Aroma Wisdom The Canadian Aromatherapy Journal
Winter 2019 The Holiday Edition
education, innovation, growth, support
High-elevation Distillation Part 2 of Marco Valussi’s article on issues and solutions
Skintellectualism is Here -
Colleen Quinn covers formulation considerations in Part 2
Book Review - CO2 Extracts in Aromatherapy, 50+ Extracts for Clinical Applications
Dec-Feb 2020
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! British Columbia Alliance Of Aromatherapy ISSN 2562-2218 $10.00 CND
Aroma Wisdom
The Canadian Aromatherapy Journal
Celebrating our second year in print
BCAOA 3928 Michigan Rd, Port Alberni, BC, V9Y 5Z6
Supporting aromatherapists everywhere The Winter Edition ~ December 2019 Cover Photo by verca from Shutterstock
Created and printed in the Greater Vancouver Area of BC Sustainably printed on Sugar Sheet paper 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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Contents 5 Our Contributors 7 President’s Message with New CEC Guidelines for 2020 11 Spring 2020 CE Event Information 12 Announcements 14 Featured Writer: Essential Oil Distillation in Nepal Part 2 of 2 - Marco Valussi discusses high-altitude distillation and its issues
23 Guest Writer: Skintellectualism Part 2 of 2 - LabAroma Founder Colleen Quinn covers Formulations
28 Get to Know: Pat Antoniak Melissa Housser gives us a mini-interview of our Past President
31 Book Review: “CO2 Extracts in Aromatherapy” Colleen Thompson reviews Madeleine Kerkhof’s book on clinical applications
35 BCAOA Educational Offerings 37 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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Contributors Thank you to all our wonderful contributors for sharing their knowledge, wisdom, experience and creativity with our community through this journal.
Melissa Housser RA®, EOT® – Melissa first discovered the powerful, healing properties of essential oils while having her aura read at a festival. She was given a blend that resonated so strongly with her that she felt compelled to learn more. Since that time, Melissa has earned a Certificate in Holistic Aromatherapy, created a line of holistic aromatherapy products, and started teaching workshops about simple and natural self-care. More than ever Melissa believes that connecting the mind and body is essential in building a balanced lifestyle. Outside of Aromatherapy, she enjoys hiking, foraging, singing, guitar, yoga, and hopes to receive her horticulture certificate in the near future. Colleen Quinn – Colleen is a clinical aromatherapist, formulator & researcher. Committed to delivering functional therapeutic plant-based products, she has traveled the globe on a quest for knowledge innovation and the best quality in order to create therapeutic benefits in skin and health care. Colleen’s innovative concept to merge aromatherapy and technology led her to create LabAroma. LabAroma has turned the very complex and mathematical process of formulating cosmetic and essential oil blends into a rapidly efficient and reliable way to tackle natures chemistry. https://www.labaroma.com/en/ Colleen Thompson RA®, EOT®, CAHP – Colleen has worked in the field of Aromatherapy since 1995. She completed her Provincial Instructor’s Diploma Program in 1997 and now teaches a 600-hour aromatherapy certification program through her school Essence of Thyme College of Holistic Studies. She was an Aromatherapy Instructor at West Coast College of Massage Therapy from 2006-2012 and Spa Program Coordinator at West Coast College of Massage Therapy for 3 years. Colleen has written aromatherapy articles for a number of publications and conducted talks, workshops and seminars for a variety of organizations. She was named one of the five top aromatherapists in BC in 2015 and 2016. Colleen is currently the President of the BCAOA Board of Directors, is a Director of the AIA Board of Directors, and sits on the Education Committee of the AIA. Her Titles include: Certified Reflexologist, Reiki Practitioner, Lymphatic Drainage Massage Instructor, Master Formulator, Diploma in Adult Education. Colleen can be reached at info@essenceofthyme.com Marco Valussi - Marco has been working with medicinal and aromatic plants for 25 years; he teaches, writes and consults about them. He gained his BSc. (Hons.) in Herbal Medicine in London in 1998, and before that studied the use of essential oils in massage therapy. He is currently the production manager and scientific director of Gadoi in the mountain area near Verona. Gadoi offers a local, short production chain for high quality artisan essential oils and aromatic waters that ensures fair treatment of the growers, environmentally sustainable practices, and organic, artisan products. They also offer consultancy on formulations and distillation technology. Marco is also involved in a second project whose aim is improving Nepal's essential oils production chain to create long-term economic support. https://www.gadoi.it/en/
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 Winter 2019
Dear Members, What a whirlwind of activity has been occurring here at the BCAOA! The 3-day CE Event with Peter Holmes sold out very quickly but for those of you not interested in the hands-on part, there is still room for the theory component, which is being held on Friday, April 24th. We also have a 2 – 3 day CE Event planned for the fall of 2020 – stay tuned for details! One very important initiative undertaken by the Board over the past couple of years has been to find ways to be more inclusive of all BCAOA members. Our first step was to change the bylaws to allow for VoIP communication which allowed members to vote by email and attend the AGM remotely. Prior to this change, only those physically at an AGM were entitled to vote. Not everyone lives in the Lower Mainland or Vancouver Island which can make attending the CE Events quite costly. We also recognize that, even if a member lives locally, not everyone can afford to attend the CE Events and not everyone can get weekends off. We are working on ways to bring CE Events to our northern and eastern regions of the province and beyond. This is still in the planning stages and we will need representatives from these regions to assist us with getting this implemented. We have also changed the Continuing Education Credits (CECs) to make it easier for members to accrue the required credits in other ways. We are currently in discussions with members in Alberta and Saskatchewan to create opportunities for more membership in these provinces and how we can best support them. And, speaking of support, this is a two-way street and we need your support in implementing some of these new ideas and/or assisting with the very time-consuming tasks currently being done by very few people. The most critical areas are the quarterly journal and the CE Event planning. If you have experience in either of these areas or would like to learn how to work on a journal or plan an event, please let the secretary know at secretary@bcaoa.org. The BCAOA is the only professional aromatherapy association in North America that doesn’t have a paid administration assistant. We may need to resort to this if we don’t get the help and to fund this, membership fees would need to go up. This will be an agenda item for the 2020 AGM. Here is a comparative analysis of the four professional aromatherapy associations in Canada and the USA:
Our AGM and Board Election will be held on Friday, April 24th, immediately following the first day and theory portion of Peter Holmes workshop. Although it is 5 months away, I would encourage you to consider what role you can play to 7
continue fostering the growth of the BCAOA. We have several key positions that will become vacant in April. If you would like more information, please feel free to contact anyone on the Board for feedback. In closing, I would like to compliment our Board and all of our members for being a part of such a professional, collaborative and inclusive organization. Wishing everyone a very happy holiday season and a happy and healthy 2020!
