Wellness – Page 3 – Roots of Alchemy

Elevated Naturally presents: The Art of Essential Oil and Hydrosol Distillation with Kathryn Delaney, CCA, CCH, CN

Sunday, November 3rd from 1-3:30 p.m.

Enjoy an afternoon workshop in a beautiful setting in East Boulder and learn the art of steam distilling essential oils, and how to make your own small-batch hydrosols in your kitchen.

Steam Distillation is one of the primary alchemical processes used in the production of essential oils and hydrosols.

The process of distillation can be seen as a way the alchemists of the past reflected the pattern of nature within their work.

When we look closely at our daily weather patterns, we can see how alchemy was revealed to our ancestors within patterns seen in Nature. When the Sun heats up water on the ground in the oceans, it causes it to evaporate up into the sky which then gradually cools and condenses into clouds and rains back down onto the Earth. This is natural distillation.

The alchemists of the past directly perceived the intelligence of the natural world and all of her cycles, patterns and rhythms of change and transformation, and took that wisdom into the lab and used it to create their natural medicines.

Steam Distillation is a process of taking a water, and heating it up to the point of it vaporizing it into steam. This process of taking something from a liquid and turning it into vapor is called volatilization, which symbolically is seen as taking a physical material and “spiritualizing” it, or its ascension into the Heavens.

As the vapor rises up in the upper portions and is cooled by a cold-water coil, which allows it to condense from an invisible, volatile substance down into a more fixed liquid substance. It slowly drips down the condenser and is collected in a vessel, separating into two different substances: essential oil and hydrosol.

Essential oils, hydrosols and aromatic plants have been used throughout the world for thousands of years for therapeutic and practical uses. In modern times these essences are often used in health, skin care and perfumery.

During the workshop we will be working with a 2-Liter glass steam distillation unit, and participants will also learn how to make their own small batch hydrosols from freshly harvested plants. Kathryn will also discuss many plants that can be easily grown that produce essential oils and hydrosols, and how to use them for stress, skin care and a variety of situations.

A local plant walk, small snack, and herbal teas will also be provided.

Please note that this class is limited to a small group of participants to allow for personalized instruction and an enjoyable, intimate setting. Sign up now to reserve your spot as we have limited seating. You can sign up by clicking here.

Kathryn Delaney is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist, Certified Clinical Herbalist and Certified Nutritionist. Her interest in herbal therapeutics and healing modalities began in 1992 with a focus on essential oils and Aromatherapy, and later developed into the studies of herbalism and nutrition. In 2010, she became Certified as a Professional Aromatherapist through the Institute of Integrative Aromatherapy, led by Laraine Pounds, RN. Moved by an influx of information, and an increasing observation of unsafe practices of using essential oils, Kathryn developed “Esenta, The Aromaticum App” in 2015. This was created as a means to provide information on safe uses and dilutions of essential oils. Kathryn continued her studies in the healing arts at the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism, where she earned her Certifications in Clinical Herbalism and Nutrition in 2019. Kathryn currently lectures on various topics to clinical herbalism students and the general public, including workshops on medicine making, aromatherapy safety and toxicology, comparing herbalism and aromatherapy therapeutics, and natural product making. She writes articles for newsletters and blogs, and is a freelance writer. In addition to her focus on teaching, she offers all-natural body care, custom natural perfumes, and holistic health support through her business, Roots of Alchemy.

Elevated Naturally’s and Roots of Alchemy’s product testing will be available.

For more information visit http://www.rootsofalchemy.com and http://www.elevatednaturally.com

education, Wellness

Cannabinoids… It’s time to Connect The Dots

October 3, 2019October 31, 2019 Roots of Alchemy

In the early 1900s, researchers made a discovery that provided a solution to many of the debilitating health conditions that had perplexed the medical profession for hundreds of years, we know it as Vitamin D. Now, nearly one hundred years later, we find ourselves in the midst of a similar pivotal discovery as scientists connect the dots between wellness, the endocannabinoid system, and phytochemicals found in the Cannabis and Hemp plant.

A necessary component in the workings of many bodily systems, Vitamin D revealed itself to be a foundational key to wellness. Researchers discovered that Vitamin D is created within the fatty tissues of the skin when an individual is exposed to sunlight, and that without this exposure individuals can establish a deficiency of Vitamin D, which can domino into a number of health conditions. They also observed that with supplementation of Vitamin D, many of the debilitating chronic conditions, including Rickets, were able to be reversed.

You may be asking: What is the purpose of drawing a connection between Vitamin D and the phytoconstituents found in Hemp?

In the mid-1990s researchers discovered what is now called the “Endocannabinoid System” as a complex molecular signaling system that exists in all mammals. This system plays a role in maintaining many of the bodily functions which help to maintain homeostasis. While we do create our own endocannabinoids, when we are under extreme amounts of stress, or have a build-up of chronic toxicity, our bodies have difficulty making our own endocannabinoids to regulate our system. Through the course of the last three decades, scientists have been able to establish that endocannabinoid receptors are found all throughout the body, giving them a wide variety of functions. Certain receptors are more concentrated in specific regions of the body. What has been defined as CB1 receptors are abundant in the central nervous system and found along the pathway of the brain and spinal cord, whereas what has been defined as CB2 receptors are more often found on immune cells, in the gastrointestinal tract, and in the peripheral nervous system.

The presence of endocannabinoid receptor locations throughout the body reveals just how important this system is for bodily maintenance. They help regulate the following:

Endocannabinoids are the chemical messengers that help to regulate the body’s processes by a complex signaling system. They help maintain optimal balance in the body, also known as homeostasis. When the endocannabinoid system is disrupted, any one of these things can fall out of balance. Dysregulation within the endocannabinoid system is thought to contribute to a wide variety of conditions. Some researchers are calling this a “Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency“. If a person is unable to produce enough endocannabinoids within their system, or for some reason is unable to regulate them properly, they are more susceptible to illnesses that affect one or several of the functional systems of the body that it helps regulate. functions listed above.

Where do endocannabinoids come from? This question has another simple answer: the food that we eat.

The mammalian body system creates endocannabinoids with the help of fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are especially important for this. Recent research in animal models has found a connection between diets low in omega-3s and mood changes caused by poor endocannabinoid regulation.

While more than 80 cannabinoids have been found to be present in marijuana, only the molecule of THC is psychoactive. Recent research has revealed that some of the other constituents that have been found to be abundant in the Cannabis species, such as cannabidiol, have well-documented biological effects of potential therapeutic interest, such as anti-anxiety, anticonvulsive, anti-nausea, anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties. These cannabinoids have been shown to fit the receptors within the endocannabinoid system, leading researchers to investigate the health benefits of supplementing with full-spectrum hemp and cannabis extracts, whom are seeing and documenting improvements in long-standing chronic health conditions.

