Shirley Price | Why Organic?

Ian Brealey

As a Soil Association licence holder I am unreservedly confident of the need for organic products particularly in my field - essential oil supply to assist ensure the purity of the product Sp supply so as to save and enrich lives. What a weekend in prospect. May 12,13 London is undoubtedly the place to be to hear the key organic campaigner Robert Tisserand. If you cant make it to London a great weekend is taking place in Indonesia with speakers Brian Laurence and Dr Kurt Schnaubelt. http://www.aaic2012.com/

Why organic? Why essential oils?

A key issue in complimentary care is counterfeit, poor quality, or adulterated herbal products in international markets which are serious patient safety threats. Essential oils in clinical use are cheap so there is little incentive to adulterate them but it happens in Asian and African markets where 80% of the population of some countries depend on traditional medicine for primary care (WHO). Organic certification is another tool in the manufacturers tool chest to ensure the purity of essential oils purchased.

Of course I should say straight away that some of the most delightful aromatherapy oils in use like Rose and Jasmine are not organic certified because of the process used to extract them. However for the 36 essential oils cleared for aromatherapy use in US hospitals that are described in this booklet Sp offer an NOP organic oil among our 244 stock essential oils available in 10ml quantities. In 250ml quantity we are able to supply many more essential oils.

Not all that is natural is safe however the human body is well adapted to essential oils from certain plant families. Professional aromatherapists receive thorough training in labelling and safety guidelines and there is a wealth of public information on the safe use of aromatherapy available online and in publications. Essential oils should never be applied to the skin undiluted, are for external use only and are not medicine. If you are ill see your doctor!

More and more professional aromatherapists, holistic massage therapists and everyday recreational users of aromatherapy are appreciating the potency and purity of certified organic aromatherapy oils, vegetable oils, hydrolats and cosmetic bases. But for the many who have not used them or do not know about the benefits of using certified organic aromatherapy oils, hydrolats and cosmetic products, this article will attempt to explain the value of using organic products compared with non organic ones and give an introduction to essential oils and their uses.

Sp suppliers have always had a commitment to organic argiculture and traditional methods. On the supply side the area of organic cultivation of organic aroma plants is expanding rapidly. At the same time state financial support for wine growing is diminishing creating opportunities for essential oil cultivation. Rather than produce an indifferant wine cultivators can now for example show the same dedication to cultivation of a hectare of thyme for thyme oil. At the same time Sp under the Lothian Herbs label has been successful in supplying pharmacies reaching a wider audience for pure essential oils.

Uses of essential oils

Essential oils have many properties and are esteemed as preservatives for their anti bacterial and antifungal actions. Added impetus to essential oil research has come not only as a result of the serious side effects of antibiotic use but also the diminishing effectiveness of antibiotic use and the rise of so called superbugs.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2038958/Alarm-hospitals-superbug-cases-surge-leaving-hundreds-patients-battling-untreatable-infections.html

No one can see their anti viral actions demonstrated without feeling a little safer!

Aromatherapy facts

Aromatherapy for pain relief in labour, Cochrane Systematic Review, Smith et al 2011

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21735438

The authors identified only two randomised controlled trials of aromatherapy for pain management in labour. The authors conclude there is a lack of studies evaluating the role of aromatherapy for pain management in labour. Further research is needed before recommendations can be made for clinical practice.

Midwives have found using aromatherapy massage immediately before and during labour may make the difference between spontaneous onset or induction of labour.

Diet and Exercise are important factors in remaining healthy. Doctors are careful not to describe complimentary therapies as an alternative to medicine or surgery. A complimentary treatment is considered where conventional treatments are failing to stimulate 'the doctor within' and to encourage the patient in the doctors care to exercise and eat healthily and address human factors for which doctors have neither time nor training. Doctors have always been facinated by the human factor in medicine. How is it that the physician can treat the sick all day and not fall ill? How can one patient present themselves to their doctor at the slightest sniffle and another ignore a cancer growing from their neck? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Human-Effect-Medicine-Research-Practice/dp/1857753690/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320931871&sr=8-1 Interest in complimentary therapies also reflects public and official concern at the overprescription of pharmacological drugs.

