Aromatherapy Now LLC

Voice of aromatherapy

According to Maria Quezada, the CEO and founder of Aromatherapy Now LLC, in Aliso Viejo, a certified aromatherapy consultant with more than eight years in the field, an "aromatherapist" is a specialist and practitioner who uses the art and science of healing with the aromas of essential oils.

"Aromatherapy does work miracles," she says.  "I have helped many clients improve the quality of their lives.  I always say, 'Aromatherapy works, if you do it!'  So, please 'do it.'"

Quezada received her aromatherapy training in Provence, France, at Orto de Prouvenco, under aromatherapist Dr. Malte Hozzel.  A member of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA), consultations start at $60.00 and include a custom-blended, personal synergy (a blend of essential oils specifically targeted to each person's needs).  Consultations take one to one and 1/2 hours.

"My first experience with aromatherapy was while receiving an aromatherapy facial nine years ago.  I had never had the experience of smelling pure, essential oils before, and when I smelled lavender, geranium and ylang ylang essential oils, fireworks went off in my brain, and I knew right then and there that this was my calling," she says.

That day, she bought her first five essential oils (lavender, tea tree, rosemary, eucalyptus, and peppermint) and started reading about the subject.

"I started making my own blends in my kitchen for every ailment I could think of," she recalls.  "I'm still working in my kitchen, making up essential oil remedies almost every night, for everything from headaches, stress, insomnia, back pain . . . My specialty, though, is anti-wrinkle, magnetic, aromatherapy Skin care."

Quezada says for clients, she combines the benefits of therapeutic magnets (in a plastic mask) with the healing properties of essential oils.  "I create custom-blended, anti-wrinkle, skin-care systems.  The anti-wrinkle systems consist of floral water toners, and 100 percent pure and concentrated serums."

"I also create 'elixirs,' which are pure, floral waters blended with essential oils.  My clients may then add their favorite moisturizer with sunscreen during the day over the serums.  At night, there is no need for a night cream.  While they sleep, their skin is hydrating under the serums.  The lack of hydration in the skin is the largest factor behind the wrinkles," she continues.  "It is important that the skin is clean and exfoliated when applying any type of serum to the skin.  We simply attack the culprit at the source, yes, with oils, even though for years we have been inundated with 'oil-free' products.  All those products are doing is removing the moisture from our skin and creating more wrinkles.  We then add a magnetic mask for one to two hours a day, and voila, a beautifully hydrated, toned and smooth complexion."

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are highly concentrated, plant extracts. They are produced most commonly by distillation from all parts of plants.  Essential oils capture the "life force" present in every living plant.

The basic characteristics of essential oils are:  (1) Antiseptic-they may prevent or combat infection locally; (2) Bactericidal-they may kill bacteria; (3) Bacteriostatic-they may inhibit growth of bacteria; (4) Lipophilic-they may be able to absorb deep into the skin and internal organs; (5) Adaptogens-they may be flexible in response to each person's specific needs; and (6) Cytophylactic-they may promote cell rejuvenation.

Quezada believes in using products with natural oils and plant oils rather than those from a cosmetics counter.  "Commercial products contain damaging preservatives and petroleum-based ingredients that will damage the skin over time.  Many commercial products contain urea, which is derived from urine.  And they contain adulterated fragrances that are produced in a laboratory and mimic the aromas of essential oils, but have no therapeutic value.  In many cases, adulterated fragrances are the cause of allergies.  Many commercial products are basically watered-down and diluted with fillers-delivering a very small amount of 'pure product.'"

Getting started?

To get started, Quezada says to read, "Aromatherapy for Women," by Maggie Tisserand, followed by a more comprehensive reference book, such as "Aromatherapy Workbook" by Marcel Lavabre.

"You will need to keep an aromatherapy reference book at your fingertips at all times.  Purchase five to nine, 100 percent pure and natural essential oils to start," she says.  "I suggest bergamot, eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, tangerine, tea tree, and ylang ylang."

Also, purchase carrier oils for making blends.  For massage, hair and body blends, Quezada suggests blending with jojoba carrier oil in small, 1-oz. bottles.  Jojoba will extend the life of your blends, she says.

For skin-care blends, add rosa mosqueta, hazelnut, borage, primrose, olive oil, and vitamin E to jojoba oil.

It's also important to track each aromatherapy recipe on Rolodex cards.  "Make sure to give each blend a descriptive name, the date that you blended, and purpose for the blend (or the person the blend was for), the exact number of drops you used for each essential oil, and the amount of carrier oil used," Quezada says.

Caring for the oils?

Be sure you understand how to care for the essential oils, Quezada says.  Always smell the essential oil before use and become familiar with each scent.  If it should smell rancid, discard.  (They will smell funny and look cloudy.)

