Aroma Wisdom The Canadian Aromatherapy Journal
Summer 2019 The Blooming Edition
education, innovation, growth, support
Essential Oils and PTSD: Jennine Stromkins Reviews More Case Studies
Ethics in Distilling
Ann Harman talks professionalism in the trade
10 Easy Ways to Promote Your Business Marieka Zimmerman shows you how
Jun-Aug 2019
Student Case Study Blend Review Ana Sullivan British Columbia Alliance Of Aromatherapy ISSN 2562-2218 $7.99 CND
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Contents 4 Our Contributors 5 President’s Message 7 Meet Your New Board 8 Announcements 10 Featured Writer: Essential Oils and PTSD Part 2 of 2 - Jennine Stromkins discusses more PTSD case studies
18 Guest Writer: Ethics in Distilling International Speaker Ann Harman talks Professionalism in the Trade
25 Promoting Your Business Marieka Zimmerman Shows You 10 Easy Ways
27 Aroma Wisdom Subscription and Edition Order Form
30 Student Case Study
Ana Sullivan reviews anti-nociceptive properties for pain management
33 BCAOA 2019 Essential Oil Safety Booklet Order Form 34 Spring Continuing Education Event Review by Melissa Housser 44 Marie-Louise Hooites Meursing Memoriam 45 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 first year in print
BCAOA 3928 Michigan Rd, Port Alberni, BC, V9Y 5Z6
Supporting aromatherapists everywhere The Summer Edition ~ June 2019 Cover Photo by lilawa.com from Shutterstock
Created and printed in the Greater Vancouver Area of BC 3.1 Trees Certified Savings 211 Sustainably printed on Sugar Sheet paper kgs CO2 ISSN 2562-220X (Print)
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.
Ann Harman – Ann is an organic farmer, herbalist and distiller. She has been making herbal products for decades and distilling hydrosols for nearly 30 years. Ann is the author of Harvest to Hydrosol, a how to book about distilling for hydrosols. She is currently involved in research of the hydrosols; chemistry, microbiology, adulteration, heavy metals and comparison experiments through Circle H Institute. She loves sharing her knowledge of the world of distillation and hydrosols. She is an international speaker who lectures on her continual research on hydrosols and the Art of Distillation. Ann hosts intensive, hands on workshops featuring international teachers in Washington State, USA. She regularly contributes articles about distillation and hydrosols to industry journals.
Melissa Housser – Melissa first discovered the powerful, healing properties of essential oils while having her aura read at a festival. Since that time, she has earned a Certificate in Holistic Aromatherapy, created an essential oil-based skin care line, and started teaching workshops about simple and natural home remedies. More than ever, she believes that connecting the mind and body is essential in building a balanced lifestyle. Outside of Aromatherapy, she enjoys hiking, foraging, singing, guitar, and yoga. She wants to become a well-rounded source of information for others, and hopes to receive her horticulture certificate in the near future.
Ana Sullivan – Ana has hundreds of hours of formal education and more than 7 years of training in aromatic studies, 12 years as an educator and 15 years as a visual artist. She has studied under several renowned aromatherapists and professionals in the field including the West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy; the Tisserand Institute; Dr. E. Joy Bowles; Mark Webb; the Aromahead Institute; the School for Aromatic Studies; Shaktili Aromaterapia; Robin Schiller-Kessler CA; Dr. Tim Miller; the Franklin Institute of Wellness (Dr. Jessie Hawkins); and the New York Institute of Aromatic Studies. Ana can be reached at 1-(201) 566-6175 or at correo@naturalmenteesenciales.com. Her website is www.NaturalmenteEsenciales.com
Jennine Stromkins – Jennine received her Aromatherapy certifications in the spring of 1994. In June 1994, she established Scents of Comfort, offering training and organic essential oils. Jennine has continued attending courses including those from Dr. Pierre Francomme; several by John Steele; chemistry courses by Rhiannon and Bob Harris; and on neuromuscular therapy. She has spoken numerous times at the Scientific Conferences of Aromatherapy and published a number of articles.
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
Marieka Zimmerman RA®, RMT, HP – Marieka is a Registered Massage Therapist, Holistic Health Practitioner, and Registered Aromatherapist. She is the owner and operator of Aspire Massage & Holistic Therapies, in Smithers, BC, and has been in practice for 15 years. Marieka is passionate about supporting the health and wellness of her patients through the use of her diverse treatment modalities, as well as patient education, awareness and prevention. Her knowledge and love of learning has provided Marieka with a dynamic background of techniques, which enable each patient to receive a treatment plan designed specifically for his or her needs. 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 Summer 2019
Dear Members, As I sit in my office on a very rainy May Day, I am looking forward to sunny days spent in the garden and maybe a distillation or two. Although summer solstice isn’t until June 21st, many of us consider the May long weekend to be the unofficial beginning of summer. I usually follow the rule of not planting before the Victoria Day weekend but jumped the gun a little this year – maybe I just needed to see a little colour in my yard to offset our grey skies. We had a wonderful CE Event this past April with Tim Miller – Tim lived up to expectations and did indeed make chemistry fun! The venue was amazing, and everything went smoothly thanks to Betsy and Michelle, as well as the many volunteers who helped out over the 2-day event. For those of you in attendance at the AGM, you will know that we pulled out all the stops in terms of venue, food and the speaker, while at the same time rewarding the loyalty of our long-term members. We knew that this weekend would incur a loss, but we wanted the first 2-day CE Weekend under the newly amalgamated BCAOA to be one that we wouldn’t soon forget. We also know that this probably raised expectations for future events. While the BCAOA inherited a healthy bank balance from the BCAPA, this cost/loss ratio isn’t sustainable going forward. We hope to find a middle road whereby we can meet your expectations while being financially prudent with the members’ money. One way we can do this is to increase our membership numbers. The cost for the meals comes directly off your registration – this year the meals and coffee/tea came to $98.85 per person. Added to that is the cost per person of printing the handouts; folders; certificates, etc. We’ve been fortunate, thanks to Michelle Beukers, that over the past few years the cost of printing has been significantly reduced, however going forward this will not be the case. Therefore, printing and other proceedings materials will cost approximately $50.00 per person. This brings the hard cost per person to approximately $150.00. If we were able to email the handouts ahead of time this could save money, however we are often prevented from doing this by the copyright requirements of the speaker. Additional costs include the speaker’s fee; and the speaker’s travel and accommodation expenses, and recording costs, if applicable. With the additional costs, the per person cost can only go down if the number of people who register goes up – this is how we hope to be able to keep registration rates affordable. If a speaker’s costs are $7500.00, for 55 people 5
the cost would be $136.36 per person but for 75 people, the cost would only be $100.00 per person (note that this is in addition to the meal costs). And yes, for those not aware of this, bringing in world-class speakers does cost in this range – sometimes a bit higher and sometimes a bit lower but this is a typical average. Ideally the association will make a small profit as a cushion but that is not our mandate as a non-profit association. Suffice to say though – we need to make ends meet. And with that in mind, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our newest members: *
Kelly Holland Azzaro
*
Carol Foy
*
Deanna Papineau
*
Adriane Elliott
I am very excited to work with our new Board this year. We have a nice blend of seasoned Board members and new Board members. While it is important to have the voice of experience and past knowledge of the Board decisions and plans, the Board can become stagnant without new members. This year we have four new members with various areas of expertise which will be help the BCAOA to be successful, i.e. social media, budgeting, assisting with committees and much more. I am also very grateful to the Education Committee members who have stepped forward to help. Not only do many hands make light work but many minds can synergistically create a well-(essential)oiled machine that will benefit our members over the next year and for many years to come. Wishing you all a sunny, safe and enjoyable summer. Warmly,
Colleen BCAOA President
It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside. ~ Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy and Tib 6
ANNOUNCING THE NEW BCAOA BOARD I am pleased to welcome the 2019 – 2020 Board of Directors. President Past President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Registrar Journal Editor CE Coordinator Website Coordinator Social Media Coordinator Director at Large Director at Large Director at Large
Colleen Thompson Pat Antoniak Drena Drenic Kathleen Jaggassar Louise Dawson Leah Ursic Lilliane Graie Betsy DeLucca Andrea Noye Melissa Housser Michelle Beukers Leah Burns Wendie MacQuarrie
2018 - 2020 ongoing 2019 - 2020 2018 - 2020 2018 - 2020 2018 - 2020 2019 – 2020 (reverts to a 2-year term in 2020) 2019 – 2020 (reverts to a 2-year term in 2020) 2019 - 2020 2019 - 2020 2019 - 2020 2019 - 2020 2019 - 2020
I also want to acknowledge the members of the Education Committee. This committee was struck in January of this year and has been working on the BCAOA Challenge Exam, a Code of Ethics for Schools and Teachers, Continuing Education Credits, and Course Recognition Renewal Requirements.