As increasing amounts of evidence builds to support the use of hemp and cannabis extracts in daily wellness regimens, drug companies scramble to claim rights on the compounds of this plant species.

I am struck by the similarities within the discovery of the endocannabinoid system, and the discovery of Vitamin D. Considering that under the right conditions, i.e. exposure to adequate sunlight, one can make their own Vitamin D, and without adequate sun exposure, a deficiency in Vitamin D can ensure an array of various health conditions. We also have an innate endocannabinoid system, which acts as a messenger along our neural synapses. Research and individual experiences are revealing how supplementation with cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol, are helping to bring balance to long-standing conditions that have not been able to be helped by other remedies or medications. One has to begin to wonder if we are living in a similar time to the early 1900s when the health discovery of Vitamin D was uncovered, and what life would look like if Vitamin D supplementation were controlled by drug companies….

It is time that we connect the dots.

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Kathryn Delaney is a Certified Nutritionist, Herbalist and Aromatherapist, and is the Director of the Aromatherapy Program and Medicine Making Teacher at the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism.

education, Wellness

Dissolving the Veil between Depression and Leaky Gut Syndrome: How the Microbiome affects Intestinal Permeability and the Brain-Gut-Axis

September 6, 2019October 3, 2019 Roots of Alchemy

Author: Kathryn Delaney CCA, CCH, CN

Investigating the ways that depression has been understood and managed throughout medical history is telling of its mysterious nature. In their paper investigating the historical understandings of depression as a disease, authors explore how it has been managed throughout history (Nemade). Once considered to be sourced from demonic influences, people who were “possessed” with the disease were often locked away. Popular Greek physicians such as Hippocrates, saw the conditions of the personality as an imbalance of the inner workings of the body, or the humors, while Romans, such as Cicero argued that depression was more an imbalance of the mind. During the mid-1600s, author Robert Burton published “The Anatomy of Melancholy”, which explored the psychological and social causes (such as poverty, fear and solitude) of depression. Burton’s encyclopedic work, recommended diet, exercise, distraction, travel, purgatives (cleansers that purge the body of toxins), bloodletting, herbal remedies, marriage, and even music therapy as treatments for the disease. However, the Age of Enlightenment followed shortly after and during this time depression was considered something that was inherited, and that it was an “unchangeable weakness of temperament,” as a result, many were put away in institutions. More recently, depression is said to be most successfully managed with therapy and/or medication. However new discoveries in the physiological connections between the Brain/Gut axis and the microbiome are beginning to shift how medical professionals consider treating the disease (Kelly et. al.) These new findings, along with studies on gut permeability, and studies on the gut microbiome and how it is influenced by stress, are building a path toward new frontiers of research that could revolutionize our understanding of depression as an illness and how to best manage the condition.

Emerging studies are connecting the links between gut microbiome and the central nervous system. Bidirectional signaling between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain has shown to be regulated at neural, hormonal, and immunological levels. This construct is known as the brain-gut axis and is vital for maintaining homeostasis within the body system. Bacterial colonization of the intestine has been shown to play a major role in the post-natal development and maturation of the immune and endocrine systems. This new wave of information implies not only a new understanding of stress-related conditions, dietary habits and psychiatric disorders, but also provides indications to possibilities in new treatments (Grenham). These innovative findings suggest that adjustments in gut microbiota may be able to modulate brain development, and the function and behavior by immune, endocrine and neural pathways of the brain-gut-microbiota axis (Kelly et, al.) Under these considerations, deficits in intestinal permeability are being considered to play a key role in chronic low-grade inflammation that is seen in disorders such as depression (Kelly et, al.) New studies are investigating the role that the gut microbiome plays in regulating intestinal permeability, and the consequences that occur within the central nervous system when it is disrupted.

Graphic_Gutand Stress

Brain–gut–microbe communication in health and disease. A stable gut microbiota is essential for normal gut physiology and contributes to appropriate signaling along the brain–gut axis and to the healthy status of the individual as shown on the left hand side of the diagram. Conversely, as shown on the right hand side of the diagram, intestinal dysbiosis can adversely influence gut physiology leading to inappropriate brain–gut axis signaling and associated consequences for CNS functions and disease states. Stress at the level of the CNS can also impact on gut function and lead to perturbations of the microbiota.

Brain–Gut–Microbe Communication in Health and Disease

Front Physiol. 2011;2:94.

The function of the intestinal wall is maintained by tight junctions of protein structures that have transmembrane proteins that serve as a mechanical link between epithelial cells, and ultimately establish a barrier to paracellular diffusion of fluid and solutes (Kelly et al. and Ivanov et al.) The primary function of this barrier is to regulate the absorption of nutrients, electrolytes and water from the lumen into the circulation and to prevent the entry of pathogenic microorganisms and toxic substances from entering the bloodstream. For the most part, these functions are preserved by many of the natural features of the body including mucosal layer which secrets immunoglobulin and antimicrobial peptides which cover the epithelial cell lining. This works to facilitate gastro-intestinal transport, and is a protective layer against bacterial invasion. Alterations in gut microbiota have been associated with barrier dysfunction in both intestinal and extra-intestinal disorders (Greenwood and Vaarala et al.). In this way it has been observed that disruption of the gut microbiota may have implications for the sustenance of other key barrier functions within the body (Kelly et al). Recognition of structural similarities in the intestinal, placental and the blood brain barrier is beginning to open up new studies and connections in understanding of the phenomena now known as the gut-brain axis. Recent studies are strengthening the hypothesis that the blood brain barrier may also be vulnerable to changes in the gut microbiota (Kelly et. al).

A healthy adult human has around 100 trillion bacteria just in the gut, these bacteria are known as the microbiome. This is ten times as many bacterial cells as there are regular cells in the entire body. These bacteria are diverse in function, they express nearly 3 million genes, compared to the body’s estimate of 23,000, and have many useful digestive functions, including standing at the front line of defense from pathogenic microbes. Humans are both genetically and functionally dependent on these organisms for proper digestion, growth and development. It would seem of great importance that people ensure that they have healthy microbiomes in order to carry on the processes within the body that maintain life. This delicate system is what enables our bodies to absorb nutrients from the foods that we consume in order to run our entire body system. The bidirectional signaling system between the gut and the brain is regulated within the neural, endocrine and immune systems of the body (Grenham & Kelly et. al). These pathways are all under the influence of the gut microbiota, and together they comprise of the brain-gut-microbiota axis. One of the primary functions of the microbiota is the development and maintenance of the intestinal barrier within the lifespan of an individual (Kelly et. al). Some researchers consider it plausible that small alterations in microbiota early in life may predispose an individual to be vulnerable to neuro, endocrine, or immune, stress-related disorders in adulthood (Kelly et al.). This has been seen by further development of food allergies and mental illnesses later in life.