Warmly,
Image by Myriam Zilles from Pixabay
Colleen BCAOA President
We are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime. ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder
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NEW R O F FOR NEW Continuing Education Credit (CEC) Guidelines 2020 020!! !! 2 24 CECs need to be accumulated by Professional and Associate Members over each two-year cycle and cannot be carried over. A minimum of 16 CECs need to be obtained from activities within the *“Aromatherapy” category, and up to 8 CECs can be obtained from activities within the “Non-aromatherapy” category. CECs are to be provided upon the member’s renewal anniversary.
*Credits will not be given for workshops that predominantly include material a Professional member (PA) or Registered Aromatherapist member (RA) received as part of their formal training. Topics NOT eligible for CECs may include but are not limited to the following: aromatherapy: a review of essential oil Latin names, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, pathologies, conventional blending techniques, essential oil safety, history of aromatherapy, ethics, business and marketing, and overall benefits of essential oils. With each annual membership renewal package, members will be asked to submit a CEC activity form that lists their CEC activities, the number of CECs claimed, and copies of the required paperwork as evidence of their attendance. Each activity/course will be reviewed by the Board to ensure you receive the correct amount of CECs.
CATEGORY: AROMATHERAPY (16 CECs)
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CATEGORY: NON-AROMATHERAPY (8 CECs)
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Announcing the BCAOA’s 2 & ½-day Spring CE Event April 24, 25, 26 2020 on Aroma Acupoint TherapyTM, Level 1! The British Columbia Alliance Of Aromatherapy Welcomes Back Peter Holmes for April 24-26, 2020 at the
Out! d l o Coast Tsawwassen Inn on S i t a en! p r t o s i l g l sti t Re n n 1665 56 St, o e i v t e a Full egistr r y l Delta, BC y-on r o e h T
Phone: (604) 943-8221
Harness the Power of Essential Oils to Boost Your Practice! In this completely updated and expanded workshop you will discover… •
An innovative, gentle hands-on method of treatment that allies the potency of essential oils with acupuncture, bodywork to dramatically enhance your practice — with practicum breakouts to practice and experience this work
•
How to select the oils and match them accurately to specific acupoints
•
How to get transformative results treating the basic energetic imbalances that lead to common conditions such as muscle tension and pain, anxiety, overactive mind, depression, insomnia, fatigue, headaches, etc.
•
How to perform hands-on the clinically valuable Six-Condition Assessment on a new client
•
Learning the specific actions of the top 20 essential oils to correct a client’s energetic imbalances
•
Practicing the detailed protocols for applying the oils selected onto the points
Registration for the full 2 & ½ days is currently Sold Out. You can put your name on a waiting list and if a cancellations occurs, you will be contacted for payment.
Registration for the Theory-only portion on friday is still Open. The BCAOA members-only Annual General Meeting will take place directly after Friday’s class. https://bcaoa.org/bcaoa-events/spring-2020-bcaoa-ce-event/ 11
Contact Betsy at cecoord@bcaoa.org for any questions.
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
y
l The BCAOA is proud to host Peter Holmes for a 2 ½-day workshop this Spring on April 24, 25 & 26, 2020. Peter ut. will bent rre d o cuclothing l teaching his Aroma Acupoint Therapy and this will include a HANDS-ON portion of the class. Wear comfortable o s is is and come prepared to work. Further details and registration information on the following pages. ss n a o l ti y c Location: Coast Tsawwassen Inn 1665 56 Street, Delta, BC V4L 2B2 Ph: 604.943.8221 tra l n s egi ry-o ble. Dates: April 24, 25, 26 2020 r l a eo Contact: Betsy De Lucca cecoord@bcaoa.org Ful ’s Th avail Web: https://bcaoa.org/bcaoa-events/spring-2020-bcaoa-ce-event/ day i r F ly n O
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. Continuing Education Credits: Please refer to the above CE Activity guidelines. Proof of attendance can be sent via hardcopy or email. 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: https://sedonaaromatics.com/botanical-aromatherapy-programs/ 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: https://www.pacificinstituteofaromatherapy.com/ Other links to explore for upcoming events: Alliance of International Aromatherapists - https://www.alliance-aromatherapists.org/ The Canadian Herbalist Association of British Columbia - https://www.chaofbc.ca/
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The challenges of distilling at high elevations In Part 2 of this article, featured writer Marco Valussi continues his discussion on high-altitude distillers and the unique challenges they encounter. You can read Part 1 in our Fall edition. Let’s recap the most general features that differentiate the various set-ups for distillation with a bit of theory. Firstly, we must stress the fact that distillation is only one of the many methods to obtain aromatic fractions from vegetable material. The diagram below shows the general methods used
Diagram 1
Secondly, the term “steam distillation”, that in general means any distillation where water steam is the vector of the process, can be distinguished into three different processes: water distillation (hydrodistillation), water-and-steam distillation (direct, or wet, steam distillation) and steam distillation (indirect steam distillation). You can also have hydro diffusion (strictly not a “true" distillation), and turbo distillation (a variation on the theme of water distillation, whereby
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the water is agitated either by mechanical stirrers or by steam jets). Below is a simplified diagram:
which should be invisible to the naked eye. However, when I produce water vapor by simple boiling at ambient pressure, such as when I cook pasta in an open pot, vapor appears to me as a fog, a visible mist. This effect is due to the fact that water steam contains liquid water in the form of suspended microdroplets, usually at around 4%; that will decrease the greater the distance the steam has to travel from the water level to the vegetable charge. So, at least in theory, the steam of water-and-steam distillation is always “wet”, which means it will deposit water on the plant material.
