Follow your nose
Soothing Scents
Health by a nose
Top 10 Essential Oils
Summer relaxation
The Qigong Flow

7 Healthy Ways to Lose the Blues Dec/Jan 2005
By TOM WEEDE as published in Natural Health Magazine
 
"Follow your nose"
Aromatherapy practitioners use essential oils to enhance body and spirit, but can a scent really give your mood a boost? Yes, says aromatherapist Kelly Holland Azzaro, vice president of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy and co-owner of Ashi Therapy holistic healing center in banner Elk, NC.

"You'll experience the benefits immediately, "Azzaro declares. "When you inhale a scent, the properties of an essential oil go beyond the blood-brain barrier, helping to produce and effect on your mood."

Try citrus oils first, Azzaro suggests. "These are a reminder of warm climates with lots of sunshine, so they're definitely a blues picker-upper." Her choice is confirmed by science: A small non-randomized study published in the journal Neuroimmunomodulation found that depressed subjects who were exposed to citrus aromas needed less anti-depressants to feel better than those who weren't exposed.

Azzaro's list of feel-good aromas includes:
Orange (citrus reticulato)
Lemon (citrus limon)
Tangerine (citrus reticulata var blanco)
Clary sage (salvia sclarea)
Geranium (pelargonium graveolens)
Ylang-ylang (cananga odorata)
Peppermint (mentha piperita)
Exotic rose oils

In addition to simply inhaling a scent, you can incorporate an aroma into body or foot baths, compresses, or massage. "By adding essential oils with the massage oil, you can achieve a state of relaxation while experiencing the healing properties of aromatherapy," says Azzaro. Consult your doctor if you're pregnant or trying to conceive, breast-feeding, epileptic, or have any specific health concerns.

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Wrapped in the Season's Soothing Scents
December 2004 By DOUG DONALDSON as published in Better Homes & Gardens
Ever wonder why the smell of a fresh-cut Christmas tree sweeps you up in such pleasurable reveries? "Scent is the most powerful sense you have," says Kathleen Duffy, a nurse and clinical aromatherapist in Chicpoee, Massachusetts. "It evokes wonderful memories of past holidays."

There's something else about those woodsy whiffs. "Along with the holiday smell, the essential oils that make up that evergreen scent - including pine, spruce, and cedarwood - will help you feel relaxed," says Kelly Holland-Azzaro, a clinical aromatherapist in Banner Elk, North Carolina.

Since the fresh-cut tree smell usually fades in days, here are a few pointers on how to create an air of nostalgia and calm in your family's home through the whole season.
Spruce up the spruce: Use a few drops of essential oil to keep that pleasant evergreen smell long after the tree has lost its freshness. These essential oils, which are distilled from tree bark or needles, are available at health food stores and from online retailers, such as www.theherbarium.com.

Make sure you're getting pure essential oils, says Duffy, not fragrant oils or aromatics, which have other substances added to them. Expect to pay $7-10 for a 10-milliliter bottle, which will easily last one or two holiday seasons. Put a few drops on the tree boughs. "Start with one or two drops," says Holland-Azarro. Asthmatic children and seniors shouldn't be exposed to more than that.

Hit up a batch of mother nature: If you want your whole house to have a seasonal smell, try this: Mix 10 drops each of pine, spruce, and cedarwood essential oils in a small bottle. Put the mixture in an eyedropper and place a few drops on pinecone decorations, wreaths, or the tree itself.

If you want to quickly scent the house before company comes over, add two or three drops to a pot with about one quart of water. Simmer (don't boil) the water and the fragrance will spread through the house for hours. This can also help with dry sinuses.