Due to findings illuminating the importance of the integrity of the intestinal barrier coupled with a healthy microbiome, it calls forth a need for further investigation as to what factors ultimately influence the structure and integrity of this inner boundary system and the microbiota itself. Research is revealing that the intestinal barrier is formed by the end of the first trimester of development (Kelly et al, and Montgomery et al.) “Epithelial cells with microvilli, goblet and enteroendocrine cells, appear by week eight of gestation and tight junctions are detected from week ten.” (Kelly et al and Louis and Lin). It has been shown that the functional development of the intestinal barrier continues to develop after the child has left the womb, and is influenced by both the method of birth (vaginal or caesarean), mode of feeding, and diet (Cummins and Thompson; Verhasselt). If the natural process of developing the microbiome is disrupted, which can often happen in the case of a premature birth, these children are often predisposed for immune disorders (Kelly). Infants born by caesarean section or receiving antibiotics have been shown to be at increased risk of developing metabolic, inflammatory and immunological diseases, potentially due to disruption of normal gut microbiota during a critical developmental time frame. Researchers have recently investigated whether probiotic supplementation can ameliorate the effects of antibiotics or caesarean birth on infant microbiota (Korpela). They found that the probiotic supplement had a strong overall impact on the microbiota composition, but the effect depended on whether the infant was at least breastfed. In the probiotic group, the effects of antibiotics and birth mode were either completely eliminated or reduced. The results indicate that it is possible to correct undesired changes in microbiota composition and function caused by antibiotic treatments or caesarean birth by supplementing infants with a probiotic mixture together with at least partial breastfeeding (Korpela). Aside from our birth experience and natal imprint, many other factors can alter and shape our initial microbiota as its nature is to shift with exposure to foods and people, including the consumption of common food allergens such as: wheat, corn, dairy, and soy. As individuals develop and engage with various circumstances in life the microbiota is further affected by environmental triggers such as vaccines, antibiotics, pharmaceuticals and pesticides (Greenwood). Scientists and researchers are beginning to link the exposure to these triggers to chronic conditions within the digestive system, as well as: asthma, diabetes, autism, and various autoimmune disorders (Greenwood). “According to gut-brain psychology, the gut microbiota is a crucial part of the gut-brain network, and it communicates with the brain via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The gut microbiota almost develops synchronously with the gut-brain, brain, and mind. The gut microbiota influences various normal mental processes and mental phenomena, and is involved in the pathophysiology of numerous mental and neurological diseases.” (Liang) Overall there appears to be a negligence of western medicine and agricultural businesses to consider the effect of pharmaceuticals and chemicals on the digestive system and the implications to our overall health.

Progression of microbiota development

“The gut-brain, brain, and mentality develop almost synchronously throughout the lifespan. The gut-brain, brain, and mentality undergo similar developmental patterns; all three are susceptible to several factors that influence the gut microbiota. Myelination, intestinal length, and the gut microbiota develop almost synchronously. Diet plays an important role in the maturation of the gut-brain and brain, and mentality is regulated by the development of the brain and gut-brain. Microbiota disruption at different stages is likely to increase the incidence of different mental disorders.”

Liang. Gut-Brain Psychology: Rethinking Psychology From the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis

Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience. 2018;12:33.

The inner lining of our intestines is made up of a series of tight junctions made of large protein complexes which regulate the passage of molecules through the epithelium. When everything is operating as it should, only selected molecules get through this lining and into the bloodstream to travel where they are needed in the body. The intestinal barrier is coated with a gastrointestinal mucosa which forms a protective lining within our small intestine which keeps the “not self” out, while allowing selected nutrients to pass into the blood stream. This GI mucosa can thin to the state of nonexistence, leaving the gut epithelium exposed. When the body experiences chronic stress or inflammation, the gut lining, which is made of tight junctions, loses its ability to act as a protective gateway for the bloodstream and instead becomes more of an open channel for larger amino acids, the passage of toxins, antigens, and bacteria to enter the bloodstream. This condition, now referred to as leaky gut syndrome, is the precursor for many auto-immune conditions and now, because of recent findings in the gut-brain axis, researchers are also finding connections to leaky gut and mental illnesses (Mu). Additionally, a damaged intestinal flora “dysbiosis”) has been shown to contribute to an increased permeability of the intestinal mucosa (“leaky gut”), which leads to an increased immune response and chronic neuroinflammation, showing to be a major cause of mental illness (Mörkl). Other causes of leaky gut syndrome include: prolonged use of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs – aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and selective COX-2 inhibiters), corticosteroid drugs (Prednisone), Dysbiosis (and things that cause it, such as antibiotics), dysregulated or hyperactive immune response, hormonal imbalances, microbial infections, food intolerances, chronic stress/chronic sleep debt, excessive/prolonged use of alcohol, tobacco, coffee, glycated compounds in processed foods, anything that releases free radicals in the gut, and even excessive exercise (Bergner et, al; Lamprecht).

Breaking_Down_barriers

“The brain-gut-microbiota axis. Postulated signaling pathways between the gut microbiota, the intestinal barrier and the brain. A dysfunctional intestinal barrier or “leaky gut” could permit a microbiota-driven proinflammatory state with implications for neuroinflammation.”

Breaking down the barriers: the gut microbiome, intestinal permeability and stress-related psychiatric disorders

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 2015;9:392.

Combined along-side this understanding we have the compounding effect of modern lifestyles that keep people inside, which often leaves individuals deficient in vitamin D, a necessary component to create tight junctions in the epithelial lining of our gut. While there has been an understanding for some time that seasonal depression can be related to lack of time exposed to the sun, and ultimately vitamin D deficiency, this understanding also stirs reflection that this seasonal condition could also be related to the deficiency of vitamin D affecting the tissue of the stomach lining. When the body is deficient in vitamin D it could ultimately affect the junctions within the epithelial lining of the gut, which has implications along the gut-brain axis, and subsequently mental mood, and depressive states.

In the Westernized world today, depression and anxiety are the most frequently diagnosed disorders (CDCP). Over time, the number and frequency of diagnoses have indeed grown due in part to greater awareness of manifestations of disease symptoms, but also due to the pace of modern life, change in diet, and increases in daily stress (Schnorr). Data suggests that psychiatric disorders are expected to dramatically increase in the years to come (Baxter). Despite intensive efforts to improve mental health treatment, only one third of patients with depression reach complete remission with psychopharmacological therapy (Morkl). In cases of severe depression, combination therapies of antidepressants and psychotherapy are usually recommended, however many of the prescribed drugs cause unwanted side effects, leading approximately 50% of psychiatric patients to prematurely discontinue their psychopharmacological treatment (Mörkl).

Although extensive studies have been conducted within the realm of psychopharmacological treatment, the progress in developing effective therapies for these diseases has been slow, begging for the need to look toward new alternatives (Liang). In recent years we began seeing a rapid increase in the number of studies investigating the connection between the quality of our diet and mental health. For example, studies revealed that a high-quality diet was connected to lower rates of depression and lower suicidal risk (Lai).

