UNCOMMON SCENTS - The Movie

If you follow us on Facebook you will have seen a long list of enthusiastic posts on the Nature's Gift page about Uncommon Scents. Why? What IS this?

In the words of one of the creators:

Uncommon Scents explores aromatherapy through interviews with a full spectrum of experts who
hold the industry to its highest standards. The film's producers have invited esteemed growers, distillers, chemists, suppliers, educators, scholars, and practitioners from around the world to share their unique insights. Experts will explore fundamentals (including what essential oils are, where they come from, how they've historically been employed), discuss best practices (safety, education, interfaces), and weigh-in on key challenges facing the industry (including sustainability, purity/adulteration, and monetization). The film celebrates natural aromatics and the global aromatherapy community; Uncommon Scents endeavors to deepen dialogues around the use of essential oils, aromatherapy, and aromatic medicine and elevate the stakeholders in aromatherapy's future, including nature herself.

How did I get involved?  I was misled!   In October, while I was planning for the first half of Mark Webb's Aromatic Medicine Course,  Mark said "I'd like to have a question and answer panel some evening, and would like you to be part of it." Since Mark and two of my other mentors were the panel I felt a bit out ranked. I wanted to ask, not answer, questions. But Mark urged, and I said yes.

Midday, the day of the panel, Mark told the class that the panel was being filmed, to be part of a trailer for a proposed documentary about Aromatherapy. Mark said "film" and I tried to resign on the spot. NONONONnononono. I don't LIKE cameras! I was over-ruled. However, the panel was a wonderful experience.  I was silent throughout most of it, until Kristina addressed a question about safety to me.  She had to cut most of my answer for brevity, but the soul of it made the trailer. The current trailer is available here. I love Gabriel's statement, and I guarantee Robert will make you laugh!  The first trailer, made the night of that forum, may be viewed in the gallery, at this link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/uncommon-scents-an-aromatherapy-documentary#/gallery 
If for some reason that link takes you to the main page of the fundraiser, just click on the Gallery tab to view the earlier trailor and other announcements.

During that weekend in Georgia, Mark Webb and the students in his class raised the total cost to produce the first trailer, to start an IndieGoGo campaign to fund the movie.

Our dream? To have an award winning quality documentary explaining who we are and what we do. Where these oils that we love come from and the power to heal that they give us.

When the original trailer was first released, of course we shared it on Facebook.  Kristina shared the following: "Thank you so much for your support, Marge--and for your contribution to both the campaign and the panel in Atlanta! The source of your quote in the video had to be narrowed down to fit in the time frame, but it is the WHOLE of what you said that captured our hearts: "Anything that is powerful enough to heal--and these oils are--is powerful enough to harm. You treat them with respect and they enrich our lives... It's that simple."

I am asking you, if you care about the healing art of aromatherapy, if these amazing oils have enriched YOUR life, to view the trailers at the links above, and to contribute to the production costs.  There are a wide range of rewards for those donating on different levels.  More than the concrete "perks" and rewards is the knowledge that you will have contributed in a meaningful way to our community.  (The perks will be fun too!  come peek at a perk!)  We need to raise (holding my breath) $60,000. We are more than 1/3 of the way there.  Help us reach the goal.  And when you donate.... Please leave a note here, or on our Facebook page. I would love to see that the Nature's Gift community cares! 

Thank you.

Sometimes we cry...

and sometimes we get so angry we rant and rave.

It used to be once a week we would get that call we all hate.

Recently, it has been almost daily, either a call, or an email.

"Which of your Frankincense oils will help _______ Cancer.?"  Usually it's Breast Cancer, but we have been asked to treat all kinds, with our best Frankincense oils.

And the questions break our hearts, and make us angry.  This is the answer that we give, over and

over again.  Maybe if I type it here, we can just give people this link.

There is NO essential oil, Frankincense or any other, shown to effect the growth of cancer cells in the human body.  REPEAT. NO Frankincense oil, and no other essential oil, has been shown to effect the growth of cancer cells in the human body.

Now, there are research studies, using isolated cells, growing in a petri dish in a lab, that have had their growth slowed or been killed by exposure to specific substanced found within Frankincense RESIN.  RESIN, not essential oil.

The primary studied component, extracted from the resin, is Boswellic Acid. A quick review of current research will show a LOT of studies of Boswellic Acid. 

PLEASE, believe me.  There is NO Boswellic Acid in Frankincense Essential oil, nor in Frankincense CO2.  I wish there were.  It is too heavy, chemically, to distill over.    There is NO Frankincense Essential Oil that, used topically, inhaled, or ingested, can cure cancer.  I would give everything I have to be able to tell people, YES, this Frankincense can help.

There are many ways that a trained aromatherapist may help someone battling cancer.  I just gave an old friend a blend to help his skin heal from yet another series of radiation treatments.  I can ease his pain, and I can give him oils to uplift his spirits. And I can pray for and with him.  But I can NOT help him fight the cancer that is trying to kill him.

Please, do not believe those who say their oils can cure cancer.  They do not have your wellbeing at heart.  It is my personal believe that the lowest circle of Hell is reserved for those who prey upon the fear, pain and desperation of others. 

And no, Frankincense Oil will not help heal polyps in your dogs' ears, either. (THAT made us angry.  Especially after you said that Lavender hadn't helped.)