 |
Aromatherapists help restore an individual's mental, physical and spiritual health through the skilled and controlled use of essential oils in the art of healing known as aromatherapy or aromatic medicine.
A scientific art, aromatherapy involves exploring an individual's physiological, psychological and spiritual reaction to highly concentrated, aromatic extracts (essential oils), which in turn helps bolster the healing process. Qualified aromatherapist and former International Federation of Aromatherapists State Coordinator, Madeleine Sewell, says
''The oils are blended based on their chemical constitution which influences their properties. Each oil has a range of different properties. This might be antiseptic, antiviral, hormone influencing, or detoxifying. If an oil is high in the chemical, esters, I might blend and apply these to treat stress. Esters, found in plant material such as chamomile and clary sage, have a soothing, calming effect.''
Mind, Body And Soul
Madeleine says aromatherapists adopt a holistic approach to healing. Aromatherapy is designed to benefit the whole person not just treat the symptoms of a particular disorder or disease.
When clients see an aromatherapist for the first time, they are usually asked to complete a client form providing details of their medical and personal background. Madeleine says this assists aromatherapists to determine what may be influencing a person's wellbeing. In Madeleine's own clinic, clients are then treated to a therapeutic footbath...mmm.
A brief discussion informing aromatherapists about what a client hopes to achieve from the use of aromatherapy generally follows.
''I then blend the necessary essential oils, adding them to what's known as a carrier or base material,'' says Madeleine.
Highly concentrated, most essential oils must not be applied 'neat' to the skin as they may cause irritation to sensitive skin. Essential oils can be applied by various means including the popular aromatherapy massage, which combines acupressure, manual lymph drainage massage, Swedish massage and reflexology techniques. Aromatherapists may also opt for a body bath, foot and hand bath or steam inhalation. The latter, for example, is very useful in the treatment of respiratory disorders.
Aromatherapists also make up 'take-home' blends for clients such as bath oils, shower gels, inhalations or creams and lotions, which are designed to supplement aromatherapy sessions.
The Essence Of Essential Oils
Aromatherapists use essential oils made from a wide variety of aromatic plant material, grasses, leaves, flowers, needles, twigs, wood, resins and fruit peel. No animal products are used in aromatherapy. The oils are extracted by physical methods including distillation with either water, steam or carbon dioxide or by mechanical processing of citrus rinds. Alternatively, oils may be derived through dry distillation (maceration) of natural materials. Following distillation, the essential oil is physically separated from the water. For an essential oil to be a true essential oil, it must be isolated by physical means only.
Sue Lavell, also a qualified aromatherapist with over 20 years experience, observed the effectiveness of aromatic medicine while studying aromatic medicine and the distillation process in Provence, France and during a work stint in the Cook Islands. She was so impressed, she made the switch from working as a medical technologist to an aromatherapist.
Is It For You?
Should you choose to become an aromatherapist, excellent people skills as well as self-care skills are important. Madeleine says, because caring for others is the key to aromatherapy, there can be a high burn-out rate in the occupation. Creativity also complements this role beautifully. Think of all the oil blending that awaits you.
Madeleine and Sue both agree that the growing awareness of aromatherapy, and natural therapies in general, is creating a greater variety of employment opportunities for qualified aromatherapists. This includes private practice, community health services, in research, development and manufacturing of essential oils, and as sales representatives for essential oil suppliers. There are also excellent opportunities to work interstate and overseas.
Overall, however, this is a small-sized occupation in Western Australia and it is only in recent years that aromatherapy has started to gain increased recognition. Currently, most aromatherapists are self-employed and this provides the best means of employment. It is strongly advised that aromatherapists also have expertise in other areas such as massage, nutrition or naturopathy.
Aromatherapists charge an hourly rate, which in recent years has been between $55 and $80 per hour. The rate is dependent upon experience but is also influenced by the amount customers are prepared to pay for this treatment and the number of clients treated by an aromatherapist. You could contact an organisation such as the Australian College of Natural Medicine for more current salaries.
According to Madeleine Sewell, people interested in becoming self employed should be prepared to invest one to two years to establish a regular customer base. Thereafter, aromatherapists generally earn between $25,000 and $55,000 per annum. Again, you can contact an employer or training provider in this field for more information.
|