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Health by a nose 07/23/2003
By SCOTT NICHOLSON
as published in The Watauga Democrat

Banner Elk therapist says aromas can be therapeutic

The following is part three in a five-part series examining the local effect of alternative medicine. Smell is one of the most primitive and powerful survival mechanisms, warning us of danger or allowing us to associate specific memories with specific smells. One of the fastest-growing areas of holistic healing takes smell a step beyond, elevating it to a source of emotional and physical well-being. Aromatherapy is a relatively new discipline when compared to acupuncture or even surgery, though its basics are in the herbal and olfactory habits of ancient Egyptians and Indians and then into the salves and potions of aromatherapy. Kelly Holland Azzaro of Ashi Therapy in Banner Elk is a registered Aromatherapist, a credential given by the Aromatherapy Registration Council and is also a certified clinical aromatherapy practitioner and Licensed Massage Therapist.

Azzaro became interested in aromatherapy, yoga and massage nearly two decades ago while in high school. She had received some aromatherapy and massage from a chiropractor and later became an assistant in the office.  She read more about aromatherapy and studied with world-renowned aromatherapists for her 20+years of training which led to receiving professional credentials and began blending her own line
of aromatherapy products, Ashi Aromatics tm.

“Aromatherapy is so much more than just something that smells good,” Azzaro said. “If I can teach them (clients) about one oil, then I’m doing my job.”

While essential oils are often linked to massage therapy, Azzaro said the power of inhaling different natural scents is instantaneous and “goes beyond the blood/brain level,” where massage can often take 30 minutes for the oils to penetrate the skin.

She said that different oils can have a variety of effects on the body, from a calming effect to an invigorating uplift. They may also help with some breathing difficulties, cold symptoms, bacterial and viral infections, as an aphrodisiac and to aid a whole host of emotional and physical troubles.

The National Association For Holistic Aromatherapy defines it as “the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit.”

The term was coined by a holistic French chemist in 1928, and since then has slowly been gaining acceptance among naturopathic health practitioners, even though there has been scant scientific research into the field and the supposed benefits of essential oils.

Skeptical Inquirer Magazine, usually known for debunking claims of UFOs and extrasensory perception, put aromatherapy in its crosshairs in a 1996 article.

Author Lynn McCutcheon said that she could find no research supporting the idea that natural oils were superior to the synthetic oils that were identical at a molecular level.

“Given that essential oils contain several compounds, it seems possible that a natural oil might have more than one active agent,” McCutcheon wrote. “If that is so, then aroma therapists should be spearheading the research effort to determine which chemical compounds are inducing the changes they claim are taking place.

Instead, most of them seem all too willing to assume that natural oils are better, and that there is no need to defend this assertion with any rationale or research evidence.”

Aromatherapy has gained more credence in Europe than in the United States, where no regulatory body exists for the practice except for sections governing perfume and cosmetics. In France, aromatherapy is part of the course of study for getting a medical degree.

Azzaro said that Europe is also ahead of the United States in standardization and testing of oils. Since testing is an expensive process, Azzaro said she sticks with a few companies which she has found to be reputable.

When a new client walks in the door, Azzaro gives a health intake, having the client fill out a health history, asking why the client made the appointment, and what are the short-term and long-term goals of treatment. She also looks for contraindications, or potential health risks.

One of the main risks of aromatherapy is an allergy, whether an oil is inhaled or rubbed into the skin. Some allergies are related to whole families of oils, so its often easy to tell which oils should be avoided. If the oil is used in massage, then there are times when a massage shouldn’t be performed, usually in situations where increased blood flow to a specific area is not advisable.

Since the oils are not ingested, they generally pose less risks than supplements or medicines which are taken internally. Some oils are used in over-the-counter remedies, such as eucalyptus in vapor rubs designed to help cease congestion.

However, Azzaro notes that there are 300 species of eucalyptus, and only 6 of them are commonly used, which is where knowledge and experience can make a difference.

Azzaro lets clients sample different kinds of the oils that she has blended herself. The blends are often of two or more oils for which she attributes specific properties.

For example, she sells a “synergy blend” formula called “Renaissance” that contains herbs and plants used by monks to war off the Black Plague during the Middle Ages.

While Azzaro is pleased with the increased awareness and popularity of aromatherapy, she also believes interested people should consult with someone who has knowledge of the oils before using them, since they are so readily available for purchase on the Internet, in health food stores and grocery stores.