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•
Lynne Edel
•
Norma Smith
•
Kim Gale-Gotowiec
•
Colleen Thompson
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 our CE Events and will have details and registration information on upcoming ones in the next issue. Location: TBD Dates: TBD Contact: Betsy De Lucca cecoord@bcaoa.org Web: TBD 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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Essential Oils and PTSD Aromatherapy can help sufferers
In Part 2 of this article, featured writer Jennine Stromkins continues her discussion of PTSD with four case studies Once called “shell shock”, “war neurosis”, “cardiorespiratory neurosis” and “idiotism” among others, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was believed to be a condition caused by the horrors of the battlefield that solely affected soldiers and other military personnel. However, as our knowledge around mental health has increased, we have become able to recognise its symptoms in patients other than those with direct battlefield experience. We understand now that traumatised animals can experience PTSD and even the close relatives of someone involved in a traumatic event, who did not actually experience the event themselves, can suffer from PTSD over that event. No matter its name, PTSD knows no barriers or limitations in its devastation of those it affects. For those living with PTSD, the symptoms can range from life-limiting to life-destroying: depression; anxiety; nightmares/night terrors/sleep disturbances; panic attacks; irritability; angry outbursts; a deep sense of helplessness; difficulty with concentration/memory; difficulties at home/work; flashbacks; feelings of devastation/vulnerability; feeling of numbness; abnormal fear; fear of every-day activities; feeling overwhelmed by simple tasks; aversion to socialising; avoidance of situations that might trigger memories of the trauma; drug/alcohol addiction; chronic pain, hypertension or illness; overwhelming fear of death; compulsiveness; personality changes; self destructive incidents/self-injury; and thoughts of/attempted suicide. 10
Case Study #4
Two other blends for her were:
Jackie was 14 and living in a small community when
Blend # 1 - 10 drops of Rose (Rosa centifolia); 12 drops
she was raped by a family friend who had stage 4
of Lemon (Citrus limon); 10 drops of Benzoin (Styrax
AIDS. Both Jackie and her mother were traumatized
benzoin); and 10 drops of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)
and didn’t want Jackie’s father or male relatives in the
in 120 ml lotion to be applied twice daily across her
house. I received the phone call about 2 hours after
liver area. This tonifies the liver and kidneys,
the trauma occurred and was asked if it was okay for
strengthening them against attack by the virus.
Jackie to have a shower. Since they hadn’t been to the police or seen a doctor yet, the answer was “no”.
Blend #2 - 12 drops of Benzoin; 15 drops of Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis); 4 drops of Bitter Almond
The mother had rose and honeysuckle oils from me to
(Prunus armeniaca L.); 10 drops of Cocoa (Theobroma
wear as a fragrance, so I recommended that they rub
cacao L.); 6 drops of Tonka Bean (Dipteryx odorata Aubl.
the oils on each other’s’ necks. At this point post-
Willd.); 6 drops of Osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans);
trauma, it is essential to reaccustom the victim to
and 2 drops of Peruvian (or High-altitude) Myrtle
another’s touch, as well as touch someone else, in a
(Myrtus communis) in 250 ml lotion. She carried a 15
safe way. The rose would give some power and
ml bottle of it with her for panic attacks or when
reassurance to both mother and daughter; the
someone at school teased her.
honeysuckle would help take the limbic brain out of its dark hiding place.
Jackie discovered the power of the oils on herself and how they could make people change. She also had a
These helped Jackie to be able to deal with the police
bottle of Rose for those times when she “needed to be
and the pelvic exam for DNA samples needed to
as strong as Cleopatra when the Romans were
identify the attacker. Her father drove to my place to
attacking.” (client quote) Now in her mid-twenties,
get some blends. While he was there, I applied some
Jackie is healthy and happy but she keeps using her
rose on him to counter his rage and managed to
blends since they “rescued” her. She has also
persuade him to let the police arrest the suspect. It
discovered how rose diffuses male aggression yet
turned out, the suspect was hiding in the bush near
empowers her. Jackie’s one complaint is that her
their house. He had felt he deserved to have a “cutie”
father won’t use his blends to get past his anger at her
since he was going to die; he did die from AIDS in the
attacker.
holding cell before he could be prosecuted.
Case Study #5 One of the blends for Jackie was Body Fix, comprised
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of 6 drops each of Yarrow (Achillea millefolium),
George is in his early 30's, a veteran of two tours in
Himalayan Cedar (Cedrus deodora), Poplar balsam
Afghanistan. He had been going to psychologists
(Populus balsamifera) and Melissa (Melissa officinalis) in
since returning to Canada with no progress, so he was
30 ml lotion. It was to be applied to the entire pelvic
referred to me. For the first couple of years after
floor to boost her immune system, balance her
returning and before getting treatment, George didn’t
hormones and get her used to the idea that that area
speak to his family – not even to ask for the salt or
of her body was not her enemy, which is a typical
ketchup to be passed to him – and wouldn’t go into
response of rape victims.
larger shopping areas. When asked how he was, he
would answer, “No injuries from the enemy. At least I
Case Study #6
came home alive and uninjured.” (client quote) Carol is in her mid-30s and volunteered as a relief I learned from another client who had also served
worker in Guatemala with some friends for 3 months.
abroad that the atrocities soldiers had witnessed
While there, she and her companions were stalked by
made them afraid to close their eyes at night since
guerillas who would randomly pop out of the bush
their mind would replay the scenes. This made
pointing assault rifles at them then disappear. When
treatment strictly blends to soothe and repair the
she returned, she took a leave of absence from work
emotional brain. The first blend I had George smell
and didn’t want to talk to her family, repeatedly
was one I call Hang In There, comprised of equal parts
saying, “Nothing happened down there.” (client quote)
Benzoin, Rosewood (Aniba parviflora), Rose, Cypress
She doesn’t understand why people won’t just leave
(Cupressus sempervirens) and Cassie (Acacia farnesiana).
her alone. Sleeping and eating are problematic now, where before she had a healthy appetite. She is a
This is not my normal protocol but he was having a
physiotherapist and used to get along with everyone.
panic attack when he arrived. Within seconds, George
Now she only feels comfortable with quiet, fragile,
went from panicking to calm, actually reached for the
older people.
bottle then started crying. Now his parents – who were driving him everywhere since he was unable to
It is recognized by PTSD associations worldwide that
– were panicking. Fortunately, his psychologist had
being stalked in this fashion has the equivalent
an appointment slot available so I sent George back to
psychological and emotional impact of rape only
him with an extra bottle to use in the treatment room.
without the physical trauma. The hormones, adrenals and other body systems that are impacted force the
My recommendations for George were to put 2-3
victim into adrenaline overload, therefore the
drops on his sternum to affect his heart/emotional
standard medical treatment is to place the person on
brain and another drop on the back of his neck. The
high doses of sedatives and antidepressants.
psychologist also put 5 drops in the treatment room and said, “I couldn’t smell it but there was a definite
Since Carol lives on the East coast, hands-on
impact.” I sent another blend over to be used in the
treatment was not an option. Her parents had phoned
treatment room as well that targets the inner child
me for help since she also wasn’t talking to them.
with comfort and reassurance.
According to the psychologist, it would have been easier on her to have actually been raped since then
This blend was comprised of equal parts undiluted
there would have been a single episode that could be
Sweet Orange, Rosewood, Benzoin and Osmanthus,
identified. Our emotional brain is really good at all
since 5 drops were to be dripped onto the carpet
the “what ifs” and guilt trips. I gave her:
before the patient entered the room. Between the two blends, and an open-minded psychologist, George is
Blend #1: 6 drops of Benzoin, 4 drops of Cypress, 1
back to responding in a normal fashion and can even
drop of Patchouli (Pogostemon Cablin), 2 drops of Rose
cope with the crowds in malls. It only took about 10
and 2 drops of Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) in 60
sessions before the scars had healed in the emotional
ml lotion, to be applied 3-4 times daily on face, throat
brain, enabling George to live his life again.
and hands. Cypress calms fears of the unknown; Rose
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empowers the feminine being and takes back the
parents and go to a conference of 5,000 people
power stolen by others; Patchouli “takes the
without any problems. As of now, she is studying
fragmented mind to a peaceful, quiet place” (The
how to help others who have gone through a similar
Blossoming Heart, Robbi Zeck); Benzoin is comforting
experience.
and reassuring; and Honeysuckle hits the emotional brain with sunshine and happiness.
Case Study #7
At the same time, Carol was to use Body Fix on her
Jack is a recently retired fireman in his mid-60s. He
pelvic floor as I had Client #4 do. It was to be applied
has back and shoulder pain but “nothing to complain
to the bladder opening and rectal tissue to ward off
about since I’m still alive and some of my buddies
yeast, fungal and bacterial infections, and irritations
aren’t.” (client quote) His wife sent him for a treatment
as well as balance her hormones. It also appears to
to relax. As part of his job, he had to perform
eliminate ovarian and breast cysts, fibroids and
resuscitation on people even when he couldn’t find a
endometriosis.
pulse and knew they were already dead from smoke inhalation. He never knew when he went into a
It took Carol about 4 weeks to use up Blend #1 by
burning building if he’d come out alive.
which time I had sent another blend to take her another step towards healing. We also had long
Most people would be somewhat traumatized to have
phone calls where I served as a therapist or sounding
to carry a dead body let alone actually perform chest
board.
compressions and mouth-to-mouth on it, but that is one of the duties of our first responders. Fifty-three
Blend #2, also a lotion, contained High-altitude
percent of fire fighters do not actually die in a fire but
Myrtle, Rosewood, Benzoin, Tuberose (Polianthes
rather from stress and overexertion with 48% having
tuberosa), Mimosa (Acacia decurrens), White
heart attacks1.
