Plant families

You can get a long way in your aromatherapy learning by remembering these plants belong to just two of the most highly advanced plant families

LAMIACEAE (LABIATAE)
Lavender Lavandula angustifolia Mill. flowers
Clary sage Salvia sclarea L. herb
Marjoram Origanum majorana L. herb
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis L. herb
Peppermint Mentha x piperita L. herb
Basil Ocimum basilicum L. herb
Melissa Melissa officinalis herb
Thyme Thymus vulgaris ct thymol herb
Patchouli Pogostemon cablin Benth. leaves
RUTACEAE
Orange, bitter Citrus aurantium L. fruit
Bergamot Citrus bergamia Risso. fruit
Lemon Citrus limon (L.) Burm. fruit

Other plant families
Asteraceae
What is the important medical property of the Asteraceae, associated with a constituent produced in the distillation process rather than present in the plant...anti-in........ This is a plant associated with what energy, yin or yang in chinese medicine and with which planetary body in folklore? why is anti-in.......... important as a medical property?

Myrtaceae
Which important plant family was unknown until the discovery of australia?

Geraniaceae
Piperaceae

Rosaceae
By contrast with what plant family have we had an important relationship with for 40 million years?

Oleaceae
Which member is best left to enjoy at home?
Annonaceae

Santalaceae
Which wood is burned on honeymoon by middle eastern brides to relax their husbands?

Burseraceae
Styraceae
Zingiberaceae

Which member of the Zingiberaceae is useful in hospital setting for relieving nausea so getting and keeping the medication down and for digestion generally?

Poaceae
Pinaceae
Cupressaceae

Just saying....the science apart so many human needs are ticked by having a good understanding of our place in the environment, physiological (plants respiration, water us, warm, clothe, feed and heal us), safety, acceptance, esteem, cognitive, aesthetic all the way upto the scary heights of self actualisation - the drive for self improvement, personal growth and potential for change (Maslow). If meeting human needs is placebo then lets have more of it. It does seem amazing that more is not made of the potential of the lamiaceae and rutaceae and lets hope the drive to integrate doesnt result in concentration on the headline ingredients and approval of nature identical oils over the farm fresh whole oils and the loss of massage because then we lose something very precious in terms of their effect on the individual psyche and safety. Still its results that matter not doctrine on both sides of the debate. On the training its fortunate so many health professionals in the UK trained with Shirley Price Aromatherapy, Patricia Davis etc and in the US so many have trained with Buckle Associates. Some common training experience and practice allows standards to emerge while preserving innovation and diversity of thought and approach as those alumni practice, author and found their own colleges. This is one of the alternative approaches strengths.

Essentia