Halloween is a tradition passed down from the Celtic pagan celebration of Samhain (pronounced Sowen) which marked the end of the harvest and transition into winter, which was often associated with death. It is said that on Halloween that the veil between the worlds thins allowing the dead to communicate with the living realm. This became a time of great celebration with ornate costumes and divination or fortune-telling. The traditions were mostly predominant in European countries (or those colonized by Europeans.)  In the United States, Halloween didn't take foothold until the mid-to-late 1800s with the influx of Irish immigrants during the Potato Famine. Also, at this time trick or treating was incorporated into Halloween celebrations.

5 Fun Ways to Celebrate Halloween/Samhain:

1. Try a little divination. You don't have to be an expert tarot card reader or anything like that. Grab a couple candles (try our divination oil to dress the candles) and an offering plate to the spirits (try our Samhain Botanical Blend) on October 31st and it can be as simple as automatic writing - just let your mind go and the words will flow! You may be surprised when you read them when you are finished. You can use a pendulum and ask some simple yes/no type questions; try a dark water bowl scrying or if you have a black mirror or crystal ball; or have a cup of tea uses a loose blend and read the leaves at the bottom of the cup.
2. Make some magical treats. Try out some Mulled Wine or Cider, Mugwort Tea, Spiced Apples and Pomegranates, Soul Cakes, Cranberry muffins or bread, Gingerbread, Pumpkin bread or pie and of course treat your self to some Halloween candy!
3. Burn some incense: Whether you are home on Halloween bestowing trick or treaters with candy or having a festive party, you can set the mood by burning some loose herbal incense blends. You can purchase small cauldrons on Amazon or Etsy for under $20.00 too and the smoke billows forth in such a magical way. Apple, Nutmeg, Mint, and Sage blends are a great choice, though I prefer some cinnamon and clove in the mix. For some extra kick if you plan on doing any divination work, you can add some Mugwort or Wormwood, but take special care and note any safety precautions - both will also give you very intensely vivid dreams.
   
4. Decorate a Halloween Tree. I have an artificial Christmas Tree that I co-opted for the season. You can add festive purple or orange lights, dried flowers, bundles of herbs or witch balls, tarot cards, feathers, masks, pumpkin ornaments, cobwebs, and anything else you want!
5. Try some Halloween Arts & Crafts: Go to your local craft store or pop-up halloween shop and go wild! Grab some seasonal silk flowers, anything from their Halloween decorations and make some fun decorations for your house and your Halloween tree! PS. don't forget the glitter! 

Halloween is a magical time for all who celebrate, whether it is a sacred day of group or solitary rituals and spellcasting, trick or treating with the kids, or going to a lavish party. Find the magic in the little things and celebrate!

I've been steeped in research on how plants, flowers, earth, resins, oils, and other materials are used in magickal practices throughout different traditions. Its a lot more esoteric than the standard therapeutic approach, but it has been a wonderful exploration into plant lore and folk magic. 

Smudging has become a popular practice in recent years used to remove negative energies from the home and other personal spaces, but its origins come from the Indigenous people of North America. It is important to remember that smudging ceremonies were sacred rituals to the Indigenous people and furthermore that until 1978, they could be jailed or even killed because it was illegal for them to practice their religion. There are also issues of sustainability due to the over-harvesting of White Sage in particular due to the uptick in popularity. Is Burning Sage Cultural Appropriation? Here’s How To Smoke Cleanse In Sensitive Ways is an eye opening look at the practice of smudging and its origins and implications.

Many other plants and herbs have protective and purifying properties that can be used to spiritually cleanse the home and other personal spaces. These herbs can be burned as incense, carried in sachets or charms, their essential oils could be diffused or used to create an energy cleansing spray, or they could be placed in offering bowls.

Here are my Top 10 Choices for alternatives to sage for energy cleansing.

