As Holistic Wellness Week came to an end at Ventura College, students learned an interesting form of alternative medicine.
On Friday, April 23, students gathered in a crowded classroom to hear guest speaker Bambi Ruebe speak on the issue of aromatherapy. Ruebe, a Senior Formulator & Researcher of Medical Botany and Aromatherapy at Ancient Aromatics in Ventura, discussed how plants used in aromatherapy can be used in herbalism.
According to Ruebe, however, most of the plants, such as arnica and eucalyptus, are toxic when ingested, but beneficial when inhaled or applied to the skin.
“Essential oils allow the pharmacist or doctor to control the strength of the herb by dilution in a carrier,” she said.
Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses controlled concentrated plants forms, also known as essential oils, to heal infections. Past civilizations, including the Chinese in 4,500 B.C. and the Egyptians in 3,000 B.C., used aromatherapy.
David E. Carey, a health professor at VC, teaches an alternative medicine class and has used alternative medicine in the past.
Ruebe once helped Carey’s relative by developing a formulation to deal with an infection. Carey’s relative had developed a staph infection. They went to the doctor who prescribed antibiotics but to no avail. It was then that Carey decided to call for Ruebe’s assistance.
“I told them to get Ruebe. Three weeks later [my relative] was fine,” he said.
Ruebe developed a topical plant serum to heal the infection.
Ruebe has tried to establish a course that deals with aromatherapy at VC but her mission has been unsuccessful.
“This little island is perfect for growing and researching [plants used in aromatherapy],” Ruebe said of VC’s campus.
There are some safety issues concerning aromatherapy. Those with allergies or pregnant should be extremely cautious when dealing with aromatherapy. Those with existing medications and illnesses should also be aware of the possible side effects.
Nevertheless, there are also a number of positive outcomes. Using essential oils for aromatherapy will counteract with existing illnesses and aromatherapy can be used to help heal a recently done tattoo.
For more information on aromatherapy and ancient aromatics, visit http://www.ancientaromatics.com/.
