: Akiyo Toji Enhancing learning performance and mood of children in the classroom environment West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy
Student Akiyo Toji discusses how essential oils might improve neural functioning and mood balance in children to improve learning and social behaviour. Introduction Current situation in school Learning disorder and hyperactivity in children as well as teens and adults are commonly seen symptoms in recent years. It is estimated that about 5% of the school-age population shows symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Canada (Statistics Canada, Online, 2018). ADHD and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are the most commonly diagnosed mental health problems among children. Although the symptoms listed below could be applied to many children who are going through ordinary developmental processes, these are the main characteristic behavior patterns: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Poor attention span, easily distracted, difficulty with focus and concentration disorganized and may appear forgetful or careless impulsive behavior mood swings poor school performance hyperactive disruptive in class not being able to wait patiently becomes bored and frustrated easily cannot play independently or quietly cannot sit still or fidgets when sitting; restless; jittery; always moving talks excessively in a loud voice may not be able to control frustration and anger does not pay attention to what he/she has been told requires frequent reminders to stay on task
At the present time, there is no clear cause of ADHD and ADD. It might be caused by structural changes in the brain, alternations in neurotransmitter levels, or environmental or dietary factors. 29
Aroma and Emotion The properties of aromatherapy on the physical body as well as on the interaction of the mind, emotions, nervous and immune systems are well established. Aromatherapy is capable of being: • • • • • • • • • • • •
anti-inflammatory antiseptic appetite stimulating carminative choleretic circulation stimulating deodorizing expectorant granulation stimulating hyperemic insecticidal/insect repelling and sedative (Price S., Price L., 2012, p.73)
Also, they possess properties which can affect the mind and emotions to sedate, calm and uplift. They have effects on: • • • • • • •
bodily systems, can evoke memories, change perception, calm agitation, relieve stress, active cognitive responses and affect intercommunication (Price S., Price L., 2012, p.253)
For example, rosemary aroma was perceived as refreshing and improved locomotor activity in mice after inhalation as well as after oral administration of the Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) essential oil (Price S., Price L., 2012, p.156). Another study showed that there was a significant increase in blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate after Rosemary inhalation by healthy, right-handed adults 18-28 years old. From these experiments there is supporting evidence that brain wave activity, autonomic nervous system activity as well as mood states are all affected by the inhalation of Rosemary essential oil (Syorwan et al., 2012). Moreover, Rosemary has the ability to significantly enhance the quality of memory and alertness compared to control groups which were tested using Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) essential oil (Price S., Price L. 2012, p.156). Research conducted on the effect of Lavender essential oil found it produced a significant decrease in working memory and impaired reaction times for both memory and attention-based tasks, possibly due to the presence of α-pinene which has sedative effects in humans (Price S., Price L. 2012, p.156). In addition to this, research measuring work efficiency using Lavender and Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum) essential oils during the 30-minute recess session in the afternoon between 14:30-15:30 had results that indicated using Lavender oil can reduce the level of arousal and provide restfulness, which leads to better concentration and increased work efficiency after the recess, more so than using Jasmine essential oil (Sakamoto et al., 2005). A study by Jimbo et al. (2009) tested the cognitive functional ability of 28 elderly people – 17 of which had Alzheimer's disease – using a mixture of Rosemary and Lemon (Citrus limonum) essential oils in the morning and Lavender and Orange (Citrus sinensis) in the evening. They found that all the participants showed significant improvement in personal orientation related to cognitive function. Moreover, underachieving school children (66 boys between 11 and 13 years) experienced success in a written task in the presence of ambient odor (peppermint and strawberry teas). When the children experienced the same odor again, their performance was significantly better than a relevant control group (Chu, 2008). Price S. and Price L. (2012) also mentioned adding the aroma of Lemon to a classroom helps to involve all the 30
senses in the learning experience (p.147).
The sense of smell Aromatic plants have been used historically by mankind for their calming and mood enhancing effects. Moreover, aromas can improve performance and the capacity for memory retention as well as improve alertness and promote relaxation. Odorants in the essential oils must evaporate and disperse into the atmosphere. Once these vapor molecules are inhaled through the nose, they are detected by receptor cells in the cilia extending from the two olfaction bulbs, which are are extensions of the brain. Lv et al. (2013) reported that inhalation of essential oils can stimulate the production of cerebral neurotransmitters (e.g. serotonin and dopamine) in the brain to regulate the mood via the olfactory system.
