I’ve been interested in aromatherapy for a while now. When I took the chakra balancing class in Estes Park a few years back, the practitioner I visited with told me that my body responds really well to aromatherapy. Within seconds of inhaling the prescribed scents, my chakras were balanced… and there was something powerful about that.
I decided that 2015 would be the year that I took a class, so that I could learn more about the power of aromatherapy. Last Tuesday, I happily marked this to-do off my list!
Denver has the cutest little aromatherapy shop, right on my way home from work called Apothecary Tinctura.
The shop is staffed by a wonderful group of highly trained herbalists and holistic health care specialists, and it seemed the perfect place for me to expand my knowledge of aromatherapy. My friend Erin also joined me… which made the evening even more fun!
Walking through the doors on Tuesday, I knew that I loved the yummy oils that my masseuse uses and that the oils had healing properties, but other than that, I didn’t know much. Two hours later, I had a great understanding for aromatherapy and a foundation from which I could build a personal practice.
Our class “Introduction to Essential Oils and Aromatherapy” was just what I needed! Led by the lovely Amanda, she shared just the right amount of guidance and information to whet my whistle… and pique my interest.
I was amazed with how many people were present for the class, and everyone seemed to have a different reason for joining. One attendee was seeking oils to help soothe her autistic son. Another attendee was there to learn more about how oils could help heal her mother post-chemo. And, there in the middle of the room was me, hoping to find some aromatherapy options to help heal my back. Rounding out the group were ladies who’d joined with friends, a doula interested in the practice, and another who shared that her mom is into this “gypsy stuff.”
During the two-hour session, Amanda shared so many great ideas with the group. First and foremost, she shared that aromatherapy is medicinal and should be treated as such. She assured us that the team at Apothecary Tinctura is highly-trained and makes recommendation based upon study. Example: Not all oils can be applied to the skin, ingestion should be monitored, and these oils are powerful. Be safe, and only accept advice from a professional!!
Apothecary Tinctura only sells the highest quality, organic essential oils. Did you know that the healing properties of an oil can be effected by the altitude and location at which it is grown? While ingredients can be grown anywhere, this detail can be very important. There’s also a lot of inexpensive, mass-produced oils out there that may not bring you the greatest healing properties. Be choosy!
For simplification, this class stuck to the basics – reviewing the history of aromatherapy and highlighting 10 of the most popular, most must-have essential oils. Here are a few that stood out to me amongst the many we covered…
- Ravintsara – This oil is known for its antibacterial and antiviral qualities. It is fantastic for infections, and a great oil to use when you’re traveling by air. It’s also excellent for use on the onset of a cold. Considering how much I travel, Ravintsara seemed like a no-brainer to me…
- Peppermint – Amanda described this as the #1 digestive aid and reassured us that it is also fantastic as a tea. Peppermint can be a muscle relaxant and can also alleviate cramps, gas, and insect bites. It also is fantastic for mental recall.
- Lavender – Not only does this oil smell delicious, but it’s awesome for camping. It is an antiseptic, an antidepressant, and a sedative. It can be used for insect bites and as an insecticide.
- Helichrysum – This oil is great for cuts, and scar prevention. While you can’t put it on open skin, you can use it straight from the bottle in areas where you have a healed wound/scar. Who knew this was even possible?