The exact mechanisms of how diet affects mental health are currently widely being explored. There are increasing numbers of studies which support the evidence of inflammation in the pathophysiology of mental health disorders, including depression, and how eating habits influence this (Tolkien).

Our brain relies on a continuous energy supply sourced from the nutrition obtained in our diet, including: amino acids, lipids, vitamins, minerals and trace elements. A traditional diet with whole foods including vegetables, fruit, seafood, fish, wholegrains, lean meat and nuts is a good prevention of a number of diseases (Guasch-Ferré). Our dietary habits modulate gut bacteria, the immune system and circuits of inflammation which are known to be involved in the development of psychiatric disorders such as depression. In his paper discussing the benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet for depression disorders, Tolkein states, “There is a large body of evidence which supports the role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of mental health disorders, including depression. Dietary patterns have been shown to modulate the inflammatory state, thus highlighting their potential as a therapeutic tool in disorders with an inflammatory basis.” The author continues, highlighting the potential of food as a therapeutic tool in disorders that are of inflammatory basis. One diet that has been studied and seen to be of benefit for improving recurrences of depression is the Mediterranean-style diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, olive oil, fish and whole grains (Roca et. al and Garcia-Mantrana). This diet is different than the Standard American Diet, or SAD diet, which focuses on red meat, processed foods, high-fat dairy, refined grains, sugary foods, and sodas, with minimal consumption of fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, whole grains and legumes. The SAD diet has been shown to cause chronic sub-acute inflammation within the body (Koopman). Over the past decade, research has shown that diet and gut health affects symptoms expressed in stress related disorders, depression, and anxiety through changes in the gut microbiota (Schnorr). In this reflection, correcting leaky gut, adjusting to more anti-inflammatory dietary foods, and taking beneficial supplements, are beginning to be considered as possible therapeutics for depression and other mental illnesses (Haroon).

Aside from anti-inflammatory diet, there are several supplements that are being looked at for their benefits in bringing balance to the microbiome and repairing intestinal barrier function. A successful protocol would need to be holistic in nature and all-encompassing of the many influences that affect the condition. This commands for a multi-directional approach including: dietary support and education, nutrient supplementation, food allergen removal, and change of lifestyle incorporating more exercise, time spent outdoors and time shared with community. In order to best support individuals with diagnosed anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses (in addition to a range of others) the first step on a path to balance starts with integrative wellness. Recent studies are pointing in the direction of starting with digestive health, and becoming nutritionally replete. “Various microbiota-improving methods including fecal microbiota transplantation (which can be useful, although it is not a first line of action), probiotics, prebiotics, a healthy diet, and healthy lifestyle have shown the capability to promote the function of the gut-brain, microbiota-gut-brain axis, and brain” (Liang). Due to the relationship of the gut-brain axis, it is not a surprise to see that many of the same supplements have shown to be of benefit to improving imbalanced mental associated conditions such as depression and anxiety. These supplements and their associated benefits, follow:

Probiotics – Taking probiotics by means of ingestion has shown to rebalance microbiota in infants that were born caesarean or whom had to take antibiotics and it improved their overall health (Slyepchenko). Two specific strains that have been studied for their ability to repair the structural integrity of the intestinal lining are Lactobacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces boulardii and (Ahrne and Terciolo). Several recent reports have shown that probiotics can reverse the effects of leaky gut syndrome by enhancing the production of tight junction proteins (Mu). In adults, taking probiotics has shown to improve mental well- being and in recent scientific studies probiotics have shown to improve the mental states of diagnosed schizophrenics (Okubo). While taking probiotics has revealed themselves to be of pronounced value, it is important to note that there may be some health scenarios where probiotics should be used with caution (Kothari). Some researchers suggest that some clinical conditions including malignancies, leaky gut, diabetes mellitus, and post-organ transplant convalescence would likely fail to reap the benefits of probiotics because it could leave the system susceptible to bacteria going to parts of the body where they could cause damage. This possibly calls for an attention to protocol in a strategic series of application.

Prebiotics – These are the indigestible dietary fibers we get from food that probiotics use to flourish and grow. Whereas probiotics are living organisms, prebiotics are not. Prebiotics can help the bacteria that is naturally found in your intestines to flourish. Prebiotics benefit the individual microbiome in that it feeds it and supports, and in this way it benefits the overall structure of the intestinal barrier (Liu and Liang).

Vitamin D – This vitamin is actually a hormone that we create within the subcutaneous fat layers within our skin when our skin is exposed to sunlight at specific times of the year. Vitamin D is required to build the tight junctions necessary for the intestinal lining to remain healthy. With an expanding, or more commonly adopted lifestyle pattern to work indoors and therefore have less time exposed to the sun, westernized countries are showing an increase in deficiencies of vitamin D.

Omega–3 fatty acids – Not only does our brain thrive on healthy fats, we need a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in order to have a healthy inflammatory response. Omega-3 fatty acids also have the following main mechanisms of action: they modulate neurotransmitters through reuptake inhibition, synthesis and receptor binding, support neurogenesis by enhancing BDNF and also have anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects (Mischoulon).

Researchers state that through observational understanding and meta-analytic studies the additional supplements of magnesium, 5 HTP, Selenium, Lycopene, folic acid, selenium and calcium may also have an impact on reducing depression. In a separate study, supplementation of vitamin B6 in women, and higher intake of B12 in men, was seen to have reduced major depressive disorder, according to Roca, et. al. In the same study, depression was significantly associated with low selenium blood levels and low levels of dietary selenium were also associated with an increased risk for major depressive disorder. The research also showed low dietary calcium to be associated with self-rated depression in middle-aged women. Additionally, the consumption of processed foods such as fried foods, refined grains, and refined sugars were associated with the conditions of depression and obesity, while eating a more traditional Mediterranean-style diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, olive oil, fish and whole grains was associated with reduced depression. Similar findings were observed in populations of people with diabetes, and older people.

Studies are revealing that food and lifestyle changes are demonstrating greater efficacy for states of mental illness and to prevent other progressive diseases, than pharmaceutical medications. This commands for a new consideration in methods and a change of strategy to support these conditions. Rather than considering conditions of mental illness to be an imbalance of chemistry that can be modulated with pharmaceutical prescriptions, researchers are pointing the way to an integrative approach to well-being through food and the digestive microbiome. While currently westernized medical doctors are area-specific, and caretakers are specialized in one area or system of the body, recent findings in regard to the benefits of dietary changes and supplementation command for a new, more simplified systemic approach to wellness.