She said there are three species of lavender, a scent which most people associate with relaxation. However, there is a “spike lavender” that actually increases blood pressure, causing the opposite of the desired effect. Azzaro said that outlets sometimes sell oils in which the staff have no training. She sees her role as being an educator of her clients so they will be empowered to blend or use their own oils.

“I let them smell first,” she said. “If they love the smell, it’s going to be helpful for them.”

She sees aromatherapy as a one more tool to work toward the goal of personal wellness. “Natural medicine is so much more affordable for the consumer,” she said. “People want to feel better and they want to understand what’s going on.”

Azzaro reports an increasing number of referrals from Western, or “allopathic,” doctors. She disdains any hint of “New Age” connotations to her practice.

“We don’t claim to know it all, but we know what we know,” she said.

“The whole thing is about taking care of the patient. What is it we can do to help them feel better? We listen to the client’s needs and have them participate in the healing process.

“It’s an ancient art, very old, and I hope it keeps its art and beauty,” she said. “I hope it doesn’t get mass produced and lose that beauty, but I would love for it to be affordable so everybody can make it a part of their life.”

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Top 10 Essential Oils

Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus globulus or Eucalyptus radiata: Helpful in treating respiratory problems, such as coughs, colds, and asthma. Also helps to boost the immune system, and relieve muscle tension.

Ylang Ylang, Cananga odorata: Helps one to relax, and can reduce muscle tension. Good antidepressant.

Geranium, Pelargonium graveolens: Helps to balance hormones in women, good for balancing the skin. Can be both relaxing and uplifting, as well as antidepressant.

Peppermint, Mentha piperita: Useful in treating headaches, muscle aches, digestive disorders such as slow digestion, indigestion, and flatulence.

Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia: Relaxing, and also useful in treating wounds, burns, and skin care.

Lemon, Citrus limon: Very uplifting, yet relaxing. Helpful in treating wounds, infections, and house cleaning and deodorizing.

Clary Sage, Salvia sclarea: Natural pain killer, helpful in treating muscular aches and pains. Very relaxing, and can help with insomnia. Also very helpful in balancing hormones.

Tea Tree, Melaleuca alternifolia: A natural anti-fungal oil, good for treating all sorts of fungal infections including vaginal yeast infections, jock itch, athletes foot, and ringworm. Also helps to boost the immune system.

Roman Chamomile, Anthemus nobilis: Very relaxing, and can help with sleeplessness and anxiety. Also good for muscle aches and tension. Useful in treating wounds and infection.

Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis: Very stimulating and uplifting, good to help mental stimulation as well as to stimulate the immune system. Very good for muscle aches and tension. Stimulating to the digestive system.

— Source: The National Association For Holistic Aromatherapy (http//:www.naha.org)
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Summer Relaxation Begins with Aromatherapy

By Laurie Mitchell Jakobsen

Article from Carolina Mountain Living June/July 2001 issue

As summer begins, many people are thinking of ways to unwind and enjoy the healing serenity of western North Carolina’s mountains.

Visitors and residents can go another step in search of relaxation. Aromatherapy-the practice of using essential plant oils for emotional and physical wholeness-is a holistic healing way to relaxation and peace of mind.

“There is so much more to aromatherapy than people realize,” said Kelly Holland Azzaro, a certified aromatherapist, licensed massage therapist and Bach Flower Practitioner at Ashi Therapy in Banner Elk.

“So many products on market shelves boast the title ‘Aromatherapy’ and are not even made from the essential oils. I tell my clients ‘Buyer Beware’ when searching for oils on their own.”

Azzaro says to follow these important tips when selecting essential oils:

1) Always buy from a reputable aromatherapist, aromatherapy supplier or health-food store;
2) Watch for all oils marked at the same price:
3) Make sure to buy oils in dark blue or amber glass or the new aluminum covered bottles, as clear bottles can break down the essential oils’ components;
4) The bottle should have the company name and batch number on it;
5) The plant from which the oil was extracted should be named on the bottle with the plant’s scientific name. As well as safety guidelines.

