Green myrtle essential oil is distilled from the leaves of the evergreen shrub known as Myrtus communis (a.k.a., True Myrtle). Myrtle has an entire botanical family named after it (Myrtaceae) which contains several aromatics of accord such as the Melaleuca and Eucalyptus genera. Myrtle, with its small green leaves and white flowers which bear…
Ayurvedic Aromatherapy for Dogs
When I began formally training for my Ayurvedic Holistic Health Counselor certification, I was the proud pet parent of a very cute and lovable, but highly anxious and aggressive dog, Lulu. She was definitely a country dog living in the big city and besides a lot of exercise, there wasn’t much I could do to…
How to Store Your Essential Oils
How should I store my essential oils? This is one of the most popular questions that I tend to get during the classes I teach, and for a good reason. The information we find online usually recommends placing them in the refrigerator, but seldom explains the why and how. And when you are a…
Essential Oil Allies: Angelica Root
Angelica root essential oil is obtained from the cleaned and dried fleshy roots of Angelica archangelica (Apiacaeae (Carrot) family). This herb favors temperate climates in the Northern hemisphere and may often be found growing near rivers and moist-shady areas as it prefers cool, damp soil. Angelica is a biennial, like most plants classified in…
Essential Oils and the Gut Microbiome
No Guts, No Glory: The Impact of Essential Oils on the Gut Microbiome The gut microbiome — everybody’s talking about it, everybody’s gulping down yogurt, everybody’s popping probiotics like their lives depend on it. And in a way… they do. Trillions of microorganisms make their homes in our bodies, and they basically run the place….
Essential Oil Allies: Sweet Basil
Sweet basil essential oil is obtained by distilling the flowering tops, namely leaves, of the tender annual plant known as Ocimum basilicum. The Ocimum genus is native to the tropics and sub-tropics of both “old” and “new” worlds, especially Africa (Arthur Tucker, 2000). There are at least 64 species accounted for—yet basils in general are…