Using the Internet as an Aromatherapy Resource

Everyone is doing it nowdays - surfing the web, that is.  It used to be if you wanted to research a subject, you had to buy a book or go to your local library.  Although these option are still available - and I personally still enjoy both of these activities - the internet can open the door to a world of resources, without even leaving your house!

However, like everything, you can't always believe what you read.  The world wide web is full of lots of information which is written, or sourced, by people who really don't know what they are talking about.  Some of these people are well intentioned, just misinformed or misguided, but others are out to "get you".  So how do you separate the "good" from the "bad"?

Since I started writing aromatherapy articles (and other articles) I've learned a few tips when researching credit worthy sources; here's a few things which I think you should bear in mind when looking for and reading aromatherapy information on line:

• check the credentials of the author - does he/she have training/qualifications/experience in aromatherapy?
• does the author list any references at the end of the aromatherapy article to state where he/she researched their information from?
•  one single person does not know everything - check several sources to confirm facts
• aromatherapy journals and publications are often "credible" sources, including studies on aromatherapy/essential oils
• aromatherapy blogs are an "informal" way of conversing with your audience - consequently, aromatherapy blogs are not the most reliable source of aromatherapy information!  However, I try to back up my blog posts with articles and links, where appropriate, for "fact checking" - and direct readers to other references for further research.  I also have a disclaimer at the foot of my blog as to the intentions of my aromatherapy blog.
• no matter how well researched an aromatherapy article is, it will not always contain all the information you are looking for.  The author has written it from their point of view, so its wise to read 2 or 3 articles on the same subject to get the "full picture". (I encourage you to do this with my articles too!)
• aromatherapy is more "advanced" in Europe than it is in the U.S. - and there are different view points on aromatherapy in different countries.  So, depending on where you live, you may or may not be familiar with the author's view point - but it is beneficial to have an open mind!
• some aromatherapy companies publish aromatherapy information in an attempt to get you to buy their products; reputable aromatherapy suppliers will publish unbiased information and not simply promote their particular product in an article.

In addition to researching aromatherapy articles on line, I would also highly recommend purchasing some aromatherapy books and taking an introduction course to aromatherapy.  If you are a student of aromatherapy, you will eventually become familiar with aromatherapy author names, aromatherapy publications and the names of those in the aromatherapy business, making it easier to be informed about "reliable" or "unreliable" aromatherapy resources.  You can never have too much information!

If you have any points to add on Using the Internet as an Aromatherapy Resource please leave me a comment below!

Happy reading!

Grape Seed Carrier Oil

Grape seed oil is used as a carrier oil in aromatherapy and massage.  Although I haven't personally used it - I have my favorites, but I really should branch out more! - it is recommended for aromatherapy because of its lack of aroma, making it suitable to combine with other carrier oils, such as sweet almond and apricot kernel, or essential oils.  It is also light and non-greasy with beneficial qualities for skin care.

To learn more, read the full article:

Grape Seed Oil for Aromatherapy

How to Choose an Aromatherapy Book...

This may sound like an "odd" thing to write about - how to choose an aromatherapy book!  But I have found that there are many aromatherapy books out there and, depending on what you want to get out of it, what may be a good choice of an aromatherapy book for one, may not be so for another.  There is a multitude of aromatherapy information available on the internet today - some good, some bad - but I believe that there is nothing better than sometimes sitting down with a book to learn more!

These are a few of things I would establish before choosing an aromatherapy book:

• what is your experience of aromatherapy?
• what do you want learn - how to make aromatherapy lotions, the science behind aromatherapy, essential oil profiles, history of aromatherapy etc
• what are the credentials of the author - some aromatherapy authors are more experienced, and well known, than others.  However, even if it is an author you are not familiar with, reading the author's biography (usually on the book cover/inside pages somewhere) will help you decide if the author is "credible"
• has the aromatherapy book been recommended to you - I usually find that recommended books are recommended for a reason!
• is the aromatherapy book part of a course and is required reading - or is it purely for "pleasure"? Required reading books are also recommended for a reason - however, choosing a book for "pleasure" may be a bit more difficult
• how complex is the aromatherapy book?  A mini-introduction to aromatherapy is easier to read than an aromatherapy book which consists of several hundred pages - but depending on your needs, both options may be "good" choices in different circumstances.

