Aromatherapy Schools
The British Versus The French School Of Aromatherapy

You may be surprised to learn that in the world of essential oils there are two aromatherapy schools at war, the British and the French. Both schools of thought have very different views about how the use of essential oils should play in your daily lives.

In the United States, we have for a great majority sided with the British aromatherapy school. On the other hand, we - at Natural Pregnancy Mentor - adhere to the French school.

So you might wonder, what is the difference?

We want to answer this question for you.

Aromatherapy Schools

The British Aromatherapy School

The British School of Aromatherapy emphasizes essential oil massage with essential oils that are first diluted in carrier oils in 2 to 5% concentrations and discourages the use of essential oils:

neat - undiluted on the skin

or taken orally.

The British school was developed by aromatherapists from the fragrance industry whose interests were:

in relaxation,

massage,

and emotional aspects.

Essentially, the British are more interested in "aroma" rather than "therapy."

The British rely on scientific research done on animals using oils that are often perfume or food grade and usually applying only certain compounds isolated from essential oils rather than the whole oil. This has led to a host of invalid applications of scientific data to human use of oils.

The British Aromatherapy School states many cautions and contraindications - not recommended - for oils taken neat or orally and forbids the use of many essential oils entirely.

These warnings are however valid when using non- therapeutic grade oils.

The British school emphasizes that essential oils have their hazards and is best practiced by trained, certified professionals. Most trained aromatherapists in the U.S. are of the British school, relying on British sources or sources influenced by that philosophy.

The National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists (NAHA) and the Aromatherapy Registration Council (ARC) are two American organizations that lean toward the British school and promote only educational programs that are of British philosophy.

The French Aromatherapy School

The French School of Aromatherapy emphasizes oral and neat applications of essential oils but encourages also the administration by:

inhalation,

massage in fatty oil bases,

as well as rectal and vaginal suppositories.

The French are more interested in "therapy" than they are in "aroma."

The French School was developed by medical doctors whose interest was in healing disease and maintaining health, including relaxation, massage, and the emotional aspects.

The French rely on scientific research on people using whole therapeutic grade essential oils and to a great extent, the experience of their own and other doctors' practices.

The French school emphasizes that aromatherapy is safe and can be practiced - with common sense - by anyone whether trained in the healing arts or not. This has led to hundreds of thousands of ordinary untrained people using oils on themselves, friends, and relatives throughout the United States and Canada - without any harm we may add.

It has also led to a popular protocol of applying essential oils called "Raindrop Technique." During a Raindrop Technique massage, a variety of oils are applied undiluted - neat - to the back (on your spine) and feet in order to address the therapeutic needs of your body, inside and out.

This highly successful method can be learned by anyone and has been performed on hundreds of thousands of people with benefits and without any of the harmful effects that the British seem to fear.

The largest promoter of the French School in America is a network marketing company, Young Living Essential Oils, Inc., who produces and distributes some 100 species of therapeutic grade essential oils.

School Rivalry

There is intense political rivalry between these two aromatherapy schools in America with particularly hostile attacks coming from the practicing aromatherapists of the British school who aim their missiles at the French school practicing aromatherapists.

Meanwhile, the French school aromatherapists just want to be left alone to enjoy the benefits of their ways of applying oils.

For example, Raindrop Technique, which would be a wonderful addition in:

any spa

beauty salon

chiropractic practice

health clinic

massage practice

hospice program

or any other health-related service

Their scientific argument against it consists of animal and single oil component studies that have no bearing on Raindrop Technique or any other human application of essential oils.

Meanwhile, they ignore the existence of scientific data on direct outcomes of Raindrop Technique for thousands of receivers that prove its safety and effectiveness - you may review A Statistical Validation of Raindrop Technique.

It is a case where the British use scientifically irrelevant science and ignore relevant science, empirical, and experiential evidence to the contrary.

Hidden Political Agenda

There is in fact a hidden political agenda. Those of the British school favor credentials and certifications and licensing. To them, aromatherapy, which is in their view a potentially hazardous practice, should be the domain of selected professionals only.

Those of the French school favor education and training, but no need for government certifications or licensing. To them aromatherapy, which is harmless when governed by simple common sense, should be the domain of everyone - professionals and the public alike.

But then again people in power have a tendency to think that we - "the common people" - are too daft to make important decisions about our - and our loved ones - health.

Don't you think that our government seems to think that the citizens of the United States have no common sense!

This strong difference of opinion between the two aromatherapy schools would not be a problem if both were of a laissez faire attitude of live and let live, each allowing the other to function freely as they see fit. Unfortunately, many of those of the British school are politically active in attempting to force their way as the only way and they are approaching legislators to that end.

It is from this political agenda that the NAHA position against Raindrop Technique and their emphasis on "professional aromatherapy" has evolved.

Dr. Stewart's CARE teaches Raindrop Therapy to thousands and encourages beauty salons, spas, and health-related professionals of all kinds to incorporate Raindrop into their programs. Dr. Stewart only recommends the use of Dr. Gary Young's therapeutic grade essential oils.

Many have done this, and they are achieving wonderful results and great customer satisfaction.

In order to buy Young Living essential oils, you may use this sponsor number 910945 when you order.

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