Healing With Aromatic Botanicals: From Traditions To Therapy

By Fernanda Santiago

This book is about Traditional Medicine- A lot has been forgotten, but it is not a thing of the past. This book goes over simple ways people can incorporate the use of herbal remedies to support their health. It will also teach you how to use herbs topically such as in compresses and poultices and basic Aromatherapy and some nourishing recipes to support your body from the inside out.

Fernanda Santiago is a certified clinical aromatherapist, Licensed Massage & Bodywork Therapist with over a decade of interactive experience in the field. Her great grandmother was a midwife and herbalist who passed her knowledge and expertise of using natural healing compounds to the generations to come, including Fernanda. Fernanda started learning aromatherapy at a very young age. By the age of 19, she was already practicing massage therapy and aromatherapy professionally. She completed her studies at Floracopeia and The School of Aromatic Studies. She availed the opportunity of following her love and passion for health and wellness to complete his training all the way to Chiang Mai, Thailand, as well as working under the mentorship of proficient Acupuncture Physicians and Botanists. Fernanda is a proud owner of private practice in Apex, NC, named "Healing Feels Good" and co-founder of "Apex Retreat Seminars." She is an expert consultant in Aromatherapy treatments & formulations and bodywork sessions. She is looking forward to continuing her career in the same field to clear all your reservations regarding traditional medicine, assist people in staying healthy, preserving her heritage, and making a difference in the world of therapeutics.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fernanda Santiago
• Release date: Sep 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215669297

Fernanda Santiago

Born in the Island of Puerto Rico, Fernanda Santiago has always had a passion for wellness and helping people get healthy. Her great grandmother was a midwife, herbalist and considered by many to be an expert in the use of natural healing compounds. This knowledge of herbal medicine and natural healing has been passed down for generations. Fernanda was introduced to Aromatic Botanical Medicine early in her career and has specialized in Aromatherapy for 16 years. She has also trained in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and mentored by Acupuncture Physicians, and Botanists, gaining hands on experience. She has studied with both Floracopeia and The School of Aromatic Studies. She loves gardening, the outdoors and creating custom formulations for her clients. She has a private practice in Apex, NC named Healing Feels Good®. Here she provides consultations, Aromatherapy treatments & formulations as well as bodywork sessions such as Reflexology, Thai Massage and Thai Herbal Poultice treatments. She is the co-founder of Apex Retreat Seminars, a nationally approved continuing education school for massage therapist and is a Level 2 NAHA Certified Professional Aromatherapist. She loves to share her knowledge and passion for helping others using traditional methods of healing.

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Who is Fernanda Santiago?

Fernanda Santiago is a certified clinical aromatherapist, Licensed Massage & Bodywork Therapist with over a decade of interactive experience in the field. Her great grandmother was a midwife and herbalist who passed her knowledge and expertise of using natural healing compounds to the generations to come, including Fernanda. Fernanda started learning aromatherapy at a very young age. By the age of 19, she was already practicing massage therapy and aromatherapy professionally. She completed her studies at Floracopeia and The School of Aromatic Studies. She availed the opportunity of following her love and passion for health and wellness to complete her training all the way to Chiang Mai, Thailand, as well as working under the mentorship of proficient Acupuncture Physicians and Botanists. Fernanda is a proud owner of private practice in Apex, NC, named "Healing Feels Good" and co-founder of "Apex Retreat Seminars." She is an expert consultant in Aromatherapy treatments & formulations and bodywork sessions. She is looking forward to continuing her career in the same field to clear all your reservations regarding traditional medicine, assist people in staying healthy, preserving her heritage, and making a difference in the world of therapeutics.

Hello readers!

Imagine walking in a botanical in the late spring enjoying the cool breeze, and suddenly you catch the scent of the blooming Jasmines? Such a scent has the power to influence your mood, stimulate your mind, and bring an expression of relief to your face. This experience of walking in a botanical garden is like a session of aromatherapy. What if you have access to it after every long and tiring day? This is only possible by understanding the science behind aromatherapy through consultation.