Dr Edward Bach formulated his traditional flower remedies according to a system of seeing what states of mind predisposed his patients to illness.http://www.bachcentre.com/

Aromatherapy has also found use in the management of dementia. Aromatherapy may have a role to play in the reduction of pharmacological drug use.

Safety. Essential oils do contain constituents which can bring a small number of people out into a temporary rash. Essential oil labels contain details of these 'haptens' like limonene which can result in allergy. Aromatherapists usually carry out a patch test. A small amount of diluted oil is placed on the sensitive skin of the inner elbow to test for sensitivity to the oil.

Find a local aromatherapist

Quality

Because many of our Sp essential oils end up in food, flavouring and natural perfumery we source and bottle essential oils and manufacture aromatherapy products to the same exacting UK manufacturing standards of documentation, labelling, efficiency and hygiene as is required in the handling of food. Below I also describe some of the label security measures used to give consumers confidence they have been supplied with genuine products.

When it comes to quality some of the best feedback we receive is of course from our customers. The 6000 Shirley Price Aromatherapy Diploma holders are the largest and most demanding professional aroma community in the world. Both professionals and their clients are very discriminating. The Sp distributors around the world too are very knowledgeable and have a good idea of locally produced oils. Often Sp is alerted to outstanding oils by our worldwide distributors.

A key to buying good quality fresh oil is volume. I am grateful to the 2000 plus therapists and cosmetic hobbyists who order from Shirley Price Aromatherapy. In the aggregate their purchases enable the purchase of quality essential oils as close to the farm as possible.

Labelling

Look out for the approved labels of organic suppliers bearing the mark of the cerifying body. If its not there the oil may not be described as Organic.

What are essential oils?

Herbs are of course familiar to those who love gardening and coooking (3). What then are essential oils? For someone like me this is the most fascinating of questions. All the time we are gaining a better understanding of the science of why plants produce essential oil constutuents and their uses both to the plants and to ourselves. Biosynthesis of essential oils proceeds to create essential oils which are then stored in glands for example menthol in peppermint. Steam distillation is used to extract the essential oil.

The leading name in essential oil use and safety is Robert Tisserand. You can find out more about his work and international seminars on www.RobertTisserand.com

Robert Tisserand in Asia

There is so much knowledge and enthusiasm for essential oils all over the world. Here is the group of 100 taiwanese aromatherapists attending Robert Tisserands aromatherapy seminar in 2010.

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In Mainland China Sp are very pleased to be associated with Aromatime Training, Beijing which is an IFA Accredited Training School operated with support from Julie Foster MIFA and with Qian Yang MIFA, Shanghai wwwShirleyPrice.cn. You can find out more about the work of the GOVERNMENT OF CHINA'S AROMATIC HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL COMMITTEE and aromatherapy training on the IFA Greater China Page http://www.ifaroma.org/index.php?page=IFA_China___大中华区&ID=125

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Artisanal distillers

For aromatherapy use artisanal distillers who use traditional methods are very popular. It is no secret that one of my favourite artisanal distillers of lavender essential oil is Lorella Bevilacqua. Living in the Tuscan hills of La Maremma in Italy Lorella produces a lavender with unique notes more reminiscent of a Lavender Absolute than a steam distilled lavender.

Her plants are carefully tended and benefit from natural springs in the hills. The distillation is artisanal proceding 20 litres at a time over 6 weeks rather than the more customary 1000 litre distillations on commercial scale farms. Shirley Price Aromatherapy are fortunate to purchase her output which in a season is some 30kg of lavender oil which we use in our blended oils, creams and gels. Lorella is immensely knowledgeable and herself a florentine botannic artist whose illustrations are used in textbooks. For her the production of lavender oil is a true labour of love involving all the family.

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Andrea Butje of the Aromahead College in the USA keeps a blog with descriptions of the artisan distillers she meets. http://www.aromahead.com/blog/2011/11/02/community/

Lorella's lavender also illustrates the importance of traditional techniques. Only the flowering heads are cut and distilled, the stalks are left on the plants for removal in Match.

