Aroma Wisdom The Canadian Aromatherapy Journal
Spring 2019 The Blossoming Edition
education, innovation, growth, support
Essential Oils and PTSD:
Mar-May2019
Jennine Stromkins Reviews 3 Cases
British Columbia Alliance of Aromatherapy ISSN 2562-2218 $8.00CND
Contents 4 Our Contributors 5 President’s Message 7 Announcements 9 Featured Writer: Essential Oils and PTSD Part 1 of 2 - Jennine Stromkins reviews case studies of clients with PTSD
15 BCAOA 2019 Essential Oil Safety Booklet Order Form 16 Guest Writer: So You Want to Distill? International Speaker Ann HArman starts us on the Art of Distillation
22 Getting Business Done Marieka Zimmerman gives us A Step-by-Step Guide to Organizing an Aromatherapy Workshop
28 Student Case Study Mary Stephenson Gives Hip Pain a Leg Up
33 Aroma Wisdom Subscription and Edition Order Form 34 Recap of the NAHA IX Conference - Beyond Aromatics Colleen Thompson Attended and Reviewed the NAHA COnference in October
37 The Classifieds
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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.
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.
Mary Stephenson – Mary holds a law degree from George Washington University Law School and is currently a professor at Montpellier Business School in France. She is a Level 1 NAHA Certified Aromatherapist and is passionately pursuing the completion of the Advanced Aromatherapy Graduate Program as a student of Essence of Thyme College of Holistic Studies.
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.
Your Name Could be Here and earn CE credits at the same time! Send us your articles, photos, reviews or research papers. EOT (Essential Oil Therapist) and RA (Registered Aromatherapist) are Trademarked Occupational Titles of the British Columbia Alliance of Aromatherapy (BCAOA) 4
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 $8.00 $7.50 $7.00 $6.50 $6.00
each each each each each
Member-only Prices - 1-25 - 25-49 - 50-74 - 75-100 - 100+ -
$5.50 $5.00 $4.50 $4.00 $3.50
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 to the address below with your payment. You can also go online to place your order through Paypal or etransfer at https://bcaoa.org/safety-booklet/
BCAOA Precautions & Contraindications 2019 booklet Order Form Name: ____________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________ Phone: ____________________ th e s up hip at pin th g! e C Or E d Ev er en s c t. an be
Email: ____________________________________ BCAOA Number: ______ Booklet order amount _____
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For more than 5 booklets or International shipping, please email the Editor with the number of booklets you wish to order and your full address. 15
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Make cheques payable to BCAOA and mail to: BCAOA Treasurer Attn: L. Dawson 31 Bell Crescent, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 4T4
So You Want To How to Start off When Distilling Essential Oils and Hydrosols
Ann Harman
Distill? Guest writer and seasoned distiller Ann Harman takes us through understanding the first steps to take in beginning distillation. I love distilling, I was hooked the first time I saw a distillation of roses. Needless to say, I was hooked from the start! I have now been distilling hydrosols for nearly 30 years. The journey has taken me to many places, and I have learned much along the way. I have distilled on different styles and sizes of stills, different metals and glass, I have even distilled on a clay replica of an ancient still. Each has its own distinct nature. So how does one choose? Let’s start at the beginning. The following is a list of questions to ask yourself before you purchase a still. •
Why do I want to distill? Is it for essential oil, hydrosol or perhaps a combination?
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How will I use the product? Is it for personal and family use or do I want to make value added products and/or sell the essential oil or hydrosol?
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What access do I have to plants? Do you plan on growing your own, wildcrafting or purchasing?
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Do I want to specialize in one botanical or distill many different plants?