Champaca (Michelia alba) and White Rose (Rosa alba). This was to be applied to the face, hands and throat.
So, how to make someone like Jack find joy in being alive and be able to interact with his partner, children
A third blend I call Brain Be Calm was to be used as
and grandchildren? Interestingly, he can do a simple
her ‘perfume’, applied between the breasts and on the
massage on orphans in a distant country and feel joy
back of the neck. This blend calms and reassures the
in their recovery due to the lack of emotional
limbic or emotional brain and includes undiluted
interaction on a deeper level.
White Rose, High-altitude Myrtle, Cypress, Benzoin, Honeysuckle, Frangipani (Plumeria obtusa), Amber
The first step in helping a first responder to recover is
(Pinus Succinifera), Bitter Almond and Motia
to create an emotionally reassuring blend with a faint
(Cymbopogon martini var motia). Any time Carol started
“touch of happiness”. My blend for Jack was 60 ml
to feel the need to hide, she was to reapply it.
lotion with 10 drops of Neroli (Citrus aurantium), 10 drops of Benzoin, 15 drops of Sweet Orange and 5
These last two blends lasted her for six months. By
drops of Frangipani. Neroli is calming and energizing
month two, Carol was able to fly home to visit her
to the emotional brain but also good for the liver and 14
kidneys which are deeply affected by the constant
parasympathetic stimulant), Jasmine (a sympathetic
adrenaline overload cause by being in “survival
stimulant) and Lavender (a balanced oil according to
mode” so often.
France), the needle bounced all over the place.
The Neroli also lowers the level of serum cortisol,
The “touch of happiness” I like to add is Frangipani.
which we do need, but only at lower levels when our
It’s very subtle but causes the emotional brain to shift
lives are not in danger. Sweet Orange is a comfort-
into a mellow, laid back mode, like lying in a
giver to kids and adults alike, as well as having
hammock in the tropics. One client called this her
similar actions to both Neroli and Benzoin.
“teddy bear” blend since it made her feel safe and surrounded by love. This was massaged onto Jack at
According to pubmed.com, Benzoin and other
one session when he arrived panicking as his doctor
heavier oils as well as parasympathetic stimulants
had recommended he start taking several different
such as Nutmeg and Linden Blossom will lower the
anti- depressants. He took this home, too, using it up
millivolts generated by the brain in response to excess
over 3-4 weeks. When Jack left my clinic, he went to
pain and/or stress. This will reduce the long-term
see his son and found he could actually receive a hug
impact of pain, stress and anxiety, all of which are
from his son and grandchild.
experienced by first responders. Subsequent treatments usually included Cypress to Normally these millivolts shouldn't register on an
counter fears and Rose to stabilize male hormones.
ohmmeter (an electrician's tool used for checking
The other oils used depended upon what the
power levels in circuits), and the presence of such
presenting problem was: back pain, lack of sleep,
high electro-chemical levels can have a very negative
feeling like he was coming down with a virus, knee
impact on the body. Those with fibromyalgia or in
pain or headaches. Those were complaints that others
acute pain can have problems with their computers
would accept as to why he wasn’t his usual self (my
and other electronic devices as the brain is generating
explanation, not his).
so much power. Ohmmeters are now starting to be used to confirm genuine acute pain as well as
Memories plagued him of the dead he had brought
fibromyalgia in patients.
out of burning buildings but had still had to perform resuscitation techniques on, hoping he could bring
Years ago, I was challenged by a student – who had
them back to life. Normally, a person of 65 would
been an astrophysicist – to see if essential oils would
have happy memories of his grandchildren at the
actually register on my ohmmeter. Her belief was that
forefront of his mind not the inability to save another
an adrenal stimulant or sympathetic oil would
person. Which is why we also recommended him to a
register high millivolts; a parasympathetic oil would
psychologist who specialises in PTSD.
register low millivolts and high potential energy or
15
amps; a balanced oil would be mid-line; and an
Jack is making progress and using a lot of Brain Be
adaptogen would go with whatever the dominant oils
Calm as it makes him feel that he’s actually worth
were. We were able to test and prove exactly that! For
something to his family and others. He was able to
the last experiment, we blended Benzoin (a
take his children and grandchildren to Disneyland
and hug everyone without feeling like they only
regularly, especially since my mother grew her own.
returned the hug because they were obligated to. His
After I became an Aromatherapist, I tried an allergy
therapist also uses essential oils in the room when
blend with Melissa, Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
treating all of his PTSD patients due to their positive
and Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) several
healing power.
times a day to see if I could change my allergy. The answer was “yes”. Those oils are antihistamine as
I would like to finish with two examples of something
well as emotionally reassuring and calming.
to look for when treating clients: food allergies. Ask
According to Dr. Francomme, such oils can
when they started? Was there a trigger? In my case, I
reprogram an abnormal immune response, which is
became severely allergic to strawberries the June I
the allergy.
was 4 years old. My allergy was so bad that one strawberry would make me break out in hives all over
The second example is of a sweet friend who
my body. When I asked my mother about it, she
experienced attempted gang rape when she was just
became rather upset.
sixteen and at home with only her older brother as their parents were out of town. Her brother and his
Mothers always feel guilty if something happens to
friends got high on marijuana as well as drunk. When
their children and my mom felt it was her fault that I
she phoned me at 2 in the morning, I could hear them
had developed the allergy. My youngest brother was
banging on the door that she had barricaded.
3 months old at the time and had severe colic. According to my mom, I wanted to help them both so
She didn’t want me to phone the police since it would
I would take him out of his crib and rock him in a
upset her parents. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get over
chair, singing whatever a 4-year old sings to get him
there until the next morning as I live on the mainland
to stop crying. Did I have the power to make that
and she was on the Island. Up to then, this young
happen? No, of course not.
woman was never sick with absolutely no allergies. Afterwards, she was allergic to wheat, dairy, orange
Nowadays, doctors tell mothers with colicky children
juice and eggs as well as not being able to digest red
to just suffer through it for three months since around
meat well.
6 months of age the digestive system improves for these poor kids and the colic passes. But, quoting a
There are cultures where you are expected to be stoic
psychologist, "For some children, having the sound of
and just move on; the background of the family is
their sibling crying constantly creates an extreme
Eastern European. So for her parents, since the rape
emotional stress that will impact them the rest of their
didn’t happen there was nothing to complain about
lives and will evidence itself by, most often, an allergy
and she should have no problem hugging her brother.
to a food that is predominant at that time. Other
According to the psychologist, this is one of the main
children will not have the same emotional reaction
problems we have to deal with: if the person is raised
and won't suffer as a result. It depends upon each
where emotional or physical injury is to be ignored,
one's emotional brain."
the PTSD worsens. If they are allowed to cry when hurt or talk about it, recovery is much smoother
June is strawberry season so I was exposed to them
without the physiological damage. 16
Unfortunately, in this young woman’s case, she no
Aromatherapy, worked with the BC Cancer Agency and the BC
longer lives where I can treat her but she does have a
Transplant Clinic at Vancouver General, and has published a
sweet and understanding hubby. At my suggestion
number of articles.
she told him about the incident and he does his best to protect her from contact with what her emotional
*Editor’s Note:
brain classifies as “The Terrorist”.
June 27th is recognised as National PTSD Awareness Day in the US and a bill was tabled in January to do the same here in Canada, following in the footsteps of bill C-211. Please support your local Mental Health agencies; call your
1. Firefighter deaths by cause and nature of injury. June 2018. https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Dataresearch-and-tools/Emergency-Responders/Firefighterfatalities-in-the-United-States/Firefighter-deaths-by-causeand-nature-of-injury Jennine Stromkins received her Aromatherapy certifications
local MP and tell them to support the bill; wear a teal ribbon to show your support; volunteer your time or donate where you can. If you or a loved might be suffering from PTSD, you can find information here http://www.ptsdassociation.com/
in the spring of 1994. In June 1994, she established Scents of
https://truepatriotlove.com/
Comfort, offering training and organic essential oils. Jennine has
http://www.ptsdalliance.org/
continued attending courses including those from Dr. Pierre
or seek the assistance of a licensed professional. Don’t wait,
Francomme; several by John Steele; chemistry courses by
it doesn’t get better without help. Please don’t suffer in
Rhiannon and Bob Harris; and on neuromuscular therapy. She has spoken numerous times at the Scientific Conferences of
silence. You are not alone and not forgotten.
Ethics in Distilling Professionalism in the Trade
Photo courtesy geralt - pixabay.com
Guest writer and seasoned distiller Ann Harman discusses the ethical considerations when distilling.
The distillation of plants is becoming a very popular hobby for many while for some it is a new way to add value-added products to their farm income. With the growing number of distillers, I think it might be time to speak of the ethics and responsibilities of becoming a distiller. If you want to distill responsibly, there are four points that I teach my students to pay attention to: know your equipment; know your botanicals; know yourself; and know your products. In this article I’m going to delve a little deeper into what I mean about each of those points.