Diagram 2
Water and steam distillation Let’s start by describing the set-up considered in the example above. It is a direct derivation of the most ancient technique (water distillation), and was developed in ancient times in part to solve some of the problems of water distillation, chiefly that it involves a prolonged, intimate contact of the plant material with water, a fact that facilitates degradation processes, such as hydrolysis, which can reduce/change the quality of the essential oil. In addition, distillation in water limits the amount of plant material that can be used at one time. In fact, one way to reduce these problems is to not immerse the plant in water. Using culinary imagery, water and steam distillation is like steam cooking in that the plant material is suspended, thanks to a net or basket, above the water in the bottom of the still. When the water starts boiling, the steam rises upward and encounters the vegetal material.
15
At this point, as in any distillation, there will be two technically-separatebut-not-really moments before the molecules get vaporized: first, the transfer of energy from the steam to the plant material, and then, the release of volatile compounds from inside the structures that stored them. Once released outside the plant material, these molecules are “caught” by the vapor flow, vaporized and moved, in the form of a mixed steam (essential water and water) flow, to the top of the still. It must be pointed out that in such a mixture the boiling temperature is not an average between the boiling points of all molecules involved, but is always lower than that of the liquid that boils at the lower temperatures. Since essential oils have a much higher boiling point than water, the mixture will start to boil at a temperature below 100° C.
We should stop now and spend some time discussing steam.
From the still body the mixed steam travels through the pipe leading to the condenser, and finally to the Florentine flask (Ff). The Ff separates the EO from the hydrosol, the distillation water that in the distillation process was enriched by those fragrant molecules that are soluble in water. Separation is obtained thanks to the fact that essential oil and water are not miscible and (usually) have different specific densities and therefore stratify.
Technically, with this term we mean water in its gas phase,
The following diagram gives a simple visual layout of the
processes.
This problem is reduced but not eliminated with water and steam distillation, which uses a “wet” steam. In the case of indirect steam distillation, an external vapor source is used, which allows the injection of steam into the vegetal material with different levels of wetness. In this way, I can use a drier steam – that is, with less liquid water – or I could theoretically use a perfectly dry steam (not advisable!). This offers an interesting advantage: changing the humidity of the steam makes the system more ductile and adaptable to various circumstances, and reduces the wetting effect of the steam, thereby reducing the degradation phenomena. It also makes it easier to inject large quantities of steam into the still, reducing distillation time. (See Diagram 4 below)
Diagram 3
This distillation technique is preferred in artisan or smallto-medium industries, and more generally by distillers preferring a higher steam humidity, for instance distilling always naturally-dry material such as lavender. For a distillation to proceed efficiently, a certain amount of liquid water in the charge is necessary but an excess of it will slow down the process, so careful consideration of the water content of the steam and of the plant material, and the external features of the plant material, is of paramount importance.
NB: speeding up distillation is not always a positive or negative factor, it all depends on the context but having the possibility to do that gives the distiller more freedom of action.
Steam distillation The second type of distillation to consider is the one that has been developed most recently, indirect steam distillation. It solves some of the common problems of water and steam, and water distillation, one we have already seen: the intimate and prolonged contact of water in liquid form with the plant material. Diagram 4
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In indirect vapor distillation, I have a still with a grate or a basket that allows me to suspend the plant material about 20 cm from the bottom of the still. Below the grate I have a steam distribution system (a kind of large inverse shower tray; a perforated flute system; or concentric circular hubs), connected by an external hose coming from the steam generator. Steam enters the still, is distributed and comes in contact with the plant material where it performs the work described above. Indirect steam distillation allows greater operational ductility, in the sense that it is easier to intervene both on steam humidity and on the intensity of steam flow. In addition, the use of an external steam generator usually allows a greater industrialization of the process because it is easier to operate a very large set-up.
Hydrodistillation The third type of distillation is the oldest and the simplest, so that with a minimum of preparation it is possible to selfbuild a distiller of this type and make it work in your own kitchen. In fact, it is a matter of immersing the material to be distilled into water, in a still connected with a condensation system.
conveyed by a pipe to the condenser and then to the Ff. As with water and steam distillation, there is here an issue with the amount of water in the still. Obviously, if this amount is fixed and the vaporized water cannot be replenished, the distiller will need to stop distilling before the water level gets below the plant level. But there are methods that can be used to refill the water continuously, one of these is called cohobation. It is used when the essential oil you want to get is particularly expensive and valuable. In this set-up, the overflow pipe from the Ff, the one that automatically draws the hydrosol, is connected to the still so that the hydrosol continues to go back inside the still, avoiding the risk of damaging the plant material but, above all, returning the partially saturated water within the distillation cycle. This partially saturated water will, at each step, increase its saturation until it reaches the critical point beyond which it will no longer be able to solubilize other essential oil, which will then be harvested in the Ff increasing the final yield of the process.
The water is heated either directly by placing the pot on a heat source, or indirectly, for example by using a coil immersed in the water and heated by steam or electricity. In either case, the result is that the water heats up, and by heating it “gives out� energy to the plant material, heating it in turn. This supply of energy contributes to the extraction of essential oil from plant tissues. Once released from their structures, essential oils are found free in the water, forming a biphasic mixture, the vapors released from the mixture are
Diagram 5
Hydrodistillation is now rarely used commercially, due to its high energy costs, long running times and the risks of degradation of the oils. However, it is still very much in use 18
when distilling specific materials: dry plant powders, flower petals, seeds, many small fruits, or resins. These materials, when invested by steam, tend to form compacted lumps, where the steam cannot penetrate or penetrates very little, thus not allowing for good distillation. If they are immersed in water and constantly stirred, they can be extracted much more effectively. While less used in the past, this type of distillation is still one of the preferred methods for small batch distillers, or those particularly interested in aromatic waters. This is because the characteristics that are considered negative in certain contexts, that is the very intimate contact with water and long distillation times, are good for other professionals because optimum distillation parameters to obtain the most essential oil are often negative if the ultimate goal is aromatic water. To put it simply, the “wrong” distillation for essential oils is often correct for aromatic waters, and vice versa. In addition, distillation in water, and water and steam distillation, can keep the vapor temperature a few degrees lower, a favorite feature for some distillers.
