What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy refers to a range of traditional, alternative, or complementary therapies that use aromatics.
Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that is sometimes called essential oil therapy because of its use of aromatic essential oils medicinally to improve the health of the body, mind, and spirit. Essential oils have been used for nearly 6,000 years, to improve a person’s health or mood.
Aromatherapy is thought of as both an art and a science. Recently, aromatherapy has gained more recognition in the fields of science and medicine.
What 3rd level courses are available?
Universities and colleges in Ireland are offering Aromatherapy courses in the following subject areas:
- Accredited Aromatherapy Diploma: Aromatherapy for All Diploma in Aromatherapy – This diploma in aromatherapy will provide you with the necessary skills and training needed to embark on a successful career in aromatherapy or for the progression of your career in aromatherapy.
- Online – Accredited Aromatherapy Diploma – Aromatherapy for All Level 1 – This course is designed to introduce you to Aromatherapy and the wonderful, magical healing properties of plants, flowers, trees, and seeds.
- Massage and Aromatherapy: An Introduction – An introduction to Massage and Aromatherapy.
Studying Aromatherapy in college
Many Aromatherapy courses take place over 1 year to 4 years depending on the course and modules selected. There are also part-time courses and night courses available so you can be sure to fit in your studies no matter what your schedule is like.
Courses will cover theory work through lectures, assignments, tutorials, and taught modules. Assessments will take place continuously with written examinations and practical assignments combined to achieve a qualification.
You could also consider work experience or a work shadow in the industry. Contact aromatherapists in your local area and ask to shadow them during patient consultations.
Relevant work experience is a good way of demonstrating a genuine interest in the field and is regarded favorably by employers. Work Experience will not only allow you to obtain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the industry, but it will also give you a chance to do some essential networking with other industry professionals and gain valuable contacts for the future.
Career options
After completing a course in Aromatherapy you will be able to get started in a career that uses specific knowledge of essential oils and aromatherapy practices.
As an aromatherapist, you will take a holistic approach to treat patients, looking at the underlying causes of the illness and not just the symptoms, and will prescribe scents and aromatherapy treatments to be used alongside other treatments and medicines. Typically aromatherapists are self-employed and you’re most likely to set up your practice after you’ve completed your studies in Aromatherapy.
You can choose to work from home and adapt a part of your home into a space in which to diagnose and treat clients. Alternatively, you can be based in a complementary health clinic working as part of a team with other alternative health practitioners. These can include acupuncturists, shiatsu practitioners, and herbalists.
Working hours will depend on whether you are employed by a company with set business hours or if you are contracted to various facilities or companies. The hours are usually full-time, Monday to Friday, although you may need to be flexible to suit your clients’ needs. For example, you may choose to work some evenings or weekends.
Related jobs include:
- Aromatherapist
- Homoeopath
- Massage therapist
- Crystal Healer
- Crystal Therapist
- Yoga instructor
- Reiki practitioner
- Acupuncturist
- Osteopath
- Chiropractor
- Tai Chi or Qigong Instructor
- Biofeedback practitioner
- Holistic skincare specialist
Further study
After completing a course in Aromatherapy you may choose to pursue further study in a specialist field to increase your knowledge base and skillset. Postgraduate study can also be used as a means to change career focus or to gain professional qualifications required to practice in certain career areas such as anatomy, botany, nutrition and diet, pathology, physiology, and herbal medicine.
FAQ
How does aromatherapy treatment work?
Aromatherapy works through the sense of smell and skin absorption using products such as diffusers, aromatic spritzers, inhalers, bathing salts, body oils, creams, or lotions for massage or topical application, facial steamers, hot and cold compresses, and clay masks. You can use these alone or in any combination.
There are nearly one hundred types of essential oils available. Each essential oil has an array of unique healing properties, uses, and effects. Combining essential oils to create a synergistic blend creates even more benefits.
What are some of the benefits of Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy has an array of benefits. It is said to:
· Manage pain
· Improve sleep quality
· Reduce stress, agitation, and anxiety
· Soothe sore joints
· Treat headaches and migraines
· Alleviate side effects of chemotherapy
· Ease discomforts of labor
· Fight bacteria, viruses, or fungus
· Improve digestion
· Improve hospice and palliative care
· Boost immunity
What conditions can Aromatherapy treat?
Aromatherapy is said to have the potential to treat many conditions, including:
· Asthma
· Insomnia
· Fatigue
· Depression
· Inflammation
· Peripheral neuropathy
· Menstrual issues
· Alopecia
· Cancer
· Erectile dysfunction
· Arthritis
· Menopause
Where can I study Aromatherapy?
Explore your options here
Did You Know?
· Humans have used aromatherapy for thousands of years. Ancient cultures in China, India, Egypt, and elsewhere incorporated aromatic plant components in resins, balms, and oils. These natural substances were used for medical and religious purposes. They were known to have both physical and psychological benefits.
· Essential oils are present as tiny droplets between plant cells. These droplets are aromatic and are extracted from flowers, grass, seeds, herbs, peel of citrus fruits, leaves, bark, and roots.
· Over 30 roses are used to produce a single drop of rose oil. Neroli oil, or “orange blossom,” is one of the most expensive essential oils on the market. It takes 1,000 lbs. of orange blossoms to make one pound of Neroli oil.
· Aromatherapy is growing at a fast rate, and many firms in Japan are pumping aromatherapy oils such as lemon and rosemary through the air-cooling systems to improve employee efficiency especially during periods when employee efficiency is low.
· A single drop of peppermint essential oil is equivalent to 28 cups of peppermint tea.
· Captain James Cook first mentioned tea tree oil in 1772 during his voyage to Botany Bay, Australia. He and his crew made tea from the leaves to prevent scurvy.
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