by Leslie Moldenauer | | Essential Oils
According to HelpGuide.org, burnout is “a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands” [1]. Here are my top tips to avoid emotional and physical burnout.
Having experienced burnout myself for the better part of three years, I know it pervades every nook and cranny of your mind and body until you feel like you have cement blocks tied to your limbs and your memory is…well all but a memory….pun intended.
Mental Health Awareness Day is October 10, 2019. My goal through my business is to help guide you to be well in every way possible.
According to the Harvard Business Review, 1 in 10 employees is a high risk of burnout [2]. I am confident when I say that the number is similar if not worse for stay at home moms.
So, how can we better care for ourselves to avoid burnout?
The top three things are proper sleep, adequate nutrition and water, and moving our body. These things are the base or foundation of wellness. We cannot expect to go to bed late and wake early and expect to be able to keep up with life’s demands.
Everyone thrives from varying hours of sleep, 7-9 is ideal. Don’t fool yourself if your number is 4 or 5, this is not ideal. The fuel we provide our body will dictate our wellness. We truly are what we eat. Be sure to sip water throughout the day. ½ to 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight is the goal. If you drink dehydrating beverages such as coffee, tea, wine, or soda, you will need to up your intake.
Moving on to our basic needs, here are a few things I recommend.
Asking for Help
“Ask for help, not because you are weak, but because you want to remain strong.”-Les Brown
Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I’ve got this? I do not need any help.” Or possibly you do ask for help, and then it does not get done the way you would have done it, and you say to yourself, “Nothing gets done right around here unless I do it myself!” Perfectionist anyone? I am saying this from my own life experience. This was me, big-time!
Ask for help! You are human, so let the notion of, “I can do it all by myself,” go. I will not argue the fact that you can, in fact, do it all by yourself, but at what expense is the question. At the end of the day, if it aids you in taking better care of yourself, you are winning. Keep it up!
Speak your Truth
This sounds simple enough, right? Well, for many of us, not so much. We fear what others will think, we worry about how we may be perceived. “Can’t handle it”, or “not good enough” type thinking can be troublesome for many of us.
Speak your truth, in all of your relationships. But by far, the number one person you need to be truthful with is yourself. It is ok to admit that you do not have it all together. It is ok to admit you’re overwhelmed. It is ok to admit that you’re angry and resentful.
It is ok to not be ok.
Whatever it is, communicate it as calmly and lovingly as you can. Yes, even negative feelings need to be expressed when you are in a good place to do so. Holding in feelings of any kind is completely toxic to one person, in particular, you.
Creating your Container
“Boundaries are a part of self-care. They are healthy, normal, and necessary.”-Doreen Virtue
So, what do I mean by a container? Create, honor and follow through with clear boundaries! Boundaries are created to protect your energy. Honor what is yours and what is not. Do not allow others to cross the boundaries you have set for yourself.
To clear energy and purify our container it helps to perform rituals of sorts in order to move toward this goal. This can include meditation, mindfulness, practicing non-attachment, yoga, dance, song, and journaling; anything that brings you total peace and quiets the mind.
This also includes letting go of past hurts and deciding this is your time. It is time for letting go of what anyone else thinks, and living for one person, you.
Let’s shift to boundaries. A therapist shared this analogy, and it really stuck with me:
You buy a new house with a lovely flower box across the whole front yard. As you are tending to your flowers, a neighbor walks down the sidewalk and says, “That looks like crap! You need to do something about that. You call that gardening?” You smile and try to ignore him, and he walks away. You look at your flowers and decide you really like them! The next day you go to tend to your flowers and they have been torn out, ripped up from the roots. You head to the store and purchase something a bit different and replant them. Again, the neighbor walks by and insults your green thumb.
Are you going to say something or be quiet?
Does it matter that he does not like it?
Did you change your choice of flowers with the hope of pleasing him? Enter boundaries. Of course, you say something! This is your yard! You are not planting to please him, right?
Shift this to your real life. Do you have boundaries, or do you let others tell you how you should think, talk or act?
This is one very small piece of healthy boundaries.
One of the biggest aspects of creating boundaries is in knowing what you are willing to accept whether from family, friends, colleagues or strangers. The only person in this lifetime who you are going to be able to change is yourself. Letting go of the need to understand others is really hard, but it is important to try.
Reignite your Passion
One (of many) reasons why I experienced severe burnout is that I lost myself as a stay at home mom. I am a born nurturer, and if there is one thing I do very well, it is the role of a mother. But through 10 years at home, I really began to lose myself.