Tackling the problems Returning back to the Nepalese still, let’s look at some of the problems that it had and how we might try to solve them. Steam-and-water set-up. Why? This 2500 liter industrial plant does not use a separate steam generator. This unfortunately means that it was not possible to use the exhausted plant material as a fuel after distillation which would allow us to reduce the exploitation of the local forest for the direct heating. Unlike the Gaultheria spp. distillation units located lower down, the reason why the apparatus does not include a separate generator is quite simple: it was too difficult to transport the steam generator tot that location because of the altitude and absence of roads. The transport of the still alone was already very complex, forcing the villagers to partially dismantle the suspension bridges because the boiler was too large and would not pass through the stretched cables of the bridges themselves. Uneven and not well-compacted charges The vegetable material is thrown into the still without pressing it too much to reduce the filling timer. However, this method has certain consequences. The first is that if the 19
charge is not properly pressed in a homogeneous way, the steam will find preferential pathways (so-called rat-holes) around the material instead of through it, leaving nondistilled pockets of material. Secondly, if we don’t pack the material tightly enough, the flow of steam through it will be slower because the diameter of the virtual channels inside the material will be larger, hence the distillation time will be longer. And finally, if we pack the charge properly, we will distill more material in one go.
Wet steam As we have seen, this set up only provides wet steam. While this in itself is not a terrible problem, it does mean that the system is less flexible. If the plant material distilled is very wet, or does not offer an absorptive surface, a wet steam will add too much liquid water and we’ll likely observe a reflux in the still. This reflux will certainly cause a loss of oxygen-containing compounds into the drain water, which are usually quite important for smell and pharmacological activity. Apart from building a separate steam generator, there isn’t much we can do about it. Weak steam flow This problem leads to the same result as the wet steam, which is a problem of reflux, in this case because the flow isn’t strong enough to sustain the continuous upward flow. Here, however, there are things we can do. Increasing the efficiency of the wood fire by using a brick wall around it in order to reduce heat dispersion, would be a simple measure. Insulating the body of the still can also help. Cohobation A second intervention useful for improving productivity and oil quality, as well as making the apparatus more sustainable, would be to equip the unit with a cohobation system. Cohobation is a process of recirculating distilled water that is currently thrown out or used as hot water to wash dishes. The distilled water should be able to be poured automatically into the boiler to feed the distillation water. Recirculation would allow the recovery of partially watersoluble molecules – oxygenated compounds such as phenols – of say 0.2-0.7%, up to a maximum of 1% for oils rich in phenols. This would entail a small quantitative and perhaps qualitative improvement. The qualitative improvement would depend on the type of plant, on the
type of plant matter and above all on the temperature of the water. If it does not exceed 100ยบ Celsius, the hydrolysis and degradation processes of oxygenated compounds, which increase with cohobation, are reduced. Waste water Then there is the question of the use of water eliminated from the boiler at the end of distillation. This water is loaded with many water-soluble compounds derived from the material and is currently thrown away with, in my opinion, a certain impact on the area. If it could be reused in some way, for example as a source of useful compounds for cultivation (allelopathy, repellents for arthropods, etc.). Distillation time The operation time, from the lighting of the fire to the end of the distillation, is about 29 hours. If we remove from this number of hours the time necessary to bring the water to the desired temperature before starting the distillation, about 4-6 hours, we get a distillation time of about 24 hours. Now, even without further calculations, I can say that the distillation time is excessively long. I would very cautiously say that you could cut this time by fifty percent.
completeness, then maybe it's worth the time or increased costs. However, if the commercial value is within a normal range and does not depend much on that final 5%, then it is necessary to end the distillation operation when it makes the most commercial sense. The choice of the exact moment will certainly depend on the characteristics of the oil and on the market, but it is no longer possible not to take this fact into account. Without a doubt, it is not only a problem of simple misuse of resources but also a problem of bio-sustainability. Since it is not possible to use the spent plant material as an energy source, the fire to heat the boiler water is fed by forest resources from the area, which are not infinite and are in a delicate balance. In the future this will perhaps be the most limiting factor.
Let's see why. The processes inside the extracted vegetal charge are not very simple to describe and they depend a great deal on the plant material and conditions. But what we can empirically see is that the quantity of essential oil distilled per unit of time changes over time, and after a period in which the quantity remains relatively high, there is a drop in the slope of the curve until it reaches a quasi-plateau, or a situation where as the distillation time increases there is a minimum and progressively smaller increase of distilled oil. Now, if my aim is the total extraction of all the extractable oil from the aromatic plant, this curve does not interest me very much. But if my aim is to make a distillation plant work in a commercially (and environmentally) sustainable way, the curve is of fundamental importance. If after a time (t) of distillation, and a corresponding use of a quantity (Qt) of resources (let us combine both fuel and man-hours), I reached the quasi-plateau point, for example obtaining 93% of the oil theoretically extractable, does it make sense that I operate for a period of time maybe double or triple (2 or 3t), using 2 or 3Qt, to get maybe an additional 5% of essential oil? If my essential oil is of high commercial value, and if a significant part of its commercial value lies in its
Fig. 10
It is therefore of fundamental importance to rationalize the distillation time, by precisely calculating a distillation curve. Of course, a modification of this kind would have other social and economic consequences. At the moment, the five still operators work from 3 to 5 months of the year, depending on the availability of material. All five operators work together for loading and unloading the unit then they work 2-4 hours per person per distillation cycle. In periods of maintenance and rest, 2 or 3 people can return home in case of need for 2-4 days (in exceptional cases for 1 week). Once a week one of the workers goes down to the nearest village to get some food. Rationalization would reduce staff working hours. A part of this decrease in cycle hours could be accommodated by an increase in cycles. But since the number of extraction cycles depends on the availability of fresh plant material, it 20
cannot increase without limits, both for the objective difficulty of the harvesters to meet such high demands, and for the intrinsic limitation of the collection basin that could not sustain high levels of collection.
germplasm are very long (7-20 years for Juniperus, 5-10 years for Rhododendron), too many to be able to "amortize" using other collection areas. This means that either several years of suspended harvesting are accepted in the collection of these species or they risk their destruction. The identification of other species of interest for distillation could help reduce the demand of the harvest.
