I was recently named the Pacific Regional Representative for the Alliance of International Aromatherapists. They're a fantastic organization that's working very hard to promote the health benefits of aromatherapy in both alternative and mainstream medicine. Whether you're a professional aromatherapist or simply a fan who wants to learn more, I strongly encourage my readers to support this group and their work!
Had a great time tonight at BodyNerds. It's always great to be among friends and fellow mavens. Tonight's BodyNerdsmeeting was all about the abdomen and digestion and featured great chats with:
Marty Ryan, director of massage at The Tummy Temple and director of the Love Your Guts seminars.
Dr. Marnie Frisch ND, naturopathic doctor who works out of the Edmonds Wellness Clinic.
and
Me!
I spoke about using essential oils for digestion. All of the talks were well received, and I liked how we shared a common topic. It allowed us to work off each other a bit, and Marty and Marnie's talks helped lay the groundwork for some things I wanted to touch on.
I recorded my talk on my laptop. Will fiddle around with it over the next several days and see if I can get it edited down to a manageable, shareable file for this blog.
Thank you Melissa and Teresa for another awesome, nerdy night!
Hey, Seattle folks. You're invited to come hear me speak about "Using Essential Oils to Aid Digestive Issues" at the next BodyNerds meeting. BodyNerds is an organization geared towards the interests of massage therapists, reflexologists, chiropracters, naturopaths, and anyone interested in anatomy. This meeting's theme will be "Digestion and the Abdomen"
It's happening at Taj Yoga this Friday, May 9th from 6:30pm-9:30pm. Admission is $15.
Details available at: www.bodynerds.com
Valentine's Day is almost here. Need a last-minute gift? How about a gift certificate for calm by leslie goods or services? Call (425) 445-3759 or email me and I'll set you up with a lovely Valentine's-themed gift certificate in a pretty gold "pillow" box. It's an easy and much-appreciated gift for your sweetie!
It's holiday time! I've got a large selection of beautiful gift certificates. A gift certificate for an Aromatic Reflexology session or a massage makes a great gift for friends and family. Or you could make it for a dollar amount and let them buy a custom aromatherapy blend and a nebulizing diffuser. I've even got pretty gold "pillow boxes" to make your gift really sparkle. Contact me early to get the best selection.
(The following italicized text is borrowed from Jennifer Stephens, LRRT “What Is the Difference Between a Nebulizer and a Diffuser?”. Visit http://www.diffuserworld.com/Whats%20the%20difference.aspx to read the article in its entirety.)
One of the biggest challenges I encounter as an aromatherapist is explaining to people what true aromatherapy is. There are countless candles, air fresheners, and soaps on the market that smell very nice and call themselves “aromatherapy”, but what I (and other true aromatherapists) do is different. I’m talking about the therapeutic use of genuine and authentic essential oils on the body.
The most common way to do this is through massage. We add the essential oils to a massage oil base and rub them into the skin. But another effective (and pleasant) way to experience the health benefits of essential oils is by diffusing them into the air with a nebulizing diffuser.
What’s a nebulizing diffuser?
A diffuser is any device which allows a liquid to evaporate, thereby putting a scent into the surrounding environment. You may have seen diffusers that use a tealight candle to warm a bowl. The heat from the bowl then warms the oil, causing it to evaporate and to scent the air. These diffusers are often beautiful and are great at scenting a room, but they do not provide the physical therapeutic benefits of the oil. Heat tends to alter the chemical composition of an essential oil, which can destroy its purity and therapeutic value. Also, the size and availability of breathable molecules are mostly filtered out by the nose [before it can be inhaled and absorbed by the lungs].
A nebulizing diffuser forces the break down of essential oils into very tiny particles. It requires a high velocity, pressurized air stream and a specially designed jet nozzle. The rate of evaporation is highly accelerated and occurs almost instantly.
Nebulization is absolutely the best way to provide both aroma and therapeutic healing value with essential oils. It does not alter the chemical composition of the oils. It breaks down pure essential oil molecules without separation of the mixture. It produces a particle size small enough for the lungs and body to absorb them rapidly. Its only drawback is expense—it costs more to create a steady pressurized air flow than to create heat or rotate a fan. However, no method of diffusing is as effective in preserving the natural healing qualities of essential oils.
Breaking down the oil in its natural state maintains purity and provides the most effective bioavailable therapy to the cells of the human body. Nebulization is the only method of diffusion that creates particles small enough to reach the deep part of the lungs.
In conclusion, if all you want to do is provide a pleasant scent to your environment, any diffuser will work fine. But if you want to use essential oils for their maximum healing qualities and pure therapeutic benefit, only a nebulizer will do the job correctly and effectively.
This is why doctors and respiratory professionals prescribe the use of a nebulizer to administer inhalants of a medicinal or therapeutic nature.
calm by leslie is affiliated with Diffuser World, providers of the best nebulizing diffusers available. Shop their online store to see the entire selection, (I recommend the Aroma-Globe or the Aroma-Pro, enter coupon code A136SAVE5 at checkout and save an additional 5%), or contact me for a live demonstration.
