Why I Became an Aromatherapist

Back about 8 or so years ago when I was introduced to essential oils, I was enamored! This was just what I was looking for to help with my holistic wellness journey.

At that time, I had a 2-year-old. Everyone kept telling me to use Thieves on the bottoms of his feet to stay healthy. I didn't listen. However, I was doing that to myself and my husband. I don't believe it was keeping us any healthier but costing us a lot of money to maintain our membership in the company. Matt, my husband thought the blend smelled amazing. I think it smells much too strong and makes me cough.

I was doing all the things that people on pinterest and my upline suggested. WE USED ESSENTIAL OILS FOR EVERYTHING. I was spending hundreds of dollars a month and bought into the hype. A year later, we added another baby to our household.

With stinky diapers, fear of germs, and preschool for my now 3-year-old, I decided to try some oils on my preschooler. At that time, I knew nothing about dilution or sensitizaton. I was told that undiluted Thieves was fine to apply to my son, especially his feet. Even on the bottoms of his feet, the Thieves blend was burning. He was screaming and crying. I washed it off with soap and water, but the bottoms of his feet were mildly burned. I felt awful. I cried because my ignorance caused me to harm my child. How could I do that to my own kid?

I asked some of my friends and upline about it. They convinced me it was an isolated incident. So, I tried again. This time not on the feet, but on the belly. He has a tummy ache, so I used a popular stomach blend. No dilution either this time. Again.... he started screaming and his skin instantly turned red. THAT WAS IT! I was done. No more using on anyone but myself. Now I was scared and knew I had no clue of what I was doing. Those who were advising me obviously did not either. I put the oils away on a shelf, then eventually just threw them away.

A few years later a friend introduced me to doTERRA. It was awesome! I was on a team that actually had people who seemed to be knowledgeable. I couldn't have been more wrong. Many of the same issues happened. Again, no recommendation to dilute but this time it was onguard, deep blue and their other oils.

I loved the essential oils but was worried and knew I didn't know enough about them to be comfortable using anything. I discussed it with my husband and decided to go to Aromatherapy school. I loved it so much I went on to get my clinical certification. Then took classes on internal use, Ayurvedic aromatherapy and more.

After my first certification I was stunned to see that I KNEW NOTHING about essential oils or aromatherapy before I went to school. I had been doing everything all wrong. The "education" you get from the company you are selling for is not an actual education. Telling you that this oil works for that issue is not educating. It's advising. It's selling. Most of the people who are "advising" others have no idea why they are saying "this oil works for that issue", but they do it anyway. Improper use of essential oils not only hurts you, but it hurts the entire industry. The more injuries that are reported, the higher we become on the radar of the FDA and people who could regulate this industry.

I just read a blog by someone high up in DT about why they will ever be an aromatherapist. She believes advising others with no health history or true education in aromatherapy is ok. She states, "When you consume essential oils, that are labeled for consumption, in small amounts I conclude that there is no evidence that it causes harm". That is simply not true. Is she talking about once, twice, daily, multiple times a day, what? As an aromatherapist I see injuries all the time from misinformation just like this. Essential oils are not benign.

Also, in her blog she states, "According to the Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, Volume 3, the Food and Drug Administration recognizes dozens of essential oils, solvent free oleoresins, and natural extracts as Generally Safe for Human Consumption. This allows them to be added into foods and beverages and for essential oils to be labeled as dietary supplements. All without the consultation of an aromatherapist." GRAS status does not mean that the substance cannot hurt you. If you want to learn more about GRAS, read my blog called "What does Organic Truly Mean". You will see that GRAS status is not what it's hyped up to be by these companies.

The realization that essential oils are highly concentrated, potent and are not benign started this journey for me. The fact that I was hurting my loved ones because I had no true knowledge fueled me. I was looking for an alternative to conventional medicine, but it was hurting us. I needed to know better and do better.

With my education, I teach others how to properly use essential oils, so they are effective, yet safe. If anyone ever tells you to drink your oils in water, use a 'hot' blend on a baby/child with no dilution, or if they tell you something that doesn't sit well with you, listen to your gut. Walk away. No, actually run. Essential oils are wonderfully amazing when used properly. They can really hurt you when they aren't. We see a lot a sensitization issues on FB groups due to the overuse of undiluted essential oils. ALL of these injuries are 100% preventable. ALL. OF. THEM!

If you currently have, or have had an adverse reaction to any essential oil, please report it to the Tisserand Institute. Don't know what a reaction is? Read my blog "Essential Oil Reactions: How to Avoid Them". We need to keep track of what is going on out there.

You don't need to be scared of aromatherapy or essential oils. You just need to use common sense. If someone told you to crush up a tylenol and add it to your water to make the water taste better, would you? Of course not! That's a medication. Well, essential oils have the same chemical constituents as many over the counter and prescription medications. Each time you drink an eo in your water, that is essentially what you are doing. We need to start thinking of essential oils as medicinal. When you do that, they whole reason to use them changes.

As an aromatherapist my family rarely uses eos in our house with the exception of the occasional scrape, bump, bruise or sleep issue. Unless there is a TRUE need, they are not warranted. Yes, they smell lovely (well most do), that still isn't a good enough reason to use them daily. I don't take any medications "just because.

If you have any questions, please email me at melissa@sweetwillowspirit.com. My door is always open. Have a wonderfully, beautiful day.

Love and light,

Melissa

The material on this page is not meant to take the place of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified medical practitioner. Since the actual use of this product by others is beyond our control, no expressed or implied guarantee as to the effects of their use can be given nor liability taken. Use at your own discretion. Any application of the recommendations is at the user’s risk. Sweet Willow Spirit, LLC disclaims any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of this information and assumes no responsibility for any actions taken. This should not be used in place of traditional therapies but solely as a complementary means for bringing well-being. The FDA has not evaluated the statements on this website. No claims are made as to any medicinal value of any oil or healing modality.