References Baser, K.H., Buchbauer, G (2015) Handbook of Essential Oils: Science, Technology, and Applications. CRC Press Denny, E. F. K., (1991) Field Distillation for Herbaceous Oils (2nd Edition.), DennyMcKenzie, Assoc., Lilydale, Tasmania, p. 265 Guenther, E (1948) The Essential Oils - Vol. 1. Van Nostrand Company Harman, A. (2015) Harvest to Hydrosols: Distill your own Exquisite Hydrosols at Home. BotANNicals
Fig. 11
This would result in a reduction of working hours for the staff members, which in a poor area like this translates into social problems. Sustainable collection? In addition to the two junipers, this unit also distills Rhododenron. All these plants have intrinsic problems of sustainability: Rhododenron anthopogon is classified in this region as vulnerable by the IUCN, and in an even more delicate situation are the Juniperus indica and the Juniperus recurva. In itself, the collection is not destructive, being limited to leaves, twigs and flowers (the collection of the latter involves greater problems than the others), but the real issue lies in the volume of the harvesting and the regeneration times of the local populations. The same problem, transferred to the case of Gaultheria spp. collected at lower altitudes, was addressed through agreements with the surrounding Forest User Groups (FUGs). When the exploitation limit is reached in a collection area, the gatherers can go and collect the plant in other FUGs in order to leave a period of 2-3 years for the Gaultheria populations to recover. Unlike Gaultheria, however, the recovery times of Juniperus and Rhododedron 21
Hunter. M (2009) Essential oils: Art, Agriculture, Science, Industry and Entrepreneurship: a Focus on the Asia-pacific Region Kahol, A. P., (1984) “Distillation Technology”. In: Practical Manual on: The Essential Oils Industry, Wijesekera, R. O. B (Ed.), UNIDO, Vienna Lawrence, B. M., (1995) “The Isolation of Aromatic Materials from Natural Plant Products". In: A Manual on the Essential Oil Industry, Tuley De Silva (Ed.), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Vienna, Austria Valussi, M. (2016) "In the quest for greater quality and purity... Sustainable and ethical essential oils production: two case studies from Italy and Nepal" IJCA 11(1):39-51
Marco Valussi has been working with medicinal and aromatic plants for 25 years; he teaches, writes and consults about them. He gained his BSc. (Hons.) in Herbal Medicine in London in 1998, and before that studied the use of essential oils in massage therapy. He is currently the production manager and scientific director of Gadoi in the mountain area near Verona. Gadoi offers a local, short production chain for high quality artisan essential oils and aromatic waters that ensures fair treatment of the growers, environmentally sustainable practices, and organic, artisan products. They also offer consultancy on formulations and distillation technology. Marco is also involved in a second project whose aim is improving Nepal's essential oils production chain to create long-term economic support.
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SKINTELLECTUALISM IS HERE. ARE YOU READY? Formulations Guest writer and creator of LabAroma, Colleen Quinn continues her discussion on getting started with your very own brand in Part 2 of her article. In part one of ‘Skintellectualism is here. Are you ready? Curation & creation’ (Aroma Wisdom, Fall 2019) we looked at the big questions and the importance of the strength behind the business idea upon which your brand will be founded. We shed light on the importance of compliance, being legal and mostly understanding all the layers of building a brand outside of the fun creative work. In part two, we explore the fun innovative work behind building your brand, namely curating your formulations and all that entails.
FORMULATION CREATION The most liberating, exciting and creative part of building any skincare or wellness brand is the curative process in the laboratory. The steps through this process are clear and need to be seen individually, but considered collectively. Your formulation process starts with a product brief. This includes taking a step back from the page and, in great detail, outlining the goals of your product; the mission of the brand; the desired function and/or effect of the product; potential hero ingredients
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you would love to include; packaging concepts; and any desired certification(s) and/or claim(s). You need to see the product in its entirety even at this early a point as every factor must be considered throughout the formulation and creation stage. The brief keeps you on track and makes sure you don’t vanish down a rabbit hole of irrelevance. For example, you could passionately create a skin cream for the face which you planned to package in a glass bottle with a pump, however the formulation turns out too viscous to be pumped through your desired bottle. Maybe it has to go into a pot now, so you will need to up your preservative levels to allow for user contamination. But you don’t want to increase the preservative ingredient as it will change the scent — and you love the scent! — and anyway you can’t increase the preservative ingredient as it will exceed the allowed natural allergen inclusion rate of your accidentally-too-thick cream! Do you see the whirlwind of a mess you will find yourself in if you deviate from your brief? The importance of a well thought-through and solid brief is vital in the delivery of your dream product.
FACETIOUS FORMULATIONS Your brief is set, and you are ready to get into the laboratory. If you are going to be your own formulator, great! However if you are outsourcing the formulations, working on the brief becomes as vital as does communication. Find a formulator with experience and whom you trust. So where to start?! There are a few things to consider with your creative process: •
What is the desired function of your product?
•
How do you want your ingredients to interact with each other? For example, do you want a team of citrus oils in there to support each other while replenishing lackluster skin?
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Is the conservation of my plants important to me?
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Is my formulation compliant and in which country do I need to be compliant?
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Do I want to make product claims and if so will I simply reference other studies or will I do my own consumer trials (for more on this, see Part 1 of this article)
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Can I secure a trustworthy and reliable supply for each of my ingredients?
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Is my formulation cost-effective?
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Do I have enough of a margin to go to market?
Alexia Inge of Cult Beauty said, “Our customers are now really, really well-researched and well-read. For them, it’s not about being green or not; it’s how the formulas are put together”. It is our job to source the emerging ingredients on the market, the new plants making headway in the skincare market, and incorporate them into our formulations in a way that is relevant and therapeutic. Gathering the data to support all our ingredients is essential and so helpful when we choose which ingredient to add to our formulation. The data is also so vital when we later leave the lab coat behind to stand in front of buyers and press to talk about the formulations, we need to be armed with the data and have confidence in it.
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Like Alexia says, we need to merge ingredients intelligently within our formations and share our creative logic with our customers to encourage them to trust us and ultimately buy into the brand.
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Does this ingredient unnecessarily complicate my formulation?
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Does this ingredient match my brand standards?
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Will this ingredient meet the standards and requirements of my certification body? (more on this later)
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Has this ingredient gotten an International Union for the Conservation of Nature status (IUCN) Can I source a reliable supply for this ingredient?
