Aromatic Reflections for Moments of Crisis – Part 2

We do not need to re-invent the wheel. We just have to deepen our knowledge of Nature and combine her age-old defense mechanisms with our modern scientific approach. Essential oils are Sun-Light messengers. With their poly-molecular bio-chemical outfit they have developed as allies of interaction inside Nature herself in a kind of challenge and response way. They have been one if not THE major answer against the growing impact of germs threatening and simultaneously provoking the thrust of differentiation of plant species in the course of evolution of Life on Earth. And not only “germs”… Modern medicine with their pharmaceutical…

Aromatic Reflections for Moments of Crisis – Part 1

Sometimes… When we look at our lives today, individually and collectively…When we have forgotten how much we are caught up in the matrix of habits, routines, conditionings, boredoms, stress… Then something may appear from “nowhere“, pulling us by the nose ? making us jump up in panic, cutting the normal flow of things in a totally unpredictable way… This is what is happening with the COVID-19 crisis. Sometimes, we need a wake-up call in the middle of the night that is electrifying enough to throw us out of the bed under the cold shower where – shuddering and shocked –…

Aromatherapy for Rehabilitation

What can aromatherapy add to rehabilitation centres? Padre Gabriel Mejia from the Christian order of the Claretians has created more than 50 rehabilitation centres all over Columbia. In these centres he introduced Transcendental Meditation and aromatherapy to thousands of kids and adolescents. “The street is my church” Father Gabriel “Now operational in 52 centres across Colombia, the Hogares Claret Foundation set up by Father Mejia in 1984 has perfected its own therapeutic model with an international ISO certificate. At any given time, the centres serve more than 3,500 orphans, homeless and young drug addicts — offering them food, shelter, education,…

Man and Plants – An Ancient Alliance

Yes, Man and Plants….. It is such an old story. It goes back hundreds of thousands of years. It is actually a love story of man with Nature and its subtle energies. And it is a story of the collective heart of us humans and its relation with the Universal Spirit. Plants remind us that all health lies between heaven and earth. They are the major “energy transfer beings” on our planet due to their intrinsic harmony with the light of the cosmos. They teach us that all energies of the Universe are available to us humans. And we can…

Aromatherapy and Modern Medicine – Challenges and Responses

Modern medicine seems to have reached its peak of being (or pretending to be) THE solution for the multiple ailments of man on Earth. The figures of serious medicine related problems are rising constantly and they are more and more frightening. It is high time to come back to the age old healing methods of Nature which have accompanied human evolution on planet Earth since hundreds of thousands of years. We have reached the summit of our collective arrogance and ignorance with respect to the secrets of true medicine, true healing. Why waste our time with old concepts, doubtful prescriptions…

Nature’s Defence Agencies – Thoughts on Anti-Microbial Effects of Essential Oils

The newly discovered corona-virus epidemics in China – even though largely exaggerated in its challenge by the usual media coverage – has drawn the attention of numerous persons from the “community” of natural medicine and Aromatherapy. The point is that – again and again – we are facing threats of individual and collective health and, like in this case, stand “cross-legged” in front of the problem without asking help from the first instance we should ask help from: Mother Nature. In terms of plant medicine and Aromatherapy we have countless answers to microbial infections – it is just these 3…

Spring Allergies: Breathe free and enjoy the renewal of life

As we are heading towards Spring season the air is delicately fragrant with the first blossoms of almond trees. The humming of busy bees flying out of their hive, eager to spread their wings, of birds chirping their enchanting melodies, this is definitely one of the nicest moments of the year. Everywhere Nature is bursting with renewed energy, and beauty! As the days get longer, within ourselves we can tune in with this effervescence swelling up in Nature. Our whole being feels like stretching with more energy and enthusiasm, eagerly stepping out of the more introspective Winter time. However, for…

Ravintsara: The Medicine Tree

Among all the aromatic treasures offered by Nature, there is a pearl with countless benefits: Ravintsara (Cinnamonum camphora). Known as the “beautiful leaf” in the Malagasy traditional medicine and praised as the “oil that heals”, it serves today to answer a wide demand in treating diverse psycho-physiological problems. Cinnamonum camphora belongs to the Lauraceae family and is the name for the Camphor tree in general. Most of the different chemo-types (borneone, linalool, safrole, etc.) of this tree are found in East Asian countries. Ravintsara is the 1,8-cineol (eucalyptol) type of the Camphor tree, specific to Madagascar. It grows up to…

Myrrh: An Ancient Sacred Healer

The legendary precious Myrrh oil (Commiphora myrrha), derived from sun-charged tropical resins, is used since Antiquity in sacred rites and for its rejuvenating effects on body and mind. Native from Eastern areas of Africa, the essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the resin from a thorny shrublike tree. It has a spicy-warm, earthy and slightly sweet aroma with a bitter taste. A jewel in modern aromatherapy with its multiple benefits extending from wound healing, to skin care to tonifying the circulatory and immune system, Myrrh is also a great ally for feminine health. A broad spectrum healer Greek…

Kewra: Smelling into the Heart of a Spirit Opener

India can be considered lucky to possess a great treasure of aromatic plants – many of which have not been known outside the country until quite recently. Among these plants we find Kewra or Kewda. The botanical name Pandanus odoratissimus conveys that the essential oil of it must be extremely fragrant. The remarkable aromatic depth streaming out from the most beautiful large white flowers of the Kewra agave-like plant is the key which makes its essential oil such an amazing healing ally. Healing with the sense of  smell The reawakened knowledge about fragrances and their ability to be extremely helpful in…

Patchouli: The “Green Leaf” Oil with Power

One cannot be indifferent to the fragrance of this one-of-a-kind essential oil. Patchouli is an amazing oil that brings you to the depth of the earth, grounds you – and thereby leads you back to the body. The name “Patchouli” derives from Tamil language (South Indian), “patchai” meaning “green” and “ellai” denoting “leaf”. Yes, this “green leaf” oil – once so popular during the Hippie time – has many secrets and wonders waiting to be revealed or rediscovered… Origin and processing A species of the genus Pogostemon, Patchouli belongs to the Lamiaceae plant family, the same group to which Lavender,…

Crisis for Evolution: Health, Mind and Essential Oils

The reason for disease lies in the host, not in the germ When somebody speaks about a disease, for example having “caught a cold” or having been contaminated with a virus or a bacteria, we often may ask ourselves: Who and where is the actual originator of this? Is it true that we are only victims of a disease, innocent victims, I mean, and that disease is just a bad curse, a kind of an undeserved blow of destiny…..? Well, thinking deeper, everybody agrees that disease simply cannot be understood as something created only by outside agents. It is above…