To try and explain a little more about what I mean in how to choose an aromatherapy book, here's a few options:

• Aromatherapy for Health Professionals - Shirley and Len Price.  This aromatherapy book is precisely what it says - a book about aromatherapy for health professionals.  Therefore, a little prior knowledge is probably required before reading it - and the book is aimed at helping health professionals use aromatherapy in a health setting (although this is a more common practice in places such as the U.K. than the U.S.)
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils - Julia Lawless.  This aromatherapy book was, and still is, my aromatherapy "bible" on essential oils when I was first learning about essential oils.  If you want to know about essential oil profiles, I would highly reccommend this book - simple and easy to use, you can probably use it "beginner's" level aromatherapy
• Aromatherapy Workbook - Shirley Price.  A good book to introduce you to the "basics" of aromatherapy, including a history of plant and aromatherapy use
• The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy - Valerie Ann Worwood.  This aromatherapy book contains over 600 recipes for health, beauty and home use.  Although it contains aromatherapy recipes, I would reccommend reading it in conjunction with a more basic book on aromatherapy too as it doesn't really explain the variations in aromatherapy recipes for different "user" groups - such as in pregnancy, elderly, children etc.  Otherwise, a pretty useful aromatherapy book, if you have some experience
• Aromatherapy An A - Z - Patricia Davis.  Basically, an aromatherapy dictionary on the terms used in aromatherapy, as well as a brief description on the uses of some essential oils - including the author's own personal recommendations.  Again, a "good" book, in my opinion, if you have some aromatherapy experience.

Of course, there are many more aromatherapy books and everyone's opinion is different.  But, in addition to reading an aromatherapy book, whatever your intentions, I would recommend at least a basic aromatherapy course to fully appreciate and understand the power of aromatherapy!  Happy reading!

N.B.  All of the above books can be found in Sharon Falsetto's Book Store for purchase.

Essential Oils for Children: Introducing Aromatherapy to Children

On March 15th 2010, I wrote about mohdoh, a form of "mouldable aromatherapy" and an ideal way to introduce aromatherapy to children.  Following on from that, I wrote an article on the different ways to introduce aromatherapy to children.  Some people are wary about using essential oils with children, because of the belief that they are "harmful." Like many other things in life, essential oils usually become "harmful" to children through misuse and lack of understanding and knowledge before using them. However, there are some essential oils which are not recommended for children, because of the chemical make-up of them, and some essential oils which are naturally more suited for use with children.

To learn more read the full article - Aromatherapy for Children...

Mohdoh: A Combination of Playdoh and Aromatherapy for Children

What exactly is mohdoh?  I recently became aware of mohdoh when I was reading a Penny Price Aromatherapy (U.K.) group newsletter, so I thought it was worth a mention, as I am sure that many people haven't heard of it.  In fact, outside of the U.K., it probably isn't that well known.

Mohdoh combines aromatherapy with play and color therapy to promote the natural healing of many health problems such as colds and flu, anxiety, travel sickness and insomnia, according to the mohdoh (U.K) web site.  It is described as "mouldable aromatherapy".  Although it was apparently 'discovered' when an insightful mother added lavender oil to her child's playdoh (modeling clay) to calm him down, mohdoh is marketed as being suitable for both children and adults (playdoh figures are shown in the photo above, although please note this isn't mohdoh, it is simply to demonstrate what playdoh looks like).

Color therapy, for those who study other therapies, is also known to heal the body on various levels.  Some colors make us feel calmer, some uplifting and some energizing.  For example, red is a very energizing color, blue and green are 'calming' colors and yellow is uplifting.  Combined with the power of essential oils, in a mouldable dough, mohdoh is said to be capable of helping to relax, focus or relieve the symptoms of coughs and colds, depending on the essential oils used.

Since training in aromatherapy, I have learned to try and market aromatherapy in different ways to reach different people, especially in the U.S. where aromatherapy is not as well practiced in its true healing sense, as it is in the U.K. and Europe.  So, discovering mohdoh was a further revelation for me!

I think it is a very practical and useful way of introducing children to aromatherapy - and I wouldn't mind giving it a go myself, so may just have to pick some up on my next visit to the U.K.!