Some of you might have questions like, I can find everything online. Why do we need a consultation? You are not wrong! Once you begin searching about aromatherapy online, you will have tons of information to access and learn from, but many platforms influenced by branding and marketing around the globe. This is how it ranks different agencies for paid ads, which means that what you find can be misleading information that only supports and promotes a certain brand. Following such information can lead you into potholes, just as it has led many to unsafe practices. The science of aromatherapy is delicate and requires professionals to practice and transmit it to others.

One tiny drop, one small action, one little step can and does create the change. A single candle can light thousands of other candles without compromising on its brightness. In the same way, knowledge never decreases by sharing. This book is at your service to strengthen your knowledge regarding aromatic botanicals as a beginner and help you to understand the intricacies of employing aromatherapy. It will serve as a comprehensive guide because of its strategically divided scope and intent into extensive chapters to facilitate your learning. Following pages will walk you through the foundation of practicing the science and art of aromatherapy, essential oils and herbs, and the myriad of applications in the holistic spectrum of aromatic botanical medicine.

The information printed in the upcoming pages is not only coming out of a professional degree holder but also heritage. I am not speaking on the basis of my knowledge but years of experience of my ancestral practices. So, join my hands to develop a basic understanding of traditional medicine in the most simple and lively way possible.

Enjoy Aromatic Herbs

1

Once upon a time on the Island of Borikén

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lose your eyes, take a deep breath and ruminate over the word aroma. Isn’t it amazing how this word has the power to refresh your mind exclusively? What’s more interesting is the fact that it can evoke and nourish senses for each person in a different way. Since each day and person has a color and smell, some of us might recall a strong, hot, and penetrating aroma of thyme simmering in Italian stews while it will remind others of the wet sand submerged in the coastal waters.

Smell has the ingenious power to transport you across thousands of miles through all the years you have lived. It transports me back to the shores of Puerto Rico every time I say aroma. Walking down the memory lane, my dad usually takes me with him to share the sweetest memories that he had with his grandmother stirring the vessel in the kitchen.

Here my dad always narrates it like this.....

My name is Fernando Santiago. I was born and raised in the vicinity of Tibes; a place called la Yuca''. The Yucca'' name of this mountainous region was probably given by the Tíbes Taíno's. La yuca is located south of Jayuya and Utuado mountains, and south west of Orocobix. Jayuya, Utuado and Orocobix were other Taino Families of the cordillera central.

Tibes was one of a large Taino tribe of Borikén, the place is located in Ponce. The Taínos were the inhabitants of the Island at the time of the arrival of the Spanish expedition directed by Don Cristóbal Colon. The Taínos were a culturally developed society with a universal language, a developed agricultural system, and a social organization based on caciques or chieftains. The Island was named Borikén by the Taínos, which is believed to mean Land of the Valiant and Noble Lord, and was dedicated to the Creator of Taínos or the natives of the Island. The mountainous rural regions are popular for its smooth stones and rhythmically flowing rivers. No wonder the Borincanos have a deep love for the mountains and creeks. Their breathtaking beauty will keep my love alive for them forever.

I am a Jibaro from these mountains. [The term Jibaro was utilized originally by the Spanish colonies to refer to the indigenous peoples. It seems as if they used the term to indicate that they were of another kind, or wild. During the Spanish colonial times, the higher social class used this term to refer to the agricultural workers. Later on, in our history the Borincanos self-name themselves Jíbaro, to indicate that the person is a native from Borikén.]

So, if you find a person claiming to be a Jibaro today, know that he is proudly announcing himself as a native Borincano. Other borincanos might challenge their claim by questioning their knowledge of plants, animals, music, food, and other elements of native Jibaro culture.

My father’s name is Fernando Luis Santiago. My father was a humble Jíbaro, musician (Spanish guitar) singer (trovador) and poet. He wrote beautiful folklore lyrics that he sings in "cagüeño, mapeyé and other seis jibaro music. He learned the music from his father; Don Julio Santiago. By personal choice he did not pursue a professional music career.

My mother’s name is María Vásquez. She is a