Dandelion, from the genus Taraxacum, is a perennial flowering plant from the family Asteraceae. It is native to Eurasia and North America. The two most common species are Taraxacum officinale and Taraxacum erythrospermum, which were introduced from Europe, and now grow wild. They are edible from root to tip. The common English name is derived from French: Dent-de-lion, or “lion’s tooth.”[1]

If you want to learn something, you study it. Aromatherapy is no exception! To be considered competent and respected as a professional, take the steps with a professionally recognized school. The more you study aromatherapy, the more you will realize that educating yourself is a continual process. Since my first introduction to aromatherapy in 1994, it has taken me on extensive study and exploration. As the years have progressed, I am amazed at the continual updates and research available. Over the years, the practice of aromatherapy has significantly advanced. It has adopted more research and a holistic approach encompassing integrating a person’s health, both mentally and physically, using various applications and healing methods.

As a familiar ingredient of pumpkin-spice lattes and seasonal pumpkin pies, nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) has a bit of a perceived reputation as a “fun spice!” Yet, therapeutically, and aromatically, there are a lot more in-depth nuances to this well-loved winter spice. Nutmeg has traditionally been used for digestive complaints and pain. As an essential oil, nutmeg lends warmth to a perfume blend with cooling citrus notes, such as lime (Citrus aurantifolia) and pink grapefruit (Citrus × paradisi), combining the sweetness of all the ingredients. As a tropical native, nutmeg is not well used by western herbalists but it does have some redeeming properties as a plant which might encourage you to grow it in your garden if you are well placed to do so. Nutmeg doesn’t come without cautions for use in aromatherapy, so make sure you are familiar with this unconventional spice before using it.

In March 2020, the pandemic called coronavirus (COVID-19) triggered a rush on hand sanitizers. Consumers and businesses alike rapidly jumped on the DIY hand sanitizer bandwagon. Unsafe and inaccurate DIY recipes swept social media. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers, “FDA recommends that consumers do not make their own hand sanitizer. If made incorrectly, hand sanitizer can be ineffective, and there have been reports of skin burns from homemade hand sanitizer. The agency lacks verifiable information on the methods being used to prepare hand sanitizer at home and whether they are safe for use on human skin”1

Many things can happen in our lives to disrupt our emotional balance and create thoughts and feelings of stress, sadness or anxiety. Psychoneuroendoimmunology (PNI) is the study of the mind's effect on health and resistance to disease. PNI researchers have studied how emotions and thoughts impact the brain, hormones, nervous system, and the immune system's ability to protect.