There is a growing body of evidence which explores the role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of mental health disorders, including depression. Research continues to reveal that changes in dietary patterns modulate the inflammatory state, which highlights their potential as a therapeutic tool in disorders with an inflammatory basis (Tolkien). Mental disorders and neurological diseases are becoming a rapidly increasing medical burden and growing concern for our society. Although numerous studies have been conducted regarding the benefits of dietary changes and advances in understanding in regard to the role of the microbiota in our overall mental health, the progress in developing effective therapies for mental disorders has still been slow (Liang). The most practical approach to mental health disorders which is also the most effective and affordable, appears to be a change in diet, supplemental support and education. Despite these new understandings, there are several limitations in regard to initiating these changes in an individual’s daily life.

In looking at the disease of mental illness from afar and considering these new therapeutic approaches, it is the way that the illness has been classified in the recent past that will in many ways be one of the biggest hurdles to overcome. The stigma of mental illness continues to anchor in a realm of chemical imbalances within the mind, rather than understood as an imbalance anchored in the digestive system. The western medical approach has most often strategized their medications to either shut down specific receptors in the brain or excite others, inherently trying to control the inner workings of the human body. Despite their numerous attempts to arm-wrestle mental illness with an assortment of perceived levers that just needed tweaks and adjustments, this approach has not been effective. The root of mental illness has revealed itself to be a bit deeper within a more intelligent integrated system. Research has revealed that the only practical and effective way to treat mental illness is to consider the origin of the illness itself, problems within the digestive system and disruptions in the human microbiome. As seen in recent studies, a protocol built around a foundation of nutrition serves as the most practical therapeutic for the conditions of mental illness, depression and anxiety. With this new understanding of the gut-brain axis, the role of the microbiome, and the compounding knowledge in regard to the long-term effects of leaky gut syndrome, a holistic protocol needs to be considered that is built around education and compassion.

Nutritionists that focus on food as medicine are trained to offer new strategies within the realm of integrative wellness by providing support and education that can ultimately help lay a new foundation where vitality can flourish. The pace of modern life has habituated people to reach toward not only quick fixes by way of medication, but also convenient foods that are affordable. Many of the foods which are readily available for consumption are foods that are common to the S.A.D. diet, which increase inflammation in the body, such as fried foods, refined grains, and refined sugars. What compounds this, is that many people consume foods that they are intolerant to and in recent generations many people were raised in single family homes and were not raised with the knowledge or skills in food preparation, which leads to them having difficulty transitioning to new foods. In addition, due to the pace of western lifestyle, people have a shortage of time to prepare food. Ultimately, there appears to be an underlying chronic stress picture interwoven into the threads of our landscape which would be useful to take a look at as well. This also points to the support of nutrition and lifestyle as the ultimate key to supporting mental and physical wellness.

These new findings regarding the gut-brain axis and how inflammatory diet can actually be the root of imbalance in the overall system, calls for a new outline to be drawn around mental health, depression and anxiety conditions that involves more holistic view of the body than just chemistry alone. The research findings discussed above call for a new attention and strategy in the realm of mental illness and overall wellness, which are showing to be connected to the state of digestive health and the quality of the microbiome. A new approach to therapeutics is on the horizon. Our current society has been educated to believe that mental illnesses can be remedied with pharmaceuticals that will “correct” an imbalance within their brain, or through talk therapy to uncover and salve old emotional wounds, recent research are showing these to be minimally effective. When one considers that food choices and stress are some of the most basic and compounding sources of inflammation in the body, and that this ultimately causes inflammation within the brain, this begs for a more holistic, integrative approach to therapeutics that is centered in, or focused on digestion. Recently published intervention trials provide preliminary clinical evidence that dietary interventions in clinically diagnosed populations are feasible and can provide significant clinical benefit to patients with diagnosed mental illnesses (Marx). We are in the midst of restructuring our sense of understanding in the realm of mental health; this reveals the need for health care providers to focus on integrative approaches that rely on nutrition as a pivotal piece of health care.

Currently, the western model is allopathic in approach. In recent decades, medical providers trained in traditional western medicine have had a leniency toward treating any and all symptoms found within the body with the use of pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter medication. Rather than look toward correcting imbalances within the body by suggesting the removal of offending foods and substances, medications are suggested that are centered on quieting the disruption, which inevitably results in exacerbating the condition, resulting in more chronic ailments. The new research calls for the need for health professionals to encourage their patients to start approaching their health differently and for health care providers to support their patients in doing this. To give a simple example, a person may be in the habit of taking an antacid when they experience acid reflux on a daily basis. In taking a sober look at the signaling system of the body, an alternative, and I would argue logical approach would be the avoidance of the offending food which causes the acid reflux, rather than continuing to eat the offending food out of habit or convenience, and taking an antacid regularly. By taking the antacid, the person may experience relief from the symptom, but the cause of their symptom hasn’t been considered. For instance, the most common triggers for acid reflux, or GERD, are food allergies such as dairy, which increases stomach acid, alcohol, antihistamines, pain medications, asthma medications, calcium channel blockers, citrus fruits, fatty foods made with trans fatty acids, spicy foods, coffee, smoking, and sometimes even peppermint. If one wants to remove the root of an illness, it does not serve them to just trim the growing leaves regularly, or cover them with a blanket. Any gardener can share this concept, they have to take on the task of removing the weeds from their garden that strangle out the other plants that they want to grow. Similarly, the digestive system could be seen as where we till our own health. By consuming foods that we are sensitive to, it is in a way, throwing seeds of weeds into our own garden, we allow health situations to grow into conditions that strangle out our vitality.

When we consider the research discussed above, the amount of inflammation that is caused by eating certain foods and taking medications, how this effects our microbiome, how this goes on to effect digestive health, the gut-brain axis, and the ultimate manifestations that are revealed in mental and physical imbalances, we can begin to understand why trimming the leaves of manifestation with pharmaceutical chemistry, will never be able to bring balance or health to the body. There are now consistent mechanistic, observational and interventional data to suggest diet quality may be a modifiable risk factor for mental illness” (Marx). Ultimately, research is showing that mental imbalances, and states of anxiety and depression, along with a number of other health conditions, are best served with a new approach, by tending to the root of wellness with proper food choices and supplementation. Due to the heavy reliance on pharmaceuticals to remedy most health conditions, and how these substances further effect the gut microbiome and the permeability of the gastrointestinal tract, we can begin to see how the long-term effects have been affecting our state of health as a society, by the increase in mental illnesses, depression, auto-immune conditions, etc. This major imbalance of understanding and leniency toward medication, could be considered a large component of why health conditions are on the rise in the U.S. and other westernized nations.