Know Your Equipment Distillation equipment comes in a variety of materials and quality. “Caveat emptor” is always good advice when purchasing equipment that is going to be used for making therapeutic medicines such as essential oils and hydrosols. Buying the least expensive still is not a good business decision and it is wise to do your homework before you purchase your first one. The more you research before your purchase, the more you will save in the long term. 18
Once you’ve decided on the size, style and type of
ketone umbelliferone, which can cause headaches
still – be it glass, copper, stainless or hybrid –it’s
among other things. Should you distill this plant
time to get to know it. After you’ve received your
thinking you were distilling Laurus nobilis, you
still, it is wise to test to your equipment for the type
would be making a grave mistake for yourself and
of solder and fittings (if applicable) used in
anyone with whom you shared your products.
manufacturing and the quality of the metal or glass. The solder and fittings can be tested at home for the
Another example of a look-alike is Anthemis cotula.
presence of lead with an inexpensive lead testing
To the average person it looks very similar to
product.
Matricaria chamomilla however the essential oil of Anthemis cotula contains the lactone anthecotulide, a
I use a product called “Lead Checker” made by 3M,
potent allergen. If you did not do your due diligence
an easy test you can perform at home. If the
you could cause harm to yourself or unsuspecting
directions are followed it will tell you whether the
customers.
presence of lead is above a certain threshold, usually 0.2%. If either the solder or fittings test positive, then it is wise to do further analysis. Be aware there is no such thing as 0% lead when it comes to copper and solder. In the United States, “lead free” solder means that the percent of lead is below 0.2% (US EPA 2015)1. This is considered safe for soldering drinking water pipes.
Know your Botanicals As a distiller you are responsible for everything that goes into your still. This seems simple enough but it is such an important consideration
Figure 1
Figure 2
that many folks overlook. It is not enough to “think” you know what plant you have. This is one of the
I urge my students to learn all they can about the
reasons a distiller must know the correct Latin
plant they want to distill BEFORE they distill it. As a
binomial of every plant they distill, since common
distiller, you should research the plant to know
names can be very confusing.
whether there are any toxicity concerns of which you need to be aware. Is harvesting the plant
I often use “Laurel” as an example. In California,
sustainable? Or is it threatened in any way?
Bay (Umbellularia californica) grows wild. It is often harvested and substituted for Mediterranean Bay
If you are growing what you distill, are you growing
(Laurus nobilis) for cooking. These two trees are not
without pesticides and herbicides? Contrary to
the same plant, nor are they from the same botanical
popular belief, these volatile organic components
family. The California Bay essential oil contains the
can and do come across in a distillation.
19
If you decide you want to wildcraft plants, it is
notes on their aromas and if their color changes.
imperative that you learn basic botany so you do not mistakenly harvest poison Hemlock (Conium
There are several excellent distillation forums on
maculatum) because it looks a lot like Queen Anne’s
social media that can be very helpful to the novice
Lace (Daucus carota)!
distiller; there are hundreds, if not thousands, of collective years of experience willing and able to
Let me repeat, as a distiller you and only you are
share with you. As a distiller know your strengths
responsible for everything that goes in your still.
and limitations. There are as many ways to distill as
You need to positively identify and educate yourself
there are distillers. Find your way and enjoy the
about every plant you distill.
journey.
Know Yourself Distillation of plants for essential oils and hydrosols can be a profound journey. After nearly 30 years of distilling, I am still learning so much it never ceases to amaze me. I encourage my students to distill often, experimenting with different techniques. Keep excellent notes so that you will know how different harvest times and distillation parameters can influence your hydrosols and essential oils. I remember very clearly, after a whopping six or so distillations, being sure that I had this “distillation stuff figured out, it’s a piece of cake”! Any of you
Know Your Products
that know what the Dunning Kruger2 (DK) effect is, will recognize where I was on the DK scale at that
I think it imperative that as a distiller you get to
time nearly thirty years ago. The DK effect can be
know your products; this takes time. The more you
described as having a false sense of knowledge of a
distill, the more you will know about each plant you
subject before you have gained experience.
work with, and each essential oil and hydrosol you produce.
I see a lot of new distillers that have the same “epiphany” very early on in their distillation
In the beginning of my distilling days, I practiced
journey. It takes time to learn the art of distillation;
with many plants and many techniques. I used my
after decades of distilling, I feel I am just now
hydrosols with my family and friends. I gave away
beginning to rise from the bottom of the scale. By all
gallons of hydrosols as gifts and to get feedback
means enjoy your homemade products: use them,
from different people. I did not start selling
share them with friends and family. Experience
hydrosols for five years. That might be a bit extreme
them fresh and over time as they age. Keep great
but I would certainly urge any new distiller to 20
refrain from selling products for at least two years.
six months then again at one year. This gave me an
Hydrosols by nature are perishable products. Good
idea if my protocols were working. It is not possible
manufacturing protocols are vital to producing a
to tell if a hydrosol is contaminated by sight or smell
contaminate-free product. It will take you time and
alone. If you do see a fungal bloom, the hydrosol is
experience to know if your protocols are effective. It
no longer safe for using therapeutically.
is not ethical to sell your products before you have gained experience in both distillation and bottling.
For the past several years, I have been researching heavy metals in the distillate waters. I consider it
What do I mean about manufacturing protocols? I
prudent to test your hydrosol for the presence of
begin with distilling in a clean environment. This
heavy metals, whether you distill in glass, stainless
means sterilizing my distillation equipment with
or copper. An acidic environment and the presence
either 70% alcohol or steam, including the inside of
of heat, both of which we have during a distillation,
the condensing coils and the collection vessels, and
can cause the leaching of metals from the distillation
keeping the airborne microbes to a minimum by
equipment into the distillate water.
limiting your hydrosols exposure to airborne spores. When distilling for profit, I use a sterilized cloth to
Most environmental laboratories familiar with
cover the outlet of the condenser.
testing to drinking water standards will be able to perform the analysis for a relatively inexpensive amount. In the United States, the acceptable Maximum Contaminant levels (MCL) of inorganics are set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)3, so we use the EPA 200.8 standard for drinking water method. It is very important to use the correct method or you might receive a false negative, giving one an incorrect sense of security. For example, the EPA 200.8 method had a reporting limit of 0.002 mg/l
AHarman
which is below the 0.015 action level for lead in
When filtering, mixing and rebottling, I sterilize the
drinking water. I do not recommend using at-home
bottles, lids and all equipment with which the
tests advertised for testing drinking water. I once
hydrosol can potentially come in contact. Once I
purchased a box of strips to try at home: the
have bottled a batch of hydrosols, I keep a minimum
reporting limits were far higher than the MCL – in
of 120 ml for future testing.
the case of lead it was 3000 times higher – so the strips gave a false negative every time!
In the years before I started selling my distillation products, I had my hydrosol batches tested on a
In conclusion, practice responsible distillation. The
regular basis. The most frequent type of testing I did
distillation journey is full of transformation; the
was microbiological. I started testing each batch at
transformation of plants into ethereal oils and
21
distillate water. The journey might also transform the distiller. You will gain a greater respect for the plants, water and labor that goes into each bottle of
Updated March 13, 2019. https://www.verywellmind.com/anoverview-of-the-dunning-kruger-effect-4160740 (accessed May 21, 2019). Figure 3 - Dunning-Kruger Effect Graph
precious essential oil and hydrosol. Practice the art
3. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
of distilling and gain the experience to make a true
Regulations - Healthy Water - Drinking - Public Water Systems.
artisanally crafted product worthy of the plants, water and your time. Enjoy the journey!
Figure 1 & 2 - Courtesy Peter H. Raven Library/Missouri Botanical Garden Lead Photo - By JurateBuiviene from Shutterstock
Last reviewed April 10, 2009. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/regulations. html (accessed October 10, 2018)
Ann Harman is an organic farmer, herbalist and distiller. She has been making herbal products for decades and distilling hydrosols for nearly 30 years. Ann is the author of Harvest to
References:
Hydrosol, a how-to book about distilling for hydrosols. She is
1. US EPA, OW. 2015. “Use of Lead Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder and Flux for Drinking Water.” Overviews and Factsheets. US EPA. Updated July 11, 2017. https://www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations/use-lead-freepipes-fittings-fixtures-solder-and-flux-drinking-water (accessed August 3, 2015)
currently involved in research of the hydrosols; chemistry, microbiology, adulteration, heavy metals and comparison experiments through Circle H Institute. She loves sharing her knowledge of the world of distillation and hydrosols. She is an international speaker who lectures on her continual research on hydrosols and the Art of Distillation. Ann hosts intensive, hands on workshops featuring international teachers in Washington
2. Cherry, Kendra. 2019 and n.d. “Dunning-Kruger Effect: Why
State, USA. She regularly contributes articles about distillation
Incompetent People Think They Are Superior.” Verywell Mind.
and hydrosols to industry journals.
.
Edu
cati
on O
Too Busy to Attend a CE Event?
n Th e Go
Well, we’ve got you covered.
!