I love to draw and paint, I love to write, sing, dance, practice yoga, garden, and many other things that allow creative expression of self. I lost almost all of those things, and when I tried to resurrect them, I was already teetering dangerously close to adrenal burnout that it was a little to late to turn it around.
Do what you love!
This applies to jobs, relationships, all of it. If it cannot be fixed or reborn, it needs your careful self-examination.
Limit Screen Time
Just as I encourage those of our youngest generation, we need to limit screen time, news and social media and recharge.
Dr. Jean Twinge, San Diego State University psychologist and Dr. W. Keith Campbell, University of Georgia psychology professor found that after only one hour of screen time that many children exhibited lowered self-control and greater emotional instability than that or their peers [3]. Adults are no different!
This includes violent TV programming, especially if you are an empath or a highly sensitive person (HSS). Bring in as much joy as you are able.
Treat Yourself
Bliss Bath
Rose Absolute (Rosa x damascene) 6 drops
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) 4 drops
Epsom salt 1 cup
Unscented fragrance-free shampoo 1 Tbsp
Full fat crème ½ cup (optional)
Mix and add to bath after the water has run.
Light a candle, grab a glass of wine or sparkling water and relax.
Diffuser Blend
Turn the timer on your diffuser before you slip under the covers with your favorite nighttime blend.
Here is one of mine:
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) 4 drops
Marjoram (Origanum majorana) 3 drops
Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata) 2 drops
Neroli (Citrus aurantium) 1 drop
If you feel that you are exhausted all of the time, this is your body trying to tell you something. Listen in before it begins to scream.
Take care of yourself!
Sending you wishes for abundant health and happiness.
xo Leslie
References
[1] https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/burnout-prevention-and-recovery.htm
[2] https://hbr.org/2018/02/1-in-5-highly-engaged-employees-is-at-risk-of-burnout
[3] https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/11/11/too-much-screen-time-linked-to-anxiety-depression-in-young-children-and-teens/139931.html
The Most Common Cause Of Fatigue That Is Missed By Doctors
by Leslie Moldenauer | | Essential Oils, Spirit
I am honored to share my latest guest blog post by Virginia Joy Musacchio (V.Joy) MA, CCA, CBC., Categories of Grief & How Using Essential Oils Can Help. Joy has been working with and teaching about essential oils for over 30 years. She owns and runs Stillpoint Aromatics offering over 400 organic, wild-harvested and biodynamic oils. V. Joy teaches aromatherapy certification programs and weekend workshops as well as classes on metaphysics and emotional wellness. She also offers aromatherapy consultations and “readings” for wellness.
Categories of Grief & How Using Essential Oils Can Help
Grief by definition by Merriam Webster is deep and poignant distress caused by or as if by bereavement. One thing that all types of grief have in common is loss. And depending on the severity of the loss is the severity of the grief.
There are sub-categories so to speak of grief.
- Anticipatory Grief – this happens when we have sadness or sorrow when dealing with an impending loss.
- Grief “Normal Grief”-If there is even such a thing as normal grief. In this type of grief, we are able to move through our life and deal with the feelings that arise from the event. Eventually, the grief is integrated and we can move forward and even sometimes grow from the experience.
- Catastrophic or Traumatic Grief – This type of grief, levels us. It can freeze us in time. This type of grief occurs when the event changes our lives permanently and we are never the same.
- Delayed grief – This type of grief occurs when that event or death is not dealt with at the time but years later.
The above types of grief are personal friends of mine. With my mother’s impending death from cancer 36 years ago I experienced anticipatory grief in watching her and waiting for her to die. My father’s death fits into the category of normal grief. I was filled with sorrow when he passed, but I lived on. However, my mother’s death was catastrophic and my world ended when she passed. It is now 36 years later that I am dealing with the delayed grief of her death.
So now the question becomes, what to do with this. The most important thing when dealing with any type of grief is to NOT suppress it. One of the worst things that one can do is go on anti-depressants. All the pill does is make an intolerable situation or emotion tolerable. It creates a fake floor and the trauma is not dealt with and does not go away. The only way to allow healing and integration is to feel it, go into it (as uncomfortable and scary as that is).
So now the thing is to find “things” to help us do this. The hopeful news is that there are many things and actions that we can take that can help us on this journey and integrate the grief or at least learn how to walk with our grief. The point is not to make the grief go away, the point is to become friends with grief and develop the emotional courage to deal with the waves of grief that may continue to come for our lifetime (especially in traumatic or catastrophic grief).
