I like to make a sanitizing spray to clean my work surface before and after formulating. My Sanitizing spray consists of 70% Isopropyl alcohol, 19% Hydrosol or Distilled Water, and 1% of Essential oil. I typically make this in a 500ml amber glass bottle with a trigger nozzle, as not only are these better for cleaning, but the trigger nozzle lasts much longer than atomiser bottles (the kind used for room sprays and aromatic mists). So for a 500ml bottle, the formulation is: - 350mls 100% Isopropyl Alcohol - 95mls Hydrosol or Distilled Water - 5mls Essential Oil Synergy Tip One: For the essential oil, use your cheaper essential oils. In Australia, I can get 100 mL of Tea Tree, Lavender, Lemon, and Eucalyptus australiana for under $20 AUD each. I can even get a 250ml Clove Bud oil for $22.00 if I decide to add that. If an essential oil has expired but still smells good, I won't use it clinically if it has expired by more than 3-4 months past expiration, but I will still use it in my cleaning product. Tip Two: Instead of always measuring your cleaning formulation, simply measure out your hydrosol/water first and pour this into your bottle. Print out a small label that says water or H2O on it and place it onto the bottle so that the top edge of the label lines up with the water level. This way, each time you make a new batch of sanitizer, you will always know how much water to add to the bottle. Use disposable pipettes that have mLs written on them to draw and dispense your essential oil synergy or use a 5ml (1ml increment) graduated cylinder. Top off the rest of the bottle with your Isopropyl alcohol. Due to the high percentage of alcohol, no preservative is required, and this spray will have a very long shelf life. It's a good idea to wear gloves whilst using, as the alcohol can dry hands and potentially lead to contact dermatitis, plus the alcohol will cause the essential oil to penetrate and be absorbed into the skin more rapidly.

Of teaching MLD massage during a heatwave! @Sharon Banfield

A question for all you Aromatherapists in our tribe. First some background. I have a Cerebral Palsy client who I see every week. Three weeks ago he informs me had been having hallucinations, as in waking up and seeing animals in his room. The animals being elephants and tigers. We had a bit of a giggle about it. But I did ask if they had changed his meds, no they hadn't. On went my Clinical head, no dowsing for this one. I had never had a client getting hallucinations in over 30 years of practice. However, it can be something Cerebral Palsy patients get. I went with 2 EO's and popped them in a sniffy for him to use twice before bedtime, once after his evening meal and then again when he settles down to sleep. I saw him the following week and he'd moved from Indi to Australia as he'd had a kangaroo visit him! I saw him again today, and he's had not one hallucination in the past week. So, my question to you is: which 2 oils do you think I plumped with?

Hey All, For anyone studying to become a Clinical Aromatherapist, a unique way to learn about cellular biology and pathology. Pathology is the branch of medical science dedicated to the study of disease. It investigates the causes (etiology), mechanisms of development (pathogenesis), and the structural and functional changes in cells and tissues that occur when the body is unwell. Cellular biology (or cytology) is the branch of biology that studies the structure, function, and behavior of cells. As the fundamental building blocks of all living organisms, cells dictate how life operates, regulates itself, and interacts with its environment. One good and fun way to learn about many common illnesses and diseases is through a medically accurate series called Cell at Work. Cells at Work! is a unique blend of both cell biology and pathology. It uses anthropomorphized cells to personify normal biological processes and explicitly dramatizes various pathologies—like harmful bacteria, viruses, allergic reactions, and cancer—to explain how the human body’s immune system responds to disease and injury. Cells at Work is available on Netflix or Crunchyroll. You can also purchase a digital copy of it via the Apple TV Store and even on DVD. There are currently two seasons of the series and a spin-off series called Cells at Work! Code Black. Many Doctors and Medical professionals on YouTube have reviewed and highly recommend the series due to its accuracy. I have attached a small example video of a baby Red Blood Cell being protected by a baby neutrophil (White blood cell) from a germ until an adult Neutrophil and Macrophage come in to save the day. I can't highly recommend this series enough, and really hope they produce a season 3.

Today, my cousin came to my house, and I noticed she was constantly scratching between the fingers of her hands to the point they were very red. I asked her whats happening. She told me that she has had this itchy feeling between her fingers for the past few hours. I asked her if she wouldn't mind me taking a look, which she was fine with me doing so. I donned a pair of latex gloves and inspected her hands. Her hands were not only very dry, with white, peeling skin, but the insides of her fingers were red, with tiny-looking blisters, some of which looked to have burst, with fluid, as well as small cuts. My cousin works in an aged care facility's kitchen, where she is constantly washing dishes, having to sanitize her hands, and wearing gloves. My immediate thought was that this is Dyshidrotic Eczema (Pompholyx) or possibly Contact Dermatitis, also known as hand eczema. As it was located specifically between the fingers, this type of contact dermatitis is specifically called Interdigital Dermatitis, as it refers to inflammation occurring in the webs of skin between the fingers. Remember, as Aromatherapists, we do not diagnose, but we can make an educated guess based on our knowledge. Dyshidrotic Eczema (Pompholyx): Causes tiny, deep, fluid-filled blisters that look like small bumps or tapioca grains. They are intensely itchy and can be triggered by stress, sweating, or contact with metals like nickel. Contact Dermatitis: An allergic reaction or irritation from soaps, cleaning supplies, lotions, or jewelry. It causes a red, bumpy, itchy rash in the exact areas that touched the irritant. What Not to Do: I asked my cousin if she has been applying anything to her hands, and she said she was using a moisturizer. I asked her what kind, and she had it in her purse, and it was one of those drugstore brands with a heavy fragrance. With this skin condition, you shouldn't be using ANY fragrance-based product on the skin, which also includes most essential oils, as this can cause more issues than anything. Essential oils, by their very nature, are drying, with some of them, like Eucalyptus or the Citruses, being skin penetrating enhancers.