Is Holistic Aromatherapy – Science or Intuition?
Both!
What Has Historical Aromatherapy Taught Us
Look back at ancient cultures, aromatherapy was cultivated by trying to use and pair certain botanicals together to alleviate mind and body issues. The science of that generation was in the trying or practicing what did and do not work.
Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Indian, Chinese, African, Native American Indian, and other medicine models all used intuition to guide them on choosing certain remedies for pain, wounds, headaches, skin issues, and a plethora of other health concerns. Because it was documented in their medicine books, we now have basis to see what worked for them, can continue working for our generation.
This historical data gave us the foundation to begin more formal scientific research to prove or disprove their findings.
So, is holistic aromatherapy, science or intuition? It’s both.
Science of Blending
There is a science to having the skill and knowing exactly how to pair botanicals together to produce a specific result. For example, using essential oils to make a blend to enhance sleep, how would you formulate the combination of lavender, orange, and ylang ylang?
- You first need to know who is this blend for?
- You then need to know what type of application will be used – a 5ml essential oil bottle to use in a diffuser, a 2oz. spray, nasal inhaler, or 10mL roll-on?
- Based on who it is for, you then need to decide the potency and dilution ration of the blend.
- You need to assess the physical AND emotional safety guidelines. Just because someone is an adult with no allergies or major health issues, doesn’t mean they can emotionally handle a strong blend.
- Why is the person having trouble sleeping? Do they have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? Knowing this can help you cross reference the emotional disharmonies with the circadian rhythm organ time zone.
- If they have trouble getting to sleep, you might need more orange. If they have trouble staying asleep you might need more lavender and/or ylang ylang depending on which time they wake up first.
- Do they like the scent? If they don’t like it, they may not use it.
Therefore, the science and art are coming up with a personalized blend that meets an individual’s needs in order to deliver sustaining results that help them rebalance their organs, so this doesn’t keep coming back as an issue.
Additionally, there is a science and art to formulating a blend that helps release, rebalance, and recalibrate the energy attached to the emotional culprits causing disharmony to foster deeper emotional healing. This requires intuitive guidance. When you have this deep healing, your nervous system is more relaxed, so it can enjoy sleep on its own.
We do rely on knowing the science of the brain to know what structures are responsible for what functions. For example, some scents help strengthen the right brain (feeling, creativity, imagination, art) which affect left side of the body, while others strengthen the left brain (logic, focus, speech, science), which affect right side of the body.
Plant Energy Healing
Plants connect with our mind and body via energetic intuition, more so than chemistry. The chemistry dictates the potency of the therapeutic benefit. However, we are first drawn energetically to the scent or to an essential oil.
Using the plants energy, as it acts in nature, gives insight to the personality of the essential oil, herbs, carrier, oil, and flower essence. This helps align your energy to move in the direction of healing. This is commonly referred to as plant signatures, or the doctrine of signatures.
When you match up what the person needs (and what their soul needs), you can create an effect blend to quiet the mind, nurture the body, and elevate intuition.
If you want to heighten your intuitive abilities while staying grounded and protected, here is our incredible Yarrow Protection Roll-on blend.
If you want to learn more about blending the art and science of aromatherapy with your intuitive abilities, I invite you to our Aromaversity to attend our clinical aromatherapy certification program or our aromatherapy intuitive certificate program.