Heather Dawn Godfrey PGCE, BSc, FIFA, MFHT

Published in The International Therapist, quarterly journal of the Federation of Holistic Therapist (date to be confirmed)

A hundred years or so ago we grew and consumed vegetables, fruits, herbs and plants native to our local vicinity.  Today, the world has opened up to us and we appear to live in a global village – so much of what we consume is sourced from the ‘four corners’ of the earth.  Plants we once ate seasonally are now available to us all year round, along with others that do not naturally grow in our locality.  It is, indeed, wonderful to have access to the wide variety of foods and products this global outreach affords; there are many advantages yielded by this scoping choice.

I sometimes wonder, though, whether focusing further ‘afield’ to satisfy our needs (and desires), ‘are we less tuned into, less aware of, less responsive to the nuances of our environment and in turn, less conscious of our internal adaptive needs?’  Twenty-four-hour access to the internet means we can consume (goods, media, information), trade and communicate virtually without limit.  Our daily activity, naturally signalled by local environmental light-dark cycles, is extended by this facility and by artificial light; ‘day-time’ now blurs across the edges of night-time; our signalling mechanisms are artificially distorted; our natural boundaries and limits are increasingly less distinguishable; our natural innate connection with, awareness of and responsiveness to our local environmental conditions and natural nuances, insidiously jarred.

Our lives are increasingly orientated ‘in doors’ – in offices, shopping centres, schools and other institutional work, leisure and domestic environments, vehicle bubbles, and so on.  We may go ‘outside’ for orchestrated walks or engage in healthy activities and sports, but our connection with and focus on our natural environment is curtailed and overshadowed by time limits and constraints, the pressure of abstract goals and measures; we snatch moments for ourselves ‘in-between’.

Yet, just like plants and every living creature around us, we function in intimate relationship with our immediate natural environment, we are swayed within its rhythm, flux and flow.  Consciously or sub-consciously, we are responsive to temperature, atmosphere, precipitation, available sunlight, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide required to facilitate photosynthesis vital for metabolic alchemy, growth and repair.  We appear to be at odds, juggling synthetic with natural, on the one hand making progress on the other divorcing ourselves from our natural state of ‘being’; increasingly out-of-sync, out-of-sorts, out-of-wellness.

One simple but naturally effective rebalancing step that may enable us to retune and realign with our innate inner and external environmental synchronicity and harmony, is to refocus on, reconnect and recalibrate with our natural circadian rhythms.  Another rebalancing step, to eat and consume seasonal (preferably organic) available nutritionally rich locally grown foods – a very simple example of calibrating with food is that we naturally eat cooling and moisturising foods in summer, and warming and drying foods in winter.  Foods, herbs and plant medicines that grow and are seasonally available in our own regions complement our body’s functional need to optimally adapt to local conditions and demands.  For example, UK winter vegetables continue to provide vital vitamin C (along with other minerals and nutrients) during cooler light-limited days.  Vitamin C supports the immune system by stimulating white blood cells.  Vitamin D helps modulate the adaptive and innate immune system and is naturally synthesised, therefore made readily available, during ‘outside’ exposure to natural sunlight, particularly during long summer light-rich days, even when cloudy.  Mushrooms, which are foraged during winter, contain vitamin D, so does oily fish.  Winter vegetables grown in the UK that contain vitamin C include broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, leeks, parsnips, carrots, turnips and potatoes.  Thus, nature provides counterbalancing-antidotes to offset the shorter light-deprived days and forbidding weather of winter.

