Aromatherapy by Karen

I totally forgot Herbal Jedi! This is an amazing video which I think will compel you to want to give Yellow Dock a try. I have massive amounts of it growing on my property and have prepared a bunch of the route ready for tincturing!

Yellow Dock Medicine (Rumex crispus) Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus) is another one of those amazing w**ds that grow everywhere! It's likely something you've seen before in your garden, on the roads...

Today’s herbal creations:

Pasta with carrot top pesto - you can hardly tell it’s not basil!

Preparing Rhodiola decoction: an herb often used by Scandinavian cultures for vitality and energy in a cold climate

Comfrey root and leaf macerating in olive oil. My next batch of salve will have Calendula, Chickw**d, Comfrey, and some essential oils like Helichrysm, Frankincense and Lavender

Courtesy of Mountain Rose Herbs, a great list of prompts for journaling and self reflection! Wishing everyone a healthy and prosperous new year that brings joy and growth!

What fun to make incense again! Per my son’s request, the sandalwood, cinnamon, cloves, and frankincense blend is a hit, so another batch is drying.

So many incense on the market are made with chemicals and these provide healthy aromatherapy. Hmmm, maybe I should sell these …

Latest herbal and aromatic concoctions in the kitchen as I enjoy the view out the kitchen window …

Circulation stimulating tea with Prickly Ash Bark and Ginger, a new batch of Elderberry syrup with superior local honey, and some new pickles brining!

Who loves pickles? 🙋‍♀️
And who needs a circulation boost in the cold weather? 🙋‍♀️

You’d never know I had Nordic blood!

Should there be legal restrictions on the practice of herbal medicine? Should it be a licensed profession? The debate continues, with compelling arguments on both sides. At minimum, anyone interested in using plants as medicine should seek quality training and I am so pleased with my experience with The Science & Art of Herbalism: Online Course

What is your opinion on the subject? I would love to hear your answers to questions raised in my blog!

Thoughts on “Legal” Aromatherapy and Herbalism? As part of my herbalism studies*, I read an article by California attorney Ken Collins on the subject of “Legal Herbalism.” I think we can all agree that some protection from “snake oil salesmen” and businesses making misleading or dangerous claims is a good thing, but at the same time, it s...

A great reminder that natural methods of healing and wellness are part of a lifestyle - not a magic pill or quick fix. We all may wish for something like that but that’s just not the way it works.

If people embrace practices like these each and every day, that’s where deep and lasting change happens. It will take some time, and I say enjoy the journey! I am still learning all the time and notice shifts in how I feel physically and mentally 😊

What obstacles do you see to changing your lifestyle and making time and space for these kinds of practices?

As part of my herbalism studies, I’m asked to create a health plan for myself (to include herbal preparations of course) and document results after a month. I have a nerve tonic tea blend for daily consumption which includes Oat Straw, Skullcap, and Chamomile.

I’m also very interested in the tonifying and neuroprotective benefits of Fo-Ti, so I’m preparing a tincture which won’t be ready for weeks.

I’m also going to prepare Rosemary Gladstar’s famous Brain Tonic Tincture.

I hope to turn this assignment in after the holidays and it will be interesting to note any changes in my body.

I chose to focus on management of stress and anxiety, and improve energy, vitality and mental clarity for this “experiment.”

What health and wellness goals are a priority for you right now?

Getting bad news out of the way, I cannot believe the amount of garbage the seller tries to get rid of by tossing into brush (or burning) and it’s clear there was a coffee lover in the house!

GOOD NEWS is that I uncovered these beautiful cedar trees and cleared a spot for a better view of the creek.

I have never distilled my own essential oil (have any of you?) but would love to make my own Cedarwood essential oil! Calming and grounding and protective, it’s wonderful to diffuse or include in scented personal care products 🌲🌳❤️

Finally found my box of herbs! Back to fun with creative tea blends and I may prepare some tinctures to support winter health (and be prepared if illness does happen). What must you keep on hand to be prepared for the fall/winter season?

So excited to find this plant on my property! I love the way Rosalee de la Foret explains the benefits and energetics of herbs! Do you agree?

Health Benefits of Self Heal + Two Self Heal Recipes The health benefits of the self heal plant are so amazing! Sadly, self heal (Prunella vulgaris) is often overlooked or dismissed as an unwanted w**d. But tha...

How interesting that two plants I most wanted on my property are honeysuckle and hydrangea (the blue/violet color). Certainly there are others but I have fond memories of honeysuckle from my childhood so that’s been top of my wish list.

Lo and behold there is a hydrangea (in need of some TLC) right in front of this house and several honeysuckle bushes (also in need of love).

Do you have any special plants or trees that are special and /or bring back happy memories?

This is guaranteed to be an excellent documentary and I would highly recommend to anyone interested to learn about herbal medicine. Nick does a great job pulling it together and Rosemary is one of the most wise and beloved herbalists.

