Supporting Frontline Workers with Aromatherapy

By Caryn Gehlmann

Like many of you, I was heartbroken to see the tragedy of the recent wildfires in Maui. We’d experienced firsthand the devastation of fire here in my local community in 2020. We saw firsthand how important supporting frontline workers is because they tirelessly give their all! So I was extremely pleased to be able to offer my support to Dr. Valerie Simonsen a healthcare provider and founder of the non-profit You Know More who is supporting her community in Maui.

I was introduced to her through Celia Canty, a Certified Healthcare Musician and a dear friend of mine. Celia had lived in Maui for 17 years and was looking for a way to contribute towards supporting frontline workers and the local community. She reconnected with Dr. Valerie who used to be her naturopathic provider. When Celia shared with me what Dr. Valerie was doing to support frontline workers I wanted to help as well. E3 donated essential oils and blends to the Healing the Healers, Kaona Healing Hui retreat serving 18 frontline workers, healthcare providers, educators, and community leaders.

We were able to interview Dr. Valerie about her non-profit, her efforts to support the community after the fire, and why she highly values aromatherapy to help combat mental and emotional fatigue.

Tell us a little about your background.

My background as an Emergency Medical Technician and first responder, followed by decades of experience as a naturopathic physician, prepared me with valuable tools to help with the healing process. My passion is to use integrative functional wellness, integrative medicine, disaster relief through natural medicine, and ecological medicine to reconcile the care and health of ecosystems, populations, communities, and individuals.

Why did you create the You Know More non-profit to support frontline workers?

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, I witnessed too many of my peers struggling and dying from overwork and burnout. And I saw in myself the same tendency to sacrifice my own self-care. In 2020, it was clearly the time for You Know More to be born.  

Front-line workers, healthcare providers, educators, and community leaders frequently set aside their own well-being in order to continuously adapt to the needs of their communities. This can unintentionally lead to a diminishment of the very vitality that inspired them to serve. Therefore, ensuring that these populations receive the support they need is paramount for the well-being of us all. We will build our resiliency together.

What does your organization do to support essential workers?

​We offer restorative retreats, events, and education for essential workers (healthcare providers, educators, and community leaders) who dedicate their lives to service. At our Helping the Helpers, Kaona Healing Hui retreat for frontline workers, 18 frontline workers received private trauma-informed care as they were served expressive art & movement therapy, body awareness, organic nutrition, bodywork and a safe space to heal.

What is your experience using aromatherapy?

I’ve been using aromatherapy since I was 20 years old.  My mother of choice, Rev. Jennie Hafford was a holistic practitioner who ran with folks like Edgar Cayce, Bernard Jensen, and more. Jennie downloaded everything she could to me and essential oils were a primary tool that I used then and continue to use.

Did you personally benefit from any of e3’s blends? 

Personally, my experience with the Rose essential oil brought me into a new level. The night before I had a dream that I needed Rose to help me as I navigated the crisis. I have never smelled an essence so pure. When I shared my experience with a master herbalist, she said she has experienced that before with other products. I remained in my truth. It was life-changing. Opened my heart so I could breathe.

Yesterday, I was juggling a lot of details. Being the president of a 1 year old non-profit with changes in the organization, I end up trying to cover all the bases. I am currently the only board member that is fundraising and trying to stay on top of donations. Our web designer is leaving us and a new creator is coming on board. Our CFO & secretary just returned from Africa and are trying to catch up on everything. Our VP is working in Dallas and has a full schedule in her personal business. I also have a full-time medical practice and building bridges with the state and the county department of health as well as bringing unity to all the organizations that have been selflessly serving on Maui. Because of my perfectionism, I want everything to be done now  As I drove into town, I reached for e3’s Adrenal Support blend and applied to my left wrist. I experienced immediate relief. My vagus nerve reset instantly. A deep breath assured me I was ok and I could do this.

How did you use the donated essential oils to support frontline workers, healthcare providers, educators, and community leaders? 

We used them at the retreat. We created an essential oil bar alongside the flower essence bar.  Attendees could pick one remedy for their personal use. The attendees all got massages and the oils were used in their massage topically.  

One attendee chose the Breathe Easy blend. They were diagnosed with COVID two days later and asked for more of the Breathe Easy. I sent it to Lahaina for them via a courier. They are still ill but sense the oils are vital in the recovery. One attendee said, “I LOVE my remedy (Resilience)!  Thank you”.  

We really appreciate what Dr. Valerie is doing in supporting the front-line workers on Maui and we’re so glad that e3 was able to share the gift of aromatherapy. If you are a front-line worker in health care, education, or community services learn about Aromatherapy Inhalers for Instant Stress Relief. Sign up for e3’s newsletter for reliable advice from e3’s team of Clinical Aromatherapists and health care professionals and get 20% off your first order.

Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash