In today's Aromatic Chat, I'm speaking with Crystal Brothers. I met Crystal through our professional organization, the Alliance of International Aromatherapists. Crystal is an aromatherapist, herbalist, and homeschooling mom, currently focusing on serving families and babies, providing care and support through creating bespoke blends for individuals using herbs, essential oils, and especially hydrosols.
Crystal's love of aromatherapy and herbalism is inspired berry hunting, gardening, and farming with her mother. Then, after having her third child and a lingering ear infection that antibiotics and steroids weren't touching, a visit to the chiropractor allowed the ear to drain and re-sparked her interest in herbs and aromatics. She then studied with Jesse Hawkins, taking her Family Herbalism and Professional Aromatherapy courses, and went on to study at the Franklin Institute, earning her Diploma of Dietary Supplements.
Crystal shares how this training has proved invaluable to their family, as one of her daughters was diagnosed with a genetic adrenal disorder when she was 7 years old. "The doctors were surprised that she wasn't sicker than she was." Crystal credits this to the fact that aromatics and herbs have been used intentionally, especially when the children were little.
Crystal has background training as a mathematician and as an engineer, which she says led to an even deeper curiosity about oils and hydrosols, eventually leading to a 40 liter still in her back yard for distilling hydrosols from her aromatic garden and foraging trips.
Her three favorite essential oils are:
Her three favorite hydrosols are:
Crystal is raising her family and caring for her community in northern Pennsylvania, and is excited about the recent explosion in home gardens.
Links:
https://www.lemonbalmcoaching.com
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