 

1. Angelica Root is both available as an herb and an essential oil. It has been used for protection, purification, healing, hex breaking, and house blessings. Both the herb and oil have an earthy woodsy aroma.
2. Bergamot fruits or essential oils could be used for protection and cleansing rituals as they energize the aura, and protect against evil and illness. 
3. Peppers: Black, Cayenne, and Chili have long been used for protection, banishing negative energies, and to remove jealousy toward you, as well as uncrossing curses.
4. Dragon's Blood Resin is also used in incense form to protect and purify spaces since the resin does not produce an essential oil, though you can infuse vegetable oils with the resin. It has strong banishing powers against negative influences, energies, and even bad habits.
5. Elderflowers/Elderberries  are worn to provide protection against evil, negativity, and attackers. They can also be used in incense blends or other offerings.
6. Juniper Berries are available as both herb and essential oils. They are used for cleansing, purification, protection against accidents and illness, magickal protection, and for banishing rituals.
7. Lemons can be used as the fruit or essential oil for purification, protection, happiness, spiritual opening, and to remove energetic blockages.
8. Mugwort can be used in herb or essential oil applications for protection, banishment, and consecration of the self and personal spaces.
9. Rose Petals or essential oil can be used for protection, healing, and spiritual work, especially white, pink, or red rose petals.
10. Wormwood is also available in herb and essential oil form. It is a powerful tool in banishing and protection work helping to remove anger, inhibit anger and fighting, and helps protect from the evil eye. It can be carrier in your vehicle to protect from accidents on dangerous roads. 

Other materials that are excellent for their protective and cleansing properties: activated charcoal, baking soda, sea salt, coconut milk, egg shell powder, and vinegar. 

I use a fair amount of sage in my aromatic creations including incense, sachets, charms, and infused oils, but I am cognizant of its meaning, place, and origin in spiritual practices. There are numerous other plants, flowers, herbs, resins, and natural materials that provide the same level of protection as sage. As always be mindful of practices and traditions especially as they become more mainstream, as many have been impacted by the legacy of colonialism and oppression. 

Aromatherapy, among other complementary alternative medicine practices are just that - complementary. These practices are not meant to replace traditional medical practices and treatments entirely. Body autonomy is crucial and we will all have different needs and course of treatment. I was diagnosed with a Circadian Rhythm Disorder - Delayed Sleep Phase Type a few months ago. While there are numerous essential oils used for sleep and relaxation, in my case, there is no combination of essential oils that can and will help me sleep. I've tried diffusing them, using rollers, and balms with no luck. Now this does not mean that essential oils do not work for sleep - they just don't work for me. My course of action was to work with my sleep doctor, sleep therapist, and sleep psychiatrist to incorporate prescription sleeping pills with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia and Sleep Phase Therapy. This is perfectly okay and I am now sleeping a full eight hours a night for probably the first time in over 20 years. This is a chronic disorder and one that I will always struggle with. Most likely, I will need to take prescription sleeping pills long term. 

​If you are committed to natural holistic living and practices, common sense and risk assessments are crucial because in some cases, you can end up doing more harm than good. I have to take prescription medication for my sleep disorder, ADD/ADHD, high blood pressure, and because of my history of depression. There are plenty of essential oils that I can use to complement those traditional treatments, but I cannot rely on them 100% and remain healthy and functional at the same time. Essential oils can be uplifting and psychoactive, but for those with chronic and severe depression, anxiety, panic disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders they cannot be used as a stand alone treatment. I can use all the essential oils in my house (and there are over 200 of them) and it is not going to treat suicidal depression. I will leave that to the medical professionals. 

Now to address the elephant in the room, essential oils and herbal remedies are NOT a substitute for vaccines, they do not function in the same physiological way. Yes, many essential oils and herbs have antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties, but they are not going to provide the same level of protection as vaccines or other traditional medical treatments. Essential oils are chemicals, yes they are derived from natural plant material, but it is their chemical properties that give them their therapeutic benefits. 