- As I mentioned, the most important thing is to feel what you are feeling. Cry the tears, feel the rage, the sorrow, the hopelessness, the sadness, the anger, and stay with the feeling until it moves (and it will). Allow the feelings to pass.
- Developing a spiritual practice is imperative, as this will help you connect to what is greater than us and not feel alone or abandoned. Yoga (not for me), meditation and/or prayer help tremendously. These practices help harness the emotions and transmute the grief (even only if it temporary).
- Therapy… that is if you can find a competent therapist that understands grief. (Beware though, there are many shitty ones our there).
- Rituals such as burning incense in honor of your loved one, lighting candles, or talking to them every morning or night may help alleviate the feelings of loneliness, abandonment, and despair.
- Using essential oils is very powerful as the olfactory sense is the only sense that bypasses the Thalamus (brain), and has a direct and immediate effect on the limbic system and neocortex providing almost an instantaneous shift in the emotional body.
Being that I am a clinical aromatherapist, essential oils are my specialty, so here are a few essential oils that are quite helpful when dealing with the emotional body and grief:
- Neroli (Citrus var amara) – The oil for the emotional body. Wonderful for deep sadness, anxiety, depression, loss, and bereavement.
- Melissa (Melissa officinalis) – The oil for emotional shock and trauma.
- Rose (Rosa damascena) – The oil for the heart’s deep sorrow and for self-love.
- Cedarwood (any) – Cedarwoods provide comforting and support.
- Linden Blossom – Helps regain the sense of trust in the world.
- Fragonia (Agonis fragrans) – Helps restore the balance of the emotional body. Wonderfully calming and stabilizing.
- Angelica Root (Angelica archangelica) – Helps provide a feeling of protection and connection to whatever the Divine is for you
They can be diffused, blended in a crème, or used as a pillow spray before bedtime.
Allow yourself to honor and feel the grief. Be easy and gentle with yourself.
Blessings,
Virginia Joy
Supporting others when under stress….holistically
by Leslie Moldenauer | | Essential Oils
Using Essential oils to remove ticks and tick bites
**Everything that follows is from a viral Facebook post of mine that originated on May 25, 2017.
In an effort to combat the newest recommendation of putting peppermint essential oil on the tick while it is embedded. NOT a good idea, please do not apply anything to the tick.
For those of you who question the accuracy of the information I provided, I applaud you! Whether you are a believer or not, you should question and fact check everything you read, on the Internet or otherwise.
I am providing you with just a few of my findings. Some of the research papers are not available in full to the public unless paid, but I assure you I have them in full and have read them.
__________________________________________
The risks of infection and other problems from a tick bite increase if the removal isn’t correctly done. The CDC offers some warnings on tick removal. You should never:
• burn the tick with a hot object
• kill the tick while it’s still attached to you
• lubricate the tick with oil or other liquid
• twist the tick’s body when pulling it out
(Therefore, I do not see a benefit to using the twisting tool that was shared in the comments of the thread)
Healthline Tick Removal
_____________________________________________
“DO NOT try to burn the tick with a match or other hot object.
DO NOT twist the tick when pulling it out.
DO NOT try to kill, smother, or lubricate the tick with oil, alcohol, Vaseline, or similar material while the tick is still embedded in the skin.”
This can kill the tick before it disengages its mouthparts. It can also cause the tick to regurgitate its contents into the wound, increasing the likelihood of transmitting a number of diseases.
______________________________________________
Medline Plus Important Information
“Prompt removal of attached ticks is a prudent public health measure, especially in regions where Lyme disease is endemic”.
_______________________________________________
In Australia, ticks are even more deadly, causing paralysis in humans and easily killing small animals!
“In the past, there’s been a whole range of ‘urban myths’ — substances you need to put on ticks to remove them, everything from a lighted match to kerosene to nail polish remover,” Dr. Webb says.
“The problem is that will just make the tick agitated, and the more agitated it is, the more likely it is to inject saliva and toxin into the bite site.
“Even worse is if you try to remove a tick with your fingers, you’re actually just squeezing it and potentially squeezing more toxin into yourself.”
One of two methods they suggest killing the tick instantly by freezing it by using: Aerostart (a spray used to start car engines), ether-containing sprays (such as those that freeze off warts) or liquid nitrogen (which you’d need to access via your doctor). This would kill the tick instantly!
