Creating my own...

The joy of creating my own oils, teas, and salves with wild harvesting. 

Wild Harvesting Roses for Heart Glycerin 

I have worked in massage therapy and Ayurveda for the last nine years and through this time have learned, and continue to learn the art of creating. With massage you are always learning and working and finding new(sometimes old) ways to work with and help with issues of the body. With Ayurveda, we are looking at the body,mind spirit connection and finding ways that you can build balance in your everyday life. With balance we create harmony and in harmony we are in a healthy space.

While working at the Maharishi Ayurveda Health Center in Lancaster,MA I learned to make oils for dosha balance. When learning  the oil making, we worked with large amounts of herbs, most would come in a dry or powdered form, and we would make the oils from their.Over time I learned how to blend herbs for our clients for many different healing treatments, such as oils that would be poured onto the low back while creating a damn for the oils to sit in(this is a kati basti) all individuality made for each client. The oil for one client would be different form another, depending on what the issues where in the body, mind connection.

So this got me thinking, and when I started to work for myself, it all made sense, no one body is the same, so why would their oils be the same. So I did what I do, and went back to school, I went into an Herbal program. With  massage, Thai yoga, meditation and Ayurveda, I take and blend and create the body-work treatment that is individual to each client, so now we have the herbs and oils. I have spent the last year wild harvesting my herbs and creating oils from them, then blending them for my clients. I have found that blending teas, such as a relaxing stress free tea after and massage with lavender & chamomile oil allows the client to go further with their healing, or just relaxing.

Last week I was able to spend the time away at my grandparents home, and they have this incredible rose bush, blooming and the smell so sweet, it took me to a place when I was a kid, running around the yard with my cousins, just being. That smell, the color of the rose, if feels safe, loving cooling yet warm. So I gathered some of the roses, and made a rose glycerin, and the next time I feel sad, or want to feel the love of my grandmother, I can take a little drop, and you are their again.This is the beauty of the herbs, and why I have introduced them to my friends, yes my clients. So weather I am harvesting elder flower, or yarrow, I respect what I have and am learning, and the space I am in, I create what I need for the time, nothing more, and always leave in respect of what we are given.

I have always been drawn to alternative ways to heal, to create balance, this is how I have been drawn to the work I do.

About the author: Heather works at Metta Wellness in Shrewsbury, MA., www.mettaspa.net, with Ayurveda and wellness, creating body-work, teas, oils and slaves for her clients.