Olfaction and the autonomic nervous system Inhalation of certain types of aromatic vaporous odorants can affect the autonomic nervous functions such as heart rate, pulse rate, skin conductance response, skin temperature, respiration and breathing rate. These types of essential oils are mostly Black Pepper (Piper nigrum), Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Rosemary, Sage (Salvia officinalis) and Thyme (Thyme ct linalool) (Tissarand and Young 2014, p. 112). According to J.P. Rhind (2016), Black Pepper, Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi), Estragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.), and Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) all elicited an increase in sympathetic activity of 1.7 to 2.5fold. Also, Grapefruit inhalation elicited a 1.1-fold increase in adrenaline and a 1.2-fold increase in noradrenalin. Therefore, Grapefruit, a citric fruit essential oil, is able to cause fluctuations in blood pressure after inhalation. The rise in blood pressure might occur through the presence of d-limonene, α-pinene and methyl chavicol in Black Pepper, Grapefruit and Estragon essential oils (J.P. Rhind 2016, p.165). In this study, the children's emotion and blood pressure were measured after the inhalation of Lemon essential oil for one minute in the morning before going to school. If the inhalation of essential oil can alter the children's emotion in a positive way, aromatherapy might be a useful and safe method to use in the classroom in order to provide a positive learning environment which would lead to increases in learning performance.
Materials and methods Participants A total of 3 male children, aged 5 years (Child A), 8 years (Child B) and 12 years (Child C) were selected. The children had not been reported as having ADHD and/or ADD, are in good respiratory health and have a normal sense of smell. The information on handedness has been included in this study. According to Hummel et al. (1998) in regards to odor discrimination ability, left-handed people performed significantly better with the left side nostril compared with the right nostril and vice versa for right-handed people. Thus, it is only informational that all the children who participated in the experiments are right-handed. Essential oil After studying the safety of all the potential oils (Rosemary, Lavender, Jasmine, Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit), organic Lemon essential oil from Rae Dunphy Aromathics Ltd, Calgary, Canada was selected and used for this experiment. The main constituents of Lemon essential oil are monoterpenes, mainly (+) - Limonene (56.6-76.0%). The main properties of monoterpenes are (see Table 1): • • • 31
For the nervous system: slightly analgesic, stimulant For the endocrine system: stimulates secretions particularly bile, liver and gall bladder For the circulatory and immune system: antiviral, bactericidal, decongestant (Caddy 1997, p.1-13)
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Test room The experiment was carried out in the dining room, which has a set of patio doors and is adjacent to the kitchen and the living room. Safety For safety, the 2nd edition of Essential Oil Safety by Tisserand and Young (2014) was used. Cold pressed Lemon essential oil is phototoxic and causes skin sensitization if it oxidizes (p.331). Design 2-3 drops of Lemon essential oil were put onto a cotton pad and stored in a glass container. In the morning, just before going to school, the children were asked about their feelings by using a simple emotional evaluation sheet.
Table 1. Key constituents of lemon essential oil (Tisserand & Young, p. 331)
The emotional evaluation sheet consists of 6 emotions (happy, excited, angry, tired, worried and sad) which shows emotion-emphasized faces with the words. Once they stated the emotion they currently had, the first blood pressure measurement was conducted then the children were asked to open the glass jar and start sniffing for 1 minute. They were asked to inhale and exhale deeply and slowly. After inhalation, they were again asked to evaluate their feelings and the second blood pressure measurement was taken. Moreover, a self-evaluation (emotion, learning performance etc., anything they noticed or realized) was carried out after school.
Table 2. Emotional Evaluation Sheet (Source: www.pinsta.com)
Discussion In this study, the effects on emotion after the inhalation of Lemon essential oil by children between the ages of 5 and 12 years old were examined. The rates of blood pressure were recorded before and after 1 minute of inhalation of Lemon essential oil in order to find out whether there is any influence on the arousal level in the nervous system, which might be associated with enhancing or changes of mood. Emotional parameter Emotional evaluation was conducted in the morning before going to school. It was dependent on their physical condition 33
which was influenced by the activities they had attended the day before and whether the test was conducted at the beginning of the week or not. For better results, one should consider their original nature and characteristics. These children are naturally motivated and confident in their abilities. Therefore, the oil might tend to gravitate towards positive effects on their psychological state. The extra comments were established through their self-evaluation. The children found that they felt more focused and concentration was easier in the morning classes; this was especially emphasized by child C, who is 12 years old. Moreover, they thought the positive mood lasted for a couple hours after the initial exposure to the lemon aroma. Autonomic nervous system parameter The results obtained from Child C (see Graph 3-4), indicated that his blood pressure had slightly increased after the inhalation. However, it should be mentioned that there were a few errors when taking their blood pressures. For instance, Child A’s arms were too thin to gain an accurate reading. In addition, their blood pressure tended to deviate when we measured. Therefore, it is advisable to learn how to correctly use the machine on small children, and it is best to obtain at least 3 measurements in order to provide a mean value. Results Day 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 - Below are blood pressure readings (before and after inhalation), description of emotions (before and after inhalation), and other comments from Child A, B and C. As noted above, accurate blood pressure readings could not be obtained for Child A.