Again this comes down to risk assessment, while you might feel that your family is doing just fine without vaccines because you have your essential oils and herbal remedies, you absolutely have to consider the risk you pose to others, especially those who are chronically ill or immunocompromised - like cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, children or adults who have had organ transplants who will be on anti-rejection drugs for the rest of their lives, anyone with immune disorders like HIV/AIDS, and of course infants who are too young to be vaccinated. When my nephew became critically ill at 6 weeks old, if he was exposed to measles or other preventable diseases it would have caused even more critical health issues or killed him. That is a viable risk and one that needs to be taken into consideration. 

The point I am trying to make as an aromatherapist and herbalist is that they are not a 100% cure all meant to replace traditional medical practices. I would love for that to be true and to not have to take prescription medications or to see my doctors all the time, but that is not my reality and never will be. Use common sense and assess the risk, not only for yourself, but for your family, and for those you come into contact on a daily basis. Peoples lives may depend on it.

I write a lot about the nuances and specifics of French Aromatherapy (or Aromatic Medicine) because not only is it a topic of interest, but it is also the subject of my final research paper for my French Aromatherapy certification. I completed the coursework almost a year ago and got sidetracked by business development and other certification programs so I ended up putting the final paper aside. It is still a work in progress, but I have done considerable research on the subject matter.

There is a lot of buzz and significantly misinterpreted information when in comes to the actual practice of French Aromatherapy, much of which comes from the MLM (Multi Level Marketing) side of the aromatherapy spectrum. The information passed down under the rubric of French Method/Model comes from Young Living and doTERRA and is a very loose interpretation of the actual practice of French Aromatherapy. 

In this blog post, I am going to break down what the MLM companies are telling their reps and members about the "French method or French model" and counterbalance that with the actual practices of French Aromatherapy and general practices across the professional aromatherapy industry. They overlap in theory, but are extremely nuanced in approach.

The "Schools" of Aromatherapy: British, German, and French.

• Where did the notion of different aromatherapy schools come from? Simply put, the originated from MLM marketing campaigns and as a result it misleads people about the practice of aromatherapy. Countless times, I have seen rhetoric referring to the British and German schools being outmoded, and this could not be further from the truth since aromatherapy educators do not teach the practice based on British and German methods.
• The aromatherapy industry combines all three modes of application: topical, inhalation, and internal. Some aromatherapists, educators, and industry professionals do not practice or advocate internal use because of the inherent risk involved in consuming essential oils through improper methodologies. You can listen to your body all you want, but that undiluted lemon oil floating in your water could be damaging your kidneys and liver -- and you may not know it. It call comes down to a matter of personal preference and judgment calls. French aromatherapy, which is being referred to more and more as "aromatic medicine" encompasses more than just ingesting essential oils. At its heart, it combines aromatherapy and herbalism into its own unique practice.
• Please read: The Truth Behind Aromatherapy Schools of Thought and 'British vs. French Aromatherapy' – a myth... or a smokescreen? for further information on the myths of different schools of aromatherapy and their origins. 

The Importance of Essential Oil Safety and the work of Robert Tisserand & Rodney Young within the practice of French Aromatherapy.

