 |
|
|
|
|
Flower Essences? Do you mean Aromatherapy?
No they are not the same!
~ By Maggie Smith
I am asked this question frequently
when explaining flower essences to people who come to my classes or who experience my Flower Essence Sprays.
Flower Essences, or Vibrational Essences as they are also called, are very different than what has been coined
“Aromatherapy”. Flower Essence companies, which 10–15 years ago were few and far between, and are now blooming
into million-dollar year businesses. The Living Essences of Australia has a four-year Academy and their programs
are taught in the Homeopathic University and Acupuncture Colleges in Perth, Australia. There are companies making
essences from regions all over the globe such as the United States, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, Alaska, South
America, France, Australia, Germany, England and the Himalayas. There are at least two dozen American companies
producing flower essences and shipping them worldwide. Flower Essences are made from a variety of natural sources
that come from the ocean, flowers, trees, plants, minerals and power vortexes around the planet.
Flowers speak to all our souls and to our hearts. They will heal our emotions and our minds if given the opportunity.
Have you ever really noticed a beautiful sunflower in full bloom? Its graceful open face
surrounded by the golden petals speaks about opening joyously to the full range of experience in the world and
following the sunshine of our soul when communicating to others.
|
untitled
|
|
ARTICLES:
Flower Essences?
Do You Mean Aromatherapy?
No they are not the same!
-by Maggie Smith
[read article]
DERMASCOPE Magazine Article:
Aromatic Hydrosols for Beautifully Clean, Hydrated & Conditioned Skin
- by Maggie Smith w/ Vidya McNeill
[read article]
For more information about Flower Essence Energy products
Or to purchase directly from Maggie Smith, Contact us:
1-800-213-7484
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Have you ever wondered why lovers give roses
to each other? They always touch the heart and remind us to be soft and gentle, enhancing our receptive nature.
When we think about the giant redwood trees growing in Northern California, we think of them growing strong and
tall, their strength connecting us with the earth gives us a sense of presence and interconnection with life connecting
us with the earth’s rhythms.
So what are flower essences? And how are they made? Flower Essences are liquid extracts that are used to address
profound issues of emotional well being, soul development, and mind-body health. Flower Essences do not carry the
aroma of the flower, but rather the “vibrational signature“ of the whole plant. Flower Essences are made by going
to the place where the plant is growing naturally and in healthy ABUNDANCE.
Then, much like the principle of homeopathy, the essence of the plant and flowers are mindfully collected. This
is the most important factor in its preparation as an essence. The process of creating the Flower Essence is a
quite meditation. When I begin to make an essence, I look for a nice sunny spot in the field or grove. I fill a
clear glass bowl with water from a local spring or well. The only reason why I might not use water from a nearby
stream is if that water were contaminated by whatever is happening up-stream, animals or human and I would then
use distilled water.
I create a ritual setting the intention to form the vortex between the sun, water and the essence of the flowers
or trees or the essence of the place. This is where I then sit in meditation and with conscious prayers I begin
to call in the energies of the plant or tree. I invoke the Deva or Angel of the flower or the grove I am working
with, the 6 Directions, East, South, West, North, Heaven and Earth, the ancient Grandmothers, and whomever I may
wish to call through the process of invocation. I invite them to bring the energy and essence of the plant into
the water. Then I pick only perfect blooms at their peak and place them gently in the bowl. My meditation with
the essence lasts from one to three hours.
The sun, water and the flowers form a vibrational matrix, which is then transmuted into the water. The Flower Essence
becomes infused with the Life Force of the plant or place. What is fascinating to me is that places of power generate
their own vibration. Have you ever been to Machu Pichu, to the edge of the volcano on Maui called Halakeaha at
sunrise, to the spring at Delphi in Greece which has been running since 674 BC or to Stonehenge where the Druids
walked. Each vortex carries the vibrational essence of its history, the culmination of past and present.
Thus, the essential quality of a powerful place can also be captured with a vibrational essence. Flower Essences
therefore, are the subtlest of the vibrational essence of the plant. They are the liquid extracts that are used
to address profound issues of emotional well being, soul development, and mind-body health. Flower Essences have
no aroma they carry the “vibrational signature” of the plant. Flowers have been used in various forms to heal us
for thousands of years. Cleopatra was sure that roses could cure any ailment, keep her skin beautiful and catch
any man, although she died too young for us to know for sure. The rose was for the Islamic world a symbol of the
mystical path to God. The Persians would sprinkle Rosewater on guests when they arrived in their homes to freshen
and delight them.