Next to freezing it, the second method is removing it “whole” as quickly as possible.
ABC AU Important Information
______________________________________________________
Placing peppermint essential oil, kerosene, petroleum jelly, etc…DOES NOT kill the tick quickly enough. Herein lies the issue: they will become agitated as you are essentially smothering them, greatly increasing the likelihood of them regurgitating their contents inside of you.
I watched the infamous video being shared on Facebook of applying peppermint essential oil to the tick. I ask that you search for it in the search bar, watch it and count how many seconds after applying the oil it takes for the tick to let go and remove it’s hold on its victim. 16 seconds! The tick crawled away, it did not kill it nearly quickly enough if at all…it needs to kill them instantly!
I very rarely share “opinions” in regards to important topics like these..know that I am a strong researcher, a critical thinker..and always look at risk vs benefit in all situations….so I wanted to be sure to validate my stance on this issue.
__________________________________________________
Additional Resources
CDC Ticks
NetDoctor Tick Removal
Lyme Net Europe
Everything you ever want to know about ticks, their mechanisms of feeding, findings of how often they regurgitate, etc. This shows how important prompt removal is.
Research Paper 1
Research Paper 2
Lastly, here is a good research paper on the prevention of tick bites using lemon eucalyptus extract that may be of interest to some of you who live in tick-infested areas of the country.
I hope that this information helps you!
Like so many practices in life, I encourage you to become educated on the proper use of essential oils. When using them, please do so cautiously, understanding that there is often misinformation on the internet. You can be assured that I support only educated and proven resources. While essential oils should not be feared they should be respected and used properly to ensure the safety of the individuals using them.
Please note that I am not a medical practitioner. The content of this website is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical advice. Do not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating any medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider. By using this website, you assume full responsibility and liability for your own actions.
Essential Oil Skeptics-Confirmation Bias
by Leslie Moldenauer | | Essential Oils
Is there anyone that is stress-free? Some say that a small amount of stress is healthy, as well as we can identify “good stress” (eustress) and “bad stress” (distress). There is one thing I can agree with, that stress reduction is just as important as stress management…and this all starts with our attitude and a whole lot of self-care/self-love.
The key is working to become more stress resilient…as we know completely eliminating stress is very unlikely. –Leslie Moldenauer
When we look at things logically and with a clear head, we can see that even our youngest are under stress. School, sports, strict schedules and always being on the move can stress out parent and child alike.
Now that I am in the school system I can easily see how much stress our youth is under. There is SO MUCH PRESSURE to not only succeed but to compete. I reiterate with my boys daily that perfection is simply not attainable, or desirable. This may not be a popular opinion, but once I became very clear with my boys that straight A’s were not only not expected, but also not encouraged, they let out a big exhale.
It is much more important to me that they learn life skills, that they are good people! These things are not taught in school nearly enough. I assure you, that is not me removing my own responsibility as their mom, however, much of our youth have little education on how to deal with the emotional aspects of life……..it is just not being focused on.
There are too many boxes that children are being put into…..I say break down the boxes!
Now let us look at how hard life can be sometimes for us adults. Adults have very real problems…and many of us do not hold space for others, forgetting that even in the worst of moments…that everyone has a story, everyone has wounds, and everyone struggles…just as you do.
Ego often takes precedence over the spirit. Myself, included, sometimes when we are so buried in our own stuff we forget that others have real problems too, and maybe even more important, that others may be suffering.
So do we suffer in silence? Do we speak up? Do we ask for help? Asking for someone to hold space for us does not mean that we are looking for our problems to be solved, for anyone to truly “get involved” or anything of the sort.
You can hold space for someone by just being there. You can offer gentle, non-judgmental support and guidance. By simply being there, you can make a big difference in someone’s life. By telling my boys that I am there for them no matter what they are feeling or what they think they have “done”, it immediately reduces their stress. By showing them that their feelings are normal..and even expected, helps them to release the attachment they have to it. Separating yourself and becoming non-attached is THE single healthiest thing you can do for yourself at any given moment.
Non-attachment is freedom from ‘things’. It is removing your attachment to any particular outcome, simply letting go and enjoy the process….enjoy the present moment.
What Else Can We Do?
