Aromatherapy Book Store

You may have noticed that I've just added some personal book recommendations on the left hand side of my blog.  In addition, I've also created a bookstore of hand picked books which I think readers of my various websites and blogs may enjoy.  These include books on aromatherapy, bach flowers therapy, general women's health (including diabetes, cancer and pregnancy) and celebrity health.  I will continue to add to the book store so be sure to check back often!

To visit the book store direct click here

If you would like a particular book and don't see it there, please let me know!

Sweet Almond Oil

Another carrier oil profile! This time of sweet almond oil, which is a popular carrier oil in aromatherapy and massage.

To learn more read Sweet Almond Carrier Oil...

Please post any comments below!

Aromatherapy Newsletters Written by Aromatherapists

My last full blog post focused on aromatherapy publications; this post is about aromatherapy newsletters written by aromatherapists. Many aromatherapy businesses now send out a free newsletter to clients. Depending on the business, the newsletter may contain information about new products, special offers and what is happening with the business.

Many large aromatherapy businesses send out a 'standard' aromatherapy newsletter but many smaller businesses tend to personalize the newsletter and you actually feel that you are getting to know a 'real' person.

Social media such as facebook and twitter has changed the way people are doing business and not everyone issues newsletters any more. However, here's my pick of two of my preferred aromatherapy businesses newsletters:

• Penny Price - Penny Price is a U.K. based aromatherapy business with distributors around the world; Penny is the daughter of Shirley and Len Price, who owned an aromatherapy business too. Penny's newsletter's are informal yet professional at the same time and this really is a family-run business.


• Aromahead Institute - I just discovered this year Andrea Butje at the Aromahead Institute; although I have yet to meet Andrea when I take her aromatherapy course next year, I have found Andrea's newsletters to be informational, yet friendly at the same time. I get the impression that Andrea is very experienced in what she does.

And of course, my own aromatherapy business, Sedona Aromatherapie, produces a monthly newsletter too! My newsletter is a work-in-progress and is continually evolving as my plans for my aromatherapy business evolve too. I am considering new ways to effectively produce a quality newsletter but currently I issue a full newsletter quarterly, and a monthly update.

If you have any suggestions or comments please let me know below!

Setting Up an Aromatherapy Business

So you've studied hard and are now ready to set up your own practice! How do you go about it?

Setting up an aromatherapy business is not easy - even harder if you start in a country which isn't your own - like I did! There will be a lot of learning curves, things that will work and things that won't work. And don't expect it to happen overnight - building any type of business can take years. What works for one person may not work for you, so its difficult to sometimes figure it all out. You may set out with one idea which evolves into something else over time (which happened to me).

My introductory article How to Set Up a Complementary Health Business may help get you started. However, bear in mind that this article was written in very general terms - both in terms of the complementary health discipline practiced and the country. It should give you a few pointers though if you simply haven't got a clue!

You may be surprised where your journey takes you - keep an open mind and keep believing in your passion and see where you end up!

I intend to build on this article with future articles too.

Let me know what you think by posting a comment below!

Niaouli Essential Oil

Niaouli essential oil is perhaps not a well known essential oil but it is in fact related to tea tree essential oil. It is an Australian essential oil which naturally has similar properties to tea tree oil.

Learn more about niaouli essential oil with my latest essentiial oil profile - niaouli essential oil...

Aromatherapy Publications

There are not actually that many aromatherapy publications for the aromatherapist out there, or so I have found. Some publications are more serious than others, so it depends what you are looking for. Aromatherapy publications in both the U.S. and the U.K. are limited but there are several international aromatherapy publications available. In addition, many aromatherapists who practice have their own newsletters. Here's a round up of the aromatherapy publications I have discovered so far. Please leave me a comment if you have more to add!

Aromatherapy publications:

• International Journal of Essential Oil Therapeutics (IJEOT) and the International Journal of Clinical Aromatherapy - both of these publications are for the serious aromatherapist, with experience, as they contain essential oil case studies and essential oil chemistry. The journals are edited by Bob and Rhiannon Harris, respectively, who are both British but now live in France. Visit IJCA for further information.
• Aromatherapy Today - an Australian publication but with an international slant with essential oil profiles, aromatherapy articles and research and ongoing aromatherapy events. This publication is easy to read, even if you have no experience in aromatherapy. Visit Aromatherapy Today for further information.
• Aromascents Journal - a Canadian publication which recently became available in Ezine format only. This is a similar publication in format to Aromatherapy Today. Now only available on line. Visit Aromascents Journal for further information.
• Aromatherapy Thymes - a U.S. publication which is relatively new to the market. Owner is Patricia Brooks. This publication follows a similar style to Aromatherapy Today. For further information visit Aromatherapy Thymes.