As far as I know, and please post me a comment if you know different, mohdoh doesn't seem to be widely available in the U.S.

For further information, visit the mohdoh (U.K.) web site.

Combining Aromatherapy With Reflexology

Aromatherapy is a powerful therapy; used on its own, its capable of helping many different health problems.  Aromatherapy is also used, by many, as a form of relaxation.  However, aromatherapy can also be combined with other complementary therapies such as reflexology.

I initially trained in reflexology and became a qualified reflexology practitioner before studing for my aromatherapy diploma.  I chose to study aromatherapy for a number of reasons - one of which was the versatility of being able to combine aromatherapy with a number of other complimentary therapies.

Using aromatherapy can enhance a reflexology treatment; when I had my aromatherapy studio, I offered reflexology with aromatherapy by first cleansing a client's feet in a warm bowl of rose petals, which was then followed by a reflexology treatment of a personal blend of essential oils, chosen specifically for the client's problems.

Reflexology is all about working on the reflex points and bringing the body 'back into balance'; by adding the use of essential oils, not only is the client more relaxed but the essential oils have chance to work their magic too!  However, it is essential to know both about reflexology points and essential oils before attempting to do this.

Esssential oils can be combined in an aromatherapy blend of oil or lotion.  Some reflexologists may not agree with this (I know some reflexologists prefer to work exclusively with talc) but, speaking from personal experience, I found this to be a popular choice amongst clients.

Refelxology points are also located on the hands, so if people have a preference not to have their feet touched, its still possible to use an aromatherapy treatment on the reflex points on the hands.

I have noticed that some aromatherapy schools are now offering courses to combine reflexology with aromatherapy, so I can only assume that the demand for combined aromatherapy and reflexology treatments is on the increase!

If you have any thoughts on combining aromatherapy with reflexology please leave me a comment below!

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Distance Learning Aromatherapy Courses

My last two posts were on aromatherapy requirements in the U.K. and how to become a registered aromatherapist in the U.S. - but what do you do if you want to train in aromatherapy and live no where near an aromatherapy course provider?  In the U.S., this is a common problem as distances are great and it is expensive to travel across state (and country) to study, especially if it involves more than one trip.  Even if you live in the U.K., you may have to travel to find a reputable aromatherapy course provider.

The alternative is to study through distance learning.  But how do distance learning aromatherapy courses compare to actual attendance on a course?  And how much of a 'real' qualification is a distance learning course?  Like other aromatherapy courses, the availability of distance learning aromatherapy courses is wide and varied.  Some allow you to find out what aromatherapy is about before taking a more comprehensive course; others actually give you an accredited diploma at the end of it.  However, it is possible to study for a university accredited degree through distance learning today, demonstrating how flexible study can be.

The advantages of studying aromatherapy through distance learning include:

• study where and when you want
• no travel expenses
• study at your own pace
• e-mail/telephone support depending on the course provider
• one-on-one tuition in some cases.

However, the disadvantages of studying aromatherapy through distance learning include:

• no interaction with other students (although some course providers may provide a facility for doing this, for example a forum)
• practical applications may be more difficult to master
• communication is less 'personal'
• you may 'miss' certain information which is naturally brought up in classroom situation
• you need to be self-disciplined and organized to successfully complete the course.

Some aromatherapy distance learning courses require you to attend a class for a day or two at the end of the course for practical learning.  A lot of aromatherapy distance learning courses are assessed through assignments, rather than exams, which may mean more course work but no exam pressure.

On a personal note, I studied for my aromatherapy diploma with Penny Price academy through distance learning.  For me, at that point in my life, I felt it suited both my needs and my personal situation.  However, I did voluntarily opt to take a couple of 'specialized' day courses at the end of the course, which I found to be of great benefit in clarifying a few issues for me.  In addition, if I had remained in the U.K., I would have opted to do further study to 'upgrade' my aromatherapy distance learning diploma, although I have to stress it is a 'stand alone' qualification too.

Since I completed my aromatherapy course, I have done a lot more personal study and participated in aromatherapy forums and writing, from which I have continued to learn a lot about aromatherapy.  Advanced aromatherapy study is next on my 'wish list' but deciding how to do it is my next problem.  Maybe I'll opt for distance learning again!  After all, it doesn't matter where you are in the world when you choose to study distance learning!