There are a few things that we have done that have improved things in our home in addition to truly being non-judgmental and holding space:
*We have stopped overscheduling. Sometimes in life, it is more important to “be” than to “do”. Let me tell you how painful this was for my kids at first. DO NOTHING? They thought mom had lost it. But now they actually ask for quiet time, and “most of the time” they are much more even kind and forgiving of each other.
*I make them say things out loud, sometimes in front of the mirror like “I love me”, “I am good enough” and “it is ok to make mistakes”. This was as hard as you could possibly imagine at first..and sometimes they still struggle with it, but more often than not we giggle through any awkward moments and they do amazing…(and feel amazing afterword too). Mirror work is incredibly powerful, don’t knock it until you have truly tried it multiple times.
*We as a family have had to make plenty of time to shut down our electronics. This is actually a ‘cause’ of stress in so many ways. The more we can disconnect with our electronics, social media, and games and get back to real life relationships, nature, and self-care….the less stressed we are.
Other than helping nudge their own attitude and beliefs in the right direction, we utilize aromatherapy to get us through the tougher moments, as we as a family have been handed a rough share of things in the last couple of years, as many of my readers likely have as well.
My boys have diffusers in their rooms, a variety of aroma inhalers, and have their favorite oils. My oldest loves Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and Sandalwood (Santalum album), but he is most affected by Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). My youngest says, “just make me some magic mom”, but he is most affected by Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis).
I have had many a-ha moments with kids in particular, but we aromatherapists know that they have a most profound effect on all of our emotions…some would consider them magic…myself included.
What are you inhaling today?
Want to have dozens of recipes at your fingertips along with fun, healing mantras to teach your children? Grab my ‘Aromatherapy for Kids’ book today!
Like so many practices in life, I encourage you to become educated on the proper use of essential oils. When using them, please do so cautiously, understanding that there is often misinformation on the internet. You can be assured that I support only educated and proven resources. While essential oils should not be feared they should be respected and used properly to ensure the safety of the individuals using them.
Please note that I am not a medical practitioner. The content of this website is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical advice. Do not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating any medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider. By using this website, you assume full responsibility and liability for your own actions.
Back to School Essential Oils and More!
Introducing the Foojin Personal Wearable Diffuser
by Leslie Moldenauer | | Essential Oils
I am honored and incredibly humbled to present you this guest blog post from Madeleine Kerkhof, well known for utilizing aromatics in hospice care and palliative care. This is such important work, to enhance the wellbeing of the elderly, and to bring peace and comfort to the ill and dying utilizing aromatics.
© Madeleine Kerkhof-Wellhüner
In my over 20 years of working with natural medicine and aromatherapy, I have seen and experienced the power of aromatic plants and their extracts to the fullest. Apart from conventional essential oils and aromatics, I work with CO2 extracts, still a fairly new thing in aromatherapy. These extracts can be very valuable, I found. In the course of the last 10 years, I developed the course program Fusion AromaTherapy™ in which I teach how to use essential oils and CO2 extracts to enhance the wellbeing of the elderly, the very ill and dying.
As a former nurse, now aromatherapist and expert and teacher complementary therapies, I am accredited by the Dutch Board of Nursing. I frequently visit hospices and palliative care units in The Netherlands, either to teach staff, and in special cases also for consultations. I would like to share with you the profound effect that the use of a blend with a CO2 extract had on patients.
The sleepless couple
I was in the Hospice Laurens Cadenza in Rotterdam, the largest hospice in The Netherlands with 20 beds. Although it is a modern building and the biggest in The Netherlands, there is a good and homely atmosphere.
That day I was there to teach nurses and volunteers. They had been taught basic complementary care techniques by me, including aromatherapy – which we prefer to call AromaCare – in the months before and were about to have an in depth one day seminar about complementary care on the subject of anxiety, depression and sleeplessness.
I usually arrived at the hospice some time before any seminar would start so I could answer any questions the staff might have. The head nurse told me about an elderly couple, let’s call them Mr. and Mrs. Janssen.
Mrs. Janssen was admitted a couple of weeks earlier, suffering from bowel cancer. Her life expectancy at the time of my visit was approximately one week. Mrs. Janssen also suffered from dementia, which left her confused and unable to express her fears, pains and worries. Although the staff tried everything to make her feel as comfortable as possible, she remained restless and disorientated.
They were both in their late 80’s and spent day and night together. They had been married for over 50 years and it was very difficult for Mr. Janssen to let her go. He hardly left the room, afraid that his wife would pass when he wasn’t around, or that she would become even more unsettled when she sensed his absence. He was very distraught about his wife’s progressing disease and imminent passing. It was extremely hard for him to see her deteriorate in this way. After all the years they had been together, he could not face living without her.
