Introduction to Aromatherapy - Workshop

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Saturday, October 5th, 2013
9:30 AM to 5:30 PM

A full spectrum, one day Practical Aromatherapy workshop with medical herbalist and clinical aromatherapist, Chanchal Cabrera. Spend the day at Innisfree farm and herbal healing center, exploring the art and science of using essential oils - nature's gift for the body, mind, and senses.

Aromatherapy, or the use of concentrated plant essences that are inhaled, applied topically to the body, or occasionally ingested, has a long history of traditional use that is being verified and certified by modern clinical research in many countries.

The ancient Egyptians anointed their dead with antibiotic and antifungal resin extracts and oils, such as myrrh and frankincense, to prepare them for mummification. Plant perfumes, made by simply pressing flowers into fats, have been enjoyed by people since the Egyptian and Greek times. These crude extracts are now largely replaced by steam distilled volatile oils from the resins.

Volatile or essential oils are chemical substances which give scent to the various parts of a plant. On exposure to air or steam they evaporate, and are therefore called �volatile� oils. In times gone by they were considered to embody the essence or etheric properties of a plant (as opposed to the more mundane properties of air, fire, water and earth also inherent in all living things) and are therefore also known as �essential� or �ethereal� oils. In living plants these volatile oils may act as hormones, insect repellents, growth inhibitors for neighbouring plants, protection against disease or as pheromones to attract insect pollinators.

Volatile oils are extremely complex compounds, frequently having two or three hundred constituents. There is usually only a small amount of the volatile oil in a plant, for example, it takes 500 pounds of Sage, Rosemary or Thyme to produce 1 pound of oil, and up to 1.5 tons of rose petals to produce single pound of Rose essential oil!

In this in-depth one day workshop we will discuss the history of essential oils, the basic chemistry that makes them work, practical applications, recipes and formulas, base or carrier oils, safety and toxicity. There will be extensive handouts given and a recommended reading list for on-going learning.

Bring a lunch and come prepared to smell and sample many different oils and learn how to use them for health and wellness. $75 fee includes taxes and a $25 deposit.