Aromatherapy, Plants, Scents

Sep 29

4 min read

Updated: Oct 7

"My father took down some bottles from over the fireplace and mixed several liquids in a bowl. He then made a compress by folding a small piece of flannel, soaked it in the liquid and placed it on the man's side. Within half an hour the pains had gone and his face was no longer screwed up out of all recognition as it had been. Gripping the table in my excitement I could'nt take my eyes off him : it was a miracle!

Papa did you do that?

Mon cheri, he who causes the plants to grow is the one who did it". Maurice

Maurice used his intuition when seeking plants to heal, he knew before he picked a plant whether it was one he would use. Herbalists of long ago with a deep love of nature and respect for the plant kingdom, knew where to find their plants, they knew the season to go searching for particular healing plants and they knew which plants were good for certain ailments. With the wisdom of trial and error and word of mouth such knowledge was passed from generation to generation. Some combined astrology with herbs for medicinal purposes, and picked their plants by the moon cycles. Long before science entered the throng, true healing took place with the understanding it took time. Science offered quick pill fixes , therefore the time consuming effort of serching for, collecting, boiling herbs, making tinctures, using essential oils quickly passed into oblivion for many, until today, when we are seeing a strong and renewed interest in all things natural.

The word complementary was changed from alternative, as complementary sits more comfortably with allopathic medicine than alternative. Most accept in many cases there is a need for both. One can support the other, yet I return to my base line, if it feels right, it is right. I always return to and trust my intuition.

Only by feeling, by using our instinct, our sixth sense we call intuition can we know and see the perfection of the world around us and the perfection of the universe. The deeper and richer our lives will become when we return to our souls essence and follow the lead from our higher selves, to listen and to 'feel'. I always return to, and encourage students to feel the energy, to 'feel' the vibration, to 'feel' the qualities. When choosing an essential oil to use, or be it any complementary healing product or tool, research its qualities then 'feel' whether it is suitable.

Over the past few days I have concentrated on sharing health related suppliers that are trusted and respected. In this blog I return to Mother Earth's bounty, her plants. Plants to heal and plants that give up essential oils to support healing through application and their perfume.

Essential oils are wondrous gifts to be used on the body diluted and mixed in a carrier such as pure organic almond oil, and in burners to purify the atmosphere in our environment. Only essential oils, pure essential oils, not scented oils that are used on a burner and sold as room freshners.

When I studied aromatherapy, post qualification one of the lectures I attended was a lecture on rose absolute oil, lead by a very informed French chap, his name evades me, I remember coming out of that lecture believing rose absolute essential oil was the only essential oil to use on myself, my family and my clients. I eventually broke the spell and returned to using all the different essential oils, but I must admit rose absolute has remained my favourite to this day.

"The products are externally applied , but their penetrative power is sufficiently great for them to act on organs subjacent to the areas to which the tropical applications are made" Rene-Maurice Gattefosse. The pioneer of modern aromatherapy.

"Forgotten and ignored for many years, aromatic essences are now coming back into their own, for many researchers and for a large section of public opinion, as the stars of medicine. Faced with a mounting toll of complications known to have been caused by aggressively synthesised chemical medications, many patients are now unwilling to be treated except by natural therapies, foremost among which plants and their essences have a rightful place"

Dr Jean Valnet.

Seek out the perfume of pure organic essential oils that your body is attracted to, your body knows, it will instantly confirm the ones to use by the very pleasure of the scent. Trust your senses, trust your intuition. Mix with a good organic carrier oil and use as a body lotion and/or burn in an aromatherapy burner at home. Do seek advice on how to use essential oils correctly as you cannot use them undiluted on the body and always keep away from eyes.. Ask your supplier for advice.

Healing using the fruits of Gods garden does take time, and some knowledge of what plants to use must be sought. Did you know that there are more than 800,000 botanical species?

We can only imagine how many more there are that are not documented, and then the mind goes to the logical thought, what can they all offer mankind as a form of healing either alone or in a synergistic blend, and the mind boggles.

I shall leave you with a favourite Goethe quote of mine

"All theories are grey

but green and vibrant is the tree of life"

Goethe

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These are my thoughts and opinions, please do your own research.