• While some MLM insiders discredit Tisserand & Young's work stating it is outmoded, doesn't apply to the French method, or is stringently dogmatic and only takes into account dermal and inhalation - this is not true. I had the privilege of taking Robert Tisserand's Essential Oil Safety Masterclass in 2018. In addition to our coursework, we had live Q&A sessions with him throughout the duration of the class. The course addresses the proper methods of internal use of essential oils and respective safety concerns.
• Tisserand & Young's, the Essential Oil Safety book is one of the recommended texts for the French Aromatherapy certification course, and is referenced throughout the essential oil monographs studied in the program. 
• Regarding the safety data on the chemical composition of essential oils, this mostly pertains to the chemical constituents that are at the highest levels in a particular oil. Lets, use Methyl salicylate as an example, Birch and Wintergreen are comprised of over 90% of Methyl salicylate. Given the numerous safety precautions associated with it, the results are the safety warnings. If they only had, 0.1% Methyl salicylate, the safety warnings would be adjusted accordingly. The same applies to oils that have high amounts of 1,8 cineole. There will always be exceptions to the rule as some chemical constituents in any amount can be hazardous. As with all aromatherapists and industry professional, we are all concerned about the quality of essential oils and the growing conditions. To say that we are not, is irresponsible and flat out incorrect. Safety is not fear mongering. If your SUV was recalled due to a safety issue, wouldn't you want to know about it? If your medication has dangerous side effects, wouldn't you want to know about it? The same principle applies to essential oils.
• Read Grasse Phyt’Arom 2017 – what we learned in France about French aromatherapy from the Tisserand Institute. To summarize, what was learned from true French Aromatherapists is what is being taught in general aromatherapy across the board with respect to standard practices and safety concerns and this is in stark contrast to what the MLM folks purport to be the "french method."

MLM companies use the French method/model which places a high emphasis on the quality of essential oils and encourages "aggressive" use of essential oils.

• Regarding quality, all aromatherapy industry professionals and educators place a high emphasis on using high quality pure essential oils. Perfuming is the only exception to the rule because if you are creating a perfume for aromatic purposes only, the quality of the essential oil isn't as crucial as it is not being used for its therapeutic benefit. However, that is not a be all end all rule, if you are creating a natural perfume to be used for its calming and relaxing benefits, then you would definitely want to use high quality essential oils. That said, perfuming is not covered in the scope of French Aromatherapy. I encourage you to read this article about the quality of essential oils by Jade Shutes for further clarification on the quality of essential oils.
• "Aggressive" use of essential oils through using higher dilution ratios (the amount of essential oil to carrier oil ratio) or "neat" undiluted application is taught by aromatherapists. BUT, special attention is given to the longevity of undiluted use as this should be a short term approach, not a standard daily approach to using essential oils. Some aromatherapists prefer not to use or advocate the use of undiluted essential oils due to the potential risks for sensitization and other contraindications based on the type of oil being used and its dermal safety precautions coupled with any medical issues that may be present. Aromatherapists are not a monolith, we have educated ourselves and continue to advance our education and we approach our personal or business practices based on our findings. While I am trained in French Aromatherapy and am generally neutral about ingestion as long as it is done safely, I personally, do not feel like I have the need to ingest essential oils at this time or recommend that mode of application to my clients and customers. Additionally, as a business owner, there are liability and insurance issues along with FDA regulations regarding consumable products.
• According to the study and practice of French aromatherapy with regard to undiluted "neat" topical application:
  • ​High dosages and undiluted applications are warranted at certain times and for specific conditions. Sometimes higher dilutions and undiluted applications are particularly useful if treating a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. The safety advice regarding this approach and topical application in general is to 1) avoid prolonged use of the same essential oils for long periods of time and 2) Avoid the use of undiluted essential oils unless otherwise indicated.[Source: French Aromatherapy, New York Institute of Aromatic Studies] While they do utilize undiluted use of essential oils, it is for special circumstances over short periods of time, not multiple times a day for an indeterminate amount of time.

Ingestion of Essential Oils, Europeans widely practice this because they follow the French model, but everyone else follows the British model and is firmly against the practice.

• I have written about this subject matter on a few occasions to try to dispel the myths regarding internal use of essential oils. French Aromatherapy: The Truth About Internal Use of Essential Oils, Ingesting Essential Oils: What You Should Know from a French Aromatherapist, and The Mythos of Cooking with Essential Oils
• The primary reason many aromatherapists are against the practice is because MLM reps with minimal (if any) formal training espouse putting drops of Lemon oil in your water or Peppermint oil in your tea -- neglecting the fact that oil and water do not mix therefore are ingesting undiluted essential oils. There are numerous safety precautions pertaining to ingesting essential oils, just because they are natural or have GRAS status does not mean that they are safe to consume every day for an indefinite amount of time. 
• This first thing mentioned when it comes to oral use of essential oils is the list of an excipient that need to be used in conjunction with the practice, including: honey, alcohol, solubol/disper, gelatin capsules, herbal tinctures, neutral tablets, sugar cubes, fatty oil capsules, charcoal, tinctures, bread, rice flour capsules, syrups, or dried powdered herb capsules. [Source: French Aromatherapy, New York Institute of Aromatic Studies] When adding an essential oil to a capsule, it should always be diluted with a carrier oil.

