Menopause, Aromatherapy & The Individual
The Menopause
The doctor wrote a prescription, “we usually prescribe this for women in menopause”.
Managing a small business, two teenagers, a dog, married life… it’s a load many women are carrying in their forties – so adding menopause on top of that is just a whole bundle of unpredictability to add to the chaos.
So, there is a point where you may just rely on a word of a doctor and a prescription. Something that I have reminded myself to question beforehand.
One of Micheline Arcier’s specialities was to focus on the individual, not a one-size-fits-all narrative. This has been brought to my attention as I trawl through the archives of her history, which I have been doing much of in the last few months as my energy and focus levels have been down. When it got to a point that it felt below an acceptable level, I needed to review my habits and what I was doing differently in order for this to happen. And then the lightbulb in my head finally lit up after trying all the wellness tips under the sun to feel a bit more like my usual energetic self, that perhaps a generic medication was not the right solution for me.
This is not to dismiss medicine — for many women, the right medical support is life-changing. But individuality means exactly that: understanding that the right answer may not be the same for everyone, and that our needs can change over time.
The Individual
So, yes, individuality… always remember, you’re unique… just like everybody else. But we are – what works for one doesn’t always work for another – we have layers of nuances that create that uniqueness. Madame Arcier was ahead of her time, for sure. She treated her clients with individuality and at each individual appointment.
Our needs and preferences are always evolving, Micheline Arcier’s focus was on holistic wellbeing with the use of nature’s ingredients. Eat well, sleep well, move well, nourish your inside with natural fresh foods, nourish your skin and your mind with the essential oils that nature has provided us with.
Drawing on the work of both Marguerite Maury and Dr Jean Valnet, Madame Arcier was almost certainly the first aromatherapist to work alongside a medical practitioner in the treatment of her clients — long before “holistic” became part of the everyday wellness vocabulary.
Aromatherapy and The Art of Living
L’ART DE VIVRE – holistic wellbeing, with some flair – Madame Arcier certainly lived in style. Using essential oils in the right carrier to suit your wellbeing needs can support a natural holistic lifestyle. Various bath oils, body oils, essential oil therapeutic blends, they add a scent layer to support your needs state – an uplifting citrusy aroma, a touch of lemongrass and soothing lavender for early morning routines. A body oil applied with rosemary to support focus, or chamomile for soothing relaxation. There’s something for everyone, and everyone wants something for them.
I have found my lethargy has been supported with the uplifting and bright blends from the archives… so, whilst I have been lethargic, hovering in the background trying to work my way through my own menopausal symptoms, I have been rediscovering the magic behind the essential oils, a new found love of frankincense and a new joy for blending and creating new moods with golden oils that sparkle with delight and add a joyous spring to my step… I am looking forward to the months ahead as I can share the journey and reintroduce the legacy to a new audience.
