Welcome to Distill Aromatics

Jade Shutes' Aromatics and Mental Health: A Holistic Approach to AromaPsychology offers a comprehensive exploration of the intersection between aromatherapy and mental well-being. With her extensive background as an aromatherapist, educator, researcher, writer and advocate for holistic health, Shutes brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this richly detailed textbook, a guide for aromatherapy practitioners and anyone interested in understanding how

aromatic plant extracts can support mental, emotional and psychological health.

Shutes frames her approach to aromatherapy within a holistic context, emphasizing the importance of addressing mental health through an integrated lens.

Jade's approach to supporting the individual with aromatherapy has always been looking at the whole person's body, mind, and spirit rather than isolating symptoms or focusing exclusively on the physiological aspects of aromatherapy. From contributing factors to the gut-brain connection, Jade has discussed all aspects of life that can influence our mental health.

Part One is an introduction and foundation to mental health. This chapter covers everything from emotions to feelings – the biosocial model to affirmations and breathwork.

Subsequent chapters delve into specific topics, including Part Two: Anatomy and Physiology, looking at the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. From animal studies to human trials and forest bathing, Shutes deeply dives into our mental health and how stress impacts our immune system.

Part Three: Our sense of smell covers the limbic system in depth, aromas and hedonics, aromatics and brainwaves and my favourite section: the power of olfactory learning and conditioning. I have not seen a more comprehensive chapter in a book on olfactory and aromatics.

Part Four: Stress and Resiliency, teaches us about psychoneuroimmunology, the gut-brain axis, various types of stress and every imaginable way to help combat stress.

Part Five: Mental Health with a Focus on Anxiety and Depression dives into anxiety, depression and aromatics, the vagus nerve and mental health and the connection between the heart and trauma.

Part Six: Young Children to Teenagers, focuses on essential oils to help support children and teenagers in various situations.

Part Seven: Sleep and Mental Health looks at the connection between sleep and mental health, essential oils to support sleep, and the integration of progressive muscle relaxation and aromatherapy.

Part Eight: Alzheimer's, Dementia, and Cognition explores neurodegenerative diseases, aromatics, and cognitive enhancement.

Part Nine: Formulating for Mental Health guides us in performing an aromatherapy consultation and explains the importance of active listening with empathy and mindfulness. 

Part Ten, Essential oil indications chart, is a comprehensive chart on essential oils and their indications for mental health. 

Part Eleven: Morphology Blending Technique, Jade defines morphology blending as a method of intuitively approaching essential oils based on the messages or energetics inherent in each plant's specific form and function/role within the plant.

Aromatics and Mental Health is more than another aromatherapy book; it is a guide to mental health. The timing of this book could not have been more appropriate, as we have a society suffering from mental health issues. This book is a must for anyone who works in the healthcare field.

– Michelle Ensley

Book review by Dr Sandi Nye (January 2025)

Jade Shutes, founder and director of education of the School for Aromatic Studies, is a woman of many talents. With over 30 years of experience in the field of natural health and wellness, she is a respected aromatherapist and herbalist within the aromatic medicine community, with a passion for aromatic plants, essential oils, and aromatherapy education. She is also a keen gardener, aromatic distiller, and researcher, and the author of many articles, and author and co-author of several books, some of which appear to have evolved from her teaching courses.

Examples of author publications:

• Aromatherapy for Bodyworkers (2006)
• The Ultimate Guide to Aromatherapy [principal author] (2020)
• Aromatic Medicine thru the Lens of Western Herbal Energetics (2020)
  
• The Dynamics of Blending (2022)
• The Carrier Oil Palette (2022) – Co-author, with Sherilyn Siegmund-Roach.
• Aromatics & Mental Health - A Holistic Approach to AromaPsychology (2024)

General Overview:

Shutes’ latest book, Aromatics and Mental Health - A Holistic Approach to AromaPsychology, is self-published by the School for Aromatic Studies. It is a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the intersection between aromatherapy and mental well-being. The writing is clear and accessible, breaking down complex scientific concepts without oversimplifying them. The friendly and authentic delivery reflects the author’s voice, style and versatile ethos throughout.