Store all essential oils and essential oil products in cool, dry and dark places, away from heat, moisture and light.  Ideally, they may be safely stored in cabinets or drawers.

Keep essential oils away from children and pets, and do not freeze essential oils or essential-oil products.

Do not touch the tip of essential oil bottles.  Always pour or sprinkle essential oils from the bottles, without making contact with the tip, to avoid contamination.

Store all essential oils and essential oil products in cool, dry and dark places, away from heat, moisture and light.

Test a small amount of an aromatherapy product, such as massage oil, on the forearm to assure there is no allergic reaction.  If redness or itching occurs, discontinue use.

Do not use essential oils directly on the skin.  Dilute prior to use.  The only exceptions to this rule are lavender and tea tree essential oils, which should not be used on sensitive tissues, she says.

Be careful when using essential oils that have a higher toxicity level, such as:  fennel, hyssop, pennyroyal or sage.  "It is best to avoid these in Skin care.  Avoid any essential oils in Skin care made from spices that are found in your kitchen, such as basil, cinnamon, nutmeg, oregano, and pepper," she says.  "The safest essential oils for Skin care are those made from flowers and some trees."

More evidence that it works

But does aromatherapy work?  Yes. In the United States, universities, including Georgetown, have been conducting research on the benefits of essential oils for years and keep coming up with conclusive evidence that some essential oils are useful remedies for infections, Quezada says.  "What they are also finding out is that the body does not acquire a resistance to the essential oils, although we do acquire a resistance to antibiotics over time.  We are hoping that eventually, our more conservative doctors will begin learning about the healing benefits of essential oils and begin using them in their daily practice.  Recently, on the Internet, there was an article about a prison on the boarder of the U.S. and Mexico that is using aromatherapy to calm the inmates," she says.

Chere Garcia of Laguna Niguel, an airline attendant for years, spent more time in the air than she did on land-and in the sun when she wasn't working.  She also believes in the power of aromatherapy.

"Chere has fair skin, and as a result, the skin on her face was extremely sun-damaged, dry, rough, scarred and blotchy," Quezada says.

"I told her about the miraculous healing effects of rosa mosqueta oil.  I recommended a treatment of rosa mosqueta with lavender essential oil, twice a day.  Lavender is great for fading scars and sun spots. I told her not to expect results for four weeks, but in two weeks, a transformation had taken place.  Chere's skin started glowing and the texture had started changing. Her skin looked smoother and 'plumped.'"

"The spots on her face had started to fade.  She continues to apply the rosa mosqueta with lavender essential oil on her face religiously.  Every time I see her, she looks younger."

More power

Kate McDaniel, the founder of Illuminating the Divine based in Mission Viejo, also believes in aromatherapy.  As a certified herbalist through the British Institute of Homeopathy in Middlesex, England, she has worked in the natural products industry since 1994.

"The majority of products found at cosmetic counters are formulated with petroleum products and distillates, which promote free-radical growth in the body, causing the very conditions they claim to eliminate," she says.  "Products formulated with essential oils have a multiplicity of benefits that carry a very high vibration/frequency of life force.  They also provide free-radical fighters, are antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal depending on which oil is used.  And they smell fabulous."

McDaniel says an aromatherapist has comprehensive knowledge of the essential and volatile oils of various plants and flowers that will promote health benefits to others.

"This could be recommending that someone with bronchitis sit in a hot steam bath to which eucalyptus and camphor oils are added, causing the release of phlegm and mucus from bronchial passageways," she says.  "An aromatherapist can also assist in treating 'external' issues, such as stress, insomnia and fatigue.  They would recommend various oils and/or a combination of oils which can be diffused throughout their living/work space to promote peace, relaxation and energy."

McDaniel, whose fees start at $60.00/hour, adds that because skin is our largest organ, it's possible to combine aromatherapy and Skin care.  "This enables a therapist to create a hand lotion that has the additional benefit of bringing calm and relaxation to the user, as well as softness to the skin."

McDaniel sometimes uses flower essences in her practice to help heal various health problems, too.  "Flower essences are developed much like homeopathic remedies.  They are the vibrational essence of each flower or plant that is used.  They carry the signature vibration of that flower or plant and uniquely address emotional components of life," she says.

This is created by combining flowers in spring water which are infused with sunlight for three hours, producing the "mother" tincture.  From this, a custom formulation is made, unique to each person's needs.

For example, a client going through a bitter divorce might hold anger toward their ex-spouse.  "A formulation is created which enables them to process this anger and release it, clearing it from their emotional energy field. It no longer resides in their auric field."

"Whenever you use any product containing essential oils, you're addressing all your needs: body, mind and spirit," concludes McDaniel, OCM.