The Sufis regarded the use of floral waters as essential in healing the emotional and spiritual centers of an individual.
Used extensively during the Roman Empire, rosewater was commonly placed in fountains refreshing the air with this
delightful scent in order to maintain a healthy atmosphere. Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine from India
have always used tinctures of flowers and herbs for healing. The North and South American Indians have used indigenous
flowers and plants to heal the sick, reduce or eliminate pain and to journey into the other realms for Shamanic
rituals. It is common even today in the Amazon jungles and the Aboriginal outback of Australia for pits to be dug,
filled with burning coals with beds of damp leaves, flowers and water to steam the immersed person facilitating
deep healing of diseases of the body, emotions, mind and spirit.
So now that we understand what flower essences are what are Essential Oils? Essential Oils can be easily extracted
from flowers by steaming or cold pressing the petals and stems of the plant and are very concentrated substances.
Essential Oils are known for their powerful fragrances, and, from a therapeutic standpoint, one might find the
aroma of the oil preferable to the live plant because the distillation of the oil has concentrated or intensified
the vibrational of the plant, and therefore its healing abilities.
>Up until the early nineteen hundreds, Essential Oils were the strongest medicine available to both healers
and laypersons alike. The term “essential” applies to the most concentrated essential element of the plant that
contains therapeutic chemical constituents. The term “essential” is often referred to as the “spirit” or “blood”
of the plant. The term “volatile” comes from the Latin word that means, “to fly,” meaning that they dispense into
the air and float. Volatile molecules can pass through air and water.
EO’s will vaporize. Because Essential Oils are so highly volatile, it is important to keep them stored in dark
airtight bottles away from sources of heat and light or they will evaporate and/or become adulterated. To be detected
as an aroma it must be volatile. Essential Oils can be introduced to the body in several different ways, first
by smell through the olfactory system, which immediately affects the limbic system effecting memory and the lymphatic
system, which regulates hormone balance.
Do you remember the smells of your childhood, the flowers in Church, grandmother’s lilacs in the garden, the warm
bread from the oven, your wet puppy dog, or the vegetables you disliked the most? No matter how old you are the
smell will take you back to that moment in your life, bring back a picture, a feeling or a memory. It will have
an immediate and brief effect on your body. Essential Oils can be topically applied to the skin where they bring
oxygen and detoxify the organism. Miraculously, there is an instantaneous physiological response within 20 seconds
of application anywhere on the body. So what is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is obviously referring to the use of aromas in a therapeutic context. Essential Oils are use most
often in Aromatherapeutic applications as well as hydrosols and floral waters. These essential ingredients are
added to balms, carrier oils, tinctures, water, and even foods to enhance their healing properties. In my healing
practice I use both flower essences and Essential Oils. I find that the combination creates a balance for the emotional,
physical, mental and spiritual states of the client and for enhanced synergistic effect. My Flower Essence Energy
Sprays create an experience in a room or within the person of equipoise and well being. Flowers and their essences
are your soul’s path to healing!
Essential Oil Case Studies
Essential oils have been used for centuries as a stimulant, sedative and treatment for various medical conditions.
Today essential oils are widely used, with many studies having been conducted on essential oils and the effects
of the smell on the brain and other systems in the body including stress relief.
A new study from Taiwan reports these oils have a beneficial effect on heart rate and blood pressure after short-term
exposure and may result in reducing the risks for cardiovascular disease. This new study examined the effects of
essential oil and blood pressure among spa workers.
For this study 100 healthy workers from various spa centers in Taipei, Taiwan. Between July and August of 2010,
in the researchers study room the workers had their resting heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and
diastolic blood pressure (DBP) measured on each visit.
All spa workers (non-smokers) were taken to the study room which was small in size measuring 4 meters in height
by 3.5 m in length and 3.2 m in width (in U.S. measurements it would be about 13 x 11 x 10 1/2). Prior to entering
the study room, the room was exposed to 100% pure bergamot essential oil vaporized by an ultrasonic atomizer for
one hour. An ultrasonic atomizer is a device that converts a normal stream of liquid into a very fine mist.
Essential oils are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) composed of hundreds of aromatic chemicals, and VOC levels
in the room were also measured throughout the study period.
After researchers had adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and visit order the results had showed for the times between
15 and30 minutes after start of exposure the VOC level was significantly associated with reduced 15-min mean BP
and HR. These associations were statistically significant. For example, after 45 minutes exposure 15-minute SBP
had reduced by a mean of 2.10 mmHg and heart rate by 2.21 beats per minute.