The inclusion of practical blending guides and specialized sections adds an extra layer of utility, ensuring that the book is as functional as it is informative. It is suitably illustrated with charming line drawings and delightful colour images and charts, in addition to being adequately and accurately referenced and indexed. It is well-researched, with mindful and logical flow, presenting an innovative and balanced approach to the topic.

The core of the book focuses on the practical application of aromatherapy for mental health, but not to the detriment of either holistic or scientific aspects. The content is a good balance between science, holism and integrative health care practises, without being dogmatic or prescriptive. One of the book’s strengths lies in this balanced approach. It combines evidence-based research with hands-on guidance, ensuring that readers not only understand the science but also feel equipped to apply the knowledge.

Content breakdown:

Shutes covers some foundational basics relating to essential oils and their psychological effects, as well as specialized sections on aromatics for various populations and conditions. Presented in 12 parts/chapters, the first 11 parts explore the science and specific psychological effects of different essential oils, providing readers with a deep understanding of how to harness the power of aromatics for their mental health. Each section is well-balanced, with sufficient and relevant scientific information and evidence, to provide a clear and relatively concise exploration of each concept. Each part is structured in a ‘lesson’ format that builds upon the foundation, while expanding on and exploring the various aspects of mental wellness.

The author has packed a powerful punch of information into 282 pages. Each chapter deserves to be briefly outlined, to do justice to both the topic and the author’s dedication and passion - and to provide potential readers with a glimpse into the fascinating world of aroma-psychology.

Part One, the Introduction, lays the Foundation, in a 6-parts ‘lesson’ format, which delves into understanding, nurturing, and protecting our well-being. It commences with sections on: Mental Health; Emotions, Feelings, and Moods; and continues with looking into The Biopsychosocial Model; Somatics, Affirmations, and Breathwork; Somatics and Mental Health; and ending with a section on Breathwork and Mental Health.

Part Two consists of lessons divided into 7 sub-sections, relative to Anatomy and Physiology. These consist of a comprehensive overview of: The Nervous System; The Central Nervous System; The Peripheral Nervous System; The Enteric Nervous System; The Vagus Nerve; The Endocrine System – inclusive of a Deep Dive into Oxytocin; The Immune System plus Essential Oils and Immune System, and an overview of Forest Bathing; followed by Mechanisms of Action on the Nervous System and Related Systems; and it ending with The Endocannabinoid System and Essential Oils. The inclusion of an introduction to the endocannabinoid system, is considered by Shutes to be a key player in mental health and stress. This concept, and the botanicals that influence it, may be novel to some readers, but is of interest to many people working within the natural and herbal medicine fields.

Part Three, titled The Sense of Smell, is divided into 4-lessons. This is a comprehensive section focused on unveiling the importance of olfaction in human life. It starts with an overview of The Sense of Smell; proceeds to The Limbic System, including sub-sections on Aromas and Hedonics, plus a look at Aromatics and Brainwaves; followed by Olfactory Dysfunction, as well as a look at Olfactory Testing - From Threshold to Identification. The section ends with an overview of Olfactory Training, and The Power of Olfactory Learning and Conditioning.

Part Four, presented in 4-part lessons, dives into Stress and Resiliency, starting with an overview of Psychoneuroimmunology; moving on to Understanding Stress, inclusive of a Deep Dive into Cortisol, plus a peep into the Gut-Brain Axis and stress, and an additional exploration of the difference between Stress, Anxiety, Burnout, and Trauma. It ends with an exploration of The Relaxation Response - a natural state of deep rest that can be entered into by using specific relaxation techniques.

Part Five, is a 2-lesson chapter: Mental Health With a Focus on Anxiety and Depression. It commences with a section on Anxiety and Aromatics, plus a look at Top Essential Oils for Anxiety. It concludes with a look at Depression and Aromatics, and includes sub-sections on The Vagus Nerve and Mental Health, plus a section on Healing the Heart. This latter section, referring to heart rate variability and trauma, is authored by Jon Keyes.

Part 6, Young Children to Teenagers, is focused on Essential Oils for Kids. It explores how aromatherapy can support the mental well-being of children and teenagers. Shutes outlines the need to understand the current state of youth mental health and recognize common warning signs

of emotional struggles in children and teenagers. The section also highlights the basic concepts of brain development in children and adolescents, and explores commonly used essential oils, and their specific benefits, which can be used to support the emotional health and well-being of children and teenagers. It also looks at practical strategies for using aromatherapy to address common challenges in child and adolescent development, such as tantrums, sleep issues, school anxiety, and concentration difficulties. Shutes commendably accredits the work of Holly Brandenberger (creator of Science of Essentials) for the creation and inspiration of this lesson.

