What is Psoriasis? Psoriasis - a lifelong illness marked by relapses and remissions - is a chronic proliferative, immune, and inflammatory condition of the skin. It is characterized by erythematous plaques covered with silvery scales, particularly over the extensors of the extremities, i.e., on the elbows, knees, scalp, and back. Psoriasis has a prevalence ranging from 0.2% to 4.8%. The exact etiology is not fully understood, but there appears to be an interaction between environmental factors and genetic susceptibility. Whole genome association trials found several candidate genes relat ..read more

By Emma Huang, -CAPH® I believe everyone enjoys the peaceful beauty of winter scenery. However, prolonged periods of cold, snowy weather and limited sunlight can trigger a phenomenon called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). As a certified aromatherapist who lives in an area where winter seems to last about half the year, I'm passionate about sharing essential oil blends that can turn the winter blues into a more uplifting experience.  What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): SAD, also referred to as seasonal emotional disorder, is a condition that affects numerous individuals during c ..read more

By Sze Nga Ip CAHP® I am always interested to know why people start aromatherapy in the first place. I remembered mine was a simple one, I was talking to my colleague about how my 2-year-old keep getting sick and coughing whenever there was a change of weather or season. Then the question to me was “Have you ever tried to use Lemon, Frankincense and Peppermint oil to apply on your girls?”  That’s the first “secret formula” I learnt from my colleague, and I asked how she knew about these oils, she said this formula was passed along by her other friend who had been a follower of an es ..read more

  By Laura Jones  CAHP®/ Registered Massage Therapist RMT. Aromatherapy has been used since 3500 BC and utilized by noted healers including Hippocrates in the 5th century BC.  It was termed aromatherapy by Lyon chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse in 1928.  However, there is still a lot we don’t know and are in the process of learning. Research is being done on the effect of aromatherapy on pain.  This is a hard topic to find consistent research on as pain is subjective and there is no universal scale for rating the intensity of the pain.  Does aromatherapy redu ..read more

By Camilla Restrepo, CAHP®-AM, RPN Reducing Allergic Skin Reactions With Essential Oils I truly believe in the power of healing ourselves with our Mother Earth. Everything we need to live a healthy and happy life is already all around us. Although it is true that we do not always know where to look, and not all of us have access to her many ingredients, the healing power of nature is here. Lately, I've come across a lot of concerns around allergies, more specifically allergic reactions in the skin. I became very curious exploring how essential oils could help improve a variety of symptoms and ..read more

Five Amazing Essential Oils for Wound Healing By Camilla Restrepo, CAHP®-AM, RPN Antimicrobial Antiseptic Anti-inflammatory Antifungal Vulnerary Bactericidal Cicatrisant What do you think all those words above have in common?  Yup, you guessed it! These are the essential oil properties responsible for wound healing and protecting skin integrity. Now, I know this may not sound like the most magical thing in the world but take it from a nurse: infection control is a fundamental part of our healthcare system. And isn't it great to know you can make your very own first aid kit with natural in ..read more

By Monika Meulman, CAHP    Is your green thumb getting itchy like mine? Do you have a hundred seed containers on the kitchen counter vying for your attention? There’s lots to plan. Sort those wonderful ideas into tidy to-do lists so your garden, window sill or front walkways can be full of aromatic plants all through the growing season. Refresh your memory or maybe learn something new from the following gardening guidelines.   Things to Consider and Plan(t) Ahead Check your farmer’s almanac for local frost dates (we’ve added a few sample zones below). Prepare your garden b ..read more

By Camilla Restrepo, CAHP®-AM, RPN Welcome the world of essential oils, where there is just as much magic as there is misinformation. Let me give you some context here before I get started. I am a nurse and a Certified Aromatherapy Health Professional®, but more than that, I am a mom, sister, daughter and friend. One of the most common marketing slogans I’ve heard is, “There’s an oil for that!” I remember being so excited thinking about all the ways I was going to be able to solve all my loved one’s problems. Anxiety? Here’s lavender! Got a headache? Here’s peppermint. Can’t sleep? Well, vetiv ..read more

By Camilla Restrepo, CAHP®-AM, RPN If I were to ask you, “Hey do you meditate?” You might enthusiastically say, “Yes, I do! Every morning with my coffee, I take a few minutes to clear my mind. It makes all the difference in my day!” I would proceed to give you a high five because, well, meditation is amazing! It's how we lower our stress levels and anxiety, enhance our well-being, and practise mindfulness. Meditation practices can range from a few deep counted breaths to focusing on gratitude, embodiment or cleansing the mind. But have you ever considered adding essential oils to your meditati ..read more

By Camilla Restrepo, CAHP®-AM, RPN   ’Tis the season to celebrate with our family and friends! It is a beautiful time of unity, connection, reconciliation and, well, of course, gift giving. Now I am sure your sister, mother or best friend would enjoy another pair of cozy socks and underwear, but what if I told you that you can give them an unforgettable gift of relaxation, detoxification and healing? Can you imagine how great you’d feel knowing you gave the most thoughtful gift, especially one that won’t get thrown in a closet somewhere. Let me tell you about the one and only, aroma massa ..read more