Today I would like to explain a little about the aromatherapy and herbal worlds. For many centuries it was part of our medical system. (Bent, S) Doctors learned plant medicine and it was what was recommended to patients. In many countries, it is still this way. England for instance has a link on the “.gov” site to The National Institute for Medical Herbalists. It is recognized. Here in the United States that is not the case. Natural wellness has been forced underground by a medical system that believes they know all, and they know best. However, the times are changing, and plant medicine is reemerging.

There are some common ways that people find herbalism and aromatherapy. Someone may have given you a product to try. Perhaps you were searching for solutions to a problem, and herbs or essential oils were mentioned. You could have been using an essential oil, like me with patchouli, without realizing what you had.

There are very few of us present-day students who were lucky enough to have had the knowledge handed down through generations like Rosemary Gladstar. The lessons she teaches were taught to her by her grandmother. She learned by using the plants that were growing outside her grandmother’s home. She has been teaching others about these plants for many years. Many of today’s qualified instructors acknowledge her as someone that they learned from.

Also, do not be afraid to explore the way that indigenous people in your area cared for their own. They used plant medicine. They cared for their people long before our medicine was here. *

Before the Internet

Not so long ago there was no internet. We looked everything up in books. We were taught how to read and do research, not to trust only one source.

It meant hours in a library with books spread out across a table, encyclopedias spread across our bed after school, and it meant talking with people who knew about the subject. Today’s learning looks much different.

With the Internet

Today, students are bombarded with information via social media, email, and even the news. It is not all incorrect. However, it is not all correct either. You must learn to sift through the fluff to find solid evidence that the person you learn from knows what they are talking about. It is much more difficult now than it was before we had so much information at our fingertips.

Anyone can start a YouTube channel. Anyone can host a podcast. Anyone can build a website and write a blog. Yes, this pertains to me also. When I write something here or on the monthly plant and essential oil pages, I will give you sources where I found the information. I will expect you to question and research. I believe any instructor worth following and learning from should be willing to share where they get their information.

Back to the internet…I am going to say this straight up.

There are people on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and all the others, that are handing out some bad information. I would like to believe that they are not doing it intentionally. But in two separate cases, I have interacted with people personally, who were making claims that could cause harm. Both were in Facebook groups. Both involved essential oils. In one incident, I asked for proof. The response was as I expected; “I won’t do your research for you.” When I posted evidence to refute her claims she accused me of posting clickbait and ended the interaction.

I know what she was telling people is wrong because it involved a government agency. I will leave it at that for now. I will gather the information and references necessary and write another post. Stay tuned.

It is important to know your teachers. Learn their level of experience, find out who they learned from, and know their spiritual belief system. Many in this world are non-Christian. There is nothing wrong with that and I do follow and learn from some of these people. However, if that is a game changer for you, seek those who teach according to your beliefs. There are some highly educated herbalists and aromatherapists available to learn from.

Do your own research before blindly accepting what you see and hear. If you take any kind of medication, over the counter or prescription, consult with your doctor or medical professional before starting any herbal or essential oil protocols. Herbs and essential oils are usually safe to use, but there are some exceptions. ALWAYS know before you take something. You can also check these sites for drug interactions.

Drugs.com
Drug bank online
Rxlist
WebMD

To end this post, I will say that herbs and essential oils are wonderful, but “Wisdom is knowing what you don’t know.”

Socrates

*The Indigenous People’s practices may involve spiritual ceremonies that go against your belief systems. Know and understand this before going into your exploration.

References

Bent S. Herbal medicine in the United States: review of efficacy, safety, and regulation: grand rounds at University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. J Gen Intern Med. 2008 Jun;23(6):854-9. doi: 10.1007/s11606-008-0632-y. Epub 2008 Apr 16. PMID: 18415652; PMCID: PMC2517879.

I am not a doctor or medical professional. I am an aromatherapist and herbalist. Any information provided on this site if for educational purposes only. I always advise people do their own research and check with their medical professional before beginning any herbal or essential oil practices.

I am an affiliate for some of the companies or products that I share. This means that I make a small commission if you make a purchase through my link. This will not raise your cost for the product.