The nights were difficult for both of them. Mrs. Janssen was very restless and hardly slept at all. As a consequence, Mr. Janssen did not get any sleep either.
The head nurse and I decided to choose a blend of essential oils to diffuse in the room to make the couple more comfortable. Red mandarin (Citrus reticulata) was chosen for its positive effect on anxiety and sleeplessness and for its friendly sunny smell that brings sunshine in your heart and which would also appeal to Mrs. Janssen’s inner child.
Lavender High Altitude from the Haute Provence (Lavandula angustifolia) was chosen, because the couple both loved lavender. This special type contains high amounts of linalyl acetate and linalool, being one of the most calming en soothing lavenders of all.
Furthermore I chose frankincense CO2 extract for its unique scent and it’s relatively high contents of incensole acetate. Carefully CO2 extracted from Boswellia carterii resin from Somalia, it is the best extract of frankincense if you ask me. It is said that frankincense helps you to look beyond earthly matters and to let go of grief and old pains without having to go through all the motions again, something that this couple was not able to do anymore.
Frankincense is also one of the oils that can bring a deep sense of calm and rest, especially to confused and restless patients. It also helps to deepen en calm patients breathing patterns, contributing even stronger to the sedative effect.
Mr. Janssen was quite overwhelmed that we thought of such a personal blend. But not only that. He reminisced with tears in his eyes that his wife had loved the scent of frankincense from going to church. This particular pure frankincense extract came very close to the memory about treasured rituals during service in their local chapel.
Mr. Janssen simply loved the combination of the three oils. His wife could not respond verbally when we offered her the blend but she showed in no uncertain ways how it made her feel. To make a long story short, this lovely couple found a deep sense of peace and slept like babies during the last three days of Mrs. Janssen’s life.
What impressed me the most, and I will never forget that, was that we not offered peace and serenity to both Mr. and Mrs. Janssen, but more so that we managed to positively influence Mr. Janssen’s memory of his wife’s passing. Mr. Janssen was deeply thankful that his wife was able to come to rest and die in peace. That made the hardest thing he ever had to do just a little bit easier: letting go and retaining only the best memories of his beloved wife until the time came for him to join her.
Super Critical CO2 extraction in short
What is so special about CO2 extracts?
CO2 extracts, also known as supercritical CO2 extracts, are extremely pure plant extracts that are very similar to the original plant material. CO2 extracts are increasingly used in the flavoring and herbal medicine industries, as well as in perfumery and aromatherapy. Using CO2 extracts in aromatherapy requires specific knowledge of medicinal plants, their active components and the way they influence body, mind and spirit. Sometimes the extracts contain substances that were previously unknown in aromatherapy, simply because the extraction method was not available in aromatherapy when most books were written. The first (to my knowledge) who wrote about CO2 extracts – ginger – was Eliane Zimmerman, who inspired me greatly with her book for health professionals. In The Netherlands I was the first one to use CO2 extracts on a large and professional scale in aromatherapy, and worldwide I was the first to write a book on them: CO2 Extracts in Aromatherapy, 50+ Extracts for Clinical Applications, which was published in April of this year.
A brief explanation
Essential oils have traditionally been derived by steam or hydro distillation, expressed from the rinds of citrus fruit, or extracted using chemical solvents such as hexane, toluene or ethanol.
CO2 extraction uses pressurized carbon dioxide that is pumped into a vessel filled with plant matter. When carbon dioxide is subjected to a pressure of 73 bar and reaches 31°C, it becomes “supercritical” and starts behaving like a solvent, extracting essential oils and other CO2 soluble substances such as pigments, fatty acids, waxes and resins from the plant material.
CO2 extraction is a highly selective process. By altering the pressure and / or temperature, more or less substances are extracted. The temperature involved in the supercritical extraction process can vary between -10°C to around 65°C. CO2 extracts therefore are not subjected to thermodegradation. Nor are there changes due to oxygenation, because the process is performed under exclusion of oxygen.
By lifting the pressure after extraction, the carbon dioxide will turn into gas again and the extract remains, with no residue of the CO2 whatsoever and ensures that the plant molecules remain unchanged.
CO2 select and CO2 total
There are two main kinds of CO2 extracts:
CO2 select. The result of this method can be compared to steam or hydro distillation. A lower pressure is used to extract mainly volatile CO2 soluble components. This results in an oil that is similar, but often richer in composition and superior in fragrance to distilled essential oil.
