Spring gardening is a haven for the senses. The blush of early roses, the soft fuzz of fresh sage, and the sight of chamomile reaching for the sun aren’t just beautiful to look at, they can also be healing. While a walk through the yard is a calming experience in itself, aromatherapy practitioners believe that the scent of certain plants can improve mood and support good health when concentrated into teas and essential oils.
When aromatherapist Adora Winquist founded her company ADORAtherapy in 1998, mainstream America was just beginning to understand the healing properties of herbs. What initially began as a quest to treat her chronic bronchitis as a young adult quickly become Winquist’s professional passion, leading her to travel as far as India and Egypt to expand her knowledge.
Winquist moved to Asheville late last year to join her ADORAtherapy business partner Laura McCann Ramsey, who was already established here. This will be Winquist’s first spring in Western North Carolina. She’s looking forward to breaking ground on a new garden with her two young children and furthering her work with ADORAtherapy, which uses biodynamic and wild-crafted herbs for aromatherapy sprays and essential-oil blends.
Winquist spoke to Carolina Home + Garden about how to create an aromatherapy herb garden at home, her favorite spring botanicals, and the healing power of scent.
Why is spring a particularly good time to explore aromatherapy?
Everything in life is in a state of emerging and growing. Whether we’re starting to wake up from the slumber of winter or we’re defining a shift in who we are and what our path is in life, working with the plants through either herbs or essential oils can be a really great way to align ourselves with that paradox of rebirth that is naturally part of springtime.
For many people, springtime is a relief from the darker days of winter. Can you talk about the philosophy of using botanicals to boost mood?
If you’re looking at any ancient writings, whether it’s 17th century or ancient Egypt, you’re going to find correlations between herbs and overall health and wellbeing. Not just health from a physical standpoint, but health from a mental, emotional, and spiritual standpoint as well.
One of the most powerful ways that aromatherapy can work with moods is through the limbic system. There is a really powerful connection between olfaction and the limbic center in our brain that regulates so much of our physiology in mood, memory, and emotion. We can literally have the right essential oils and the right formulation to be able to lift and shift our mood in the moment. So it really becomes a tool for creating healthy habit patterns around being able to boost your mood, and to balance those moments of stress and transition that we all face.
If someone wants to start an aromatherapy garden at home, what are some good herbs to grow?
The Roman chamomile, lemon balm, even roses, which I think a lot of people steer away from because they think that it’s difficult to grow, but they can be so fantastic not just for tea, but for making an infusion that you could add to your bath or into an oil. I definitely recommend those herbs. Sage is fantastic, too.
You grew up with a big family vegetable garden at home. Do you garden now yourself?
Yes, in fact, one of the fantastic things about moving to a new house and a new climate is working with new soil. I’m planning my garden here for the new home in Asheville, which is really exciting because my six-year-old loves to plant; the 22-month-old just likes to dig in the dirt.
Making the time to actually go out and play in the dirt and work at growing something is complete solace. I feel that it’s our responsibility to impart that to the next generation.
For more information on Adora Winquist, see www.adoratherapy.com.