However, more than an hour the results had ran the opposite. After 120 minutes, for example, mean SBP had risen
from baseline by 2.19 mmHg and heart rate by 1.70 beats per minutes.
In their conclusion researchers had wrote "Exposure to essential oil for 1 hour was found to be an effective
method of relaxation, as indicated by decreases in the HR and BP. Prolonged exposure for longer than 1 hour to
essential oils may be harmful to cardiovascular health among spa workers."
Dr Kai-Jen Chuang, PhD, Taipei Medical University · School of Public Health and one of the investigators
of this study stated "Our results suggest that exposure to essential oil for 1 hour would be effective in
reducing heart rate and blood pressure." "However, the most interesting finding of our study is that
exposure to essential oil for over an hour was associated with elevated blood pressure and heart rate."
This study appears in the European Journal Preventive Cardiology.
In 2010, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea, had examined the effectiveness
of aromatherapy on blood pressure, heart rate variability, aortic pulse wave velocity and the aortic augmentation
index of essential hypertensive patients. Their results revealed that aromatherapy was effective in lowering systolic
blood pressure and sympathetic nerve system activity.
Today the practice of aromatherapy can be found in an infinite number of hospitals, hospice centers, and other
medical facilities in the United States including Boston Medical Center, Doctor's Hospital, Veteran's Administration
Hospitals and Henry Ford Hospitals. For more information on aromatherapy you can visit the National Association
for Holistic Aromatherapy.
Debbie Nicholson is based in Detroit, Michigan, United States of America, and is an Anchor for Allvoices.
Other Case Studies
Medical institutions in Taiwan still use aromatherapy today such as in the area of pain relief for cancer patients.
A trial with Melissa found Aromatherapy safe and effective treatment for clinically significant agitation in people
with severe dementia.
Several studies have found the use of essential oils to be very effective in the use for anxiety. Some studies
have found that essential oils can help relieve he symptoms of insomnia at least as well as prescription drugs
A study of 20 end-stage renal failure patients found aromatherapy can significantly relieve pruritus in hemodialysis
patients.
Essential oils mixed with carrier oils have been found to relieve the symptoms of psoriasis.
Studies have found the people with rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and headaches require fewer pain medications when
they use aromatherapy
Flower Essence Energy 800-213-7484
Hospice, Flower Essences and
Aromatherapy
The Hospice movement began in London and was introduced world wide in the late 60’s early 70’s by Dr. Cecily Saunders.
She focused on the concept of supporting terminally ill patients, and their families at home. The emphasis was
on comfort care, and allowing people to move through the process with dignity. A new awareness of the importance
of “end of life” issues came from the tireless work of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, and her book On Death and Dying,
published in 1969. Until then dying patients often were abused, and shunned. During the 1970’s Kubler-Ross led
hundreds of workshops throughout the world breaking through the layer of professional denial prohibiting patients
from airing their innermost concerns. She identified the Five stages of dying, “denial, anger, bargaining, depression
and acceptance,” bringing them into common knowledge within the medical community. In the 1980’s Elizabeth gave
“Life and Death Transition” workshops worldwide. She purchased a 300-acre farm in Virginia and placed her focus
on babies born with Aid’s, when no one else wanted anything to do with them. Elizabeth became founding members
of the American Holistic Medical Association. In addition to writing 23 books on dying, receiving over 20 Honorary
Degrees, Time Magazine honored her in 1999 as “One of the Century’s Greatest Minds”. Her work changed how we now
strive to create compassionate environments for terminally ill patients to die with dignity.
Hospice care or Palliative Care in the final stages of terminal illness often provides a blessing to both patient
and caregiver. Many people are not aware that this valuable support is available to them and struggle alone to
care for the terminally ill patient
Under the current medical system in the United States, Hospice Care dictates that the patient must have a terminally
ill diagnosis, have 6 months or less to live, and the burden of curative treatments, which may not extend their
life, outweighs the benefit. They will no longer receive any type of medical intervention to extend their life.
In other words they will have no, IV’s (except for pain management or hydration), heart monitors, life support
machines, or surgeries etc. This may sound harsh to those who believe in the necessity of using every intervention
to keep the patient alive. The opposite is true for some terminally ill patients who prefer to focus on the quality
of life that they have left. With Hospice support they are allowed to die with dignity.
Hospice provides the patient and family with many types of support. An initial intake assessment, made by a doctor,
a nurse and a social worker begins the process. Hospice Care monitors the patient and gives drugs needed for pain
control. Hospice provides a Nurse who visits the patient as often as is needed and is always available by phone.