In many ways the veil that pharmaceuticals cloaks over chronic conditions is thinning, and a new landscape is being viewed for the first time. These limitations reveal a need to shift our focus away from treating illnesses of the mind and body with pharmaceutical medications and instead, to shift our attention and efforts toward the resurgence of the concept of food as medicine. Instead of a singular, one direction approach of closing off receptors or exciting others with complicated chemistry, which is the typical strategy of medications, these new findings reveal a three-dimensional picture of interactive systems that beg to be approached in a holistic manner. Some researchers are seeing new possibilities available in a growing field of Nutritional Psychiatry and suggest that this evidence calls for supporting policy change that improves the food environment at the population level (Jacka). It appeals for consideration of the western healthcare system to begin to incorporate nutritionists for integrative support and education to build a bridge into the horizon toward a sensible healthcare system that encompasses these new understandings. The most successful approach will consider the individual before the illness itself. Rather than seeing the mental illness as a chemical imbalance to be remedied with pharmaceutical drugs, scientists are beginning to connect the dots between a realm of subtle (or not so subtle) malnutrition, mental illness and chronic disease. Thankfully, we have moved away from the times of using purgatives and bloodletting as remedy’s for depression and mental illness. However, in order to bring balance to the condition long term, it is necessary to consider the interplay between the gut-brain axis, the microbiome, and the dietary habits of an individual. By embracing this knowledge, there is a possibility to see a great shift toward holistic health in our population.

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Koopman M1, El Aidy S; MIDtrauma consortium. Depressed gut? The microbiota-diet-inflammation trialogue in depression. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2017 Sep;30(5):369-377. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000350.

Korpela K1,2, Salonen A3, Vepsäläinen O4, Suomalainen M4, Kolmeder C5, Varjosalo M6, Miettinen S6, Kukkonen K7, Savilahti E8, Kuitunen M8, de Vos WM3,9. Probiotic supplementation restores normal microbiota composition and function in antibiotic-treated and in caesarean-born infants. Microbiome. 2018 Oct 16;6(1):182. doi: 10.1186/s40168-018-0567-4.

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education, Essential Oils, Wellness

Why Ingestion of Essential Oils should be Reconsidered, a Clinical Aromatherapists point of view

January 8, 2019October 29, 2019 Roots of Alchemy

Many people have been led to presume that an essential oils’ quality dictates its safety. However, in addition to an essential oil’s quality there are specific guidelines and safety precautions that people should be aware of when working with essential oils. A classic designation of quality essential oils is that they be “therapeutic grade,” this is the quality of essential oils that every Aromatherapist and practitioner should be using regardless of the application. However, despite an essential oil being classified as “therapeutic grade,” an essential oil may still be determined unsafe for internal, and in some cases topical, use.

I have worked with and studied essential oils for more than 20 years and my entire reference library has always discouraged the ingestion of essential oils except in instances when a person is under the direct guidance of an experienced health care professional. You can imagine my surprise when I began working for a company that sells essential oils, where customers regularly call to ask if the oils are safe for ingestion. The majority of individuals who called admitted to ingesting essential oils purchased from an alternate company; In my professional opinion, I find this to be concerning.

The repeated inquiry and social media regarding ingesting essential oils stirred my interest in investigating why essential oils are traditionally discouraged from being ingested in classic aromatherapy. What follows is a combination of my research and my reasoning on the subject.

The Food and Drug Administration, while it has not regulated the use of essential oils as therapeutic remedies, has designated some varieties of plant species that essential oils are distilled from as GRAS, or Generally Regarded As Safe. The FDA created this distinction in respect of various plant matter being used as additives for food and drink flavorings. Some essential oil companies have taken the liberty to refer to the GRAS list as a determinant for the safety of ingesting essential oils. This is not a logical deduction due to the following distinctions made by the FDA.

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) pre-market approval processes for food and color additives require an estimate of the probable consumer intake of the additive to determine whether its use or presence in a food at a given concentration is safe.”(1)

The amount of any plant material in extract form which is used to flavor food and beverages is very dilute, and is always prepared in its medium in a controlled environment. The GRAS list was produced in consideration of use being in much lower concentrations than what people are consuming in the practice of ingesting essential oils for therapeutic or supplemental value.

While researching the parameters which designate a substance as GRAS, I came across some frequently asked questions regarding the subject which should be highlighted here. One of these questions asked: “If a substance is designated as GRAS, is it safe for all uses?”

The response to this question was as follows:

“Not necessarily. Under section 201(s) of the Act, it is the use of a substance, rather than the substance itself, that is eligible for the GRAS exemption (62 Fed. Reg. 18939; April 17, 1997). A determination of the safety of the use of an ingredient includes information about the characteristics of the substance, the estimated dietary intake under the intended conditions of use, and the population that will consume the substance (proposed 21 CFR 170.36 (c)(1)(iii)).”(2)

This lead me to inquire how this designation was originally determined, and what an “estimated dietary intake under the intended conditions of use,” was intended to mean in regard to the amount ingested.

“The key determinant in the safety evaluation of a substance found in or added to the diet is the relation of its probable human intake to the level at which adverse effects are observed in toxicological studies. Simply, “the dose makes the poison.” The implications of this adage as it pertains to food can be illustrated with two examples. While “pure” water can be viewed as the safest of foods, excessive intake can lead to a potentially fatal electrolyte imbalance. Conversely, pure concentrated sulfuric acid can destroy human tissue, but FDA has affirmed it as GRAS for controlling pH during the processing of alcoholic beverages or cheeses. Clearly, conditions of use and dose (i.e., intake) are considered jointly when discussing the safety of a component of food.”(1)

This clarification is important to consider when in question regarding the safety of oral doses of essential oils, as the GRAS list was not created nor intended to be used as a reference to ingesting concentrated essential oils, but rather, the plant extracts being used to flavor food and beverages. Based on the designations above, one can reasonably presume that the dosage amounts that individuals are ingesting of essential oils, negate the application of the GRAS designation as a determination of safety for internal use of essential oils. This is of key importance, as people are wrongly using the GRAS list as a measure for safe ingestion for therapeutic values, which the GRAS list was not intended for.

When using essential oils for their therapeutic properties it is important to consider that essential oils are highly concentrated, volatile liquid compounds that vary in their chemical constituents and ultimate effects on the body. There are several ways essential oils are extracted, for example classic steam distillation (flowers, grasses, bark, some citrus), cold-pressed method (rind of citrus), and cohobotation (rose Otto) or hydro-distillation (resin), there is now an additional CO2 extraction which is a relatively new method on the market. The amount of essential oil that a plant produces, varies. For instance:

Cinnamon Bark	1,300 lbs	5 oz
Cypress	2,000 lbs	16 oz
Eucalyptus	25 lbs	16 oz
Jasmine	1,000 lbs	16 oz
Lavender	200 lbs	16 oz
Peppermint	256 lbs	16 oz
Rose	16,000 lbs	16 oz
Rosemary	50 lbs	16 oz

It was hard for me to imagine what these figures visually look like in volume so I broke down the weights even further.

