Clinical Aromatherapy vs. One Size Fits All (A cost benefit analysis)

A glucose meter, syringe, test trips, and sugar tester

The first thing you're probably wondering is, "What on earth do these two photos have to do with clinical aromatherapy?" Nothing, yet everything to do with the point I hope to make in this post. Warning: safety is a soapbox issue for me. It's not safety first, it's safety always! Chances are good you know someone who represents an MLM essential oil company or an MLM company that has their own essential oil line. If you know such a person, chances are also good you have heard them give essential oil advice, or read essential oil posts by them on social media. Occasionally there are MLM representatives that are trained certified aromatherapists. Some hold true to their scientific aromatherapy training and some have "drank the Kool-Aid" and need an intervention. The first photo in this post is a glucose meter used by diabetics to test their glucose levels. There are a number of different glucose meters on the market. Some work better than others do. That's not the reason I chose that photo; I chose it because like diabetes care plans, aromatherapy is most effective when it is customized to an individual. Diabetes is commonly seen in multiple generations of families, but just because grandma is treating her diabetes with 250mg of Metformin three times a day, doesn't meant that's going to be the best or safest option for any other diabetic in the family. The same is true for aromatherapy. This is why clinical aromatherapy is not to be taken lightly or treated nonchalantly. It's nothing to be scared of, but it should be respected. Now, take a look at the second photo. Do you have any idea what is inside any of those capsules or tablets? Neither do I. I've worked with and in holistic medicine for 21 years. Most of them look like pharmaceuticals; though it's possible a couple of them could be herbal capsules. I certainly wouldn't take a single one of them without knowing precisely what it was, the purpose of using it, and how it was supposed to work. Granted I'm more jaded since my days of doing Fen/Phen and mega doses of prescription strength ibuprofen. I learned the hard way to ask questions. Twenty plus years of being off the allopathic prescription pad express and I still have a digestive system destroyed by the one size fits all mindset. This is why when I work with aromatherapy clients, questions are welcome, and with every blend I include a data sheet introducing you to the blend and the essential oils used in it. I want you to know it's not 'safety first' with me, it's safety always! The allopathic community has its own checks and balances for injuries related to prescription drugs. In the aromatherapy world, we have the Injury Report that Syllah Sheperd of Atlantic Aromatherapy Institute maintains. If you've been injured by or had a reaction to an essential oil you can report it here: http://www.atlanticinstitute.com/injury-reporting If you'd like to read the most current report you can find it here: http://www.atlanticinstitute.com/injury-report-2014

There are essential oils that are contraindicated due to age, particular health conditions or medications in use. In the case of essential oils, an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. It could end up protecting you from the need for a liver transplant, experiencing a fatal drug interaction, or a case of severe topical dermatitis. As the video linked here shows, safety is imperative as poison control calls related to essential oils continue to climb. Keeping safety as a primary focus in your essential oil usage will protect your long-term health, while supporting your short-term goals. http://fox13now.com/2016/12/26/poison-control-calls-related-to-essential-oils-doubled-since-2011/

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