Graph 1
Graph 2
Graph 3
Graph 4
34
Table 3 Description of emotion and blood pressure readings (before and after inhalation), and other comments
Conclusion Reviewing the final results shows there might be a correlation between the positive emotional effects and the rise in blood pressure after exposure to the lemon aroma. As was mentioned earlier, the children are naturally content and confident individuals, thus it might tend to incline them towards positive results. Moreover, they really enjoy smelling and tasting lemon in general. One might be able to state that when children already have certain positive experiences with an aroma, it then provides positive effects on their mood after inhalation of that aroma. According to Rhind J.P. (2016), the short 5 minutes of exposure to an aroma is insufficient to elicit any physiological effects (p.173). Hence, after carrying out the experiment and reading other scientific reports, further investigation is required in order to obtain a better understanding of the psychological and physiological effects of exposure to aroma in children. Some suggestions to obtain improved results are listed below: 35
• • • • •
a longer exposure time e.g. 1 hour different inhalation method e.g. using a diffuser continuous and longer period of test time e.g. carry out an experiment for more than 10 days continuously larger number and variety of psychological and physiological conditions e.g. carry out in a classroom environment, if possible measure heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate and skin temperature and obtain at least 3 measurements of each to obtain mean values
References 1 - Statics Canada [Online]. Available at https://www.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-619-m/2012004/sections/sectionc-eng.htm 2 - Barkley, RA (1998) Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment. New York: Guilford Press. 3 - Buckle, J. (2015) Clinical Aromatherapy, Essential Oils in Healthcare. Third Edition, Elsevier. 4 - Caddy, R. (1997) Aromatherapy essential Oils in Colour, Caddy Classic Profiles. Guildford England, Amberwood Publishing Ltd. p.1-13. 5 - Chu, S. (2008) Olfactory conditioning of positive performance in humans. Chem. Senses 33: 65-71. 6 - Epple, G., Herz, R.S. (1999) Ambient odors associated to failure influence cognitive performance in children. Developmental Psychobiology. Volume 35, Issue 2, p. 103-107. 7 - Herz, R.S., Schankler, C., Beland, S. (2004) Olfaction, emotion and associative learning: Effects on motivated behavior. Motivation and Emotion. Vol.28, No. 4. DOI:10.1007/s11031-004-2389-x. 8 - Hummel, T., Mohammadian, P., Kobal, G. (1998) Handedness is a determining factor in lateralized olfactory discrimination. Chem. Senses 23: 541-544. 9 - Ilmberger, J., Heuberger, E., Mahrhofer, C., Dessovic, H., Kowarik, D., Buchbauer, G. (2001) The influence of essential oils on human attention. I: Alertness. Chem. Senses 26:239-245. 10 - Jimbo, D., Kimura, Y., Taniguchi, M., Inoue, M., Urakami, K. (2009) Effect of aromatherapy on patients with Alzheimer's disease. Psychogeriatrics, 9: 173-179. 11 - Kawakami, M., Aoki, S., Ohkubo, T. (1999) A study of fragranced on working environment characteristics in VDT work activities. Int. J. Production Economics 60-61, p. 575-581. 12 - Koulivand, P. H., Ghadiri, M.K., Gorji, A. (2013) Lavender and the nervous system. Hindawi Publishing Corporation, EvidenceBased Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Vol. 2013, Article ID 681304, 10 pages. 13 - Lv, X.N., Liu, Z.J., Zhang, H.J., Tzeng, C. M. (2013) Aromatherapy and the Central Nerve System (CNS): Therapeutic mechanism and its associated genes. Current Drug Targets. 14, 872-879. 14 - Mojay, G. (1999) Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit. Gaia Books Limited. 15 - Pitchford, P. (2002) Healing with whole foods. North Atlantics Books, Berkeley California. 16 - Price, S., Price, L. (2012) Aromatherapy for Health Professionals. Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier. p.73, 147, 156, 253. 17 - Rhind, J. P. (2016) Aromatherapeutic blending - essential oils in synergy. Singing Dragon. p.165, 173. 18 - Sakamoto, R., Minoura, K., Usui, A., Ishizuka, Y., Kanba, S. (2005) Effectiveness of aroma on work efficiency: Lavender aroma during recesses prevents deterioration of work performance. Chem. Senses 30: 683-691. 19 - Sayorwan, W., Ruangrungsi, N., Piriyapunyporn, T., Hangratanaworakit, T., Kotchabhakdi, N., Siripornpanich V. Effects of inhaled rosemary oil on subjective feelings and activities of the nervous system. Sci Pharm. 81: 531-542. 