So glad to have CMC with me as we house-hunt here in Eastern Tennessee! Even a short session leaves me feeling centered, strong, healthy, and all around better prepared to stay grounded and focused. But, DANG it’s hot!

With the hot weather sticking around, why not try this refreshing and easy way to get more herbs in your diet? Frozen individually in cubes, you can mix and match for a nice and different blend any time you want!

Let 'em melt in a glass or thaw and warm on the stovetop and that's it!

What herbs would you do this with?

How to Make Instant Herbal Tea Cubes It is the small daily habits that truly add up to the biggest changes in our overall health and wellness. These “instant iced tea cubes” turn a plain glass of water into flavorful cold tea in seconds and offer the opportunity to add vitamins, minerals, and beneficial compounds to your daily rout...

Wonders and surprises in my garden stroll this morning!

* Just LOOK at the patterns in that Echinacea! ( )

* A stunning beauty who will soon be a

* Gagillions of seeds in those slender pods (plenty to share hint hint)

* a small of blooms to dry for

* Green Zebra (cool eh?)

* Jersey corn!

* graceful, delicate

I hope our new homeowners appreciate these treasures ❤️🌱🪴🌸🌼

Taken from a Spanish language aromatherapy resource I follow on Facebook, enjoy these thoughts about Neroli ... a heavenly scent (and unfortunately pricey oil). Every drop is precious! FYI Aromatics International offers a Neroli/Petitgrain blend which you may want to try and enjoy some savings.

Along with this, a beautiful short video that helps illustrate the power and allure of this very special oil:

NEROLI, mi aroma favorito 😀✨
Conocido como NEROLI, el aceite esencial de la flor del árbol de naranja es edificante, estabiliza las emociones y promueve la alegría.
Si se utiliza diluido sobre la piel, tiene un efecto astringente y tonificante.
Miren qué bonito este video! 💜👇

NEROLI, my favorite scent 😀✨
Known as NEROLI, the orange tree flower essential oil is uplifting, stabilizes emotions, and promotes joy.
If diluted on the skin, it has an astringent and toning effect.
Look how beautiful this video is! 💜👇

Guadalupe Pineda - Historia De Un Amor Edited by Tamer Sharaf

See anything a little unusual in my salad? Slide to the next picture and you’re sure to recognize what you may currently consider a peaty w**d!

Herbalist (who I adore) describes as “exceptionally nutritious,” rich in omega-3 fatty acids (5x more than spinach!). In addition, you’ll find “high amounts of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E” plus other important nutrients.

Maybe you’ll think twice before w**ding next time!

**ds

Thich Nhat Hanh said it so beautifully, “Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.”

What does this look and feel like for you?

Soooo excited and honored to be part of this new initiative at Marquis! The opportunity to help improve the well-being and quality of life to seniors in long-term care is a blessing!

MID-A LIFE ENRICHMENT on TikTok Always Raising the Bar with new programs for our residents. Proud to introduce our new Aromatherapy program here at

Do you know anyone who cares for someone with Alzheimer's or some other dementia-related illness? I posted this blog which I hope inspires some of you to consider aromatherapy as a complementary therapy. Whether your loved one lives at home, or requires long-term care in assisted living or memory care, there are possibilities for improving their quality of life! Providing aromatherapy is easy and can be rewarding for everyone :)

Aromatherapy can help people with Alzheimer's and dementia Some of my most memorable experiences as an aromatherapist have been in clinical environments, and the senior population is one of the most rewarding to work with. Aromatherapy is an ideal complementary therapy for the elderly, as it helps to provide support and relief for a wide range of emotional....

I've come back to Instagram, although I have no interest in using social media to show people how wonderful my life is (there is a hint of sarcasm there, lol). However, it is nice to have another place to share my interest, experience, and fascination with all things plants, including aromatherapy and herbalism. You'll also find a little yoga too (truly an addiction) and as well as crystals. Crystal healing is a bit out there, but they are absolutely stunning, and working with them provides another opportunity to calm and focus my intentions. https://www.instagram.com/herbsandaromas/

Scenes from my stroll through our gardens this morning…can you identify some of these plants?

How do you know when it’s time to replace an oil?

Well, it depends! Citrus oils will oxidize faster, so it’s generally recommended to use within a year (assuming they have been stored properly). For others, you may notice a change in smell or efficacy.

I’ve decided to keep better track of my inventory with a document on which I include date of purchase. And, to avoid waste, it’s best to buy only what you need and smaller amounts of an oil isn’t used frequently. This is hard for me because I’m like a kid in a candy store at favorite suppliers like Aromatics International! I want to experience them all!

Here, I’ve received a few which I will use in blends I’ll be preparing for seniors. I’m so excited to consult with Marquis Healthcare !

Found this and had to share — anyone else like me with dirt under their nails??😂