“Aromatherapy products that are priced the same can be diluted with alcohol or other chemicals that cause the oils to lose their therapeutic values”, said Azzaro. “Many of these are actually perfume oils-chemically made in laboratories to smell like the real thing. Perfume oils can smell great, but they have absolutely no therapeutic properties.”

Aromatherapy oils, such as ylang ylang and sandalwood are very expensive. Sandalwood trees that grow in India, are rare and becoming hard to obtain. Ylang ylang, which comes from Madagascar, is considered an aphrodisiac and helps to lower blood pressure.

“If a customer sees citrus oil, one of the least expensive of the essential oils, on the shelf with ylang ylang and sandalwood, and all three have been placed at the same low price, the potential buyer needs to look at the bottle more carefully. It is most probable that the oils are perfume oils and not essentials,” Azzaro said.

The batch number usually appears on a reputable company’s bottle. With this number, the company can actually trace back to where the oil came from and when the oils was harvested from the plant.

A very popular way to administer essential oils is by massage. Massage increases blood flow, and with the help of a carrier oils such as grape-seed, evening primrose, or almond, the essential oils are worked into the skin where they are carried into the bloodstream.

“It takes about 30 minutes or so to feel the effects,” Azzaro said. “Only a few drops of an essential oils or oils are added to the carrier oil. I stress ‘less is best’ when working with essentials. Because they are so powerful, an individual doesn’t need a lot to feel the effects.”

There is more than one way to use aromatherapy. “Many people have the misconception that essential oils must be massaged into the body,” said Azzaro. “But there are many different ways besides massage techniques that can be used to get beneficial results.”

One common way of essential oil use is as simple as placing one to two drops of oil on a tissue to inhale the aroma or by placing several drops in a diffuser or vaporizer to release the therapeutic aroma into the air.

Placing a few drops into a simmering pot of water, covering one’s head with a towel over the pot and breathing in the aromatic steam is also a method. (keep eyes closed with this method).

“Inhaling the oil goes beyond the blood-brain barrier,” said Azzaro.
“It can change one’s mood in moments.”

If an individual has suffered a sprain or burn, a compress can be made. “Just place a few drops of true lavender (lavandula angustifolia), an antispasmodic essential oil, onto a piece of cotton or flannel material and use ice or heat depending on the injury. The healing agents within the oil soothe the area. A foot soak with essentials oils is also helpful for tired feet.”

A steaming bath is great for using relaxing essential oils. By placing a few drops into the hot bath water and breathing in the steam, a person is able to release stress.

“There are so many different ways to get a benefit out of the oils. Sometimes, people need to just experiment at home to see how they get the most out of their oils,” Azzaro said.

But she also warns that people need to be educated and know what oils relieve what symptoms. “Some oils such as spike lavender are stimulants and can raise blood pressure. Spike lavender is good for people with arthritis, however persons with a history of high blood pressure may want to work or experiment with a different essential oil or a different species of lavender.”

Azzaro stresses that a good aromatherapist learns about a client’s health background before administering treatment. “The first thing I do for a new client is to get an in-depth health history. I want to know why they came for the visit. Do they have insomnia? Do they experience a pain in a certain area? From this clinical analysis, I can pick the specific oils to help the client.”

Besides giving a pre-aromatherapy analysis, she also follows up with after treatment results. “If the client doesn’t feel that the particular oil or oils are helping, we can try another. I usually don’t mix more than three at any given time so that it is easier to determine which oils are working and which are not.”

Azzaro has been a aromatherapist and massage therapist for over 18 years. “I’ve had incredible teachers and love learning new styles and techniques,” she said. “I’m very eclectic in my knowledge.”

That doesn’t mean she’s through learning. Currently, she is writing a research paper on the effects of geranium (pelargonium graveolens) for premenstrual syndrome symptoms and plans to take a course given by Rutgers University that teaches aromatherapists about the chemistry and distillation process of essential oils.