20 - Sugawara, Y., Hino, Y., Kawasaki, Mami., Hara, C., Tamura, K, Sugimoto, N., Yamanishi, Y., Miyauchi, M., Masujima, T., Aoki, T. (1999) Alteration of perceived fragrance of essential oils in relation to type of work: a simple screening test for efficacy of aroma. Chem Senses 24: 415-421. 21 - Tisserand, R., Young, R. (2014) Essential oil safety. Second edition. Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier. pp.112, 331-332. 22 - Williams T. I. (2006) Evaluating effects of aromatherapy massage on sleep in children with autism: A pilot study. Advance Access Publication, eCAM 2006;3(3)373-377. 23 - Willmont, D. (2008) Aromatherapy in Chinese Medicine: Healing the Body/Mind/Spirit with Essential Oils. Willmountain Press. 24 - Worwood, V.A. (1996) The Fragrant Mind - Aromatherapy for personality, mind, mood and emotion. Novato California, New World Library.
Akiyo Toji is a graduate of the West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy. 36
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Herb of the Year: Hops (Humulus lupulus) This article appears courtesy of the Canadian Herbalist Association of BC Student Subcommittee for the 2019 Herbal Medicine Awareness Week. Most people today are familiar with Hops in the context of beer, but did you know Hops also has a long history of use as a traditional medicine? Hops became popularized in Canada in the 1890s when Henry Hulbert moved to Sardis, BC and joined a community of people growing the bitter flower people were becoming to know and love for its diverse medicinal benefits and flavour profile in brewing. (Chilliwack Museum, 2008). Clemons Horst moved to BC in 1902 and joined the cultivation of Hops. This farm grew to eventually be the largest producer in the area and what we know today as the BC Hop Company. (Chilliwack Museum, 2008) Both Agassiz and Sardis, in the Fraser Valley, grew to be areas producing the most hops within the British Commonwealth by the 1940s. However, as breweries industrialized in the 1990s, the hops industry collapsed. (Botn, 2014) With the growth of craft brewing and people reconnecting with traditional practices, hops has resurged and once again become a beloved taste we know well and connect with. Now, as the industry grows, this creates space for society to also once again connect with the many properties this plant encompasses to support health and wellbeing. (Botn, 2014)
Medicinal Actions and Uses of Hops • • • • •
Relaxing and sedating for the mind and body Soothing and stimulating to the digestive system Mild estrogenic effect Pain relieving Anti-microbial (PRC Monograph) 38
In the same plant family as Cannabis, preparations of Hops have a sedative, relaxing, anti-spasmodic action and a warming, bitter action on the digestion – actions familiar to those who like Bitter Beer! Hops are excellent for calming the nervous system and very useful for insomnia. The hop flower is also beneficial for anxiety and nervousness, especially when this causes digestive upset. The effect on digestion is attributed to the bitter taste – the bitter flavour stimulates the production and secretion of digestive enzymes and acids. The relaxing effect of hops can extend to the airways and might be beneficial for tight, spasmodic conditions like asthma (PRC Monograph). Since hops have estrogenic properties, they might be especially beneficial in insomnia and anxiety associated with menopause. Some research suggests that Hops flavonoids might also help reduce hot flushes (PRC Monograph).
Botany of Hops The hops perennial vine is native to Europe and Asia but also thrives in North America. This climbing vine is a member of the Cannabaceae family and is rich in essential oils and resinous bitters. The female flowers, called strobiles, are used in both medicine and beer making. (PRC monograph) The annual stems twist in a clockwise direction, growing up to 6m in length and giving rise to 3-5-lobed sharply-toothed leaves with a very rough surface. The smaller leaves are single lobed. The flowers are dioecious: the small male flowers occur in loose panicles in the upper leaf axils, the female flowers (strobiles) in closely-stacked, cone-like catkins made up of bracts with tiny flowers tucked into the axils. The cones grow threefold after fertilisation, up to 5 cm in length, and change colour from pale greenish-yellow to yellow-brown. (PRC monograph) Key constituents in hops are volatile oils, resinous bitter principles (The oil and bitter resins together are known as lupulin), condensed tannins, phenolic acids, and flavonoid glycosides (PRC monograph).
