Aromatherapy is a way of treating mental and physical imbalances through inhalation and the external application of essential oils in massage, body work, baths and other modalities. Aromatherapy is the art of healing with essential oils. Many ancient cultures accepted that aromatic substances had the ability to influence the mind-body connection and in our times Aromatherapy is spreading like wildflowers. Phyto-aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of plants and their leaves, bark, flowers, fruits and seeds. These substances contain useful essential aromatic chemicals; esters, ketones, aldehydes, terpenes, phenols, and sesquiterpenes. Essences are usually extracted by steam distillation. Other extraction methods produce absolutes, concretes and oleoresins. Absolutes are highly concentrated, entirely alcohol-soluble and usually aromatic materials. They are obtained by alcohol-extraction of concretes. Certain exotic florals, i.e.: Jasmine, Mimosa, refuse to yield to steam distillation extraction. Resinoids are extracted from plant exudations, plants like Vanilla beans, Oakmoss, Labdanum; they need to be dissolved in alcohol or heated in a double boiler to work with. Aromatherapy requires an extremely high quality of essential oil. Lower grade or synthetic oils absolutely cannot replace the purity of the original. Essential oils must be stored in dark airtight bottles in cool dry conditions to preserve their potency and effectiveness.

Follow~the~Sun Welcome to the website for Follow the Sun! The intent of this website is to provide a place for people interested in aromatherapy to get information regarding various workshops available in the Wisconsin area, to offer up news and research on the use of essential oils… and much, much more! As the Director of NAHA (the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy) for Wisconsin this is also a way for me to communicate with members about various topics and get feedback from them on any number of issues. I will do my best to provide the most recent educational material, discuss current topics surrounding essential oils, recipies for blends and much more. I will be updating information frequently and this can be found on the NEWS section of this site. As always questions and comments are welcome. Aromatic blessings, Kimberly Haskell R.A. Nature started the theme of essential oils In the conifer trees Two hundred million years ago. Humans were not yet present, Yet the first aromatic molecules Were a promise for future celebrations Between plants and people. From there, Aromatic light began its quantum dance Though ever new and more complex plants And essential oils~ Until a full palette was reached, And the rainbows of plant and human lives Could touch and nourish each other ~Dr. Malte Hozzel