Just recently, I was honored to have Kathryn Faso interview me. We talked about my journey into naturopathic and functional medicine and my love for essential oils. It was a pleasure to reunite with Kathryn. She is a humble and self-taught holistic health expert that I met years ago. Kathryn and I first connected at...
The Benefits of Diffusing Essential Oils: An Easy Way to Incorporate the Aromatic Benefits of Essential Oils into Your Life
Breathing in Good Health Inhalation is the oldest, easiest, and safest way to use essential oils. Breathing in these aromatic molecules creates an instant shift in our mood as their constituents quickly reach our brain and travel throughout our respiratory system and into our whole body. Even if you are not an oils’ connoisseur,...
Essential Oil Quality, Standards, and Safety Part 3: Testing, Verification, and Criteria for Determining “Good Quality” and “Pure” Essential Oil
What Are “Quality Essential Oils?” Finding high-quality essential oils can be challenging due to differing opinions on what factors are important in evaluating them and the lack of regulation of their purity. Recently, I began a series aiming to clarify the criteria for identifying good quality essential oils for both new and experienced users....
Essential Oil Quality, Standards, and Safety Part 2: The Regulations, Standards, Quality, and Purity of Our Aromatic Allies
Finding “Good Quality Essential Oils” Finding high quality essential oils can be a complex process and confusing to the new oiler. This is because individuals have different preferences and beliefs about the “best oils.” Furthermore, what is deemed the most important aspects for selecting our aromatic allies varies between essential oils users, clinical aromatherapists,...
Essential Oil Quality, Standards, and Safety Part 1: The Search for the Best Quality Oils
Why is “Quality Essential Oils” Such a Charged Term for Essential Oil Users? One of the most common questions newcomers to aromatherapy ask me is, “How do I find good quality essential oils?” It seems like an innocent question, right? Actually, this inquiry has gotten quite complex and even contentious among experienced aromatherapists and...
Five of My Favorite Single Essential Oils and Blends for Happy Guts and Optimal Digestion
Healthy Gut, Happy Body Our intestinal tract profoundly impacts our overall wellness through its various functions, along with its well-known role in nutrient assimilation, absorption, and elimination. Recently, we’ve been exploring the importance of a healthy digestive system and the bugs that reside in our “inner tube.” We’ve also been highlighting how essential oils...
How Essential Oils Aid Digestion by Supporting the Microbiome and Easing Stressed-Out Minds and Guts
The Importance of Digestive Health Our digestive system is known for its role in breaking down our food, assimilation and absorption of nutrients, and elimination. However, it also has many other vital functions that have an impact on our overall wellness. Furthermore, our gut is the home to trillions of microbes, collectively known as...
The Importance of a Healthy Gut & How Essential Oils Support Optimal Digestion and Enhance the Gut-Brain Connection
“All Disease Begins in the Gut”? Over 2000 years ago, Hippocrates proclaimed, “All disease begins in the gut.” Today, many modern integrative, naturopathic, and functional medicine physicians fervently echo his words. Was he (and are they) correct? Digestive Health and Whole-Body Support The gastrointestinal tract is known for its roles in digestion, assimilation,...
The Five Mind-Body Benefits of Essential Oils for Supporting Optimal Detoxification and Enhancing Our Health
For the past several weeks, we’ve been exploring the negative effects of living in a world full of pervasive chemicals. These detrimental compounds have been linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases and various symptoms. Thankfully, we can empower ourselves with safe, natural interventions to help us combat these excessive exposures and mitigate...
How Essential Oils Enhance Detoxification and Safeguard Us from the Negative Effects of Toxins
For the past several weeks, we’ve been discussing how essential oils can be used to shield us from the damaging effects of the ubiquitous chemicals present in our environment. These dangerous compounds have been linked to negative bodily symptoms and can increase our risk for chronic diseases. The awareness of these various detrimental substances...