Aromatherapy is featured in many spa publications and other natural health magazines but, as a separate subject area, aromatherapy is limited in the publishing world. What new discoveries have you made recently?

My next full blog post will focus on newsletters available from aromatherapy businesses which I think are worth while.

Carrot Oil - Carrier Oil or Essential Oil?

Carrot oil is both a carrier oil (or massage oil) and an essential oil. The two are very different in chemical make-up and extraction and should be used with caution. In addition, both carrot carrier oil and carrot essential oil are extracted from the wild carrot - not the domestic carrot.

As you can see, confusion between carrier oils and essential oils is common as well as the confusion between similar essential oils! Last week I profiled the differences between the different types of rose oil and a profile on rose hip carrier oil. Previously, I have written articles on oregano and marjoram, pelargoniums and geraniums, the chamomile essential oils, the lavender essential oils and the sage essential oils.

Knowing these similarities and differences between many carrier oils and essential oils, it is advisable to learn all you can about any carrier oil and/or essential oil before using them to avoid the confusion.

To learn more read carrot oil - massage oil and essential oil.....

and leave me any comments below!

Do Essential Oils Work?

Aromatherapy, like many other alternative/complimentary medicine practices often receives 'bad press' about whether it actually works. Many people believe aromatherapy to be 'just a pretty smell'.

Some of this 'bad press' may come from the fact that aromatherapy is not regulated in the USA; anyone can set up and claim to be an aromatherapist with little or no training. In addition, some essential oil suppliers, who claim to supply 'pure' essential oils, are actually selling adulterated or unpure essential oils.

Pure essential oils are obtained from plants; plants possess essential oils for a number of reasons. Botany and aromatherapy are closely interlinked because essential oils are extracted from plants. The therapeutic powers obtained from essential oils often had an original purpose in protecting the plant too.

Scientists in many countries have conducted many experiments to try to prove or disprove the value of essential oils in certain circumstances. Sometimes the results are inconclusive, due to various factors, but many experiments end in a postive result for the power of essential oils. The International Journal of Essential Oil Therapeutics carries many indepth studies on essential oils.

Often essential oils are confused with fragrance oils; fragrance oils, although pleasant smelling, do not carry the therapeutic properties of essential oils and should not be used in the practice of healing aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy is also a phrase which is often misused. True aromatherapy is the use of essential oils for therapeutic practice but often people talk about aromatherapy when they are really talking about fragrance oils or perfumery.

Essential oils are used medicinally in France and are becoming more popular in medical practice in the U.K. too. I don't beleive that essential oils are in common practice in the U.S.A. in medical settings as yet (please let me know if you know different!) and perhaps the aromatherapy profession needs to be regulated more firmly before this can happen.

For this reason, I am planning on doing further aromatherapy training next year to greater understand the complexities in the chemical make-up of essential oils so that when people ask if essential oils really do work, I will have the knowledge and further experience to expand on my answer!

If understood correctly, and if used correctly, essential oils can be beneficial to a great many people in a number of health problems.

If you have any comments please post them below!

Rose Hip Carrier Oil

I finally managed to find time to post my first carrier oil profile! I started with rose hip oil not because its one of the most popular carrier oils but because it linked in to my article earlier in the week on the different types of rose oil. Although I don't think many people confuse rose hip oil with rose oil it does start to get complicated with similar sounding names!

Rose hip oil is a favorite oil to be used in skin care creams and lotions but it can also be used as a massage oil, either on its own or with complimentary essential oils. To learn more more the profile Rose Hip Carrier Oil...

Do You Know Your Rose Oil?

When is a rose not a rose? When its adulterated or something else.

Rose oil is one of my favorite essential oils and is probably one of the most popular oils. However, due to its high cost of production, rose oil may not actually be rose oil. It may be a fragrance oil or indeed actually another essential oil all together. Confused?

I know I was when I first started studying essential oils and I have been asked this question several times by people as well. So, I finally put all I know about rose oil in a complete article to help you identify the different types of rose oil.

Let me know what you think, after reading the article, by posting a comment below!

Aromatherapy for Feet - New Article!

As a reflexologist, as well as an aromatherapist, I have a fascination with feet! Not an unhealthy obsession, I hasten to add, but a genuine interest! Aromatherapy can work well with feet and there are many essential oils which can help with a good foot soak!

To learn more read my newest article in the Sedona Aromatherapie Library - Aromatherapy for Feet.

Let me know what you think by posting a comment below!