Essential oil yielding plants that grow locally here in the UK, similarly, provide complementary remedies that are naturally attuned to our needs as we travel through, navigate and adjust to local shifting seasonal landscapes and changing conditions.  Acknowledging the scent of an essential oil, we are reminded of nature, we are also drawn into the moment (hence essential oils are invaluable meditation aids).  Examples of UK derived essential oils include, among others:

Angelica root (Angelica archangelica), Chamomile German (Matricaria recutita), Chamomile Roman (Chamaemelum nobile), Helichrysum (Helichrysum angustifolium, H. italicum), Lavender English (Lavandula angustifolia), Lavandin (Lavandula latifolia), Lemon balm (melissa) (Melissa officinalis), Peppermint (Mentha x piperita), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Sage (Salvia officinalis), Clary sage (Salvia sclarea), and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Collectively, these essential oils cover a wide range of supportive properties – a veritable apothecary. Most of these oils are harvested and distilled during summer and autumn, yet their qualities offer assistance throughout the seasons; sunshine on a rainy day. Thus, it makes perfect sense to feature locally sourced essential oils in your repertoire.  Locally sourced essential oils are also fresher.  Equally, when we support local farmers, growers and distillers, we also support, benefit, and strengthen local community self-sufficiency and resilience.

Remember to check out the qualities, properties and safety data information of an essential oil before applying it.  Essential oils complement other integrated health care modalities.  It is important to select the modality that appropriately supports your condition or situation at a given time and to seek professional healthcare advice if you are persistently unwell and/or require professional diagnostic clarity.

You will find information in my books, Healing with Essential Oils, Essential Oils for the Whole Body, and Essential Oils for Mindfulness and Meditation (published by Healing Arts Press, Inner Traditions, USA), about the safe use and appropriate application of essential oils, their dynamical properties, how to create effective blends and remedies, and much more.

The dynamical qualities of UK grown and distilled essential oils

Angelica root Angelica archangelica.  Harvested during either autumn or early spring. Roots and rhizomes

Immune system support: Anti-microbial properties: medium to strong. Colds and influenza.

Psycho-emotional and spiritual support: Eases nervous tension and fatigue; eases feelings of anxiety; eases migraines and headaches; promotes feelings of balance and strength; eases ‘heartache’ and instils a sense of courage.

Chamomile Roman Chamaemelum nobile.  Harvested during summer. Flowering heads.

Immune system support: Anti-microbial properties: medium.  Supports immune function.

Chamomile German Matricaria recutita.  Harvested during summer.  Flowering heads

Immune system support: Anti-microbial properties: medium to strong.  Immune stimulant.

Psycho-emotional and spiritual support: Mental sedative (calms an active mind); emotional sedative; nervous system sedative; eases mood swings; calms fear, impatience, irritability, intolerance, hyperactivity, and hypersensitivity; eases agitation, anger, anxiety, depression and low mood; eases panic attacks; eases solar plexus tension; eases stress and stress-related conditions; eases headache and migraine; aids sleep.

Helichrysum Helichrysum angustifolium, H. italicum.  Harvested during summer and early autumn. Fresh flowers

Immune system support: Anti-microbial properties: medium to strong.  Allergies, bacterial and viral infection (herpes).

Psycho-emotional and spiritual support: Aid’s ability to let go of the past and move on; eases feelings of depression and low mood, mental and emotional debility, burnout and nervous exhaustion; relieves headaches (especially those caused by liver congestion); relieves shock; eases stress and stress-related conditions; good for meditation.

Lavender English Lavandula angustifolia. Lavender Spike L. latifolia. Harvested during early summer.

Flowering tops.

Immune system support: Anti-microbial properties: medium to strong. Immune stimulant (Spike). Immune support (English). Chronic fatigue syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis.  Colds and ‘flu.  Respiratory infection.

Psycho-emotional and spiritual support: Central nervous system sedative (sedative at low dose, stimulant at high dose); eases panic attacks; eases feelings of agitation, anger, anxiety, depression and low mood, grief, bereavement and loss, feelings of hopelessness, irritability, intolerance and impatience, nervous tension and premenstrual tension; eases insomnia; eases feelings of shock and solar plexus tension; eases stress and stress-related conditions.