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Does this ingredient contain a listed allergen and if so, am I including it within my formulation at a legal and safe level?
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Are there independent tests/trials to support the therapeutic function behind this ingredient and can I reference that data when speaking to customers, buyers, press etc?
CONSERVATION CONSCIOUSNESS The good news is, there is more and more data becoming available independent of, and directly from, suppliers. Ingredients suppliers now know if they want us to choose their ingredients, we need them to have invested in proving the ingredient is worthy. I worked with a brilliant Japanese supplier a few years ago who had done clinical data work on their camellia (Camellia japonica) to prove it has considerably high antioxidant levels. As a result of their evidence, I increased the levels of camellia oil in my formulation, did testing on the final product (which was a body lotion) to prove the interestingly high levels of antioxidants and even changed the product title to ‘Antioxidant Aromatic Body Lotion with Frankincense’. Following through with the theory of innovative formulations, I also included other ingredients which were naturally antioxidant to support this claim, for example, rosemary extract. This body lotion was our best seller for 6 years. The effort and research, as well as building relationships with your supply chain is vital. Here are some fundamentals questions to ask yourself when selecting ingredients for your formulations: • Does this ingredient enhance my formulation? 25
With the demand and use of essential oils constantly increasing, it is fundamental that we keep ourselves informed of species that are endangered, by acquiring additional knowledge and keeping abreast of conservation status. By educating sellers and consumers about which oils are threatened and/or overexploited, we can offer alternatives or buy the oils from conservation projects, thus contributing to their preservation — every drop counts! This is most relevant when in full formulation mode. I feel your excitement when you open your essential oil kit and you want to use all the magic goodies, but consider your essential and carrier oil choices in your formulation with a conservation hat on. Your brand will continue to grow, and you will be ordering litres and gallons of your plant oils in no time. You always want to be placing those orders with a clear conscious about your footprint on Mother Earth. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) divides endangered species into three statuses: Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable.
To learn more about plant conservationism, you can visit the IUCN website for more information on the categories and criteria used to classify endangered species; visit https://www.kellyablard.com; or listen to Kelly’s LabAroma Podcast on iTunes or Spotify.
process. You don’t want to discover one of your ingredients is not vegan when they are supposed to be in compliance and risk failing your vegan certification application process. Explore the mentioned certification bodies below: https://cosmos-standard.org https://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org https://vegan.org/certification/
THE YOGA MARATHON The marketing genius, Seth Godin, said, ‘Making promises and keeping them is a great way to build a brand’. The wisest advice any brand owner could let sink into their skin. As a brand owner, you make promises to deliver the best products possible to your customers. Building a brand is like running a yoga marathon, it is not a sprint, it is an endurance test where you need to be flexible, ready to pivot at any moment to make your brand work. You need to be able to bend over backwards to accommodate your customer’s needs. You run the yoga marathon in order to keep those promises.
CERTIFICATION, CERTIFICATION, CERTIFICATION Colleen Quinn is a clinical aromatherapist, formulator & A great way to support both your brand and your formulations is to secure certifications. Vegan and animal cruelty-free are the most commonly sought after certifications today. COSMOS (a global organic certification body) is also still very popular. You can find them at: https://cosmos-standard.org/ There are endless certification bodies out there which you can apply to and utilize their ‘stamp of approval’ in your marketing. My advice is to choose one or two bodies which align with your brand values and apply to them early in your creative process. Make sure you know who you want to align with at your briefing stage and research their requirements, so you ensure you meet their needs throughout your creative
researcher. Committed to delivering functional therapeutic plant-based products, she has traveled the globe on a quest for knowledge innovation and the best quality in order to create therapeutic benefits in skin and health care. Colleen’s innovative concept to merge aromatherapy and technology lead her to create LabAroma. LabAroma has turned the very complex and mathematical process of formulating cosmetic and essential oil blends into a rapidly efficient and reliable way to tackle natures chemistry. You can read more from Colleen at www.colleenquinnconsultancy.com; and reach her at www.linkedin.com/in/colleenquinnconsult or directly at aroma@labaroma.com.
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Get To Know: Pat Antoniak
Social Media Director Melissa Housser gives us a little more about our Past President. MH: Where are you located? PA: I work from Natural Comfort Wellness Centre, in Tsawwassen (Delta), BC.
MH: How long have you been practicing aromatherapy and where did you receive your training? PA: I began blending for fun in the late 1980’s. I took my first three levels of training through the Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists starting in 1995. Subsequent aromatherapy full training courses were done with Dr. Vivian Lunny and Valerie Ann Worwood. I credit many with teaching me advanced techniques, but special recognition goes to Beverley Hawkins, Douglas Thomson, and Lynn Longmuir.
MH: Do you practice any other modalities? PA: Yes. I am still a practicing Registered Nurse so I offer nursing consultations both at my Centre and in clients’ homes. I have studied energy healing modalities, specifically Reiki, Healing Touch and Crystal Therapy. Additionally, I had the opportunity to study Colour & Sound Healing with Renee Brodie. Before she died, she gifted me with one of her crystal bowls for the Centre. It is a real treasure.
MH: What is your favorite aspect of essential oils/aromatherapy? PA: Two things: I am in awe with how one essential oil can assist with so many issues. And also how essential oils blend to create synergies that are absolutely amazing at helping with health and healing. 28
MH: What inspired you to begin learning about essential oils/aromatherapy? PA: Until I started gardening in the 80’s, I didn’t really know anything about essential oils. Then, I decided to try my hand at making dried flower arrangements, herbal products and pot-pourri. The pot-pourri recipes called for mixing essential oils with orris root for fragrancing. As I began reading about essential oils and their therapeutic effects, the nurse in me was intrigued! A non-pharmacological approach to many ailments caught my attention. And so, my aromatic journey started.
MH: Who/what has been most influential along your journey and through your learning process? PA: My greatest teachers have always been my clients, patients and students. Add to that, my aromatherapy peers who have been willing to share their knowledge, skills and experiences. Without all of them, I would not have become the therapist I am today.
MH: Do you have a favorite "fun fact" about aromatherapy/essential oils you like to share? PA: Not really. It’s all fun!