Greetings from snowy Denver, Colorado! I'm just packing up to head home from what has been an amazing 11 days. Last weekend I was in Chicago, IL studying with Kurt Schnaubelt and Monika Haas of the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy. The 3-Day seminar was called "Survival and Serenity" and provided a wealth of information about how using quality essential oils in and on your person can address many different health and wellness issues.
After four days visiting family in the Chicago area, I hopped a plane to Denver where I attended the Alliance of International Aromatherapists' "International Clinical Aromatherapy Conference and Wellness Expo". (Phew, that was a mouthful.) This was an extraordinary weekend where some huge names in aromatherapy, including Robert Tisserand and Dr. Daniel Pénoël, came and shared their research, passion, and ideas about essential oils and aromatherapy with the conference attendees.
I am now more passionate and excited than ever about my aromatherapy practice. I now know for a fact that essential oils are an extraordinary powerful and potent means to better health. In order to share this passion with as many of you as I can, I am ready to make an extraordinary offer:
Now through December 31, 2007, receive 50% off an Aromatherapy Consultation or an Aromatic Reflexology session. (Limit one per customer. Appointment must be booked and must take place on or before December 31, 2007. Offer applies only to standard session and its usual content and not to aromatherapy products which fall outside of this description. Please contact Leslie with any questions.)
I hope you'll take advantage of this great opportunity to experience true aromatherapy. I think you'll find it really helpful.
Effective September 12, 2007, the following services and rates will apply. All previous promotions and specials will be void by Sept 11, 2007 (with prepaid offers and prepaid gift certificates still being honored).
SERVICES AND RATES
• THE REFRESHER - A short visit for when you just need a quick pick-me-up. Includes relaxing herbal tea, essential oil foot soak, hot towel wrap, custom-blended aromatherapy treatment and 30 minutes of table time*.
This appointment is booked for 45 minutes. [cost: $45]
• THE RELAXER - A good choice for when you need more than one area worked on, but don’t have time for a lengthy session. This is also the one to choose for a standard reflexology session. Includes relaxing herbal tea, essential oil foot soak, custom-blended aromatherapy treatment, hot towel wrap and 60 minutes of table time*.
This appointment is booked for 75 minutes. [cost: $75]
• THE RENEWAL – The longest session, with time for a full body massage. Includes relaxing herbal tea, essential oil foot soak, custom-blended aromatherapy treatment, hot towel wrap and 90 minutes of table time*.
This appointment is booked for 1¾ hour. [cost: $100]
• AROMATIC REFLEXOLOGY – The most holistic of all calm by leslie services! Together we will address mind-body and spirit with a session that includes a thorough client lifestyle intake, relaxing herbal tea, peppermint or rosemary salt scrub for the feet, essential oil foot soak, custom-blended aromatherapy take-home product, hot towel wrap and full reflexology session. You will leave feeling refreshed, relaxed, renewed and very well cared for. My clients’ favorite!
This appointment is booked for 2 hours. [cost: $120]
• AROMATHERAPY CONSULTATION – Learn the health benefits of true aromatherapy (hint: It’s not about smelly candles!) in this session. Session includes a cup of relaxing herbal tea and a thorough client lifestyle intake. I will then custom-blend one or more essential oil products for you to use at home. You will be surprised and delighted by the benefits of using therapeutic essential oils on your body.
This appointment is booked for 45 minutes. Session includes no table time or bodywork. Client may be required to return 24 hours later to pick up products. Cost of session is for consulting only, and does not include cost of final aromatherapy product(s). [cost: $45]
*“Table Time” refers to actual massage/bodywork time on the massage table, and can include any combination of the following techniques: Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, neuromuscular trigger-point technique, reflexology, skin exfoliation, passive gymnastics & stretching, and stretching instruction.
OUTCALLS: I will come to your location for chair massage, reflexology or massage*. These sessions do not include tea, foot soaks, or aromatherapy. The cost is $1/minute, (with a 60 minute minimum) plus a $25 travel fee. Residents outside of Sammamish, WA city limits also pay a 50 cents/mile travel charge.
* Massage outcalls for established clients only.
DISCOUNTS:
• Pre-pay for six (of the same kind) of sessions, get a 10% discount.
• Refer a friend, get $10 off your next session after their first visit.
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Tuesdays through Saturdays: 8:00am-noon, 2:00pm – 6pm (5:30 on Wed)
Closed Sundays and Mondays
I just got back from another fabulous aromatherapy weekend with Jade Shutes and Michelle Thibert. We learned about Aromas and the Mind, which basically means the effects of essential oils on psychological and emotional issues. It's in this area, the mind, where aromatherapy can be most impactful.
A lot of people, if they think about aromatherapy at all, think it means perfumed candles and lavender dish soap. But true aromatherapy has to do, very specifically, with the use of geniune and authentic essential oils on the body to impact and improve health.
Essential oils are the volatile oils that come from aromatic plants, trees, and seeds. The oil is distilled from these botanicals under very strict guidelines...and nothing else is added to them. That lavender dishsoap or that ginger hand cream? Quite likely synthetic perfumes, which can be made to smell very close to the real thing but contain none of the therapeutic benefits.
Here's an article by Dr. Andrew Weil offering his opinion on aromatherapy. While I obviously have a deeper belief in this modality I am pleased that he, too, sees it as having strong benefits.
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