Cinnamon Bark	260 lbs	1 oz (30 ml)
Cypress	125 lbs	1 oz (30 ml)
Eucalyptus	1.56 lbs	1 oz (30 ml)
Jasmine	62.5 lbs	1 oz (30 ml)
Lavender	12.5 lbs	1 oz (30 ml)
Peppermint	16 lbs	1 oz (30 ml)
Rose	1,000 lbs	1 oz (30 ml)
Rosemary	3.13 lbs	1 oz (30 ml)

Considering in traditional measures there are on average 20-30 drops of essential oil in a milliliter, there are 600 – 900 drops of essential oil in a 30 ml bottle of essential oil (the size of an actual drop depends greatly on the tool which is being used to dispense them, a euro-reducer dispenses a larger drop than a pipette, for instance). When people consume 3-4 drops in a capsule they are actually consuming quite a large amount of active compounds from plant material.

There are a few reasons why it concerns me that people are ingesting essential oils, one of which is the means of which I am hearing of people ingesting them. What primarily concerns me is instances when I hear that people are ingesting several drops of essential oil in a glass of water.

You might ask…why does this concern me?

By their nature, essential oils float on water. By dropping them into water, without any dispersant, the essential oils ultimately coat a person’s throat and then the lining of their stomach, without any means to slow their absorption.

If you were to, for instance, eat the equivalent of the herb of oregano as it would take to make the amount of drops of oregano essential oil some people are ingesting under the suggestion of some MLM representatives (despite classic aromatherapy discouraging any use of this oil whatsoever in aromatherapy except under guided use), one could presume their body may give them feedback to stop eating the herb by some means or another ie. vomiting, excessive sweating, etc. However, when someone chooses to ingest an essential oil, the body cannot reject it because it is instantly bio-available. In the instance of using oregano, it would likely give a burning sensation as oregano is a mucus membrane irritant.

Ultimately, drinking tea regularly has been shown to be an effective remedy without the necessity of a huge amount of plant material needed to be distilled and without possible negative side effects of ingesting essential oils. When we compare a common over the counter medication to the concentrations of ingesting essential oils we can compare for instance, the practice of taking 2 Advil or Tylenol for a headache as compared to taking a handful of them, which could be deadly.

I bring this up to clearly display that essential oils are highly concentrated volatile plant substances. The strain on one’s liver, the ultimate filter of the body, when one ingests essential oils is quite different when compared to regularly drinking a glass of tea.

In “The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the use of Oils in Aromatherapy and Herbalism,” by Julia Lawless, she states very specifically in the safety guidelines “DO NOT TAKE ESSENTIAL OILS INTERNALLY! This rule is in accordance with the guidelines of safety recommended by International Federation of Aromatherapy. Essential oils do not mix with water, and in an undiluted form they may damage the lining of the digestive tract. In additional some essential oils are toxic if taken internally.”

Several years ago I came across the directions for ingestion in a single source, which surprised me as all of the other reference books that I have studied throughout the years have held a similar standing, and discouraged the ingestion of essential oils unless under the guidance of a professional. All of the course books that I received in the certification program I took part in also forewarned against ingesting essential oils without guidance. This particular source appeared to be published as an offshoot of Young Living, a popular Multilevel Marketing company which had a tiered system of selling essential oils. The book detailed many of the blends that are sold through the company, and had referenced uses that were in much higher concentrations than any other reference book I have in my library. It was in this book that I first saw reference to the FDA’s GRAS list as being a designation for the safety of internal use of essential oils.

My growing concern and interest in the subject matter led me to look into the research of Robert Tisserand and his guidelines regarding essential oils.

In the book he coauthored, “Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals,” he differentiates and explains what can be described as acute and chronic toxicity established from improper use of essential oils. For instance there can be acute oral toxicity, as in the case of a lethal dose of ingestion, and there is also acute dermal toxicity, which speaks to signs of systemic toxicity when specific oils are applied to the skin, and then there is also chronic toxicity, which speaks to the adverse effects of using an essential oil through either dermal application or otherwise, from the repeated use of essential oils both internally and externally. The material states: “Toxicity is a risk because of the possibility of cumulative effects where damage will increase after each small dose.” It goes on to say:

“Chronic toxicity is, like acute toxicity, dose-dependent but it will also depend on frequency and total length of time of application. There is a link with acute toxicity in the sense that small, frequently applied amounts of essential oils which are acutely toxic are very likely to be chronically toxic. This is another link in that there are frequently similar causes of death in both cases — most commonly damage to liver and kidneys.”

In his book, Tisserand documented the toxicity levels as determined by a test, typically referred to as the LD50 test. This scientific method determines the toxicity of the material in question by the amount of gram of material ingested/kilogram of weight, would result in fifty percent of the test subjects’ fatality. In other areas of the book, there are instances of poisoning detailed, as well as other examples of poisoning. While poisoning is noted at relatively minimal doses, because the oil did not kill a subject, or show evidence of being fatal for 50 percent of the population tested under three designated proportions, it was determined “safe for use unless there are reasons not to.”

With that in mind I re-read the source I came across that suggested directions and cautionary measures when it comes to ingesting essential oils. “Essential Oils Desk Reference, ” compiled by Essential Science Publishing, stated that:

“All essential oils that are Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) or certified as Food Additives (FA) by the FDA may be safely taken internally as dietary supplements. But ingesting essential oils should only be done under the direction of a knowledgeable health professional.”

The following paragraph continues:

“In fact, many oils are actually more effective when taken orally in very small amounts. Essential oils should always be diluted in vegetable oil, blue agave nectar or rice milk prior to ingestion. . . Usually no more than 2-3 drops should be ingested at one time (during a 4-8 hour period). Because essential oils are so concentrated, 1-2 drops are often sufficient to achieve significant benefits.”

I have to admit that I am a bit alarmed when people reveal to me that they are ingesting 4 drops of essential oil or more in a sitting, often times just in water, others admit to filling gelatin capsules and ingesting them without any carrier at all.

There is great importance to pay attention to that fact that when it comes to using essential oils in this way, the nature of essential oils themselves is that they float on water. Research that has shown benefits of ingesting small amounts of lavender, for instance, is done in a controlled environment when capsules were prepared with a combination of lavender essential oil in a base of virgin coconut oil. Ingestion in this way is different than by means of dropping a few drops in a water glass because essential oils inherently float on the surface of the water, which is likely why the EDR suggests using agave nectar as a dispersant.

While there is research being produced that shows evidence of ingesting essential oils being effective and suitable in acute situations, I strongly believe that daily ingestion for means of basic supplement is unnecessary and ultimately unsustainable. I am also increasingly concerned about the use of this practice when it comes to the antibacterial nature of essential oils and their possible negative effects on the internal gut biome.

When one considers that having a daily practice of drinking tea regularly can have similar benefits as supplementing with essential oils, but without the risk of acute oral toxicity, or chronic toxicity, it seems wise to consider saving the method of ingesting essential oils for times when it is absolutely necessary, and again, under the guidance of an experienced health care professional.