MH: Do you have a favorite plant? If so, why and what do you use it for? PA: There are so many plants that I love! At the moment, as tomatoes are ripening, I’d have to say fresh, Sweet Basil is the go-to plant. Add it to anything I’m making with the fresh tomatoes for a winning combination.
MH: What qualities do you find most valuable when working as an aromatherapist? PA: A good therapist needs to do a thorough assessment before creating a blend. This means one must ask pertinent questions and be a patient listener. Include the client in the therapeutic process; talk with them, not at them. Sometimes the most obvious things are not the real problem. Hear with your ears; listen with your heart. While a treatment is underway, a successful therapist will anticipate the client needs before they even ask for something. Knowing how you would want to be treated if it was you receiving the treatment goes a long way in developing an empathetic relationship with the client.
MH: Any advice for those considering pursuing a career in aromatherapy? PA: There are so many avenues to take when one looks into aromatherapy. Know that you are always able to change your focus, if you find one avenue is not bringing you joy in your work. The other thing is to remember that it does take money to start up a practice or a business that uses essential oils and the other aromatic products. If you are starting with little or nothing, it may take a while to build up your resources. Plan accordingly.
~ Pat has been working in the health care/healing profession for more than 4 decades. Besides providing nursing and aromatherapy care at her Natural Comfort Wellness Centre, she offers energy healing, meditation groups, wellness seminars, life counseling and home support for her many clients in the Delta/Surrey region. She is a founding member of the BCAOA and was its first President. Pat is also the Western Canadian representative for the bi-annual Botanica international conference and trade-show organized by Rhiannon Lewis. Besides her husband, whom she madly adores, she loves music, gardening, boating and strong coffee. Pat is a grandmother and great-grandmother; her Crone energy is palpable! Her website is www.naturalcomfort.co
Melissa 29
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
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30
Book Review
CO2 Extracts in Aromatherapy, 50+ Extracts for Clinical Applications Author: Madeleine Kerkhof Review by Colleen Thompson Title: CO2 Extracts in Aromatherapy, 50+ Extracts for Clinical Applications Author: Madeleine Kerkhof Publisher: Kicozo – Knowledge Institute for Complementary Nursing Care – the Netherlands (2018) Pages: 169 About Madeleine Kerkhof For most, Madeleine needs no introduction however I think it is important to include her background, experience and education. Madeleine is founder, chair and principal teacher of Kicozo International, Knowledge Institute for Integrative & Complementary (Nursing) Care. Kicozo is the publisher for CO2 Extracts in Aromatherapy. Madeleine is a former RN who gained a passion for a more holistic approach. Fast forward 20+ years, Madeleine is now a globally known, highly respected educator in Clinical Aromatherapy and Aromatherapy in Palliative Care and End of Life Care. 31
In addition to “CO2 Extracts in Aromatherapy, 50+ Extracts for Clinical Applications” (2018), Madeleine is also the author “Complementary Nursing in End of Life Care” (2015).
1. • • •
Madeleine was first inspired to use CO2 Extracts when she began using and testing supplements from Paul and Barbi Schulick under the brand of New Chapter. She found that their supplements worked very well on her patients, especially those suffering from cancer and who had undergone therapies that affected their gut mucosa. After many years of using CO2 Extracts, Madeleine became an expert and, thankfully, she decided to generously share her knowledge by writing this book. Although the book is relatively short, it is packed with information. The book is divided into five chapters, which makes it easy to use it as a quick resource or to read in its entirety.
2. •
3. • • •
Select extract: Uses low pressure and temperature Mainly contains volatile CO2-soluble compounds Can have a different chemical composition to the corresponding essential oil Sub CO2 extract Extraction takes place under slightly lower temperature and pressure which causes the CO2 Extract to be in a fluid rather than a gaseous state Total Extract Uses higher pressure and low temperature Extracts contain all CO2-soluble components such as waxes, fats, resins and pigments Similar to the herb (or plant) being extracted
Chapter One also includes Base Oils (fatty acids) extracted by the CO2 method as well as the functional group families.
Chapter One: Basics in CO2 Extracts Chapter Two This chapter compares the more “conventional” methods of extraction and the resulting products (essential oils, absolutes etc.) with CO2 Extracts. Madeleine provides two charts which compare the properties of 1) CO2 Extract vs. hydro/steam distillation and 2) CO2 Extracts and hexane/toluene/methanol extraction. CO2 Extraction and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction (SC-CO2 extraction) involve the use of carbon dioxide as a ‘solvent’ which then selectively carries the required compound or compound families away from the raw plant material. Madeleine goes on to explain the advantages of CO2 Extraction and Supercritical CO2 Extraction.
This chapter describes the various application methods, including dermal, respiratory/inhalation, internal and oral use. For an educated aromatherapist, this would be mostly a review of what they already know however the method that would be new to most aromatherapists is Madeleine’s section on AquaCare. There is also a recipe, using CO2 Extracts, hydrosols, herbs and vegetable glycerin for sleep that looks interesting. Because of Madeleine’s extensive experience in an aromatherapy clinical setting, her information is very practical and specific for individual conditions. Chapter Three
For example, Supercritical CO2 Extraction is a highly flexible process which allows the end result to be influenced by adjusting the temperature and pressure. This can also allow for the elimination of potential polluting compounds such as organic solvents at a much lower expense compared to the process of eliminating solvents after extraction. Madeleine explains the differences between the end products of CO2 Extraction. To read this in its entirety, I encourage you to purchase the book, however I have listed a brief explanation of each.
