Aromatherapy with Helen
Why I love Eucalyptus staigerianna
Eucalyptus would be one of the most common essential oils people might think of when it comes to respiratory issues and the winter months, but did you know there are over 600 species? Not all of those are used in aromatherapy but there are still several different ones commercially available, (always check the Latin name…
Managing change
Nature has nudged us towards winter, the stunning autumnal leaves have started to drop from the trees and as I write this I have seen the first flakes of snow. Mornings and evenings seem to be ever drawing. The shift in season is apparent. Change is normal whether it is related to nature, the seasons…
Book reviews for my debut aromatherapy book
In the last 3 months, there have been 3 reviews of my book Working with unusual oils – an aromatic journey with lesser known essential oils. Volume 1, with more to come later in the year. The comments so far have been very humbling. The first was in the http://www.oshadhi.co.uk newsletter, written by Jonathan Hinde.…
Anosmia (loss of smell)
Anosmia is defined as the temporary or permanent lack of smell. Theoretically, hyposmia refers to sense of smell being reduced but you will sometimes hear this being referred to as anosmia too. It can occur for a number of reasons including illness, injury, obstruction or allergy e.g. head injury, sinus problems, dementia, hay fever or…
The importance of self-care
Self-care is the practice of actively looking after your mental health and well-being. Although the term is frequently used, many people still struggle with the concept, and some people even worry it is being selfish. In our current climate, where we have what can feel like diminishing control over our lives, it is more important…
Working with tree essential oils
I have to be honest and say I have always had a great affinity with essential oils that are derived from trees. I suspect this is because I spend too much time in my head and often need the sense of grounding that they afford. As we continue to walk through the challenging times of…
Aromatherapy, anxiety and stress
30-45% of my clients initially come to me for aromatherapy support because they are stressed or suffering with anxiety, but what do we mean by stress? Generally, it refers to pressures we feel under. Occasionally stress can be useful. Imagine you are taking an exam. If you don’t get a bit stressed by the idea…
What’s in a name?
Quite a lot when it comes to essential oils! As a student clinical aromatherapist, one of the first things I was taught was to only buy essential oils that had the Latin name as well as the common one, but why? Many essential oils have at least one, sometimes several common names. Immortelle may also…