We now offer recorded events for purchase at our online store https://bcaoa.org/store/videos-andaudio/
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 23
Coming Soon! 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 don’t have any more print copies of our Winter issue, and only a few of our Spring issue are left, but both 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 or online at Issuu. 24
Promoting Your Business Starting off right By Marieka Zimmerman RMT, HP
Owning your own business is a goal for many
modalities? Expand your practice by offering a wider
people but with it comes some trepidation and doubt;
range of treatment options: Swedish Relaxation
“Will I be busy?”, “Can I make enough money to
Massage, Aromatherapy Massage, Custom-made
support myself?”, “Will my business become
Blends, and so on. Perhaps take a course in another
successful?”
holistic modality such as Reiki, Reflexology, etc. This will allow a broader range of individuals to seek you
These are just a few of the questions and concerns
out, as each person has different needs and/or
that can haunt those hoping to become new business
treatment expectations.
owners. We mustn’t forget however, the benefits of being self-employed: a flexible schedule, the freedom
A website might seem like a daunting or even an
to design your business to fit your desires and vision,
expensive endeavor to some but, in my personal
and just the sheer pride of having your tenacity and gumption see your goals come to fruition! So, here you are now, just starting up a business, or having had one for quite a few years, and feeling like you need a little boost to get a bit further on your way. What can you do to promote yourself and business?
opinion, it is totally worth every penny! I hired someone to create my website (webpage design and website technical components), as tech savvy I am not. Whether you choose to do it yourself, or prefer to hire someone, here is some information that is important to know. According to Alex Conway, a freelance digital project manager based in London, “Search engine
Here are a few suggestions:
optimization (SEO), the process of maximizing the
First, what does your business offer in the way of
number of visitors to a particular website by ensuring
25
that the site appears high on the list of results
from your clients as possible”.
returned by a search engine, is something that should be considered right from the initial build.
This might seem like a lot of detailed information but in order for potential clientele to find you, it is
Consider the keywords that users might use to find
important to have created your website in the best
you, such as, “Aromatherapy massage near me",
way possible. In today’s age of
“Aromatherapy Smithers”,
information literally at your
“Holistic Therapy Canada”,
fingertips, you are just a short
“Registered Aromatherapists
search engine away!
Smithers”, etc. Then ensure you reference those keywords
Facebook is a free way of
EVERYWHERE. Ie: 'alt text' in
increasing your business’
images (the text behind an
visibility. If you keep it an
image), and in your page
‘open page’ with no privacy
previews, etc.
settings, anyone will be able to search your name and find your business
You should choose a website builder that is good for
information. Posting frequently (health related
SEO from the very start (For example: Wix). Make
posts, quotes, photos, etc.), will boost your visibility
sure your domain name (aspiremassage.ca) is
and keep you more present on people’s daily feeds.
relevant and easy to remember/share. If you have a larger budget, you could buy a few different
According to Lifeline.com, “Twitter is easy to use as
domains, such as aspiremassage.com, etc, that all
either broadcaster or receiver. You join with a free
forward to your main webpage.
account and Twitter name. Then you send broadcasts (tweets) daily, hourly, or as frequently as
Signup and register your site with the following
you like. Go to the ‘What's Happening’ box, type
forums, in order to increase the viability of your
280 or fewer characters, and click Tweet. People
website.
who follow you, and potentially others who don't, will see your tweet.
Google Analytics See how users use your site and make adjustments
Thousands of people advertise their recruiting
accordingly
services, consulting businesses, and retail stores by using Twitter, and it works. The modern internet-
Google Search Console
savvy user has grown tired of television
See how users Search for your site and make
advertisements. People prefer advertising that is
adjustments accordingly
fast, less intrusive, and can be turned on or off at will. Twitter is exactly that. When you learn how the
Google Business & Places
nuances of tweeting work, you can get good
Build up your public profile, provide opening hour
advertising results by using Twitter”. Encourage
information, and ask for as many google reviews
people you know to follow you and receive your
26
Aroma Wisdom The Canadian Aromatherapy Journal is now available in printed format as single, multiple, or subscription orders
This fabulous journal can now be used as a value-added product for your business as a single issue or gift subscription such as: Giving a gift subscription to clients, family and friends($38 incl s/h!) Including it with your teaching modules for your students Adding it to aromatherapy gift baskets Using it as a bonus with treatment for clients Reselling it for the cover price to add to your sales
Non-Member Prices $10.00 each $9.50 each $9.00 each $8.50 each $8.00 each
Member-only Prices - 1-25 - 25-49 - 50-74 - 75-100 - 100+ -
$7.50 $7.00 $6.50 $6.00 $5.50
each each each each each
*Email the Editor with order amount & address to get a shipping cost.
Please complete the order form below then scan and email it to editor@bcaoa.org, or mail it to the address below with payment. You can also go online to place your order through Paypal or etransfer at https://bcaoa.org/store/ at se y, a . rch Cit Aroma Wisdom Journal Order Form pu tral worm r fo Cen ook le b B s a Name: ____________________________________________ ail ok ive av d Bo reat w n C No k Bo The Address: __________________________________________ c Bla and P Phone: ____________________ Email: _________________________ TA
BCAOA Number: ______ Number of Journal(s) _____ OR
Payment total: ________ Cheque ___
1-Year Subscription ______ Subscriptions start with the latest issue at time order is received by the editor. In Canada, $38 incl s/h. For International subscriptions, contact the editor.
Shipping & handling for Canadian orders only 1 journal $4.50 For more than 1 journal or International shipping, contact the
27
Money Order ___
Make cheques payable to the BCAOA and mail to: BCAOA Treasurer Attn: L. Dawson 31 Bell Crescent, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 4T4
editor with the number of journals you wish to order and your full address.
tweets in their Twitter feeds. Let your friends know
Aromatherapy Workshop).
you are on Twitter to slowly build up a following.
Some communities put on a ‘brown bag lunch talk’ where one day per month over the lunch hour, they
If you are opening up a new business, consider
have different speakers/presenters discuss various
hosting an Open house as a ‘meet & greet’
topics.
opportunity. You can invite neighbours, other health
You could talk about the benefits of aromatherapy
practitioners, and maybe post an invite in your local paper (and on your facebook page!). An open house is also a great forum for showcasing any of your own aromatherapy products to sell. If you do make blends for purchase, how can you present them more professionally? Custom labels might help give it that more professional look, instead of handwritten, plus having your business name on the label will also help with a promotional boost!
which helps educate the public, but also promotes the unique modality you provide.
Another place to sell products can be at your local
If your town does not have an event like this,
farmers market. You can help curb costs by sharing
perhaps you can be the instigator in creating one. Or
a booth with another practitioner offering a
create an alternative health group in your
different modality. Do you have an aromatherapy
community. This could be with the intention of
salve that is for a particular niche, e.g. babies? Then
educating the public, boosting your personal
book a talk at your local pregnancy outreach
business, or with the focus of just learning what
program about your natural products for babies.
each practitioner offers, and opening up a referral system. A visible way of promotion is to have a design company come up with a professional logo for your business and have it placed on your vehicle. Make sure that your business name and phone number are easy to read for the passerby. It is a great way to be visible in your community and hopefully the person parked next to you at the grocery store, or behind you in traffic, will be drawn to your logo
Or you can host a group of women for an evening to
and seek you out!
talk about your products, and maybe even put on a workshop where they can also create a simple blend
Whether renting an office space or creating a clinic
(see Spring edition article How to Organize an
in your own home, keep your space clean, 28
welcoming, and professional. Though clientele
recommendations and treatment suggestions if you
come to us for the unique modalities we offer, they
showcase your knowledge in a respectful, positive
will also recognize how they feel in your space as
and objective way, always putting their health and
part of their therapeutic impression. It will be a big
wellbeing first.
reason whether they become a return client or not. Good luck with your business goals and aspirations! Do you need to de-clutter, put up a fresh coat of paint, or buy some newer furniture? The more comfortable people are in your space, the more
Photo credits - Pixabay
comfortable they will be with you, and the more
Marieka Zimmerman is a Registered Massage Therapist,
they will be able to have a beneficial treatment
Holistic Health Practitioner, and Registered Aromatherapist.
experience.
She is the owner and operator of Aspire Massage & Holistic Therapies, in Smithers, BC, and has been in practice for 15
Overall, no matter how you decide to put yourself
wellness of her patients through the use of her diverse
and your business out in your community, just
treatment modalities, as well as patient education, awareness
remember YOU are the biggest promoter out there!
and prevention. Her knowledge and love of learning has
Be confident and assured in your training and
provided Marieka with a dynamic background of techniques,
capabilities. People will respond to your
29
years. Marieka is passionate about supporting the health and
which enable each patient to receive a treatment plan designed specifically for his or her needs.