Completeness and freshness

In order to get the results in the textbooks it is necessary to use true whole oils which have been prepared by traditional methods such as these. Pure, high grade organically-grown oils have therapeutic qualities accorded to them by the Congress of Grasse because they contain a variety of natural chemical components which remain pure and intact. The therapeutic properties ascribed to essential oils may depend on individual constituents present in only minute quantities. To obtain a response from the limbic system, the seat of emotion and memory, and brain places like Area 25 which is linked to depression, can require only 20 molecules! True essential oils have a creamy quality to them which some ascribe to the chemical imprint of the plants 'life force' or enthusiasm for life which dissipates as the oil oxidises through contact with the air. Like any perishable agricultural crop the freshness of the crop is key to a quality oil. Organic certified oils assist me ensure the oils are both complete and fresh.

Organic Essential oils do not contain any pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilisers and any other man made chemical residues. This makes the oils both safer and where they are used for their healing effect. Also as the plants are grown to organic standards they are healthier and more vibrant, therefore resulting in a more powerful and richer oil.

At our exhibitions therapists can smell for themselves the difference as I am always happy to open a bottle which a therapist is interested in.

Aromatherapy massage

One of the uses essential oils is in aromatherapy massage as part of holistic and complementary therapy (4). This is to be found both on the high street and in upmarket spas (5). There are many guides to aromatherapy and certain names have stood the test of time. Davis (6) Worwood (7) The motivational texts.Tisserand (8) Price (9), the textbooks Franchomme (10), Battaglia (11) Rice (12) Buckle (13)

Clare Maxwell-Hudson (14) is considered to be one of the most interesting and practical authorities and writers on massage. She has achieved international recognition for her contribution to the health sciences. Her six best-selling books sell in their millions in 22 countries. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-133835/How-massage-playing-vital-role-hospitals.html

Along with aromatherapy massage which involves administration of essential oils to the skin has come research into potential skin irritation and safety aspects of essential oils the general conclusions of which are that certain people prone to skin irritation should avoid essential oils altogether (some 0.1%) and that essential oils should be administered in diluted form (1-3%) to avoid skin irritation. ISA (15) Tisserand (16).

Practicioners are able to obtain a level 3 diploma in holistic massage, anatomy and physiology and professional studies prior to joining Shirley Price Aromatherapy Diploma class. In which case they are exempt Module 1 Therapeutic Massage of the 5 module Shirley Price Aromatherapy Diploma course. Here is a list of local colleges offering this course.
http://www.itecworld.co.uk/colleges/default.aspx?s=null&q=2&c=United+Kingdom&p=

Esoteric aromatherapy

Lets be honest there is an esoteric side to essential oils which have always been incorporated in traditional religious, social and family practices. Monks and Nuns have made use of essential oils for treatments of the common ailments of their community and their wider local communities. Talk of angels giving a helping hand makes even priests uneasy these days though Psalms 91:11is clear enough "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." The frenchman in me on the one hand is as rigourous when it comes to science and labelling as any englishman but on the other hand is happy of all the help he can get whether from angels or anyone else! Angelic qualities: abundance, adventure, balance, blessings, communication, courage, creativity, efficiency, enthusiasm, faith, flexibility, forgiveness, freedom, friendship, harmony, healing, humour, inspiration, intuition, joy, light, love, patience, peace, play, power, purification, purpose, reliability, responsibility, romance, simplicity, spontaneity, spiritual growth, strength, study, synchronicity, trust, truth, understanding. Yup we could all do with a little of that. http://www.beaumontcollege.co.uk/page08.html

6 reasons to use organic oils
There are many reasons for buying organic oils, one is simply that the aroma is much richer and fuller, but there are also sound health reasons for doing so.

It is safe, nutritious, unadulterated
It does not use artificial chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers
It is environmentally friendly
It is produced without GMOs, which are prohibited within the Soil Association Standards for organic food and farming
It reduces dependence on non-renewable resources
It relies on a modern and scientific understanding of ecology and soil science, while also depending on traditional methods of crop rotations to ensure fertility and weed and pest control

By caring for the soil for future geenrations organic farmers forgo a measure of profit now. However they create a product of great quality. Again turning to the esoteric aspects of essential oils some say that the care with which the oils have been farmed distilled and handled is reflected in the energy of the oil.

