Today, as essential oils become increasingly popular. More and more "self proclaimed" experts are coming forward to teach their twist on essential oils. Too often, without formal education
themselves. Too many educators, who are farmers, businessmen, ministers, chiropractors, psychologists, veterinarians, are laying claim to being experts in aromatherapy. Their education without verifiable credentials, their self promoting claims, without recognition from the research based essential oils aromatherapy world. So what should you do? AVOID these self promoting self proclaimed non-experts.
There are many true experts in the field of aromatherapy & essential oils. People who've studied under the very top (or are the top) in this field. People who contribute through research and clinical studies, the safe and effective uses of aromatherapy. People without question, that anyone who's anyone in the world of aromatherapy, has studied through, under, or by their works and books in aromatherapy. Attended their schools that are noted as the top in the world.
So who are these world renown experts of aromatherapy?
First, lets start with the grandfather, Dr Jean Valnet, MD. (1920-1995) was a French Physician and military surgeon who was one of the foremost pioneers in modern medical aromatherapy. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1945 as a surgeon. During the war he served in hospitals in Germany and France.
From 1950 to 1953 he was appointed surgeon to the advanced surgical unit in Tonkin, the northern area of Vietnam that borders China. Being low on medical supplies, he bandaged the wounded with aromatic solutions that delivered results well above average.
From 1953 to 1959 he became Chief of the Secretariat of State for War, and in 1959 he left the army to continue his research in herbal medicine and aromatherapy in Paris.
As early as 1948 he began to publish articles on herbal medicine and aromatherapy in many medical journals.
In 1981 he founded the College of Phyto-aromatherapy and Medicine to pursue research on herbal medicine and aromatherapy, establish criteria for quality, and educate practitioners and users of essential oils. He gave lectures on phytotherapy on television and the radio. He popularized the "aromatogram", a method of identifying the best essential oils to combat microbes in individual patients.
His best known book, "The Practice of Aromatherapy" was translated into English and published 1982.
Dr Daniel Penoel, MD is one of the foremost authorities in the world on essential oils. He has worked with essential oils in his medical clinic since 1977. He is a world-renowned medical doctor, researcher, educator, and author. With his wife Rose-Marie, Dr Penoel has authored three books in English: "Life Helping Life: Unleash your Mind/Body Potential with Essential Oils", "Natural Home Health Care Using Essential Oils", and "Guide to Home Use of Essential Oils". He has authored several books in French, his most notable being "L'aromatherapie Exactement" considered by many professionals to be "the encyclopedia of essential oils" when it was published in 1990. It was written with Pierre Franchomme, a chemist who is credited with laying the foundation for the practical study of essential oil chemistry. Dr Penoel's role in the book was to provide the practical, clinical foundation.
Dr Penoel has lectured to, encouraged, and trained most of the foremost professional aromatherapists in the world. He has either personally or through his students and books trained virtually all well-respected aromatherapists worldwide. Most English authors reference "L'aromatherapie Exactement" frequently even though the book has never been translated into English.
The Penoels have lived in France and Australia and have traveled the world lecturing and training. Dr Penoel is considered by many to be the world's leading medical authority in newly discovered essential oils. He analyzes and certifies them as therapeutically valid for "clinical" use.
Dr Joshua J Plant, graduated from Harvard Medical School with a PhD in biomedical sciences.
Typically a 7 yr program he was able to accomplish it in 3-1/2 yrs graduating first in his class. He has completed extensive research across numerous scientific and health institutions including the National Institutes of Health and Massachusetts General Hospital, Johns Hopkins cancer center and Huntsman cancer center. AAAS Recognized Researcher. Published in several scientific journals.
Dr Plant is one of only a handful of scientists to receive the National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship. He has also a National McNair Fellow, and achieved national recognition for his reasearch from the American Association for the Advancement of Scientists. His study of aromatic phytocompounds has pioneered a revolutionized the essential oil industry and his work has been instrumental in advancing the therapeutic application of essential oils. Dr Plant is an accomplished speaker that has been invited to numerous national scientific conferences for his in-depth knowledge of the molecular mechanics of the human body. Dr Plant along with Dr Scott Johnson, have been requested to write chapters for medical text books to be used in educating upcoming Doctors in the topic of aromatherapy.
Dr Scott A Jonhson is a best selling author of 8 books and more than 250 articles featured in online
and print publications. He has a doctorate in naturopathy, is a board certified alternative medical practitioner (AMP), a Certified Clinical Master Aromatherapist (CCMA), a Certified Professional Coat (CPO). HIs evidence-based approach to natural healing and experience conducting medical research make him one of the world's leading experts on the therapeutic application of essential oils. Dr Johnson pioneered evidence-based essential oil therapy, which combines the art of ancient healing with modern science to maximize the benefits of essential oils. One of his research focuses is the safety of essential oils, and he has published internationally on the subject. He is an acclaimed international speaker and has delivered keynote presentations across North America, Europe, and Asia. Dr Johnson draws on his wealth of experience and diverse educational background as he travels the globe to share the secrets of natural healing with those who seek greater wellness. He also developed the school "Integrated Essential Oils" (iEO), which I personally have found to be far above the others I've either taken courses from or looked into. Dr Johnson has a complete course from history to chemisty, application to cautions, legalities to research studies. Dr Scott Johnson also pulls from several reputable medical Doctors in their fields.
Jane Buckle, PhD, RN has over 25 years of background in critical care nursing. She is trained in massage therapy, clinical aromatherapy, and herbal and aromatic medicine. She has a MA in Clinical Aromatherapy (Middlesex Univ, London), and a PhD in Health Service Management (Columbus Univ, USA). She was an NIH-funded post-doctoral Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research Fellow at the Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB) within the School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Before joining the CCEB, Dr buckle was faculty at University of Minnesota, and adjunct faculty at New York University, Bastyr University, WA and the College of New Rochelle NY.
Her first book, "Clinical Aromatherapy in Nursing" was published in 1997 and was accepted as the text for aromatherapy in nursing. Her second book, "Clinical Aromatherapy: Essential Oils in Practice" was published 2003, has been reprinted 9x and has been called "the evidence-based text for clinical aromatherapy."
Dr Buckle is the director of RJ Buckle Associates, an educational consultancy dedicated to integrating clinical aromatherapy and the "M" technique into mainstream medicine. She created a certification course for health professionals in clinical aromatherapy that was the 1st to be endorsed by the National Nursing Organization.
Dr Buckle is published widely in medical and nursing journals. She lectures and presents internationally and was a guest speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in 1999. In the USA, she was a board member of ARC (Aromatherapy Registration Council) and has been an advisor to NAHA's education committee. She is a reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals and has been a reviewer for NIH and NHS grants.
Dr Buckle pioneered a method of touch for the critically ill or fragile called the "M" technique. It is a registered method of structured touch suitable for those too fragile to receive massage, or when the giver is not trained in massage. Simple to do and easy to learn, the "M" technique has measurable effects within 5 minutes and has been taught in universities, hospitals, hospices and long-term care facilities in the USA since 1999.
Valerie Ann Worwood is an aromatherapist, a reflexologist, and a member of
the International Federation of Aromatherapist. She founded her own clinic in Romford, England where she conducts research on aromatherapy and its effects on various diseases and medical conditions. She consults and lectures all over the world on the benefits of aromatherapy. She is the author of several books including the "Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy".
Kurt Schnaubelt holds a PhD in chemistry and is the founder and scientific director of the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy by San Fransisco. He is a Munich born chemist who left his native land in his 30s to spread the science of aromatherapy in California. He became interested in aromatherapy in 1978 when he contracted hepatitis and began looking for alternatives to the prescribed medicine he was given. As a chemist he knew his molecules and recognized that the drugs he had been prescribed were potentially harmful. He discovered the "Art of Aromatherapy" by Robert Tisserand and the "Practice of Aromatherapy" by Dr Jean Valnet, two of the leading books in the field at that time. He sourced his finest oils he could find and began sharing. He is the author of 7 books on aromatherapy and many articles on the subject.
Shirley Price is one of the world's leading aromatherapists and the founder of the Shirley Price
School of Aromatherapy, which offers accreditation through distance learning. There are branches worldwide. She is the author of many well-respected books including "Aromatherapy for Health Professionals", "Aromatherapy foor Common Ailments", "Aromatherapy for Women", "Aromatherapy for Babies and Children", "Aromatherapy workbook", "Practical Aromatherapy", "Aromatherapy and Your Emotions", "Aromatherapy: a Step-by-Step Guide" and more.
Julia Lawless became interested in aromatic oils as a child when her mother, who was a biochemist, began research on essential oils. In 1983 she became responsible for creating products for the family business, Aqua Oleum, using essential oils as ingredients. She studied Western and Tibetan herbal medicine and became a qualified aromatherapist and member of the International Federation of Aromatherapists. She is well known for her numerous books on aromatherapy including "The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils".
Marcel Lavabre was born in the Lavender-growing region of southern
France and since 1974 has been studying every aspect of essential oil production and aromatherapy. He is cofounder of the American Aromatherapy Association and is the founder and president of a company that sells essential oils. He is the author of "Aromatherapy Workbook" a best selling classic in American aromatherapy.
Rodney Young originally trained as a chemist, Rodney obtained a BSc from the University of London in 1965 and a PhD in medicinal chemistry from the University of Essex in 1968. He worked for many years in the pharmaceutical industry as a reserch chemist, focusing on the modulators of histamine, serotonin, and inositol phosphates. Rodney has published widely in the field of scientific literature, and has taught at University College, London, Oxford Brookes University, Edinburgh Napier University, and the University of East London. He has a longstanding interest in the pharmacological and medicinal properties of plant natural products and in promoting evidence-based botanical medicine, and serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Herbal Medicine and the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Robert Tisserand is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in many aspects of aromatherapy. He started practicing as a therapist in 1969, founded a company to market aromatherapy products in 1974, and wrote the first book in English on the subject in 1977.
The Art of Aromatherapy". Robert has written two further books including this one "Essential Oil Safety, a Guide for Health Care Professionals", co-founded several aromatherapy organizations and has taught and lectured extensively. For 12 years, Robert has the principal of the Tisserand Institute in London, and during the same period he published and edited the International Journal of Aromatherapy. Today, Robert lives in California and his activities include writing, online education, live events, and working as an independent industry expert. Robert is one of only two recipients of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists Lifetime Achievement Award.
I hope this helps you realize why some authors are considered world class authorities. Why some are simply trying to place themselves in the publishing world. You want well educated, world renown people who have the highest credentials, not self proclaimed.