Aromatherapy Student: Ana Sullivan Goals Pain Management Through Antinociceptive Properties of Essential Oils West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy Student Ana Sullivan discusses the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of her blend for longterm management of osteoarthritic and sciatic nerve pain. The following article will explain the efficacy of the essential oil blend “Pain at Bay Op. 29â€? in managing inflammation, and therefore chronic instances of pain, and its ability to keep flare ups of acute pain at bay in soft muscle tissue. I will elaborate on the reasons for choosing the essential oils with antinociceptive and antiinflammatory properties in such a blend. There have been several studies in the search for alternative pain relief without the side effects that conventional drugs carry, and many of these studies have focused their attention on monoterpenes and their derivatives. These studies have placed particular interest in using the peripheral mechanism approach to treat pain by blocking nociceptive impulses. This is known as the antinociceptive effect; there are several studies indicating how many of the chemical constituents in essential oils have antinociceptive effects. When using the antinociceptive approach with essential oils, it is important to keep in mind the production of a few enzymes that can cause inflammation, such as COX enzymes, and the production of prostaglandin which in turn causes chronic and acute pain. My personal approach of combining essential oils known for their anti-inflammatory benefits with essential oils that have antinociceptive chemical constituents is based on the premise that these constituents have shown significant potential in blocking the function of such enzymes and has seemed to work the best in a few individuals. These are some of the main chemical constituents considered when making this blend: •
l-linalool (Monoterpenol) It is thought to produce antinociception action against glutamate-induced pain in mice. It has shown analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic activity. 30
•
Linalyl acetate (Ester) Although its anti-inflammatory activity has not been shown to be as strong as llinalool, it does show antinociceptive activity.
•
B-myrcene (Monoterpene) It has antinociceptive properties as well as anti-inflammatory actions and is not skin-sensitizing.
•
para-cymene (Monoterpene) It contains analgesic action and also great antinociceptive potential in cases of neurogenic and anti-inflammatory action.
•
Limonene (Monoterpene)The d-limonene form of this constituent is commonly found in high amounts in most citrus oils. This form has shown significant antinociceptive action and valuable penetrating molecules.
•
a-Terpineol (Monoterpeneol) This component has demonstrated significant analgesic activity.
•
Sabinene (Monoterpene) It has shown strong anti-inflammatory activity.
•
Terpinen-4-ol (Monotepeneol) It has shown to be able to inhibit the production of anti-inflammatory mediators.
The “Pain at Bay Op. 29” aromatic blend was created with the intention of managing chronic pain in a 68-yearold female with osteoarthritis and sciatic nerve pain. The client was looking for an alternative to manage chronic pain in between painkiller doses. The intention was to bridge the gap between one dose of Tramadol and the next. She takes Tramadol every morning and the effect wears off after 6-8 hours. As soon as the effect starts wearing out, the client applies the diluted blend of 3% over the upper part of her right leg and gluteus area. This application in the late afternoon warms up the area and significantly reduces inflammation and pain allowing her to function for the rest of the day and sleep overnight thereby bridging the gap between doses, as she does not want to take more than one dose of her prescribed medication. The ointment has been dispensed as a salve (also 3%) in a deodorant container to facilitate the application of the blend and help to avoid spillage when the client is outside her house and needs to carry it in her purse. The following essential oils were chosen keeping in mind their chemical components which can aid with these conditions. This will allow the blend to be used often in addition to, and/or alternating with, other pain relief blends, if necessary. Below is a breakdown in percentages of a stock blend that contains many of the chemical components already described above: •
Plai (Zingiber cassumunar) 35%
•
Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea) 25%
•
Marjoram, sweet (Origanum majorana) 25%
•
St. John Wort (Hypericum perforatum) 10%
•
Lemon, yellow (Citrus limon) 5%
Plai - among its many other properties Plai is considered an analgesic and an anti-inflammatory because it contains several anti-inflammatory constituents including Terpinen-4-ol, Sabinene and Trans-1 (3,4dimethoxyphenyl) butadiene, abbreviated to DMPBD.
31
Clary Sage - contains linalyl acetate (60-75%), l-linalool (10– 16%), germacrene D (2%), and β-caryophyllene (1-2%). Due to those components, it is considered an analgesic, antinociceptive and antiinflammatory among other therapeutic properties. When an oil contains high amounts of lynalyl acetate, the antinociceptive activity is assumed to be larger and therefore greater in synergy with other constituents even if no analgesic properties are demonstrated. Marjoram, sweet - has a place in this blend because of its ability to be analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic. It is used for muscle relaxation with great success. It contains terpinen-4-ol (15– 32%), transsabinene hydrate, and linalyl acetate (up to 10%) with others including α-terpineol, γ-terpinene, sabinene, llinalool, and para-cymene. It varies depending on the source of the oils. St. John Wort - contains monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and alkanes. This plant offers a well known extract and oil maceration with outstanding anti-inflammatory properties. The essential oil also contains chemical constituents that make it helpful to treat nerve pain and inflammation. Some of its components are 2-methyl octane (37%), a-pinene (31%), B-pinene (10%), Sabinene (2%) among others. Lemon - contains d-limonene (up to 76%), β-pinene (15%), γ-terpinene (12-13%), and α-terpineol (8%), with geranial, α-pinene, para-cymene, sabinene, β-myrcene, and others; traces of non-volatile phototoxic constituents such as oxypeucedanin, bergamottin and bergapten. When used with other essential oils, it can show significant antinociceptive action in addition to the skin penetrating qualities of d-limonene due to its molecule size. This adds to the synergy by aiding in the penetration of other compounds in the blend. The purpose of this blend was to help manage inflammation and keep pain at bay as much as possible on a more long-term basis. Therefore, the selection of oils for this blend with notable and significant antiinflammatory and antinociceptive properties was a priority, allowing it to be used often at a lower dilution and pose less risk of sensitization while using it or combining it with other blends. Used in two formats, a 3% dilution in carrier oil and 3% in a salve with the same carrier oil, I am very pleased that this blend has significantly improved the client’s joint inflammation. Frankincense resin (Boswellia serrata), arnica and resina calendula herbs were macerated in the carrier oil. References Rhind, Jennifer Peace. Aromatherapeutic Blending: Essential Oils in Synergy. (2016) Singing Dragon, imprint of Jessica Kingsley Pubs. Bowles, E.Joy. The Chemistry of Aromatherapeutic Oils. 3rd Edition. (2003) Allen & Unwin Tisserand R, Young R. Essential Oil Safety. 2nd Edition (2014) Churchill Livingstone-Elsevier Herbal Medicine Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd Edition. (2011) Benzie I F.F., Wachter-Galol S, editors CRC Press. Component Database from the Aromahead Institute. (2018) Black & Butje. https://components.aromahead.com
Ana Sullivan has hundreds of hours of formal education and more than 7 years of training in aromatic studies, 12 years as an educator and 15 years as a visual artist. She has studied under several renowned aromatherapists and professionals in the field including the West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy (Aromatherapy 101); the Tisserand Institute; Dr. E. Joy Bowles; Mark Webb; the Aromahead Institute; the School for Aromatic Studies; Shaktili Aromaterapia; Robin Schiller-Kessler CA; Dr. Tim Miller; the Franklin Institute of Wellness (Dr. Jessie Hawkins); and the New York Institute of Aromatic Studies. Ana can be reached at 1-(201) 566-6175 (USA) or by email at correo@naturalmenteesenciales.com. Her website is www.NaturalmenteEsenciales.com
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The 2019 BCAOA Essential Oil Safety Brochure: Precautions & Contraindications is now available for order in printed format These beautiful booklets can now be used in many ways as a value-added product for your business such as: Including it with your teaching modules for your students Adding it to aromatherapy gift baskets Using it as a bonus with treatment for clients Reselling it for the cover price to add to your sales Non-Member Prices $10.00 each $9.50 each $9.00 each $8.50 each $8.00 each
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Spring Event Review
Aromachemistry and AromaPharmacokinetics with Dr. Tim This past April, the weekend of the 13th and 14th to
knowledgeable and informative on the subject matter,
be exact, our members gathered in Nanaimo at the
ready to answer any and every question thrown at
Vancouver Island Conference Centre for an expansive
him, and doing so with passion and patience. He was
and informative weekend with Dr. Timothy Miller to
communicative, enthusiastic and so very engaging.
refresh our AromaChemistry knowledge and learn
Teaching is clearly his forte and I am grateful to have
about AromaPharmacokinetics.
been able to witness such a friendly and courteous instructor in their element.
On top of being a Registered Aromatherapist, Dr. Tim is also a Licensed Acupuncturist and Naturopathic
Vancouver Island Conference Centre
physician. He is a graduate of the National College of Natural Medicine in Oregon, and earned his
The venue was spacious with plenty of elbow room at
Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Science from Daemen
the tables for all who attended. There was even a
College, where he also minored in Biology and
dedicated sound technician to operate speakers and
Chemistry.
microphones so everything was clearly audible, with no snags or technical malfunctions during the
Personally, I found Dr. Tim to be highly
weekend.
34
The staff were super friendly and helpful; even when
Day One
my colleague and I first arrived, a security officer actually chose to escort us to the conference room just
So, onto the main event!
so we could have a chat about what our event was all about.
