Clinical Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a healing art of multifaceted dimensions, which uses the essential oils from plants to promote healing. It assists the body in achieving a state of balance so that healing can occur naturally. The essential oils are inhaled and also applied to the body by a number of applications. They are used in wellness and other products, including house hold items. Essential oils are plant essences found in various constituents of plants – flowers, nuts, seeds, leaves and bark, and are only produced in nature – they are the ‘blueprint’ of the particular plant to which they belong.

Clinical aromatherapy combines perfectly with massage in the bodily application of essential oils, which are diluted in carrier oils. The oils are custom blended for each client, de- pending on their current needs. The goal of using essential oils in massage can be both, curative and preventive and will always assist in getting the body back into balance.

In this course, students will learn the physiology of smell, correct storage and handling of essential oils, profiling specific essential oils, blending techniques, the body systems and the preferred essential oils pertinent to those systems, the administration of essential oils, carrier or base oils, massaging with essential oils, the basic chemistry of essential oils, essential oil testing, uses for essential oils, essential oil profiles, a definition and brief description of Bach Flower Essences.

Some highlights for students to look forward to:

• Lots of hands on lab work

• Many essential oils with which to become acquainted in theory and practice

• Planning case histories


• In-house labs on essential oils


• Custom blending

• Learning how to integrate aromatherapy into other modalities


• Learning correct storage and handling of essential oils

• Uses for essential oils

• Basic essential oil chemistry


• Having fun creating and sharing body care and other product recipes

At the completion of this course, students will have begun their journey towards incorporating clinical aromatherapy into their massage practice and indeed, if they so wish, into their own lives.

Prerequisite: Therapeutic Massage Level 1 or Equivalent

Course Objectives: At the completion of the course, students will know and be able to:

• Profile essential oils for its properties, notes and application

• Incorporate clinical aromatherapy into the massage practice

• List the indications and contraindications for essential oil use

• Make custom blends of oils for specific purposes