Lemon balm (melissa) Melissa officinalis.  Harvested during late summer. Leaves and flowering tops.

Immune system support: Anti-microbial properties: extra strong. Colds and ‘flu. Respiratory infection.  Infectious skin conditions.

Psycho-emotional and spiritual support: Raises the spirits; uplifting; tonic; strengthens memory; calming; eases feelings of anxiety, depression and low mood, fear and shock, grief, bereavement and loss; eases feelings of nervousness and hypertension; eases insomnia.

Peppermint Mentha x piperita. Harvested during early summer and early autumn.  Leaves.

Immune system support: Anti-microbial properties: strong.  Colds and ‘flu.  Respiratory infection.

Psycho-emotional and spiritual support: Eases breathing; refreshing and invigorating; awakening; sedative and calming in low dose; eases panic attacks; eases depression and low mood; calms racing thoughts and mental chatter; improves concentration; aids memory loss; eases mental fatigue and exhaustion; eases nervous tension; eases stress and stress related conditions.

Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis.  Harvested during summer. Flowering tops.  

Immune system support:  Anti-microbial properties: strong.  Colds and ‘flu. Respiratory infection.

Psycho-emotional and spiritual support: Restorative; stimulating; tonic; enlivens the brain and clears head; aids memory; aphrodisiac; eases depression and low mood; eases debility, lethargy, mental fatigue and nervous exhaustion; eases headaches and migraine; aids in opening the throat chakra and finding your voice.

Clary Sage Salvia sclarea.  Harvested during late spring and summer.  Flowering tops.

Immune system support:  Anti-microbial properties: Medium to strong. Colds and ‘flu.

Psycho-emotional and spiritual support:  Sedative; mildly intoxicating (potentiated by alcohol); euphoric; aphrodisiac; bracing during difficult times; eases anxiety, depression and low mood; relieves nervous tension and fatigue; eases migraine and headache.

Sage Salvia officinalis. Harvested during late spring and summer. Dried leaves

Immune system support:  Anti-microbial properties: Medium.  Coughs, colds and ‘flu.

Psycho-emotional and spiritual support:  Headaches, nervous exhaustion and fatigue; stress related conditions; eases tiredness, depression and feelings of grief and loss; aids memory.

Thyme Thymus vulgaris. Harvested during spring and early summer.  Flowering tops.

Immune system support:  Anti-microbial properties: Extra strong.  Colds and ‘flu.  Infectious diseases; thymus and immune stimulant.

Psycho-emotional and spiritual support:  Tonic; uplifting; calming; aphrodisiac; aids concentration and memory; aids in letting go of anger and frustration; encourages release of mental blocks; strengthens and supports higher heart and throat chakra; eases depression and low mood; relieves insomnia; eases headache; eases stress and stress-related conditions; grounding (thyme linalool).

                        Godfrey 2022, 2019, 2018

UK essential oil growing and producing farms include:

Cotswold Lavender

Hill Barn Farm
Snowshill
Broadway
Worcestershire
WR12 7JY

https://www.cotswoldlavender.co.uk

Norfolk lavender

Caley Mill

Lynn Road

Heacham

PE31 7JE

https://norfolk-lavender.co.uk

Norfolk Essential Oils

Pates Farm

Wisbech Road

Tipsend

Welney

Wisbech

PE14 9SQ

https://neoils.com

Roskorwel Farm

Helston

Cornwall

TR12 6PR

 https://www.roskorwellfarm.co.uk

Inglebrook Farm

Inglenook Farm,

Moss Nook Ln,

Rainford,

Saint Helens

WA11 8AE, UK

https://www.inglenookfarm.co.uk

Longbarn

The Old Sheep Farm

Bishops Sutton Road

Alresford

Hampshire

SO24 9EJ

Jersey Lavender Farmers

Rue du Pont Marquet

Jersey

JE3 8DS

https://jerseylavender.co.uk/jersey-lavender-farm/

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