Holistica Botanicals

Where did Aromatherapy even begin? The use of plants for human benefit goes way way back. “…… "There is virtually no people known to anthropology – however remote, isolated, or primitive – in which some form of doctoring with plants was not practiced.” Barbara Griggs, The Green Pharmacy Hmm interesting. In our country we seem to downplay nature's abilities. But why? There are written records dating back to the Sumerians at least 5000 years ago, Mesopotamian civilizations dating to the second millennium B.C., and  Egyptians dating to around 3000 B.C. Ancient India was particularly active in medicinal plant recording 290 species. Not to mention the Chinese who we can date back to using plants for medicine to 3000 B.C. (they were already using 350 herbal remedies). I could go on and on. Cool though, right? Then Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans became well known for their aromatic plant and extract use. Egyptians used them for medicine, food preservation, rel...

Posted by Katie Carter RN, Certified Aromatherapist on Nov 29th 2017 It seems that Lavender Lavandula angustifolia is one of the most well known essential oils. Why not show it some love and tell you all what makes it so amazing!!! The healing powers of Lavender essential oil started in July of 1910 when the Gattefosse family, active in the perfume business in France, had a laboratory explosion. Rene-Maurice sustained burns to his hands and scalp. He treated the burns with Lavender Essential oil and noticed that his skin healed quickly and that the pain was eased from this oil. Lavender was also used to protect against the plague in the Middle Ages as well as scenting laundry. In latin 'Lavo' or 'Lavare' means to wash or bathe, appropriately named after it's use for scenting laundry. Mmmmmmm. In Iranian folk medicine it is used for various inflammatory diseases. Lavender is rich in Monoterpenes and Esters which give it t...

Posted by Katie Carter RN, Certified Aromatherapist on Nov 29th 2017 Why do you always hear about Aromatherapy and emotions? Simple answer really. It's not that they just smell good, there's science behind this. Have you heard of the limbic system? The limbic system’s main functions include emotions, instinctive behavior and responses, motivation, learning, and memory. Essential oils that contain many aromatic molecules stimulate nerve impulses that directly affect the limbic system and activate smell-related emotions and behaviors. This directly impacts emotions such as pain, pleasure, anger, rage, fear, sorrow, sexual feelings, and affection to name a few. Our ancestors used their sense of smell much more than we do today. The more you utilize it, the more you become aware of its impact! One amazing fact is that aroma is the strongest memory you can create. Do you ever smell something and it brings you back to childhood? Maybe you smell someone's perfume and y...