What is Holistic Aromatherapy?   

Holistic aromatherapy incorporates safe and effective practices to promote health and wellbeing on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. The individual is seen as a whole and once a lifestyle and health history is gathered from the client, a custom blend – using natural and authentic essential oils – is formulated and a treatment plan created by the essential oil therapist. The treatment plan may include inhalation, compress and topical application. Internal use is never recommended.

As an example, a client comes in who has recently quit smoking, is experiencing digestive upsets and wants to move forward in their life. A blend could be created using essential oils of black pepper, frankincense, ginger, cypress and orange. Clinical research (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8033760) has shown that black pepper curbs nicotine withdrawal, ginger and orange ease abdominal discomfort, cypress is used in times of transition and frankincense helps to cut ties with the past. The client would be encouraged to use this blend in a carrier oil to massage into the abdominal and lower back area or alternately disperse it in hot water and use it as a compress on the abdominal area. In conjunction with the topical application, they would be advised to use the blend in a diffuser or personal inhaler to ease nicotine cravings.