Power of flowers: Aromatherapy boosts health, happiness and sex drive - Ottawa Citizen

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Less is more when it comes to essential oils, says Ottawa aromatherapist Heather Garrod. C.Y. Ronnie. W / Fotolia


An increasing number of people are turning to the ancient power of essential oils as a way to lead a more “natural life” and relieve pain, reduce stress and jolt lagging libidos.

“Some have been used for thousands of years,” says Heather Garrod, a certified aromatherapist and owner of Planet Botanix, a shop specializing in natural health care products and wellness services on Bank Street. “They’re tried and true.”

Extracted from plants, flowers and herbs, Garrod says the potent essences were used by ancient civilizations to improve health — physical, mental and emotional — and overall quality of life.

Ottawa aromatherapist Heather Garrod says ‘less is more’ when it comes to using essential oils./ Bruno Schlumberger / Ottawa Citizen

The highly fragrant scents of these concentrated oils are inhaled through diffusers, sprays and steamy baths or diluted and rubbed on the skin. Their uses are many: from treating sunburns, relieving anxiety and improving circulation to sanitizing dirty toilets, fighting colds and boosting your sex drive.

According to the Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists, they “contain the life force of the plant and have the ability to strengthen our immune system and to stimulate our body’s natural healing abilities.”

The Canadian Cancer Society even supports aromatherapy as a way to help manage the ill effects of treating the disease.

“Aromatherapy is often used as a complementary therapy with conventional cancer treatment to improve a person’s quality of life,” according to the society’s website. “There is some evidence that aromatherapy helps reduce anxiety, tension and pain in people with cancer. For example, lavender oil is promoted to relieve anxiety, muscular tension and trouble sleeping (insomnia). Some reports also suggest that inhaled peppermint, ginger and cardamom oil may relieve nausea caused by chemotherapy and radiation treatments.”

Lavender can help relieve stress and help you sleep. Nishihama - Fotolia

Elana Millman, author of Aromatherapy for Sensual Living: Essential Oils for the Ecstatic Soul (see review), has used essential oils “every day for every aspect of life” for more than 20 years, firmly believing “they are indispensable, simple tools that amplify health and vitality.”

A Toronto-based holistic healer and aromatherapist, Millman says aromatherapy is “so much more than a candy-coated cure-all achieved by simply placing a few drops on a tissue or in an oil burner to get the promised relaxing or stimulating effect.”

She says it’s a way to connect with the natural world and tap into its therapeutic powers.

“I use essential oils every day and in every way, from stimulating my love life to healing a broken heart to brushing my teeth to treating a wound and even flavouring my food,” she says.

It can take large volumes of plant material to get small amounts of essential oil. olyina / Fotolia

When it comes to using essential oils, Garrod says: “Less is more.” She also recommends reading labels carefully to ensure the oils you’re buying are pure and not petroleum based and trying different combinations since aromatherapy is “not an exact science.”

But unlike Millman, Garrod doesn’t recommend adding them to food and drinks. “They’re too strong for cooking,” says the mother of two, adding it can take large volumes of plant material to get a small amount of essential oil. Instead, she suggests using the actual plant to spice up recipes.

Ideal for students, rosemary improves focus and concentration. dp3010 - Fotolia

Garrod’s five essential essential oils


1. Lavender: “first-aid in a bottle,” it helps you sleep, relieves pain and stress, speeds healing

2. Thyme: anti-bacterial that prevents infections, improves circulation, relieves cramps

3. Bergamot: extracted from the citrus rind, it’s an antidepressant, relaxant and cure for urinary tract infections.

4. Rosemary: improves focus and concentration, sooths dry, flaky scalps, tones skin

5. Frankincense: reduces stress, relieves indigestion, tightens skin (anti-aging), heals minor cuts and bug bites