Many individuals are not aware of the importance of the quality of organic essential oils; they simply go to their health-food shop, chemist or mail order catalogue and buy whatever is available.

Consumers can be sure that members of the aromatherapy trades council consist of aromatherapy companies have carried out meticulous, painstaking research to find the best sources of high quality organic essential oils, and have selected only the purest and most potent oils from these specialist organic growers and suppliers.

Lorella Bevilaqua with her lavender crop

HOW TO TEST THE ORGANIC OIL IS ORGANIC AND OF PURE QUALITY

For suppliers to be certain that the oils are sourced from the highest organic quality, suppliers need to follow some common sense procedures. It is important to travel in person regularly to meet with suppliers. Buying essential oils is like buying any agricultural commodity a process of getting to know people and staying in touch.

How to find the best organic oils yourself?

Beyond the label individuals should trust their own sense of smell. The therapeutic effect of the oils they are using will usually be obvious. Here it should be added that one of the primary reasons for only buying organic essential oils is that these oils do not contain any pesticides, chemical fertilisers, artificial preservatives, adulterants or – especially now – do not come from genetically altered plants.

THE SOIL ASSOCIATION STANDARDS

Audit trail

Its vital that the organic oils have been certified by a well recognised body for example the UK Soil Association. Usually this is the last step in a chain of organic certification so you can be sure that the production has been subject to annual inspection from the field to our factory in England.

Besides my own professional work for corporate clients I have the job of sourcing the worlds finest essential oils. The question I am most asked is how we are able to source high quality essential oils. Buying essential oils is very much a matter of personal relationships and an alert mind. Particularly in the mediterranean world! The company is fortunate to have been associated with the same families of essential oil agents for nearly 40 years. For the most part I work with the great farming/distiller cooperatives whose farmers produce oils 1000kg at a time under ongoing contracts. UK based distillers also produce many excellent oils from aroma crops grown in the UK. Organic inspection and certification begins at the farm and proceeds in an unbroken chain from the farm to the final product.

When a certified body like the Soil Association covers a company, they are scrutinised with great detail. Annual checks on stock levels and accounts are made by a Soil Association inspector who also confirms facilities procedures are routinely cleansed to a high standard, that labelling is correct and all manufacturing records are kept and make sense.

A detailed log of every single time a bottle of organic essential oil is filled is maintained, every time a container is used to fill an oil and every item/oil that arrives and is dispatched has to be timed, dated and logged.

By choosing organic agriculture you are supporting the environment and your own health.

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Certification of Organic Essential Oils
There are many good certification bodies to choose from both in the U.K. and worldwide, Ecocert International covers the EEC. In the UK the Soil Association is one of the better-known bodies. All our oils are where possible organic including resinoids like Frankincense and Myrhh.

Organic Certification: Professional Standards

Organic farming is a carefully devised system of production defined by EU law and is based on the following principles:
• Building soil fertility;
• Minimal use of non-renewable resources (no chemicals);
• Minimise pollution and damage to the environment;
• Working with, not against, natural systems;
• Respect for animal welfare;
• Minimal processing or additives
Organic farming is governed by EEC Regulation No. 2092/91, which defines the basic standards of production and processing and the requirements for control and policing. This Regulation is implemented in Britain by the UK Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS). The statutory requirements are:
• Two-year conversion period prior to full organic status is achieved;
• Adequate physical and financial separation of organic and non-organic units under the same management;
• Application to, inspection by, and certification with, an approved inspection body, such as Soil Association Certification Ltd;
• Maintenance of adequate records to demonstrate compliance with the standards;
• Annual monitoring and inspection by the approved certification body;
• Strict requirements for labelling and for the use of additives and processing aids.
Source: The Soil Association

Testing procedure:
Include the use of the most up to date GC-MS (Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry) laboratories in the UK.

