...thoughts on aromatherapy

I've known of (been familiar with) the term "aromatherapy" for a long while, since the late 1980s, in fact. Of course, aromatherapy, itself, goes way back farther than that. Wisewomen and medicine men and women of old practiced exactly that, if calling it by another name at the time. The art of aromatherapy is fascinating - knowing herbs by sight, touch, smell; knowing the properties of any particular plant or flower. Knowing what part of each plant to use - leaves, flowers, roots - and the resulting benefits of each (again, whether by use of tea, poultice, or collected oil essence). Fascinating. I never tire of reading up on the subject overall, or of delving into particular methodologies.
What first came across my path was a sheaf of photocopied pages from an old book. I read about the different herbs, their properties, their origination and habitats, the uses of each. Peppermint leaves crushed into a paste to clean the teeth and tongue - or even the use of a twig to clean between the teeth - and this before the advent of tooth paste and brushes! A rinse of rosemary to cleanse one's scalp and hair. Lemon for lightening. Creating colognes from lavender, rose petals, orange zest and a bit of alcohol. Or men's cologne with bay leaves, spices, and rum.
Aromatherapy practice consists of beauty treatments: skincare, bodycare, haircare - inside and out (with caution and the knowledge of an educated practitioner, please!). It includes treatments (use of herbs in teas or inhaled essential oil essences) that alter our moods and emotions. Oils are used in massage therapy to ease body aches and promote both relaxation and healing. And through each of these methodologies, aromatherapy heals the whole person - body, mind, and spirit.
Imagine how long aromatherapy has been around - our prehistoric ancestors watched and learned from nature around them. And passed it on to us.
My favorite aspect of aromatherapy is discovering essential oils particular aromas and properties and finding those that are complementary in order to create a really terrific blend.
I first began blending, quite by accident, in the store where I worked. At the time, I was only concerned that it smell great! In the end, my first blend not only smelled terrific, I had concocted a blend that, when inhaled, one couldn't help but feel uplifted, better. I liked that effect. I liked that customers commented positively on the aroma filling the store. It was 2 years later before I reproduced the blend to sell it. I have it for sale, now, at my website SweetPea & Violets.
A delicious blend of orange, lavender and white clover (hard to find, folks!) I call it Irish Morning. I am working on others, including a "signature fragrance" - something that is the epitome of what I want others to understand what SweetPea & Violets is all about.
Just a note, here - I am not a practicing herbalist or aromatherapist. I am an aspiring aromatherapist. I am working on certification, a degree in holistic theology, as well, even as I write this. But, I am not prepared to offer advice, other than a recommendation to one who may be more qualified than I. What I do here, in my writing, as well as through my website as I create products or just sell safely ready-made product, is offer to share what I know and what I am learning. That aspiration is what inspired me to create my other website: Your Well-Lived Life - to be able to share and to point interested readers toward those other sources and/or sites that I believe will be of help and growth. So, there you are.

For those interested, I've completed the SweetPea & Violets website newsletter, which will shortly be sent out. Showcased a few really good items: promoting the Terra Nova products, and, of course, the candles. Added a few notes regarding the gifts that I have offered in the past, as well as a link to a gift catalog found on my Gift Gallery page. Made those all-important updates to my Etsy site: SweetPea16.etsy.com which will hopefully result in a little bit of positive feedback - and maybe even a sale or two!

In the meantime, I keep up with my studies, my work, my art. I've begun the writing, again (thank you my Adlandpro , Salespider and StartUp Nation community friends for inspiring me to commit to a blog - though I did heartily resist)
More to come...