. Applied Aromatherapy
Outline of Syllabus Contents:
1. Introduction to methods of application of essences. An outline of the range of
current uses of essences in professional and home treatments.
2. Practical: Presentation and preparation - environment for massage, equipment,
comfort, consultation set up, professionalism - attitude, dress, client
management, time management, hygiene, consultation contraindications,
physical signs, client welfare.
3. Full Body Massage sequence - names of massage strokes, benefits of strokes,
sequence of strokes, how to perform strokes; use of body - posture of therapist;
energy and massage; intention and integrity of therapist - the therapeutic
exchange; protection of therapist and client; practice sessions on fellow students
and models.
4. Preparation of blends for massage treatment - safe dilutions for full body and
face; blending techniques for massage and other applications
5. Inhalations: - when to use and for what reasons/conditions helpful for (i.e.
respiratory congestion); equipment required; how to prepare; safe dilutions of
essences; frequency of use; recommended essences to use; contraindications.
6. Compresses: - when to use and for what reasons/conditions helpful for (i.e.
inflammation, etc); equipment required; types of compress (i.e. hot or cold or
both); methods of preparing; hydrolats as compresses; safe essence dilutions;
recommended essences to use; contraindications.
7. Diffusing: - when to use and for what reasons/conditions helpful for (i.e.
contagious conditions, psychological effects, etc); equipment; different ways of
diffusing oils, types of diffusers available; safety aspects - diffusing oils to public;
psychological effects; recommended safe dilutions and choice of essences;
contraindications.
8. Bathing:
when to use and for what reasons/conditions helpful for (i.e. stress,
insomnia, etc); equipment required; types of carrier for bathing/showering, etc.;
safe dilutions; recommended essences, contraindications; sourcing carriers for
bathing preparations; labeling.
9. Creams, lotions, hydrolats, gels, sprays, clay, topical application etc.: - when to
use and for what reasons/conditions; equipment required; different types of
media - creams, lotions, gels, hydrolats, vegetable oils and when to use which
type of medium i.e. depending on condition of client; diluting media & safe
dilutions with essences; sourcing base creams and lotions and gels, etc for
making effective aromatherapy preparations - ingredients and costs, labeling
requirements, etc.; making own creams and lotions at home - equipment,
ingredients, recipes, etc.
Recommended Reading
Biel A (2001) Trail Guide to the Body Books of Discovery; 2nd Rev Edition Spiral
Bound ISBN: 0965853411
Essential Aromatherapy CD Rom, The Revision Package by Essential Training
Solutions
Juhan D (1998) Job’s Body A Handbook for Bodywork Barrytown Limited
Paperback: 412 pages ISBN: 1581770227
West O (1999) The Magic of Massage Hastings House Book Publishers Unbound
(1999) ISBN: 0803800002 Other Editions: Paperback
Premkumar Dr K (2003) The Massage Connection: Anatomy, Physiology &
Pathology Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Hardcover 704 pages ISBN:
0781734762
Price L & S (2004) Understanding Hydrolats: The Specific Hydrosols for
Aromatherapy: A Guide for Health Professionals Churchill Livingstone Paperback,
300 pages, ISBN: 0443073163
Mosby’s Fundamentals of Therapeutic Massage. (2004) Mosby Unknown Binding
1408 pages ISBN: 0323026818
Vickers, A. (1997) Massage and Aromatherapy: A Guide for Health Professionals.
Nelson Thornes Paperback 328 pages (July 1, 1996) ISBN: 0412576309
Aims
a. To enable students to select the most appropriate treatment methods
for each client and perform treatments safely, effectively and holistically.
b. To ensure students are competent to provide sound advice to clients on
safe and effective home use of essences in their different applications.
c. To ensure the client receives the treatment most appropriate to their
needs on every appropriate level and that the treatment is holistic and
effective.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this component students will be able to:
i.Demonstrate that they can develop an appropriate treatment plan for
clients taking into account contraindications and safety aspects related to
the different methods of using essences.
ii.Demonstrate that they can perform a safe and effective full body massage
sequence appropriate to their client’s needs; that s/he can competently
incorporate other methods of using essences into a treatment as
appropriate, i.e. compress or inhalation; that they can provide to clients
appropriate aromatherapy preparations for home use and appropriate
aftercare advice to clients, taking into account safety aspects related to
each method and contraindications.
iii.List the contraindications to aromatherapy treatment, be able to identify
them through their consultation with a client and explain them clearly to a
client. Be aware of when and how to contact a client’s GP or other
healthcare provider if necessary for information regarding a client’s
condition and/ or to confirm whether or not an aromatherapy treatment
would be appropriate in their medical opinion.
iv.Be able to provide appropriate verbal and written instructions for clients on
the safe home use of essences as part of their aftercare treatment as well
as advice on frequency of use.
v.Provide necessary equipment, such as massage couch, towels, cushions,
essences, carriers, bowls, bottles and jars, labels, diffuser, oil burner, etc.
to enable them to perform or prepare the different applications
vi.Know where to source appropriate, high quality products for making
effective aromatherapy preparations.
vii.Understand the uses of the different base carriers and media used in
making aromatherapy preparations, i.e. when to use a lotion and not a
cream, etc.; understand appropriate dilutions; frequency of use; labelling
requirements; how to cost the preparations; storage, etc.
viii.Know how to make their own creams and lotions using bought ingredients
and following recipes
ix.Demonstrate the ability to understand and utilise blending techniques in
the correct dilution ration for the client’s individual needs.