“There is so much to learn,” she said. By understanding more about aromatherapy, she can better help her clients, not only administering what she knows, but also by educating them.

Azzaro recommends that people interested in learning more about aromatherapy should visit the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy’s website at www.naha.org or email her through her website at www.ashitherapy.com

Azzaro is encouraged that modern medical professionals may be changing their views somewhat on holistic medicine. “One of my teachers was Jane Buckle, a nurse from the United Kingdom, where nurses are trained in holistic medicine as well as modern medicine. Her book “Clinical Aromatherapy in Nursing”, describes ways to use essential oils in a clinical hospital setting.”

Other books that would be of interest to beginners are “The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy” by Valerie An Worwood, “The Art of Aromatherapy,” by Robert Tisserand and “The Practice of Aromatherapy” by Jean Valnet, who is a medical doctor. Many medical doctors in Europe use essentials oils on patients.

“Worwood’s book is very helpful for beginner’s because it lists the oils and their effects as well as provides recipes. Tisserand’s book is interesting because it goes into the actual history behind aromatherapy.”

The ancient Egyptians used oils frequently to bath and for massage. Inside Egyptian tombs is testimony to their many uses of essentials oils-not just in embalming the mummies but also in the food urns.

Early Asian cultures also used herbs and plants. Essential oils are found in traditional Chinese medicine dating back before ancient Egyptian times.

“Aromatherapy is one of the first ways that people found in treating themselves for ailments. “It’s a “tried and true” way to holistic healing.”

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The Qigong Flow

By Leigh Ann Henion

 Article from The Mountain Times Newspaper Boone, NC 2002

      If you were to visit a doctor of Chinese medicine, chances are you would be encouraged to take part in the practice of Qigong (pronounced “chee kung”), a holistic workout that develops mind and body.  According to Chinese medicine, chi is the universal life-force, or energy, which is circulated throughout the body along invisible energy channels known as meridians.  The function of Qigong is to assist in the circulation of chi throughout the body.

      The practice of Qigong was brought to India from China where it was brought to the Shaolin Temple and was embraced by Tibetan Buddhists.  The Tibetan form of Qigong has remained virtually unaltered for millennia because of Tibet’s isolation.

     Anthony Marco Azzaro CA Dipl Ac Acupuncturist and Qigong Practitioner/Instructor located in Banner Elk, NC, studied Qigong with a Tibetan master while he was a student of acupuncture at ATOM College in Florida.  Though he studied many forms, the seven star exercise designed after the big dipper and its Tibetan lineage that attracted him.  The seven star form is not a form of martial arts, it’s a form of healing meditation.  Similar to tai chi, a relative of Qigong that people are most exposed to, Qigong is a series of movements meant to help energy move freely throughout the body.

      He said, “I had quite a few professors that taught different forms, but I became very attached to the seven star.  There is something about the Tibetan aspects…like eating well and breathing right, Qigong becomes part of you.”  Azzaro described the benefits of Qigong when he said, “When water stagnates it becomes impure and bacteria ridden, when it is flowing it’s fresh.  It’s the same with the energy in people’s bodies.  Qigong helps keep the energy flowing like fresh water.”

      When Azzaro teaches the seven star form there are no printed handouts given to students.  All instruction is spoken from teacher to student in keeping with the tradition of the form.  Several of Azzaro’s students have encouraged him to start an ongoing class instead of the workshop style sessions he has previously conducted.  In the advanced classes he teaches Sanskrit chants that have been handed down in the oral tradition of the art.

      In the lavender colored room where he teaches his classes at Ashi Therapy in Banner Elk, Tibetan prayer flags line the far wall.  The flags are lined with prayers, intricately scripted in the ancient beauty of Sanskrit.  As he finished a cup of Chinese tea, Azzaro looked up at the flags overhead and said, “When the wind hits them it’s supposed to disperse the energy.  It sends out the prayers.  All the little prayers.”  As he rose to get himself another cup of tea, Azzaro’s indoor fountain flowed on.  Nothing is stagnate in a life centered around Qigong.

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