Happy 30th Aromatherapy Anniversary To Me!
This year I celebrate 30 years since I qualified as an aromatherapist, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to start sharing the benefits and uses of some of my favourite essential oils.
Way before high profile brands starting using essential oils in washing powder or candles, and before they were readily available to buy on the high street or online, I fell in love with them and everything to do with aromatherapy.
I don’t think there is a day since qualifying that I haven’t used essential oils in some way. Whether it be in a massage blend for a client, for myself in the bath, oil burner or on a tissue to inhale when I feel a cough or cold coming on, or in a blend for a friend or colleague – whether they really wanted it or not!
Essential oils are my initial go-to for everything!
I have been lucky enough to meet some amazing people through my work as an aromatherapist and have also worked in some great places. I have had the priviledge of learning from so many talented therapists. I was one of the first therapists to do on-site massage treatments at Camelot, the lottery people back in the 90s. I have worked at many festivals and shows. I have taught massage techniques to a wide range of people – including an interesting course with some young farmers in Devon! Seeing people who have attended an introduction to massage course with me go on to qualify as therapists themselves, and then for me to go to them for treatments, brings so many smiles. I have given treatments in all sorts of places, to all sorts of people, to name just a few - corporate businesses, care homes, hospices, lovely clinics (and some not so lovely clinics!), back stage at gigs, peoples homes whilst their pets looked on, schools, shops, on the beach, and am just in the process of setting up some summer treatments in the Tangled With Nature woods.
When I first qualified, me and a friend I met on the course had an idea to write our own aromatherapy book, concentrating on essential oils that benefit women. We sat for many happy hours chatting and drafting out pages over tea & coffee in her beautiful North London home. The book never happened, life in the 90s took over (for me travelling up and down the country going to gigs and festivals!, for her saving many, many lucky animals that she rescued from all over the place!), so in memory of this, when sharing the oils I love, I will initially be concentrating on the oils that may be of benefit to women. They can be so useful in helping with emotions, hormones, the general ups and downs, and incorporating them into your life is so easy. And who knows, maybe a book from me will still materialise at some point.
Just like when I was a child mushing up rose petals to make a murky looking “perfume”, I love spending time experimenting with essential oils, making therapeutic remedies, bath oils, room fresheners, and all sorts of lotions and potions.
Most commonly known as a type of massage treatment, aromatherapy is so much more than this. The International Federation of Aromatherapists define it as “the ancient art and science of blending naturally extracted essential oils to balance, harmonise and promote the health of body, mind and spirit.”
Essential oils can be used to enhance your wellbeing and the environment around you, in many ways, not only through massage. You will always find an essential oil blend near to me!! There is some kind of oil in each room of my house. There are at least two different blends in my car, as they make a brilliant natural air freshener. Many more in my office for when I need to be calmed, or energised, or to prevent any winter bugs. A little bottle of lavender and tea tree oil in first aid kits. And whatever bag I may be taking out with me they’ll always be some kind of essential oil in there. They may not always be used, but I know they are there if I need them!
Whilst easy to buy and use, using them safely and correctly, and buying good quality natural pure oils is essential.
Whilst it is great that essential oils are now so accessible for everyone I also find it concerning that the safety side of using them isn’t as well publicised. Pure essential oils are extremely concentrated and powerful and should be used in tiny quantities with caution needed for many of them, particularly if using when pregnant or with children. In recent years it has been advocated by some brands about using them internally as well as externally. I would strongly discourage anyone from doing this, certain oils can be extremely toxic so please do not ingest them. Most should not be used undiluted on the skin, and they can be harmful for pets, so please do a little bit of research. If in doubt contact a qualified aromatherapist for some advice.
You can buy essential oils and aromatherapy products everywhere now, but buying oils from a company who is a member of the Aromatherapy Trade Council can help you make sure the oils you are buying are safe and of a good quality.
I will be giving more information on how they can be used in my next blog – but for now here is a very basic guide on roughly how much they should be diluted when you use them for adults. They’re super powerful plant extracts – you really don’t need to use many drops.
Bath – 6 drops of essential oil in your bath
In an oil or cream – 2 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil or cream
In an oil burner/diffuser – 5 drops of essential oil for an average sized diffuser
Make sure you are following @tangledwithnature on Instagram and Facebook as the first essential oil I’ll be focusing on in my next blog is Clary Sage. Out of all the 60 or so oils sat in my cupboard this is the oil I use the most. An all round amazing oil for women of all ages. And if you have a little patch of flower bed or a pot needing a new plant you can add it to your garden as well.
Finally, I am not exactly sure when my aromatherapy massages in the woods will be happening (it’s obviously weather dependent!) but send me a quick email if an outdoor massage surrounded by trees and bird song sounds like something you’d like to try and I will be in touch.