Security devices

In countries where adulteration and fabrication of aromatherapy products is a problem we can provide scratch and reveal labels. This reveals a security number which can be checked by logging into Sp distributors websites. Here is an example.

the silver area is scatched to reveal a number

http://www.52dior.com/product/8204495628.html

this can be checked by logging into the distributors website

www.fangxiangjiari.com/sns/index.php

SOIL ASSOCIATION LINKS

Soil Association licence

Soil Association list

Online next day

Sp Therapists Organic Essential Oils from Amazon with free next day delivery to 10 EU states

COSTS
Because Sp supply in volume around the world Sp is able to bring the working therapist organic oils at very reasonable cost. Some oils are much dearer than conventionally farmed oils in which case the conventional oil is listed. As a rule of thumb organic citrus oils are 50% more expensive than pure but inorganic oils. As citrus oils are in any case relatively cheap it is worth paying the difference but we always list the non organic alternative so the choice is yours.

HYDROLATS

One of the fruits of increased availability of organic essential oils is inexpensive hydrolats. This is the ditilled water from which the oil separates which contains many useful water soluable aromatic elements. Hydrolats are valued for their cosmetic use in skincare and have been found to have important therapeutic properties. (1) In the english language Suzanne Catty is a highly regarded therapist and author. (2)

VEGETABLE OILS

With some exceptions it is not possible to recommend organically grown vegetable oils on cost grounds.

COSMETIC BASES

I do not favour statements of what I personally or a company is against. I prefer statements of what we are for! The company has alway maintained a popular cosmetic white lotion as a base for massage. Sp also stocks a range of organic cosmetic bases made to the highest standards.

Students learn more about quality organic oils as part of their studies at the FHT accredited Shirley Price International College of Aromatherapy in Hinckley whether for aromatherapy or holistic skincare and cosmetics

The Shirley Price factory hosts the college training and students come to the UK from all over the world to work in the factory and qualify as professional aromatherapists. What a wonderful way to learn aromatherapy surrounded by hundreds of the finest available essential oils!

The various course details and bookings can be arranged with the college secretary Rosie Brandrick, herself a qualified beauty therapist

Aromatherapy Practicioner Diploma Course Description:
This is an exciting and practical Aromatherapy Practicioner Diploma Course with elite tutors, themselves practicioners and authors for a small private class at relatively modest cost. It will deepen your knowledge and give you hands on experience of working with organic essential oils and aromatherapy.

We will also explore the fullest understanding of essential oils, all in a nourishing and supportive environment.

Course Summary:

The course is be led by Jan Benham MIFPA FFHT

The course comprises 5 weeklong modules held at the factory. Many other courses are held at the factory too. There are exemptions for prior learning such as massage.

Cost is £450 per module. Minimum course length is one academic year and maximum 4 years.

Aromatherapy Course curriculum

Dates can be found on the FHT website

http://www.fht.org.uk/home/education_and_events/fht_cpd_education_programme/default.aspx

Here is a description of the level 3 diploma in holistic massage, anatomy and physiology and business studies and list of local colleges offering it . http://www.itecworld.co.uk/students/Diplomas.aspx?k=2

The Shirley Price International College of Aromatherapy tutors

Sara Gelzer MIFPA Jan Benham MIFPA, Sue Jenkins MIFPA

DIRECTOR BIOGRAPHIES

Ian Brealey, the tutors and his staff are a familiar site at FHT exhibitions in the UK with their stand of organic essential oils, hydrolats, vegetable oils and cosmetic bases and college stand. Ian has a first class BSC and is a qualified and professional chartered accountant in practice with a number of company directorships. Dr Manjit Jaspal qualified in Medicine at Edinburgh University and is a Coventry General Practitioner. The Brealey and Jaspal families have been acquainted for over 40 years. They are the owners of Shirley Price Aromatherapy Ltd.

For further information:
Shirley Price Aromatherapy Ltd (Directors PI Brealey BSC FCA, Dr M Jaspal MB BS, George Brealey Technical Manager.
Please tel. (UK) 01455 615466 or email at: info@shirleypricearomatherapy.com or www.shirleyprice.co.uk

Our founders

Shirley Price sold the company and college in 1998 and retired. The Price family have no connection with Shirley Price Aromatherapy. Shirley and Len Price continues to update their internationally bestselling books and you can find Aromatherapy for Health Professionals in a new 2011 edition now on Amazon.

Shirley Price's daughter Penny runs Penny Price Aromatherapy which she founded in 2003, lectures at FHT and the IFPA conference and her son Matthew publishes the IFPA Magazine in Essence.