Part 7 outlines the intimate and vital relationship between Sleep and Mental Health, including an overview of the basic structure of sleep, common sleep disorders, how stress affects sleep, and stress management techniques to improve sleep quality, plus the potential benefits of using essential oils for sleep improvement. It concludes with an overview of the integration of Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Aromatherapy for mental health and sleep management.

Part 8, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Cognition is an important inclusion, considering the devastating impact that these disorders can have on everyone affected by them. The section commences with an overview of Neurodegenerative Diseases, ending with Aromatics and Cognitive Enhancement, relative to the potential role of essential oils for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Part 9, Formulating for Mental Health, reflects on addressing mental health concerns through aromatherapy, reminding readers that it is crucial to move beyond a purely chemical approach. Shutes asserts that ‘while the chemistry of essential oils is important, mental and emotional well-being often benefits more from holistic methods.’ This section, which focuses on the aromatherapy consultation and treatment design, recommends considering approaches to mental health formulations via methods such as Morphology blending, The Aromatic palette, System affinities, and Core indications. The section ends with a reminder that it is essential for aromatherapy practitioners to develop strong interpersonal skills for building rapport and trust with those they treat. Three key abilities to be explored that can enhance the therapeutic relationship are outlined, namely: active listening, empathy, and mindfulness.

Part 10 consists of a colourful Essential Oil Indications Chart, listing essential oils, from A to Y (Amyris to Yuzu), according to their actions and indications for treating mood/emotion. This comprehensive resource covers 53 essential oils and their corresponding psychological effects, making it an appealing go-to reference for both practitioners and individuals seeking to integrate aromatherapy into their holistic mental health approach.

Part 11, the semi-final section, segues effortlessly from Part 9, and is something for which the author has become renowned: Morphology Blending Technique. As Shutes states: ‘The concept of morphology is bound by the idea that everything that is alive pulsates with energy and that all energy contains information’. Expounding on the framework for building a blend based on morphology, the author suggests choosing a core essential oil, choosing an enhancer/support essential oil, choosing an enhancer essential oil, choosing a harmonizing’ essential oil, and choosing additional oil/s if required.

A case study example, as well as some Morphology recipe ideas, is also included. The section ends with a comprehensive overview of the concept, beautifully illustrated with colourful images, highlighting the essence/core of the various energies that align with this concept: seed, root, wood, resin, leaf/needle, flower and fruit/zest energies.

Part 12, the Summary, recaps the essential highlights of the book, concluding with the message that the field of aromatherapy, for mental health, is dynamic and evolving. This section is followed by the Reference and Index.

Conclusion

Shutes' meticulous research, combined with her practical expertise, makes this book a must-read, and is relevant for a wide range of readers, particularly those interested in exploring the profound connection between scent and the mind. The harmonious Body/Mind/Spirit interface approach ensures that the content is engaging, from start to finish. It is a significant resource for practitioners, students, and anyone interested in the field of aroma-psychology and aromatherapeutics.

Personal:

Would I recommend it? Absolutely!

Jade’s book provides an excellent new resource - aiding meaningful aromatic practice within mental health practices. Written well, her book moves from chapter to chapter seamlessly, enabling growth of practice for current aromatherapists, and new learning the next generation of aromatic practitioners. Please consider her book as part of an exciting future for addressing mental health needs through aromatherapy.

First Distillation – March 14, 2014

Distillation is a fascinating field of study for the aromatherapist and herbalist alike and although I am just beginning this journey and have much to learn, I shall share my experience to date.

Hydrosol derives from the Latin “hydro” meaning “water”and “sol” for “solution”. In the world of aromatherapy, hydrosols are also known as hydrolates, hydrolats, floral waters, and plant waters. Hydrolate uses “hydro” for “water” and “late”, from the French “lait”, for “milk”.