Our first day was spent on AromaChemistry, refreshing our existing chemistry knowledge and
Everything was within a short walking distance from
diving into it a little deeper. To cover everything we
the conference centre and both arranged hotels so we
went over and learned would turn this review into a
were able to sleep in a bit longer, take short walks to
novel, so I will try to be concise.
nearby stores on our coffee breaks, and have a nice meal without traveling far after a long day of
Starting off the day, our main focus was on
learning.
identifying chemical families, functional groups, and the differences between them. One of my favourite
My favourite cafe we discovered was a small French
examples given in regards to functional groups was
bakery/cafe called ‘Mon Petit Choux’ (a French term
about blue-coloured essential oils and chamazulene;
of endearment that literally translates to ‘my little
specifically how chamazulene does not naturally
cabbage’). As a French Canadian myself, it was a
occur in the plant itself. What does occur in the plant
wonderful treat to start my day speaking my first
is another sesquiterpenoid, matricin. During steam
language and indulging in some vegan treats.
distillation, matricin is converted into chamazulene! Maybe that’s common knowledge to
The food served at the event was
others but it was completely new to
another treat in itself. I happen to
me and I just think it’s so neat.
have several food allergies, the biggest issues being meat and dairy,
We also learned how to identify and
so it’s always a relief to know I don’t
compare the differences between
have to stress over what I’ll be
isoprene units and benzene rings;
eating.
between terpenes and terpenoids; and between alpha and beta — as found in
Traveling can be difficult for this
α- and β-stemmed constituents. Alpha
reason, but this weekend I was
and beta, we learned, are also known
given a plethora of options that were
as isomers.
both unique and delicious yet catered to my dietary needs. There
Dr. Tim defined isomerism as “two or
was even vegan lasagna! I can’t remember the last
more compounds with the same formula but a
time I had lasagna because it’s so rarely made without
different arrangement of atoms in the molecule and
dairy.
different properties”, and occurs frequently in essential oils as either structural isomers or
35
All in all, I think it’s safe to say we were all well-fed
stereoisomers. We see this in the names of chemical
and satiated.
constituents that start in +/-, l/d, cis/trans, etc. This
was one of the topics we spent a significant amount of
irritants and I was fascinated to learn why. It comes
time on and, at least for me, was a major step towards
down to conjugation, which means a molecule has
deepening my chemistry knowledge.
alternating double and single bonds, as seen in the benzene ring. A conjugated aldehyde, like citral, is
In the afternoon, the focus changed to the differences
highly reactive whereas a non-conjugated aldehyde,
between CO2 extracts and essential oils, and why
like citronellal, is not.
their chemical makeups can be so varied despite having come from the same plant. Because CO2 acts
Knowing this now, it seems so logical, but prior to
as both a liquid and a gas, it is a highly effective
this lecture I could not have told you why some
solvent for organic material. This allows for heavier
aldehydes are of greater risk, while others are not.
molecules to transfer over as they are not required to
Likewise, prior to day 1 of our lecture I could have
be volatilized out of the plant as happens in steam
given you examples of antibacterial and anti-
distillation. The result is a more dynamic array of
oxidizing essential oils, or told you that
components in the extract that creates a scent and
monoterpenes are great quenchers of potential skin
flavour profile more closely resembling that of the
irritants, but learning about isometrics and chirality
whole plant.
has given me a deeper understanding of the building blocks of essential oils so that I might better identify
One of the chemistry comparisons Dr. Tim used was
the best oil for myself or my clients.
that of ginger with the CO2 extract containing 14.78% zingerone, a heavier constituent that is not even
Of all the topics covered on our first day, the one I
present in the steam distilled essential oil due to its
was most grateful for Dr. Tim discussing — and let’s
weight. Zingerone is a potent anti-emetic and anti-
be honest, there are MANY other valid subjects
diarrheic which means the CO2 extract might be a
within the realm of chemistry that he could have
superior choice over the essential oil for nausea and
focused on — was that of wintergreen; its relationship
digestive ailments.
with aspirin; toxicity; pro-drug effect; and excretion.
We then moved on to skin sensitization. Specifically,
When I first took my aromatherapy training, we were
we looked at why certain essential oils have a greater
taught that wintergreen was an oil rarely used in
likelihood of causing sensitization than others and
aromatherapy due to the toxic effect it has on the
how exactly this occurs. While I knew that certain
body. At last year’s CE event however, Peter Holmes
essential oils contained constituents that were more
mentioned that wintergreen was actually quite safe
easily oxidized, I never knew — but Dr. Tim brought
when used topically and that it was largely the
to light — that oxidization can occur even while the
internal use that had prompted all the
essential oil is passing through the skin!
contraindications we have seen attached to wintergreen in the past. I’d remained reluctant to use
As you might have guessed, while discussing skin
wintergreen in my practice, though; I simply didn’t
sensitization we took a deeper look at the more
understand enough of the chemistry behind it all to
commonly known functional group that can cause
feel confident that I could effectively use this oil
skin reactions: aldehydes. Not all aldehydes are skin
without possibly doing any harm. 36
Dr. Tim explained that the main constituent found in
Because essential oils follow the same pathways as
wintergreen, methyl salicylate, has increased toxicity
allopathic medications, we included them under the
as well as increased biological activity due to it being
umbrella of ‘drugs’ during this lecture, which is
a phenylpropanoid. This makes it ‘pro-drug’,
logical — to me at least — considering that this is
meaning it is inactive until metabolized, at which
exactly how they’re treated in other parts of the world
point the effects of this constituent become active.
where aromatic medicine is practiced.
Aspirin is also pro-drug, and while the primary
First, we looked at absorption and the different routes
component of aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid, both
of administration. The focus here was on the general
wintergreen and aspirin metabolize into salicylic acid
dosing and clinical applications of internal, external,
giving both drugs the exact same toxicity,
olfaction, and inhalation methods. When discussing
precautions, and therapeutic effectiveness. Dr. Tim
dosing, Dr. Tim explained that the bioavailability of a
stated that 1 drop of wintergreen is the equivalent of
drug is affected by the first-pass effect which, simply
81mg of baby aspirin and since they bear the same
put, means that the amount of drug that enters the
intermediate (salisylic acid), this gives us a dosing
bloodstream can be lessened when metabolism occurs
strategy when blending that can ensure a low enough
by the liver before the drug reaches systemic
dilution without risk of overdosing through
circulation.
applications. In general, the first-pass effect is something we want We were meant to learn a bit about gallstones as our
to avoid because then lower doses can be used while
final topic for day one, covering the different types,
still having a strong effect. Fortunately however, as
risk factors, symptoms, and medications. However,
aromatherapists, our main methods of application
we had been thrown slightly off schedule by the
(dermal and inhalation) skip first-pass metabolism,
wonderful influx of engagements and questions
meaning we’re already engaging in highly effective
thrown at Dr. Tim from eager students, and so ran out
routes of administration. Dr. Tim brought to light that
of time. I’m thankful we were given booklets
vaginal pessaries and, to a degree, rectal suppositories
complete with a print out of all the slides for the
are also highly effective methods of skipping the first-
weekend so I can study this more on my own time.
pass effect.
Day Two
Not surprisingly, oral administration does not skip first-pass, which for me was yet another example of
Day 2 brought to us an entirely new set of fun facts
why it’s best to avoid the ingestion of essential oils
and knowledge. The entire day was spent learning
(much to the chagrin of some companies, I’m sure).
about AromaPharmacokinetics and
That being said, everything has a time and a place, so
Pharmacodynamics.
we did spend some time discussing oral use, its advantages and disadvantages, and the differences
37
Pharmacokinetics is defined as the movement of
between enteric-coated and non-enteric coated
drugs through the body, whereas pharmacodynamics
capsules. Enteric-coated capsules are the best option
is defined as the effect that drugs have on the body.
for bypassing the liver.
THE FALL EDITION WILL BE READY BEFORE YOU CAN DO YOUR THE-KIDSARE-BACK-IN-SCHOOL HAPPY DANCE. As the air cools and leaves begin to turn, business starts picking up after those long summer days. Make sure people know your name with an ad in Aroma Wisdom - The Canadian Aromatherapy Journal. Submit your ad by August 15th to ensure your business gets seen around the world, whether you’re buying school supplies or mentally shimmying down a beach at sunset. Be A Part Of The Discussion! We are looking for WRITERS for our Fall & Winter editions. The Featured Writer section is for those who submit 2-4 topic-related pieces for sequential editions. For instance, write 2 pieces for summer-fall; 3 pieces for spring-summer-fall or summer-fall-winter etc. The Guest Writer section is for single-piece submissions but can be a 2-part piece if it is too long for a one edition. Send in your Reviews for classes, workshops, seminars, events, books, webinars and products. In to Research? Strut your stuff in the science of all things aromatic and send us your work! Student Case Studies approved by your teacher are welcome! Writers, submit by August 20th! And you can gain CE credits if you’re a member or get a discount on applying for an initial membership with your submission! For our Author’s Agreement, or our Advertiser’s Agreement if you’re looking to place an ad, just go to https://bcaoa.org/membership/submissions/ or send questions to editor@bcaoa.org 38
While covering vaginal and rectal suppositories, Dr.
already know, is the area of application.
Tim gave us some wonderful guidelines for making and dosing suppositories; even going so deeply into
This was a topic that Dr. Tim addressed, giving us
detail as to give us recipes for multiple sizes and base
several graphs in our notes comparing the corneocyte
ingredients to use.
maturity and transepidermal water loss of various areas of the body.
From there we went on to discuss olfaction and intranasal applications. A fact Dr. Tim mentioned that
Next we moved on to studying the distribution of
I found most interesting was how nasal drug
drugs through the body, looking at correlations
administration is considered by some to be the most
between lipophilicity and drug potency, and how this
feasible alternative to parenteral injections. This is
affects the transportation of essential oils through the
because nasal delivery bypasses both the blood-brain
blood. This is important because essential oils are
barrier and first-pass metabolism, making its way
stored in fatty tissue due to lipophilicity and
directly into systemic circulation, yet remains an easy
understanding this helps us choose the best oil(s) for
administration method with a rapid onset of effect.
our clients based on what their constituents will target, thus making the treatment more effective.