Chapter three covers CO2 extracts used as base (carrier) oils. Although only ten CO2 base oils are covered, Madeleine has delved into considerable depth with each one. Rhiannon Lewis contributed to the chapter as well and provides a couple of recipes for herbal tinctures combined with CO2 extracts. Chapter Four This was my favourite chapter and worth the cost of the book alone! Chapter four makes up the bulk of 32
the book (71 pages) and covers about 40 CO2 extracts, in alphabetical order, in a wonderful amount of detail. For those new to CO2 extracts, this is a rich source of information. And, even those who are fairly experienced in the use of CO2 extracts will find value in this detailed information. Here is one example of a CO2-Select: Ajowan Trachyspermum ammi “Ajowan CO2 Select-Extract is made from the seeds of the plant, also known as Bishop’s weed. The plant looks similar to wild parsley and is native to India. The seeds were commonly used in ancient Egypt as both a medicine and a culinary spice. Ajowan is used in Indian Ayurveda and is popular in Pakistani, Indian and Middle Eastern cooking.” Madeleine goes on to give a bit more history on the uses and myths around this spice. “Colour and appearance: Transparent and fluid yellow extract Composition: Includes cuticular (waxes), fatty acids and 90% essential oil. Chemical constituents include thymol (approx.. 47%), y-terpinene (approx. 22%) and p-cymene (approx. 21%). The essential oil of ajowan contains approximately 20% - 33% of thymol, 35% of y-terpinene and about the same amount of p-cymene as the distilled oil. Properties: Warming, antispasmodic, appetite stimulant, enhances digestion, mucolytic and expectorant, antitussive, pro-cholinergic, powerful antioxidant, hypo-lipidemic, possibly a vaso-relaxant, antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal and anti-candida, antiproliferative activity and possibly cytotoxic (colon cancer cells), wound healing and relaxing. Fragrance: Herbaceous, deep, spicy and “thyme-like”. For Emotional and Spiritual Wellbeing: Lack of selfconfidence, feelings of incompetence, supporting inner strength and coping skills, emotional and spiritual cold, cognitive disorders, fatigue and emotional, mental and spiritual exhaustion.” Madeleine goes on to say that ajowan is a wonderful 33
extract for those who feel they lack warmth and empathy in their lives, for the lonely and unsupported. Helpful for those who work too hard and exhaust themselves (caveat here – I need ajowan for this alone!!). Ajowan can be used when energy is blocked and to free oneself from energy vampires that drain us. Ajowan envelops us with warmth and comfort, like a warm, sturdy blanket to be wrapped up in. Other Applications: • Respiratory: Sinus and other airway congestions, lungs and airway infections, coughs • Immune: Immune stimulant, air purification of airborne pathogens • Skin: Fungal infections (Fluconazole resistant), candida infections, bacterial and fungal skin infections, painful wounds, poorly perfused skin, atrophy-prone skin, wound pain • Muscular-Skeletal: muscular pain, soreness and fatigue, musculoskeletal circulation, restless legs • Digestion: Colic, cramps and spasms of the digestive system, distension of the abdomen • Circulation: Cold feet, hypertension, circulatory tonic, General Dosage Recommendations: • Several drops on a tissue or in a diffuser. Inhaler tube – 20 – 25 drops; AromaPatch 1 – 5 drops • Topical application for adults 1 – 1.5% or up to 2% for small, localized areas. For a chest rub, Madeleine recommends up to 50% dilution, depending upon the thymol content • Internal – consult an expert in aromatic medicine • Foot bath – 1 – 2 drops; sitz bath 1 – 3 drops; full bath 5 drops in a dispersant; steam bath 1 – 2 drops. During pregnancy and for the elderly, Madeleine recommends half of the above dilutions be used. Children 2 – 7 use 10 – 50% of that recommended for an adult; for 7 – 12 use the recommended dosage for adults. Do not use on babies. Contraindications: Higher doses than recommended can cause skin or mucus membrane irritation. Oral use could react with anticoagulants. Avoid in the first weeks after major surgery, hemophilia, peptic ulcers
or other bleeding disorders I couldn’t find a Canadian source for ajowan but both Nature’s Gift and Stillpoint Aromatics in the USA carry Ajowan CO2 Extract. https://www.naturesgift.com/category/essential-oils/ https://www.stillpointaromatics.com/ajowain-fruitsco2-select-extract You will also find some unusual recipes in Chapter Four. One that I will be trying combines Buddha wood sub-CO2 Extract; Yuzu essential oil; Myrrh CO2 Extract; Damask rose CO2 Extract with jojoba oil and beeswax for a healing salve. Madeleine also shares studies from other practitioners as well as her personal experience with using CO2 Extracts in a Clinical environment. Chapter Five: This chapter consists of 40 pages of amazing reference material specific to the CO2 extracts that she covers in the book.
Concluding thoughts… I used this book as a resource for the Essence of Thyme course material and found it concise, easy to read and to find information, while at the same time in-depth enough to really delve into the topic of CO2 Extracts. Madeleine and her husband Kees are dear friends of mine and I love their passion for the field of aromatherapy and particularly in palliative care. They are an inspiration and generously donate their time and products to some of those in the field of palliative care – quietly and without fanfare. Thank you Madeleine and Kees for all you do! Madeleine sent me a complimentary copy of her CO2 Extract book however I had already purchased it when it first came out. I will be donating the copy that Madeleine sent as a door prize for the BCAOA Spring CE Event. But, if you don’t want to wait that long, I highly recommend investing in this book. ~ Colleen 34
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Too Busy to Attend a CE Event?
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We’ve got you covered!
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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 35
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 only have a few of our Summer and Fall issues left, but all previous editions are available online at Issuu. Thank you all for your support! Essential Oil Safety Booklets: These lovely and profitable publications are always available in print to order or online at Issuu. 36
The Classifieds Welcome to our Classifieds Section. To submit a classified, email your information to the editor with “Classified” in the subject line.
SELLING: Gorgeous wooden cabinet geared for aromatherapy field. Includes bowls. Asking $125 Parchment brochures written by Cheryl Grossman and designed by Julie Nasmith - $0.50 each. For more information or to buy, please contact Cheryl Grossman at cheryl.r.grossman@gmail.com
SELLING: Jeff Meursing, Marie-Louise Meursing’s son would like to sell her massage table and massage chair below. He would like $400.00 for the massage table and $250.00 for the massage chair. If you are interested, please contact Jeff directly at jeffmeursing@gmail.com
VOLUNTEERS WANTED: We are now accepting applications for Volunteers for our upcoming Committees. Join us in making our association stronger! Committees require less time than a Board position and you earn benefits. Fill out an application today at https://bcaoa.org/for-members/committeevolunteering/
CHAPTER MEETING CHAIRS WANTED: There are several openings for in-person Chapter Meeting Chairs, as well as one online. Spread the joy of aromatherapy! Information on Chapter meetings can be found at https://bcaoa.org/for-members/chapter-meetings/ 37
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/education/recognized-courses-teachers-and-schools/ 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.
