The number of ways to get into aromatherapy can seem intimidating at first. Luckily, you can learn more without leaving your favorite comfy chair by signing up for an online class or reading an aromatherapy eBook.
Some resources are free. Others might cost from $10 to as much as $1,500, depending on whether you want to walk away a certified aromatherapist or not. Price isn't necessarily an indicator of quality. So how can you sort out the worthwhile information providers from the timewasters? Read on!
Certification
Whether they're teaching an online class or have written an aromatherapy eBook, the aromatherapist should be certified. Check your state's licensing board. Some states require all alternative medicine healers to show proof of training. Others don't, but still check to make sure no complaints have been filed against the therapist in other areas of medicine.
You can also check with the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy for a list of approved training programs and references. You can also find a collection of recommended journals, websites, and even a free aromatherapy eBook or two through NAHA.
Finally, check their experience. Do they have years of practice, or run their own aromatherapy clinic? Have they written other eBooks? If they've written 100 books on 50 different topics you're probably not going to get a very in-depth aromatherapy eBook. This step is particularly important if you're going to be paying a substantial amount of money.
Education
Next, figure out what level of education you need. Just starting out? Look for an aromatherapy eBook or class that covers the 12 basic essential oils contained in most starter kits: bay, bergamot, chamomile, clary sage, eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, lemon, orange, peppermint, rose, rosemary, and ylang ylang.
A beginner-level aromatherapy eBook should talk about how to blend these oils, ways to diffuse the scents, and how to handle the products safely. If there's a dash of history, too, you've made a good find!
Advanced-level instruction really branches out in specialized directions. If you're craft-oriented, download an aromatherapy eBook about ways to turn your essential oils into fragranced candles or build your own diffusers.
For the more science-minded, particularly if you're interested in ways to use aromatherapy therapeutically, take the time to read a couple of eBooks on anatomy and physiology, paying special attention to the olfactory system.
And if you're ready to leap into practice, an aromatherapy eBook dealing with the legal and ethical issues involved will get you started on the right foot.