* Some essential oils are less viscous and may be counted out drop by drop to have more drops per milliliter, which is why when blending it is always best to use a milliliter as a measurement for consistency of product rather than preparing things in ratio by drop.

1) Guidance for Industry: Estimating Dietary Intake of Substances in Food. Source: Food and Drug Administration. August 2006. Authors: Hyoung Lee and Alison Edwards.

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/ucm074725.htm#subs

2)Guidance for Industry: Frequently Asked Questions About GRAS.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) December 2004.

#aromatherapy #essentialoileducation #essentialoils #holistictherapy #ingestingessentialoils #Essentialoilsafety #essentialoilguidelines

DIY, education, Essential Oils, Wellness

Herbal Extracts: Differentiated and Defined

January 8, 2019October 3, 2019 Roots of Alchemy


Compound	An end product that is comprised of two or more substances mixed together. Herbal compounds may have an end product in a salve, tablet, gel-cap, tincture, or oil form.
CO2 Extractions	Super-critical CO2 distillations are a cold-temperature extraction process considered to be superior to other methods because during the technique of CO2 extraction the plant material is not exposed to heat. In this process, CO2 is pressurized to become liquid, macerates with the plant material, and then is filtered out. The resulting material is allowed to come to room temperature so that the carbon dioxide can vaporize off, resulting in a think waxy end product. While CO2 distillations are becoming more popular in the essential oil market, as they allow for a more delicate distillation of plant matter, it is arguable if a Super-critical CO2 extract can be considered a true essential oil by definition due to the waxy nature of the end product. Essential oils by definition are miniscule molecules that can pass through the skin and are volatile by nature. (Read more about how CO2 distillations compare to Essential Oils here.) In the Super-critical CO2 distillation process, the majority of these volatile compounds and terpenes are destroyed, however in the sub-critical CO2 distillation process, they can be saved. Where we most often see CO2 extractions, is in the realm of food and drink flavorings, and recently in the realm of the hemp industry. While in the former the CO2 extracts can be referred to as true extracts, in the latter realm we see a range of products classified as CO2 extracts that have ultimately gone through many other clarifying processes ranging from winterization, fractionizing, and filtering, among others in an aim to refine the end product.
Decoction	A medicinal tea made from boiling plant material, usually the bark, rhizomes, roots or other woody parts, in water. May be used therapeutically. Natural dyes are often also made this way.
Flower Essence	Homeopathic dilutions of flowers systematized by Edward Bach, MD that are most commonly used to address emotional and subtle mental imbalance. Flower Essences are very subtle energetic medicine. One could say that an imprint of the energetic qualities of a flower or plant are captured and cured for use to remedy various “negative” emotional states. Flower essences do not have a scent of their original mother plant and are primarily made up of water and small amount of brandy. A trained therapist is able to create a customized flower essence that helps to shift the energetic patterns of an individual to a state of well-being over time. Flower essence remedies are typically taken in water, and have a flavor of faint brandy, as this is the spirit most are cured and purified with. If a person is sensitive to alcohol, disperse of it by dispensing the 3-4 drops of flower essence blend into 1 cup of just boiling water, pour into clean ceramic cup and allow to cool prior to drinking. The minute amount of alcohol will vaporize out.
Homeopathy	Classically referred to by using the phrase “like cures like,” Homeopathic medicine is able to stimulate the body’s response to an illness or disease by introducing very minute dilutions of the same substance causing the negative reaction. By taking theses plant substances and diluting them, for instance, 1 drop in 99 drops of water, and then again, and then again… Homeopathic medicines are able to stimulate the body’s response to an illness or disease by introducing very minute dilutions of the same substance. For instance, while a tea of Arnica Montana has been found to be poisonous if ingested, a homeopathic of Arnica Montana is often used to reduce swelling, bruising and pain prior to surgery, as well as traditionally being used topically for the same purposes. A Homeopathic formula that is labeled 6X, has been diluted 6 times, 10X has been diluted 10 times, and 10C has been diluted 100 times. The more dilute, in this instance, the more potent the homeopathic remedy.
Infusion	A tea made by pouring water over plant material (usually dried flowers, fruit, leaves, and other parts, though fresh plant material may also be used), then allowed to steep. The water is usually boiling, but cold infusions are also an option. May be used therapeutically, as hot tea or wound wash. Infusion preparations are an excellent way to administer herbs into the body as the mineral component of herbs can be readily absorbed.
Essential Oils	Volatile aromatic oils extracted from the leaves, stems, flowers, and other parts of plants by means of either steam distillation, hydro-distillation, or cold-pressing. Therapeutic use traditionally includes a 2% dilution due to the nature of the highly concentrated oil.
Glycerite	An herbal glycerite is an alternative to an alcohol tincture. The benefit of taking herbal preparations this way is that it allows one to avoid the ingestion of alcohol, and is often best suited for children. While sole passive glycerin extractions are said to not extract much medicinal compounds when compared to alcohol. Alcohol extractions have shown to denature and render inert many of the organic compounds. Recent herbalists have discovered that a combination of water and glycerin in a ratio specific to each plant, yields a much more superior end material that is truer tasting to the fresh plant. At typical dosage for this type of medicinal varies depending on the plant but is typically ¼ tsp. 1-3 times per day.
Herbal Infused Oils	A process of extraction in which the volatile oils of a plant substance are obtained by soaking the plant in a carrier oil for approximately two weeks and then straining the oil. The resulting oil is used therapeutically and may contain the plant’s aromatic characteristic.
Percolation	A process to extract the soluble constituents of a plant with the assistance of gravity. The material is moistened and evenly packed into a tall, slightly conical vessel; the liquid (menstruum) is then poured onto the material and allowed to steep for a certain length of time. A small opening is then made in the bottom, which allows the extract to slowly flow out of the vessel. The remaining plant material (the marc) may be discarded. Many tinctures and liquid extracts are prepared this way.
Tincture	An extract of a plant made by soaking herbs in a dark place with a desired amount of either glycerin, alcohol, or vinegar for two to six weeks. The liquid is strained from the plant material and then may be used therapeutically. Alternatively, tinctures can be made by percolation method.
Liniment	Extract of a plant added to either alcohol or vinegar and applied topically to employ the therapeutic benefits.
Poultice	A therapeutic topical application of a soft moist mass of plant material (such as bruised fresh herbs), usually wrapped in a fine woven cloth.
©Esenta Botanicals 2016		Kathryn Delaney is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist, Flower Essence Therapist, and Practicing Herbalist. She compounds herbal formulations with more than 20 years of experience and also offers consultations and holistic education. The above list is a small compilation of some of the definitive terms from the Urban Shaman Workbook that will be going into print soon. If there are additional terms you would like explained in this blog, please leave a comment below. Fall classes will be offered through the internet soon, to be invited, Kathryn can be contacted at esentabotanicals@gmail.com.