Root & Rise Rambles #2: Follow Your Nose: The Healing Power of Aromatherapy

Can you tell I’ve been on an AI training day?!

Firstly, welcome back to another edition of Root & Rise Rambles. Whether you’re reading this with your morning coffee, taking five minutes in the garden, or enjoying a peaceful evening after a busy day, I’m so pleased you’re here.

This week has been full of exciting milestones, gentle reminders and, perhaps unsurprisingly, lots of beautiful essential oils. At Root & Rise, I’ve been focusing on Aromatherapy Massage, and once again I’ve been reminded that no two treatments are ever the same. Every person who walks through my treatment room door brings a different story, different emotions and different physical aches and pains.

That’s why every blend I create is completely bespoke. One lovely client came to see me this week needing some time to switch off while easing tension in her back, neck and shoulders. After listening to how she was feeling, I intuitively chose two essential oils that complemented one another beautifully: Geranium and Petitgrain, blended into nourishing Coconut Oil.

I chose Coconut Oil not only because it leaves the skin beautifully soft, but because of its naturally soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. One of my favourite facts comes from Carrier Oils for Aromatherapy & Massage by Len Price, Ian Smith and Shirley Price:

“In India the coconut is considered to be the fruit of aspiration; a coconut is split at the beginning of functions to gain the blessing of the gods…”

I love that something as familiar as a coconut carries centuries of history and symbolism alongside its practical benefits.

Petitgrain, distilled from the leaves and twigs of the bitter orange tree, has a wonderfully fresh, green citrus aroma that I often reach for when someone is feeling mentally overloaded. It has long been associated with calming the nervous system, easing stress and encouraging deep, restorative sleep. For clients whose minds are constantly racing, it can feel like a gentle exhale.

Geranium brings a soft floral balance to the blend. Traditionally used to support emotional wellbeing, hormonal balance and healthy skin, it creates a sense of steadiness. I often think of Geranium as helping us find our feet again when life feels emotionally chaotic. When combined with slow, therapeutic massage, these oils create far more than simply a pleasant fragrance. As you breathe them in, tiny aromatic molecules travel through the nose to the limbic system, the part of the brain closely linked with emotion, memory and our stress response. It’s one of the reasons Aromatherapy Massage can feel so profoundly calming.

The physical touch relaxes tense muscles while the carefully selected aromas gently encourage the nervous system to move away from survival mode and towards rest, repair and healing. That blend of science and nature is something I never stop finding fascinating.

After every treatment, I always encourage my clients to continue caring for themselves once they leave. An extra glass of water. A nourishing meal. A slower pace for the rest of the day where possible. Healing doesn’t stop when the massage ends. Often it’s only just beginning.

Away from the treatment room, this week has brought plenty of exciting developments too. On Tuesday I travelled to Bristol to spend the day learning with the wonderful Hali Jafari from Ethiq AI. It was a fascinating training day that has already helped me create an AI policy for Root & Rise and explore ways AI can support my business behind the scenes.

From helping me organise ideas to creating blog posts like this one, it’s giving me more time to focus on the part of my work I love most… supporting people. We’ve also welcomed a very small, very enthusiastic new member to the Root & Rise team. Meet Ruth, our gorgeous nine-week-old Irish Terrier puppy. She has officially joined Melvin and Asha in the security department, although at the moment I’d say she’s providing more entertainment than security!

Meanwhile, our three chicks, Bellarusarius, Cassius and Juniper, have reached another milestone and have moved outdoors with our beautiful Silver Campine, Poppy. Watching them grow has been another reminder that nature has its own rhythm. We can’t rush growth. We can only provide the right environment for it to happen. Perhaps there’s a lesson there for us too.

The biggest personal reminder I’ve received this week has been about practising what I so often encourage my clients to do. I’ve been back to my chiropractor to help ease ongoing hip and neck pain, enjoyed long hot baths, stretched more consistently and, as I write this, I’m looking forward to receiving a massage myself. It’s easy, especially when caring for others, to quietly place ourselves at the bottom of the list. But we cannot pour from an empty cup. Receiving treatment isn’t an indulgence. It’s maintenance. It’s prevention. It’s listening when our bodies whisper, rather than waiting until they shout.

As many of you know, our house move is finally happening in August. I’ll continue welcoming clients at my current treatment room until at least the end of August while we renovate and decorate my new summer house treatment space on the farm. It’s an exciting chapter, and I can’t wait to bring you along for the journey.