• The next immediate necessity with oral use is the dosage and longevity based upon acute and chronic conditions. Note, they do not teach anyone to drink essential oils in water every day or to cook with essential oils either. There are very specific reasons to treat acute or chronic conditions with internal use of essential oils.

• The AIA (Alliance of International Aromatherapists) does not allow anyone affiliated with MLMs to join their organization. This has less to do with ingesting essential oils and more to do with the fact that the vast majority of MLM reps have no formal aromatherapy training. You have to have completed at least a 100 hour aromatherapy program to be an associate member. MLM essential oil reps are not being banned from membership solely because they are part of an MLM company. It is a pretty standard practice with membership in industry specific organizations such a NAHA and AIA, their reputation stands upon their members and in order to be a member you need the appropriate credentials. I probably wouldn't be able to join a professional organization based on interest and minimal education alone. There are plenty of interest groups or meet up groups for that.

Detoxing​ is a normal response to your body removing toxins from your body.... use more oils...

• ​I don't know if this gets wrapped up in the French method or is just a MLM notion, but detoxing has been widely discredited across the whole aromatherapy industry as more and more people have had serious adverse reactions and have become sensitized to some, if not all essential oils and fragrances of any kinds -- and that is irreversible.
• You can be allergic to essential oils or become completely sensitized to them. Fact or Fiction: On the Topic of Allergies + Sensitization by Kayla Fioravanti outlines and responds to these dangerous  myths.
• If you want to truly understand the dangers of this myth, please read: The Unspoken Truth About Essential Oils: Lessons Learned, Wisdom Gained by Kayla Fioravanti and Stacey Haluka.

Negative effects of essential oils are extremely rare and no one has ever died from essential oils

• Plants can be deadly, whether in their natural format or via essential oils. People have died from consuming deadly poisonous plants like water hemlock and digitalis. In actuality, numerous scientific articles and journals have documented cases of essential oil injuries and fatalities, which were due to ingestion. For more specific information on injuries and fatalities: Essential Oil Ingestion: Documented Side Effects, Injuries, and Deaths​.
• There are few organizations who publish injury reports and adverse reactions, it is helpful to keep in mind these are self-reported. Many more people are injured and do not report it or do not realize that their injuries came from improper essential oil use. The vast major of injuries are due to undiluted application and ingestion. While millions of people use essential oils everyday, it may seem like a small amount, but these injuries do occur and it is something to be mindful about.
  • Essential Oil Injury Report Summary for 2018
  • Essential Oil Injury Report Summary for 2017
  • Adverse Reaction Database
  • Report on Essential Oil Injuries and Adverse Effects
• A note on GRAS (Generally regarded as safe) status, this does not necessarily indicate that there are zero safety concerns when it comes to ingestion. Things that were deemed GRAS by the FDA were done in parts per million not individual drops in a single beverage or dish. This article clearly outlines the particulars of essential oils and GRAS status and the confusion surrounding this issue. 

In conclusion, and I say this a lot, the aromatherapy industry loves essential oils and we want everyone to experience their benefits and to do so safely. Do you need to be an aromatherapist to use them? Of course not, but knowledge is power. Safety precautions are not tantamount to rabid fear-mongering. The aromatherapy industry is not just a bunch of kill-joy gatekeepers, we are here to help and glad to do so. I answer countless questions on a regular basis from people who contact me personally with questions regarding safety, myths, and proper use of oils. Ask questions, learn something. This is how I became an aromatherapist.