The Social Worker evaluates the need for various other support systems, and monitors the caregiver as well. A Home
Health Aid will give the patient a bath and change the bedding and do the laundry if the caregiver needs this help.
Hospice Volunteers after receiving several days of training are assigned patients to visit in their home for up
to 4 hours. Volunteers read to the patient, visit or sit quietly, allowing the caregiver the time off to take care
of other needs in their lives. In addition a Chaplain for spiritual support and counselors to assist with such
issues as anticipatory grief are offered as needed.
Various Hospice Facilities have “Complementary Therapies” programs, available that are intended to bring comfort
to the dying patient. Pet Therapy brings well-trained dogs and cats to visit the patient. Music Therapy will bring
and hour or two of soothing “live” or may be just listening to music the patient loves. Art Therapy brings the
opportunity for self-expression. Living History Therapist tape record the patients family history as a lasting
reminder for their loved one’s. And, Flower Essence and/or Aromatherapy Programs popularity are requested on a
daily basis.
Flower Essences and Aromatherapy can play a valuable role in calming the stressed, angry, demanding or fearful
patient. The Volunteer or Home Health Aide can do a hand or foot “moisturizing treatment.” I suggest not using
the term “Massage” as it may have pain associations. For moisturizing, use unscented lotion or Carrier Oil with
Flower Essences and either Rose Essential Oil or Lavender Essential Oil. I have created Heart Awakening Oil and
Serenity Oil which are used at many Hospice Facilities for this purpose. The Volunteer , Home Health Care Aide
or the caregiver can gently moisturize the hands and feet which makes many patients fell calm and supported. You
may also use Flower Essence Sprays of Hope, Calling the Angels and Tranquility to spray the bedding while giving
the patient a bath or changing the sheets, or spray a cotton ball and pin it to the patient’s gown
A nurse at Banning, California Hospice arrived at a Care Facility to find an extremely distraught patient. The
gentleman, suffering from Alzheimer’s, had been refusing a bath for days and was so agitated that he was fighting
with the staff. Bob took some of the Lavender and Vanilla Oil and Flower Essence combination, (mentioned in the
last paragraph) in his hand, reached out to greet and shake the hand of the patient. The patient said, “what’s
this, it is so nice”, Bob asked him to sit down while he continued moisturized his hand, and while chatting with
him was able to suggest that they get him into his room for his bath. He happily complied and the staff was delighted.
Social Workers have used Flower Essences and Aromatherapy to support the families during the transition of a loved
one. In one case in the grandfather had just passed. The grandmother, from middle Europe began to cry and wail
loudly, a practice common to her home country, but new and upsetting to this Americanized, extended family in San
Diego. When the Social Worker sprayed a combination called “Hope” the grandmother began to quietly sob and the
family immediately started to pray—turning a tense situation into a calm, supportive one. A combination Spray of
Water, Frankincense and Neroli Essential Oils with Flower Essences uplifts the spirit and brings hope into the
situation.
Often patients will become fearful due to the loss of control. A Tranquility Spray combination of Water, Rosewood
and Cedar Wood Essential Oils, with Flower Essences brings on a tranquil space, in present time and helps alleviate
the “what if “ syndrome.
When patients have breakthrough pain and the caregiver cannot reach help immediately, I suggest they ask the patient
to focus on the pain, noticing how big it is, what color it is, is it hot or cold, heavy or light, rough or smooth.
I use a combination spray of Water, Lemon Grass Essential Oil and Flower Essences to release their pattern of pain.
We all have remembered patterns of pain in our lives, whether from a fall, surgery, or our monthly cycle, any pre-set
experience of what pain will feel like. Flower Essences can help change that expected pattern, restoring harmony
and balance. In Perth Australia they have introduced a Flower Essence Cream to many hospitals for pain relief.
I have created a program for Hospice Facilities to train staff and volunteers in the use of Flower Essences and
Aromatherapy. A demonstration of a gentle moisturizing of hands and arms, and a guided relaxation meditation, they
can read to their patients while spraying them with a wonderful Flower Essence and Aromatherapy Spray.
I hope that this will give you some new ideas in ways to treat friends, and loved one’s recovering from surgery,
or who are facing a terminal illness with the loving support of our flower friends. One of God’s most beautiful
gifts to us are Flowers. They have been used for thousands of years to heal, uplifting the spirit in times of grief,
anger, sadness or fear and restore harmony and balance to our lives.
Maggie Smith
[back to top] |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