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Aromatherapy Student: Mary Stephenson Goals Relieve Longterm Hip Pain; Reduce Risk of Discomfort During & After Activities Essence of Thyme College of Holistic Studies AT101
Student Mary Stephenson discusses working with her client for relief with longterm hip pain, and reduce the risk of future aggravation using Lemon, Black Pepper, Juniper Berry and Lavender in a mixed carrier oil base. Case Description This case study focuses on a client who is a 51-year old male. My client is an entrepreneur and part-time homeschooling parent. He is married and has two young sons, 8 and 11 years of age. He has been running two web-based businesses out of his home for the past 10 years and also homeschools his 11-year old son on a part-time basis. The client had suffered from right hip pain for the past 10 years. He does not recall any injuries that could be deemed as the cause of the hip pain. However, he has an untreated orthopedic condition (very flat feet, diagnosed during childhood) that could be contributing to his hip pain. Otherwise physically fit, my client goes to the gym for classic calisthenics and weight training at least twice a week. He reported that his workouts tend to provide relief from his hip pain, while sitting for long periods of time tended to aggravate his pain. Other physical activities, including prolonged walking, also aggravate his condition. The client also reported issues with anxiety and insomnia since the birth of his oldest son. He indicated that his preoccupation with his children’s health and well-being is a principal cause of both of these conditions. His insomnia was not usually pain-related though he did report occasionally tossing and turning at night to find a sleeping position that did not apply pressure on his hip. My client had not consulted any health practitioners concerning his primary (hip pain) and secondary (anxiety and insomnia) conditions for two reasons: (a) his lack of health insurance and (b) his strong desire to avoid 28
colon. He discussed some of the odorant molecules identified in activating the olfactory receptors which leads to a reduction in the proliferation of cancer cells. And did you know that research has been done on the skin’s ability to smell and potentially heal itself? Sal also did a second session on the Role of Science in Aromatherapy where he spoke about the importance of science for the advancement of humankind, but that in focusing on a purely scientific approach, health care is an extremely alienating paradigm. He went on to say that while the science has helped us to understand the chemical nature of essential oils and therefore how the essential oils work at a pharmacological level, we still don’t understand the full mechanisms of olfaction or the intricate relationship between smell, the limbic brain and our emotions. He quoted biophysicist Luca Turin, who in 1996 suggested that olfactory cilia detect smell by molecular vibration rather than molecular shape. Sal then segued into the topic of inflammation, its causes and how aromatherapy can play a role in managing it. The keynote speaker was Joy Bowles. As a wellknown teacher and author of books on the chemistry of essential oils, her topic of Is Aromatherapy All in the Mind? was surprising. Joy spoke about the current research on the psychological, cognitive and neurochemical effects of essential oils and their constituents. She gave examples of essential oil constituents that affect neurotransmitters, such as thujone, camphor, linalool and 1,8-cineole. Joy went on to discuss how essential oils might help in Alzheimer ’s disease by lowering cortisol, Glutamate blocking, AChE inhibitors, interruption of cyclical thinking by odour impact, and odour cuing to aid confusion about time and space orientation. She then spoke about ADHD and ADD, and depression and anxiety which might be related to high cortisol levels, increased glutamate activity and GABA deficiency. Joy also did the full day post-conference workshop on
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How Essential Oils Get into the Body and What Do They Do When They Get There. I chose to attend this workshop, although I was torn between it and Madeleine Kerkhof’s workshop. Joy is an engaging speaker who lends some humour in what might otherwise be a dry topic which, coupled with her interactive approach, made the full day fly by. Marco Valussi is one of my favourite speakers and I never tire of listening to him. His talk on Coevolution, Taste, Olfaction and Essential Oil’s Chemical Features covered cultural evolution, structural constraints, why plants are producing secondary metabolites, and why aromatic and strongly flavoured plants are dominating in human pharmacopeias. Then Marco spoke about Acupharmacology, which is a neologism coined by herbalist Simon Mills in Principles and Practice of Phytochemia. Mills defined it as any pharmacological action of molecules via interaction with skin/mucosae sensory receptors, with no need for systemic bioavailability. Marco further discussed the TRP Receptors, of which there are 27 subdivided into six subfamilies. This topic would require a separate document to explain but the gist is that TRP modulated essential oils show a high integration of diverse stimuli and that, in general, they integrate aromatherapy with inflammatory mediators, endogenous chemical ligands and xenobiotics, creating a complex continuum of thermal sensation and chemesthesis coupled with modified pain and increased alertness. Other exceptional speakers included Gabriel Mojay, Madeleine Kerkhof, Kelly Holland Azzaro, Timothy Miller, Remi Clero, Jessie Hawkins, Farida Irani, Raghda Maksoud, Sharon Falsetto and more…. As you might imagine, the logistics of putting on an international conference of this scale was tremendous. I am told it was 2 years in the planning, with many moving parts and the full commitment of the Board. Yet, in spite of all the hours and hours of volunteer time each Board member put in to ensure the tremendous success of the Conference, they all
missed parts of the various lectures to ensure that the needs of attendees were taken care of, that audiovisual equipment was set up and functioning, and that the help desk was always manned with at least two Board members. Every single Board member went out of their way to be helpful, gracious and kind.
Colleen Thompson has worked in the field of Aromatherapy since 1995. She teaches a 600-hour aromatherapy certification program through her school Essence of Thyme College of Holistic Studies. 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
The next NAHA conference - NAHA Beyond AromaticsÂŽ- The World of Aromatherapy X Conference, takes place at the University of Utah Conference Center from October 14th through 17th, 2020 with the post-conference on October 18th. I would encourage everyone to try to attend. I have no doubt, with the same people at the helm, that it will be equally amazing and inspiring.
President of the BCAOA Board of Directors, 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