Ever since I completed my French Aromatherapy Certification coursework last year, I have been curious about the trend of folks cooking with essential oils as a means of ingestion often touted under the tutelage of the "french method." Nowhere in the certification program was cooking with essential oils even once mentioned, nor have I seen it in any authentic French Aromatherapy articles, blog posts, or books. Cooking with essential oils seems to have come out of the MLM faction of the essential oils industry. Personally, I don't see the point of the practice as it is both expensive and wasteful, but lets delve a little deeper into the mythos surrounding the practice.

Setting aside the safety concerns about improper ingestion of essential oils, my gut feeling on cooking with essential oils is that it is nothing more than an expensive waste. I look at it the same way as cooking with alcohol -- my bourbon chicken is going to taste great, but I'm not going to get drunk on it because the heat required to cook or bake the dish burns off the alcohol content. The same would apply to essential oils, if you are using them for their therapeutic benefit, the heat is most likely taking that away and you will be left with expensive flavoring. So why not use fresh or dried herbs instead or even herbal infusions?

Essential oils do not contain any vitamins or minerals like herbs do. I have and am continuing to study herbalism extensively and one of the things I love about true French Aromatherapy is that it is a combination of herbalism and aromatherapy. They exist in harmony and balance and practitioners chose the best mode of application - would making an herbal poultice for a burn be a better application than putting an essential oil salve on it? Both are trusted methods of treatment and viable options.

Regarding the safety of ingesting essential oils in food, let us revisit the fact that essential oils are fat soluble meaning they are attracted the fats and not water. Once again, OIL AND WATER DO NOT MIX and that is just elementary science. With any mode of internal application of essential oils, the same safety principles apply, some essential oils are mucous membrane irritants meaning they could cause irritation in your mouth or digestive tract. Other essential oils can interact with certain medications when ingested. These are things to consider with the practice.

The potency of essential oils cannot be understated - you will often see the example comparing one drop of peppermint essential oil being the equivalent of twenty-six cups of peppermint tea. Would you drink that much peppermint tea a day? every day? GRAS (Generally regarded as safe) status does not necessarily indicate that there are zero safety concerns when it comes to ingestion. Things that were deemed GRAS by the FDA were done in parts per million not individual drops in a single beverage or dish. This article clearly outlines the particulars of essential oils and GRAS status. 

As an experiment, I wanted to make Rose infused brownies, and I was not going to use a single drop of my precious and expensive Rose essential oil in it. However, I used a rose petal infused olive oil in addition to some powdered rose petals in the brownie mix and it was delicious. In my herbalism studies, there are so many amazing food and beverage preparations with natural materials that do not contain a single drop of essential oils. I prefer herbal infusions for flavoring. I've made infused honey, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar and am eager to experiment further.

If you want to cook with essential oils, no one is stopping you, but consider that there are much better alternatives to doing so that are safer, less expensive, and more sustainable in the long run. 

I have been a little quiet lately, but that is because I am up to a lot of exciting new endeavors. First and foremost, I bought a house and am settling and moving on November 5th. I am super excited to have a larger facility to make my products, have small workshops, and facilitate client consultations.

Here are some other exciting things to note for November and December 2018:

• In October, I was interviewed for a radio show on CUTV on aromatherapy and my business.
• I was a featured member on the International Association of Women's blog in October.
• I am being interviewed for a video feature on the School of Natural Skincare's website.
• I recorded a podcast about aromatherapy and my business for the POWER women's organization. I also was interviewed and featured in the Fall issue of their magazine. I will also be recording a video feature with them as well.
• Stay tuned for the launch of my winter aromatherapy product line.
• I enrolled in an Introduction to Perfumery course through the Online Perfume School in the UK.
• I am also enrolled in an Herbal Immersion course through the The Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. 
• Coming in 2019, I will be working on a series of aromatherapy workshops in the Philadelphia area as well as creating Zoom classes on various topics.