Of all the senses touch is something we experience almost without thinking about it.  We may ruffle a child’s hair, place a comforting arm on someone’s shoulder if they are upset or hug a loved one. All of these illicit an emotion and a response, and all involve touch.

Our skin is the largest organ in our body, the oldest and the most sensitive of our organs. The whole body is covered by it, even the cornea of the eye is overlaid by a layer of modified skin. It turns inwards in to all our orifices and in the evolution of the senses touch was undoubtedly the first to come into being.  Though its structure and functionality change as we age, touch remains a constant, the foundation upon which all the other senses are based.

Through the skin we learn about our environment and our body adapts accordingly. An area the size of a penny contains more than 3 million cells.  The enormous amount of receptors present receives stimuli of heat, cold, pressure and pain. It has the ability to repair itself and we shed loads of it every day, we all know the statistics about household dust!   The skin is a picture of life’s experiences from the radiance of youth to the wrinkled visage resulting from the passing years.

But how important is this sense?  Well in my opinion extremely! There is actually a condition called Marasmus, where children actually fail to thrive if they are not held or cuddled. It’s rare, but it was prevalent in the great depression of the 1930’s in America and also in Romania during the awful atrocities of Ceauşescu dictatorship when hundreds of infants were orphaned.

We live in a society now where are children are constantly reminded of ‘stranger danger’, where are the positive messages about touch?  Having regular massage, whether it be from a professional or from a loved, one is a powerful tool.  It is a well known fact that massage makes you feel good, and if you feel good you are able to cope with all sorts of pressures and tensions that modern life throws at us.

Research has shown that when we are massaged we increase the production of natural painkillers and give our immune system a boost. It lowers our blood pressure and respiratory rate, which improves the function of our heart and lungs. Excess fluid and metabolic wastes are pushed back into the circulation for removal. Muscles are warmed up and stretched, and given more space to move.

The soothing effect of touch sedates our body and calms our nervous system, resulting in us feeling calmer and less stressed and anxious.

So next time you rub someone’s shoulders or even stroke your cat just think about all the good you are doing. Touch is wonderful and therapeutic, easy to do and appreciated when given.

from the seed offers holistic care from conception to baby and beyond…..

Muscular aches and pains can be a tiresome side effect of pregnancy.

Your body will be producing the hormone Relaxin to soften the muscles and ligaments to assist with labour. This can mean that various joints become achy and overstretched. Particular areas affected are quite often the back and hips.

Massage at this time can be a very effective way of helping with this. Essential Oils have properties that can assist with pain relief and some are anti spasmodic. By applying a blend to the affected area you can bring about some relief. Back massage in particular is both psychologically and physically relaxing altering the sense and perception of the pain felt, thus bringing a sense of relief.

Essential oils that are effective at this time include:

Roman Chamomile, Anthemis nobilis. This oil is both analgesic (pain relieving) and anti-spasmodic.

Sweet Marjoram, Origanum marjorana, also a great analgesic oil.

Both of the above oils are also Sedative, so if you are looking for an oil to bring muscular relief but also to feel energised you may be better off trying Cardamon, Elettaria cardamomum. As well as being really good for muscular aches and pains it also has the ability to stimulate the mind, and bring clarity to your thoughts, something that may be needed at this time!

If you’re aches and pains are giving you trouble sleeping, try putting one drop of Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, on your pillow to help you drift off!

To make a blend add 1 drop of essential oil to every 5ml of vegetable oil and rub into your achy muscles. Or better still search out a professional aromatherapist and treat yourself to a full body massage!

from the seed offers bespoke holistic care from conception to baby and beyond.

Did you know that smell is directly linked to your memory? Have you noticed how a smell can transport you somewhere from your past?  Our Olfactory Centre is the part of our brain that recognises smell. It is connected to the Limbic System which is an ancient part of our brain responsible for emotions and memories.

Christmas is a wonderful family time and we are creating memories for our children and their future. Why not fill their Christmas memories with some aromas that will in the future take them to a Christmas past.

You can very easily create aromatic blends to fill your house with wonderful rich aromas reminiscent of Christmas.

Place an essential oil burner or vaporiser in your hallway and place 2 drops of Ginger, Zingiber officianale, 3 drops of Sweet Orange, Citrus sinensis and 1 drop of Cinnamon leaf, Cinnamomum zeylanicum into the reservoir add water and let you home be full of the smells of Christmas.

Have a truly Aromatic Christmas!

from the seed offers bespoke holistic care from conception to baby and beyond

I am proud to say that today I became a recognised published author, The 4^th Edition of Aromatherapy for Health Professionals arrived on my door mat and I am the contributing writer to chapter 12 – Pregnancy and Childbirth.

It is a great accolade to be asked to contribute to something that is a recognised valuable text written by the top experts in the field of Aromatherapy.

I have spent many years massaging pregnant mums and babies and I love my work and feel very fortunate to work in this field. The use of Aromatherapy is a wonderful tool in this area and has brought comfort and relief to many women.

I am planning to re-launch my aromatherapy workshops for spring 2012 where you can learn the safe and effective use of aromatherapy and massage for pregnancy, labour and post-natal recovery. Perfect for couples,  groups will be kept small to make sure individual attention can be given.