I have had an interest in the distillation of essential oils and hydrosols since witnessing a distillation of peppermint essential oil while at Purdue University years ago. I found it fascinating how they would go out and harvest the peppermint, drive the trucks under a canopy, close up the trailer, hook up the tubes up and distill right inside the trailer. And I shall always remember the aroma of mint that wafted heavily throughout the air as the steam condensed back into water to be sent over to large industrial containers to collect the essential oil and siphon off the hydrosol.

During this same visit we were also shown a distillation of peppermint in a stainless-steel unit, which was equally as interesting. My memory of this is how the peppermint looked after the distillation had occurred and they had opened up the still. Inside the peppermint was dry, brittle and without any color or life (prana) remaining. Indeed, the prana had been carried over into the essential oil.

So a few months ago, I decided to invest in a copper distillation unit. I searched and searched and ended up ordering a 20L copper distillation unit. You need at least 20L still as this size has the removable column that allows you to place plant material above the water rather than in the water.

Our new 20L Copper Alembic Distillation Unit for Hydrosols

Once the unit had arrived I collected the following additional items one needs:

• tubing to run water from the input/output pipes (still working on how to cycle water in the condenser – stay tuned!)
• a gas burner (you can use a camping stove or electric heating element as well)
• rye flour (to close up any gaps in the unit to prevent steam from flowing out)
• a few glass containers (I used sterilized canning jars) to collect the hydrosol: these need to be sterilized prior to use
• a pack of coffee filters to filter hydrosol
• a pH meter – to measure pH of water to be used in the distillation still (*the water needs to be slightly acidic – if it is too alkaline you can add in a small amount of citric acid to adjust the pH)
• Other item one could use: Separatory Funnel

Preparing the Distillation Unit
The first step in utilizing the copper still was to run a mixture of rye flour and water through the unit. This was done a couple of days before our first distillation per instructions that accompanied the distillation unit.

First Distillation – March 14, 2014

Our first distillation took place during our advanced aromatherapy certification program. Eager to try and the new distillation unit, we gathered up what was available (it was late winter): pine needles and eucalyptus leaves from around our property. Students cut the pine needles and eucalyptus leaves and then placed in the vat.

An awesome group of students prepare plant material for distillation.

We then enclosed the vat and began the process by lighting the flame under the distillation unit (where the water is). We used water from the local coop as our water comes from a well and is very hard but is softened with salt, so not really a good option. The water had a pH of: 5.6

Transformation
What began to transpire throughout the distillation process was nothing short of alchemical transformation both for the plant as well as for all of us who were present to witness the distillation. As the first few drops began to come forth, the excitement and awe of the experience began to take hold. And as the drops turned into a light flow of hydrosol mixed with a very small amount of essential oil and the aroma began to waft around us, the energy of the whole group became more elevated, more inspirational, and more beautiful.

Drops of Hydrosol begin pouring out.

I find it hard to describe with the richness of this experience because something happened for which I cannot lay my finger upon but inside myself I felt elated, almost transported to a more etheric realm of consciousness.

We stopped the distillation after about 1 hour (did not really time it, so just guessing here). Time seemed to waft along with the aroma. We had collected two jars of water (approx. 4 cups each). The essential oil droplets were visible in the jar, sitting on the surface of the water. And the aroma: stimulating, uplifting, alive, vibrant, and energizing. Everyone in the class seemed to have undergone some kind of transformation as well. The energy was rich and we were all incredibly thankful to have had the experience.

 Eucalyptus/Pine Essential Oils on top of Hydrosol

I have since utilized the hydrosol in room spritzers as well as for cleaning. It is incredibly potent! We keep it stored in the fridge and currently have about 2 cups left. I love just smelling it as it transports me back to that incredible sensation I experienced while distilling.

“In gratitude.”

The Process

Preparing to distill is a process for which I find I need at least two full days to devote entirely to the process. From cleaning the still, watching the weather, creating a schedule (of sorts), to clearing my mind and opening my heart and self to the process, to distillation day. A day of harvesting, a day of deepening my relationship with the plant, “listening” as I harvest, “listening” as I prepare the plant, place it in the still, cover it with water, and enclose the prepared plant material within the copper still. Slowly the water heats, the aroma wafts through the air, the first drops of hydrosol emerge... each distillation a mini transformation, yes. A deeper connection with the plant harvested, yes. The roots of a common language - molecules of communication.