Warning - vent post ahead.
Are YOU a real aromatherapist? Are YOU a safety conscious EO user? Great, then please read on. And if you should so feel it in your heart, UPVOTE. In the name of EO safety!
What exactly qualifies one as a REAL aromatherapist? That is a tricky question. Though there aren't any governing bodies (in the US) regulating aromatherapy, there IS a common school of thought/standard of care in the aromatherapy world. And NO it does not come from your average essential oil consultant! Yep, I said it. It just doesn't mmmk.
There also isn't official accreditation for schools online or campus settings. With that said, there are world wide organizations that accredit independent educational programs, based on how/what the schools are offering in coursework. Sorry, a Groupon course won't cut it, it just won't. But "accreditation" from certain associations will earn you some credibility. Schools that are accredited by these organizations have a more extensive and vigorous program than schools that are not accredited.
I personally follow essential oil safety guidelines that I've obtained via NAHA accredited courses here and there. But I am not an Aromatherapist YET. I do however, have my own massage therapy practice, and was first introduced to essential oils back in 2004. My first lesson on oils was to ALWAYS DILUTE, because of their potency. Their highly concentrated state increases their efficacy and as such should be diluted. NEAT applications or ingestion is OK, but ONLY under the direction of a clinical aromatherapist. Some oils are just so caustic and could cause serious harm/discomfort if not properly diluted. Take for example, oregano, clove or cinnamon oils. All very strong, yet very effective when used safely.
I love essential oils, but I just cringe at a lot of the stuff I see people put out there for their followers to take up. My personal favorite method of using oils is topically. It is the first method I learned, and it adds such a therapeutic level of relaxation on top of massage benefits for my clients. No one blend is the same as I make them custom to their specific need. Whether it is emotional, physical, or both. They talk, I listen & blend. Then we begin the session. I also like to make salves for clients to take home. Whether they are for pain, relaxation, or just a gentle body butter with a hint of grapefruit for uplifting, or lavender to help calm and soothe. I went through the proper processes of creating and blending. I get so irked when I see folks throwing a bunch of improper blending ratios together for applying undiluted, or to throw in your water and drink...gahhhh! The list of poor advice goes on and on! It ESPECIALLY irks me when they make this sh!t for folks to buy! When their only qualification for making products using essential oils is a Pinterest board, maybe just maybe give it a second guess and move along folks!
My love of oils has led me to one of the leading oil companies out there. BUT I cannot stand by the marketing tactics of oil safety and usage. I just simply can't and won't for liability purposes of my business, and because plain ol common sense that oil and water don't mix. SO why put it in water and drink it? Take for example, peppermint. I have SEEN people put up to 3 drops of it in a glass of water. ONE drop alone, is equivalent to 45 to 50 teabags of peppermint, in that ONE glass of water. So 3 drops would put one at up to 150 teabags, again, in a single glass of water. I have heard this potency comparison given in EO 101 meetings and at the same meeting witnessed it being mixed into water. Gahhhhh! I quite literally cringed and cried a little bit inside. I cried because the oils are just not being respected for their potency and power. They are beautiful, and amazing when used properly. Please folks, do be careful with the essential oil advice your consultant tells you. Companies can "reassure" their customers that their oils are pure enough to use NEAT (without dilution), or ingest...but if they truly are as pure as they preach then also keep in mind the potency is optimal and should be handled with care. I can go on and on about oils. I use them everyday! And perhaps I will share the different ways I use them in future posts. But be warned, I am a stickler for EO safety.
With all that said, happy SAFE oiling folks!