As they say watch this space ……………..

If you would like personal or professional advice on any of the above, you can contact Jo at jo@fromtheseed.co.uk.

from the seed offers bespoke holistic care from conception to baby and beyond.

for more info visit www.fromthe seed.co.uk

On average for a normal healthy couple trying to conceive it can take anything up to 18 months to get a result and your GP won’t see you if their is no medical history before you have been trying for a year!

In our modern western world fertility is on the decline, this is due to many factors, including general health and choice of conception time. Women have a limited resource of eggs. It is well known that the quality of eggs do decline, also as time passes a man’s sperm will also be affected; sperm numbers decline and there is an increase in defective sperm as men grow older. All these facts can lead to something that should be wonderful being full of anxiety. Couples are leaving it a little later than previous generations to conceive and are often left feeling very frustrated by their efforts.

So if you have been trying to conceive naturally and you are not getting the result you want you can take action and assist the process with some very effective and enjoyable treatments. Using Aromatherapy and Essential Oils for you and your partner will bring about a much needed sense of relaxation and relief at a time when levels of stress and anxiety can reach fever pitch. You can bring some tenderness and joy back into trying for a baby.

Your relationship with your therapist will be a vital part of the process, only see someone who has a high standard of training and has knowledge of this subject. Aromatherapists who specialise in conception and pregnancy care should have undergone further training outside their original diploma or course to give them the knowledge and expertise they will need to offer you an effective treatment. Your therapist should offer you a full consultation at your first treatment where they will take a full medical history and look at your lifestyle. They should also be willing and open to treating both partners.

An Aromatherapy treatment enhances self esteem, gives you confidence in your body and gives you time to re connect with yourself. The properties of the essential oils will also benefit the process.

Some oils have a balancing effect on the menstrual cycle others have wonderful relaxing properties and euphoric aromas that will leave you feeling less stressed and uplifted. Some are even considered to be aphrodisiacs.

Rose Otto -Rosa damascena, and Geranium- Pelargonium graveolens, are both regulators for the female menstrual cycle and are aromatically euphoric.

Rose also has the ability to enhance a women’s natural femininity, something that can get lost in the process of trying to conceive. Whilst Geranium, a soft and floral aromatic oil, can bring balance and harmony to the mind and body.

Vetiver, Vetiveria zizanoides, is a warm and vibrant root oil that focuses energy to the hara – the energy centre of the abdomen- bringing strength and nourishment to your body.

The Chamomile essential oils can be used to invoke calm and ease frustration. German Chamomile, Chamomilla matricaria , has a long association with the menstrual cycle and the word Matricaria comes from the Latin for Matrix or ‘womb’ reflecting the herbs age old use.

These are just a few of the oils available that an Aromatherapist may use in a treatment combined with massage. Seeking some help at this time may just be what is needed.

If you would like personal or professional advice on any of the above, you can contact Jo at jo@fromtheseed.co.uk.

from the seed offers bespoke holistic care from conception to baby and beyond.

for more info visit www.fromthe seed.co.uk

Well it looks like autumn has well and truly arrived! An immune boost with essential oils at this time of year can be a very easy, yet vital thing to do.

It may seem like your little one has one cold after another all winter. Young children haven’t built up their immunity to the 100’s of different cold viruses that are around. That’s why they can get as many as 8 to 10 colds each year before they turn 2 years old. And going back to nursery or school after the holidays means that your child will be coming in to contact with a whole new host of bugs.

An essential oil burner is a great thing to have in the house and can be used in the bedroom, the front room or my preferred location, the hallway. This way you pass it all the time, walking around the house as you go about your daily routines.

Many clients come to me with stress related ailments. Stress can affect the body in many ways, so every client will have very different needs and requirements which their therapist must be aware of.

Finding the right music can be tricky. With the stop-start nature of most albums going from one track to another, the mood can change suddenly, which can disturb the flow of the massage. Fortunately for me, when I needed music, help was at hand, my husband is a composer!

They can also be used between treatments for relaxation purposes and many of my clients have since purchased copies of these unique albums for that particular reason.

If you are planning a trip abroad or just staying in England for your holidays you may very well be packing a first aid kit, especially if travelling with children.

I am hoping that you won’t need any of the above but being prepared is just as important. So by adding just 4 Essential Oils to your usual first aid travel kit you can be ready for anything!

Hurrah its summer and you are hopefully looking forward to your long awaited and well deserved getaway!

Travel sickness is a huge worry to loads of families; I know my kids have both suffered from hot and long car journeys which can be made so much more bearable by the  simple use of Lemon, Citrus limonum,Essential Oil. The oil refreshes and revives and definitely quells motion sickness.

Add 2 drops to a cotton wool pad or ball and place in the car 20 min before leaving.  I usually place it on the dash board. You will then be travelling in a lightly scented car which can be replenished every 3-4 hours.

Oxytocin is the hormone released as you breastfeed and research shows that breastfeeding helps mothers bond with their babies. It is released into the blood during labour to promote lactation and floods the brain during a feed.

So why not take note of this recent research and let something so natural as breastfeeding and the hormone that it produces keep us feeling good long after we have weaned our babies and spend a little time every few days massaging our children and loved ones to keep that bond and to enhance our well being.