Meet Renée Lepoutre: a practitioner of integrative medicine and the power of scent in self-care
We spoke to Renée Lepoutre, a doctor specialising in lifestyle and integrative medicine, about her work, her experiences with essential oils and how scent can contribute to relaxation and self-care.
𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘷𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯
“My name is Renée Lepoutre. I am a doctor specialising in integrative medicine and lifestyle medicine, with a background as a GP. At my practice in Monster, I support people with a wide range of chronic conditions. They are all looking for a treatment that tackles the root cause and therefore offers a long-term solution. These conditions range from hormonal imbalances and fatigue to stress-related symptoms, gut problems and post-viral symptoms. I also see people who would like a health check-up or who wish to take a preventative approach to their health.
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”My work combines medical knowledge, lifestyle advice, orthomolecular therapy, microbiome treatments and energetic support such as Reiki. I like to work in a way that addresses both the body and the mind, because I’ve found that recovery often takes place precisely through that interaction.”
𝘏𝘰𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘣 𝘫𝘦 𝘋𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯?
“I’d known about De Groene Linde for some time through my network. Colleagues spoke highly of the quality and the way the products are developed. That piqued my interest. When I placed an order myself, I realised that the oils fit in well with the way I work: clear, pure and without any fuss.”
𝘌𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘭𝘪ë𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘵𝘪𝘫𝘬
“I never use oils as the sole treatment, but as a complementary part of a broader plan. I’ve found that scent can play a valuable role, particularly in cases of stress and sleep problems. Research has now shown that scent has a direct effect on the limbic system. This is the part of the brain involved in emotions, stress and relaxation.”.
”I also use oils to help people relax during a consultation or Reiki treatment – to draw the energy out of their heads and into their bodies. And I like the fact that my consultation room feels pleasant, for me as well, and this is partly achieved through the use of scent.”
𝘍𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘯
“I don’t have one absolute favourite. However, there are a few blends that I use regularly because they help many people to relax or ground themselves more quickly. Those are precisely the moments when I notice that clients can catch their breath again and their system begins to settle down.”
𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯
“I don’t have one specific favourite blend; it really depends on the situation. What I find particularly valuable is when people tell me that a particular scent helps them to really settle down and unwind. That they turn it into a little ritual at home: switching on the diffuser, creating a quiet space, perhaps taking a moment to breathe mindfully.”.
A client recently shared that, as a result, she felt for the first time in a long while that she was taking a moment for herself again. She said: ‘That scent helps me to get out of my head. It gives me just that little nudge to pause for a moment and do something kind for myself.’
”For me, that is exactly what these oils can offer: not as a solution in themselves, but as an invitation to practise self-care. A scent can sometimes be a very subtle anchor that helps someone to slow down, relax and reconnect with themselves for a moment. And that makes it a wonderful addition to my work.”
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