CO2 totals. Here, a higher pressure is used. This extract will contain all CO2 soluble components, such as waxes, resins, pigments, fatty acids, essential oil, etc. In these extracts we often see molecules that will not show up in the essential oil of the same plant material. Ginger CO2-total for instance contains the valuable molecules gingerol and shogaol – well founded for their action against nausea and pain – that are not found in distilled ginger oil or in its CO2-select extract. Totals are almost identical to the plant they are derived from. They in turn are soluble in essential oils or in vegetable plant oils. Some need gentle warming to approximately 30°C to become fluid before adding them to any base product.
Pure plant
The scent of these extracts is as pure as the plant material itself. There is an almost unlimited potential to use CO2 extracts in psycho-aromatherapy.
In The Netherlands, especially in end of life care, guided imagery is utilized as a pleasant complementary technique that helps patients to unwind and to “go places” that bring fond memories or a sense of peace. Smelling the scent of German chamomile CO2 extract brings you to a chamomile field instantly, and the extract of lavender immediately brings memories of Provence, or the lavender in your grandmother’s garden. Many patients, especially those with cognitive issues respond extremely well to the purest scents of cinnamon bark Burmanii, star anise, vanilla or frankincense.
Pure medicine
CO2 extracts are pure, stable and completely free of chemical solvents such as hexane, pesticides or other unwanted substances. Production is environmentally friendly and very safe. There are many certified organic extracts available nowadays.
The medicinal properties are extensive and sometimes I’m blown away by the results. Generally speaking many CO2 extracts are richer and more intense, because a more complete profile of the plant is present in the end product.
Even small percentages (0.5-1%) can be extremely effective as additions to massage oil, creams, ointments or essential oil blends. It is vital however that indications, contra-indications, possible side effects and interactions with medication or other substances are carefully considered, just like we would do with conventional essential oils and aromatics. Once you have gained enough knowledge about the different components and their possible uses and limitations in medicine, you will find that they can give great results and be cost-effective at the same time.
Example: marigold
A very good example is marigold (Calendula officinalis). In my garden I grow marigolds for maceration. I macerate the flowers in a variety of base oils for different purposes. In almost all the skin care products I prepare on request for use in health care facilities I use marigold macerate.
Since I discovered how extremely valuable the CO2-total extract of marigold is, I add a certain percentage to many special formulations for the care of wounds, burns, abrasions and mouth care gels. We know that marigold flowers are rich in faradiol esters. The higher the percentage of faradiol esters, the better the anti-inflammatory properties, especially on the skin. The marigold CO2–total extract can contains around 25-28% faradiol esters, as well as carotenes and over 3% of essential oil.
Different
CO2 extracts can be quite different from essential oils. So can they be used in the same manner as essential oils? Sometimes they can, sometimes they cannot. To shed light on that I describe over 50 extracts in my new book, which is now available around the world. I feel there is great potential in the use of CO2 extracts in modern aromatherapy, and the results I book on patient wellbeing are excellent. And that is my main passion: fusing aromatics together in blends and treatment options to enhance health, wellbeing and quality of life.
If you have any questions, you can find me through info@kicozo.nl.
Kind regards,
Madeleine Kerkhof.
References:
Please see for extensive lists: CO2 Extracts in Aromatherapy, 50+ Extracts for Clinical Applications, M. Kerkhof, 2016, Kicozo.
Madeleines’ books found here
Links to upcoming courses in the USA
http://www.kicozo.nl/course-3-days-in-usa-fusion-aromatherapy-in-palliative-care/
http://www.kicozo.nl/course-4-days-in-usa-fusion-aromatherapy-and-pain/
by Leslie Moldenauer | | Essential Oils
I am thrilled to introduce to you to a revolutionary way to obtain optimal therapeutic benefits of essential oils, hands-free.
I love aromatherapy inhalers, and use them over atomizing diffusers at home because I have two felines. Essential oils are just not as safe for them as I would like, so I only diffuse when they are far from the diffuser, therefore inhalers are my first go to. I love them, but there are many times where I wish I could be hands-free, and consistently try other solutions.
So when a gentleman offering that very solution contacted me, I could not wait to try it. Introducing the Foojin personal wearable diffuser. What is it? The Foojin is a personal diffuser made from the highest quality grade of medical plastic available on the market to date. The wicks are FDA approved plastic, engineered with essential oils in mind.
I was having a bit of a stressful day when the package arrived in the mail, so the timing was perfect. I opened up the package, and utilizing the glass pipette that was provided, I applied one drop of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) to each cotton wick, placed them into the wells, and inserted the diffuser into my nose. One of my initial concerns was immediately put at ease, which was it would be uncomfortable. It did take a minute to get used to it, but it was far from uncomfortable. Another concern was that the aroma would be overwhelming, but I quickly realized that was not the case either. You are in complete control of how little or how much you use, and it is easy to just remove it and place into the plastic storage container provided.
With so many ways and reasons to use it, I highly recommend purchasing one of your own! What are a few of the ways I have used it so far?
* Hands-free driving. Going for a long drive, suffer from stress and anxiety behind the wheel or motion sickness? This is my top recommendation for use of the Foojin. Hands-free driving, therapeutic levels of aromatherapy, and you are not affecting anyone else in the car. Win-win!
* Working at your computer? Studying? Need to be alert and completely focused? The wearable diffuser is perfect. Truth be told, I used to stick the aroma inhaler up my nose so I could do this in the past, but it never stayed in place. Foojin, problem solved.
* I mentioned above that I have felines. I rescued an adorable brother and sister duo that are now a part of the family. I also have two boys, ages 10 and 12, who used the stink of the litter box as a viable reason that they cannot possibly handle the chore of cleaning it. I handed them the Foojin. They were skeptical but tried it and they are sold. Happy mom!
* This handy device has been amazing for sinus issues that allergies or a cold bring.
* The orange Foojin is specifically for exercise. Drop in a little peppermint and you will quickly see how your workouts improve. Learn more about that study, here.
* Do food cravings hit at a predictable time of day for you as mine do? Utilize an oil like grapefruit in your device which has been proved to reduce food cravings, and pass on those extra unnecessary calories. Read the study, here.
* Do you enjoy yoga, meditation, tai chi, or something where grounding and quieting the mind are the goal? I use a favorite like Sandalwood essential oil in my device and have found my practice is greatly enhanced.
*Moms…Do you have a small baby in the room and need the benefits of essential oils and both of your hands to care for them? Here is your solution!
*Nurses, are you around more germs than you would like, or are you looking for a way to block out some of the less desirable smells and can not risk affecting those around you? The therapeutic Foojin is skin colored to be more inconspicuous. If you do not care about what others think…. like me…. wear it in public places that will help assist you and your wellness.
I am sold on the unit and wanted to help get it in the hands of many others, revolutionizing the way we diffuse essential oils. I sent units to a few colleagues for their review. This is what they had to say:
“I have been happy with the results of using the Foojin oil diffuser. I first used it with Frankincense to diffuse a headache; within a few moments I could feel total clarity (like oxygen to the brain) and, the pressure was released from my head giving me great relief. The second time I used the inhaler was for relaxing and shutting down before bedtime. I used a drop of chamomile and was very relaxed within a few minutes; I am not sure I would sleep with it though. Lastly, I have used this personal inhaler while studying and I will continue to use it mostly in this manner. I would recommend this to others and look forward to using the Foojin with peppermint essential oil on my next road trip to keep me alert. The ways in which this product can be used is endless”! –Connie Sue
“Foojin is my new favorite way to receive the benefits of essential oils via inhalation. The nasal clip is easy to use and comfortable to wear. It’s convenient, hands-free, and provides you the flexibility of being able to move from room to room. I was initially concerned that the aroma would be overwhelming, right under the nose, but using one drop on each wick as recommended proved to be just the right amount. My favorite time to use it is while getting around in the morning or when I need a pick me up at my desk in the afternoon. This could be a game-changer for sure!”-Megan Hemling
“I was excited to try the Foojin! Despite my initial concerns, I was delighted with the product! I worried the fragrance might be overwhelming with the pads so close to the nose, but the level of the aroma is surprisingly pleasant, and gentle! I was also concerned that the device might pinch the nose, or be uncomfortable to wear. However, the plastic is perfectly rounded and surprisingly comfortable. All in all, a great product that I would recommend to anyone looking for hands-free, portable essential oil inhalation” –Ashley Glassman.
The Foojin is revolutionizing the way that we diffuse essential oils. Get yours today.
**If you are a nurse or other medical practitioner and are interested in getting these into your location, please reach out to me @ Lifeholistically@gmail.com
