Breathing Deep: The Herbalista treats West Valley to Aromatherapy

With the end of the traditional school year close at hand comes a new-found sense of energy as well as stresses as youth transition not only into summer break, but also new grades, new schools, and new stages of life. The Herbalista, Luisa Valdez, dropped by West Valley one n ten to discuss Aromatherapy; including its uses and benefits in stimulating mental and physical well-being.

Starting off with a basic introduction to aromatherapy – where natural oils extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of a plant are used to alter mood, health, or overall functioning with scents. The youth were surprised to see that they had already been exposed to basic aromatherapy in the form of incense, scented candles, air fresheners, potpourri, and even in traditional medicine like vapo-rub. Such scents are meant to relax, relieve stress anxiety and depression, boost energy, and stimulate memory and focus.

Next up, Luisa passed around samples of different oils and herbs for the youth to sniff such as Lemon, Tangerine, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, and Rosemary; describing the effects each scent has – from relief of allergies and calming anxious or hyperactive feelings, to cleansing emotionally and spiritually as well as stimulating lazy feelings and boosting memory.

Finally, the group were given the chance to make their own custom sachets of herbs to use in a tea, bath, or keep in their backpacks or rooms with the Herbalista’s help in creating their own blend for what they wanted to address the most. The group ended with a calming meditation exercise that helped re-center the energy and boost the mood of the group.