As one might expect, our conversation about olfaction and inhalation led to a brief look at nebulizers. I
We can apply this to any other drug as well, which
found it particularly interesting that the size of the
means we can compare the pathways taken by an
aerosol particles determines the speed at which they
essential oil and any medications or supplements a
are moved through by inhaled air and, therefore, the
client might be taking then, based on our findings, be
depth of penetration into the respiratory tract. We
able to determine if there is the possibility of an
looked at the different types available; their features;
interaction between the two. Dr. Tim even went so far
particle sizes; and drug reaches. As with the
as to give us several links to website databases where
suppositories, Dr. Tim gave us recipes for effective
we can find and compare this information.
nebulizer solutions using a vitamin E base. Grapefruit and St. John’s Wort are two major
39
We then “went back to basics� as Dr. Tim put it, and
examples in the aromatherapy world of components
took a look at skin and dermal application. We
that are contraindicated against specific medications
reviewed factors that affect dermal absorption; the
due to potential interactions. Dr. Tim highlighted
different layers of the skin; routes of administration
both of these, going into detail about exactly which
through the stratum corneum; and the differences
enzymes are affected and why the potential
between water and oil-based carriers.
interactions exist.
In regards to carriers, we compared the differences in
However, in the case of grapefruit, he mentioned that
polarity between oil and water/hydrogels, looking at
the constituent responsible for the interaction was
exactly why essential oils repel from water bases and
only found in the juice and not the essential oil,
how that affects the rate of absorption. Another thing
meaning the risk of drug interaction is extremely
that can affect the rate of absorption, as you might
unlikely.
Finally, we looked at metabolism and excretion. We
come into effect; and what the building blocks of their
learned that metabolism occurs because of the body’s
chemical makeup look like.
natural desire to eliminate substances that have entered it, which the body does through special
This means I can read the mass spectrometry and gas
enzymes found in the liver that eliminate toxins and
chromatography charts of essential oils in a way that
waste. These enzymes can only detoxify the body at a
will help me choose a superior quality oil; and create
specific rate for any given substance. When said
treatment plans for my clients that will be highly
substance is entering the body at a higher rate than
tuned to their needs, highly efficacious, and as risk-
the body can eliminate it, toxification occurs.
free as possible.
The range of drug concentrations in which a drug is
In the words of Dr. Tim, “Understanding
effective without causing side effects is known as the
pharmacokinetics and essential oils enables us, as
therapeutic window and the higher the therapeutic
practitioners, to use the safest and most effective
window, the safer the drug. Using this, we can
applications possible”. All in all, it was a highly
compare the margin of safety between various
informative weekend that left me feeling empowered
substances and choose the one that is safest.
and saturated with new knowledge and refreshed information.
For this reason it is important to know the rate of elimination of essential oils (or other drugs) from the body so the appropriate dosing schedule can be
Melissa Housser first discovered the powerful, healing
decided upon. This rate is known as the half-life of a
properties of essential oils while having her aura read at a festival.
drug which Dr. Tim defines as “the amount of time it
She was given a blend that resonated with her so strongly she felt
takes for the body to eliminate 50% of the drug”.
Conclusion
compelled to learn more about them. Since that time, she has earned a Certificate in Holistic Aromatherapy, created an essential oil-based skin care line, and started teaching workshops about simple and natural home remedies. More than ever she believes that connecting the mind and body is essential in building a
The biggest takeaway for me was understanding the
balanced lifestyle. Outside of Aromatherapy, she enjoys hiking, foraging, singing, guitar, and yoga. She wants to become a well-
relationship between essential oils and other drugs
rounded source of information for others, and hopes to receive
and medications. Having the resources to research the
her horticulture certificate in the near future.
pathways and possible interactions means I can be better informed and therefore choose the best essential oils for my clients. I also feel much more comfortable educating and communicating with others about the chemistry of essential oils because now my comprehension goes much deeper than just what I’d memorized during my aromatherapy training. I feel like I’ve gained a truer understanding of why essential oils can be as effective as allopathic medicine with less of the risks
Thank you to (l to r) Dr. Tim Miller, Director At Large Michelle Beukers and CE Coordinator Betsy De Lucca for another stellar CE Event.
or side effects; how they move through the body and 40
A huge thank you to all our Donors! Amanda Lumley BCAOA Board of Directors Amethyst Creations – Yvonne and Brian Cooper Dael Essence of Thyme College of Holistic Studies — Colleen Thompson Fireweed Essentials Support Centre — Margo Fletcher Flying Colors Natural Perfumes — Anita Kalnay
Dr. Tim Miller accepts a gift from DaL Michelle Beukers and CE Coordinator Betsy De Lucca
Gaia Garden Herbal Dispensary — Angela and Team Green Valley Aromatherapy Ltd. — Barb Greenwood and Team helle rge Mic dinator r at La r o o t o c e C Dir CE rs and Beuke a c c De Lu Betsy
Iris Healing Arts — Heather Michet Jennifer Roberts Florist — Jennifer Roberts Lora Cantele Natura Trading — Nigel Strike Norma Smith Rae Dunphy Aromatics – Debbie and Team Relaxus Products Ltd. – Jay and Team Soulful Sister Aromatherapy – Joanne Arnold and Team Voyageur Soap and Candle Ltd. - Tammy and Team West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy — Beverley Hawkins Wild Woman Medicine Show – Barb 41
Dr. T
im a
nd B
etsy
Congratulations to our CE Event prizewinners! Beate G. Twila L. Lisa P.
e A. Joann
Donna W.
Yuliya M.
Beverley H.
Christine G.
Michelle B.
Anita K.
Heather G.
Tammy P.
Beverly C.
42
e Lynn
E.
Birgit S.
Pat A.
Betsy
DL.
Tracey L.
Jan S
.C.
Taneal C.
Visinia S.
Anna
B.
Louise D.
Anne DL.P.
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Heather M., Leesa P., Anita K., Leslie A., Lisa P.
In Memoriam
HOOITES MEURSING, Marie-Louise July 16, 1949 - March 23, 2019
July 16, 1949 - March 23, 2019 Marie-Louise Hooites Meursing passed away peacefully on March 23, 2019 at Vancouver Hospice Society in Vancouver, BC, after braving a journey with kidney disease. Marie- Louise was born July 16, 1949 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Her loving children will miss her deeply: Laura (Scott), Danica (Nick) and Jeffrey (Tessa), along with five grandchildren. Marie-Louise is also survived by the children's father, William Hooites Meursing (Jeanette) and she will be missed by many friends and relatives both in Canada and abroad. Known for her compassionate, caring and calming nature, Marie-Louise touched everyone in her path. She was an active member of Unity Spiritual Centre and thrived in her calling to be of service to others. Upon immigration to Canada in 1972, she began working in the customer service industry, where she had a full career with Richmond Savings Credit Union. Her passion for healing and need to be of greater service to others later created a new avenue for her as an aromatherapist and massage therapist. Marie-Louise loved spending time with her family, lunching with her girlfriends, walking in nature, blending oils, and practising her spiritual philosophies. Her passion for healing and presence in this world touched more lives than she will ever know, and she will forever be loved and remembered for her kind spirit and truth seeking. She was an inspiration to many by facing life head-on with courage and grace. Donations may be made to the Vancouver Hospice Society. From CE Coordinator & Vancouver Chapter contact Betsy De Lucca: Marie-Louise is greatly missed by all who knew her. She was a remarkable woman who, with her smile, tilt of her head and genuine interest in what was being said, made you feel immediately welcome, comfortable and safe. She was so easy to talk with; there was always a twinkle in her eyes and her enthusiasm was infectious. Marie-Lou saw the good in others and was always curious and involved in life, living a passionate and spiritual life herself. Her home reflected her personality; there was a lovely and peaceful flow of energy along with a new aromatic blend she had made for you to experience. There was a calmness about her and she was always attentive to others. Marie-Lou would listen to what you had to say and, after reflection, would voice her thoughts or ask questions to draw out your own insights and answers, or simply hold space if you needed it. Marie-Lou had been a member of the BCAPA and BCAOA for over fifteen years and an active participant in both the Vancouver CE Chapter Meetings and the Continuing Education Events. She was so well-liked, respected and loved; we are blessed and honoured to have known this gracious woman, and are fortunate that her love remains with us forever.
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 witten by Ceryl 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/ 45
Want to Learn more about Aromatherapy?
Our recognized schools and teachers offer professional level courses that give you the solid education to allow you to build a business, or just feel secure knowing you are using essential oils safely. The advantages of attending a recognized course and studying under a recognized teacher might include rapid membership processing; no cost for membership application review; and it ensures students have access to teachers with a specific level of knowledge and practical experience who have agreed to teach to the BCAOA’s core curriculums. To see a list of our recognized schools, courses, and teachers, please go to: http://bcaoa.org/membership/education-membership/recognized-courses-teachers-andschools/ If you would like to apply to have your school or course recognized, please contact us at secretary@bcaoa.org to request an application and the appropriate core curriculum.