Historical & Traditional Uses One of the first recorded uses of Hops comes from the 12th century, when they were used as a preservative by German monks in the beer brewing trade (PRC monograph). Historically hops was used to increase the melancholic humor. This humor was based on the earth element, the element of deep thinkers and creative minds. In a time when medicine was used to purge medical conditions, hops was considered to purge the sanguine and choleric humours, which consisted of air and fire elements. These elements were very outwardly expressive and reactive. By purging these qualities, one would be moved towards a more reflective and calm state. (Ody, 1993)
Dosage and Safety Due to the estrogenic effects hops should be used with caution during pregnancy, lactation, and with estrogendominant conditions. This caution also extends to andropausal men (PRC Monograph). Hops has a depressant 39
effect in the higher nerve centers of the brain which suggests caution with depression. (Ody, 1993) It’s generally considered safe to consume 1.5 to 3 g of dried hops per day, and 10 to 30 mL per week of a 1:3 tincture (PRC Monograph).
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Hop Infused Recipes - Clip ‘n’ Keep! SUNSHINE TEA WITH HOPS by CHA of BC Student Subcommittee Member Cheyenne Jackson
HERBAL TEA RECIPES by CHA of BC Student Subcommittee Member Elizabeth Rodriguez:
Enjoy this invigorating and relaxing iced tea to cool you while inspiring your inner sunshine.
RESTFUL TEA This recipe makes a calming and restful tea, suitable for before bedtime. 10g Hop flowers (Humulus lupulus) 10g Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata L.) 10g Oat straw (Avena sativa L.) 20g Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
5g Hop flowers (Humulus lupulus) 10g Fresh Orange zest or dried peels (Citrus sinensis) 5g Fresh or dried mint (Mentha piperita or Mentha spicata) 10g Lemonbalm (Melissa officinalis) Fresh lemon juice* Honey* *Add desired amount to your preferred sweetness/taste 1) Infuse in hot water for 15 minutes with lid to savour the many therapeutic and delicious qualities of the volatile oils (essential oils). 2) Strain. Add honey and fresh lemon juice. Place in fridge to cool. This refreshing beverage can be enjoyed any time of the day and will bring a whole other level to relaxing in the sunshine!
Mix dried herbs together and steep 2 teaspoons in a covered cup of hot water for 10 to 15 minutes. Covering your teacup helps to retain the volatile oils! DIGESTIVE TEA Try this tea after a heavy dinner or to calm an acidic feeling stomach. 10g Hop flowers (Humulus lupulus) 15g Peppermint leaves (Mentha piperita) 25g Chamomile flowers (Matricaria recutita) Mix dried herbs together and steep 2 teaspoons in a covered cup of hot water for 10 to 15 minutes. Covering your teacup helps to retain the volatile oils!
References Botn, M. (2014). History of Hop Growing in BC. Retrieved from http://www.orchardandvine.net/articles/the-resurgenceof-hops-farming/ Chilliwack Museum and Archives. (2008). Henry Hulbert of Hulbert Hop Gardens. Retrieved from http://www.chilliwackmuseum.ca/hops/BG_Growers.html Ody, P. (1993). The Complete Medicinal Herbalism. Great Britain: Dorling Kindersley Limited. PRC Monograph. (n.d). Humulus lupulus (Hops). Pacific Rim College. 40
The Classifieds Welcome to our Classifieds Section. To submit a classified, email your information to the editor with “Classified” in the subject line.
SELLING: Gorgeous wooden cabinet geared for aromatherapy field. Includes bowls. Asking $125 Parchment brochures written by Cheryl Grossman and designed by Julie Nasmith - $0.50 each. For more information or to buy, please contact Cheryl Grossman at cheryl.r.grossman@gmail.com
SELLING: Jeff Meursing, Marie-Louise Meursing’s son would like to sell her massage table and massage chair below. He would like $400.00 for the massage table and $250.00 for the massage chair. If you are interested, please contact Jeff directly at jeffmeursing@gmail.com
VOLUNTEERS WANTED: We are now accepting applications for Volunteers for our upcoming Committees. Join us in making our association stronger! Committees require less time than a Board position and you earn benefits. Fill out an application today at https://bcaoa.org/for-members/committeevolunteering/
CHAPTER MEETING CHAIRS WANTED: There are several openings for in-person Chapter Meeting Chairs, as well as one online. Spread the joy of aromatherapy! Information on Chapter meetings can be found at https://bcaoa.org/for-members/chapter-meetings/ 41
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