RE: Was: EO and pregnancy - Now Educational Standards

February 5, 2010

Martin, I am so thoroughly disappointed and frustrated. I wrote Lora

privately thanking her (in her role as the president of AIA) for a

willingness to address concerns here, encouraging her to continue this open

and transparent dialog. I believe it could be greatly beneficial for healing

the long-standing rift in the larger U.S. AT community and perhaps bring us

closer to a cohesiveness of organized purpose. It could have become one of

the helpful ways to begin to reverse the perpetuation of erroneous

information that has pervaded aromatherapy education. Then you threatened

exposure, embarrassment, ridicule and all manner of abuse - lacking any

constructive advice whatsoever . . . driving her away. What good is

exposure if we don't help create a method to correct and move forward? What

are you thinking? Especially as an educator yourself. What could be wrong

with approaching a discussion with a civility and mutual respect, using

facts to affect a rational outcome that might begin to turn things around?

Your only purpose seems to be to claim yourself as the only authority, bent

on crushing anyone who might threaten your self-appointed lofty perch (far

across the pond) from where you assume the right to attack at whim, often

without clearly assessing facts. I've admitted to being somewhat of a

curmudgeon myself lately, but you take the cake when it comes to actual

destruction of possibilities for change.

At this point, I feel you might be the greater threat to the development of

good aromatherapy education in the U.S., certainly more so than AIA who are

at least taking on a step by step process to strengthen educational

standards and move forward. This is not going to happen overnight, this

misinformation has years of entrenchment. As I reminded folks earlier, all

this mis-information originated across the pond (from whence you come), so

if I were you, I'd slunk off to the dunce corner and think about what I was

doing to actually correct and make it right.

Be Well,

Marcia Elston, Samara Botane/Nature Intelligence

http://www.wingedseed.com

http://www.wingedseed.blogspot.com

http://www.aromaconnection.org

" We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. " - Winston

Churchill

________________________________

ATFE [ATFE ] On Behalf Of Dan

Cantele

Thursday, February 04, 2010 6:54 AM

ATFE

Re: Re: EO and pregnancy.

As you were chalenged with reading the text, I can send it to you

separately.

The reply was NOT in defense of the AIA nor is it a plug for the

organization!

You seem to be a defender of truth, as am I. I reply not for your benefit,

but for that of the other readers in this forum. I believe that you are

predisposed to believe that there is no one in the aromatherapy world that

is doing anything to your satisfaction. Any attempt to show the truth about

this organization has been immediately dismissed by you. The fact of the

matter is that you are not a member of the AIA and have no first hand

knowledge of the work of this organization.

Had you actually taken the time to read my reply you would have discovered

that the AIA shares your desire for improved standards of aromatherapy

education. You seem to pride yourself on your knowedge and desire to

improve standards, so I do not understand why you are so keen on disparaging

an organization that shares this goal with you and is working hard to that

end?

This will be my last post on the issue and I respectfully decline my

membership to this forum, as your participation doesn't seem to do anything

to promote aromatherapy in a positive way and franky I choose to no longer

be a part of the negative energy that you bring to (what is upposed to be)

an educational forum for all. It seems you are more concerned with plugging

your own agenda.

I invite the other readers of the ATFE to visit the AIA website and

encourage them to talk with our members about their experience of the

organization.

Lora

--- On Thu, 2/4/10, Martin <aromamedical

<aromamedical%40hotmail.com> > wrote:

Martin <aromamedical <aromamedical%40hotmail.com> >

Re: EO and pregnancy.

ATFE <ATFE%40>

Thursday, February 4, 2010, 4:49 AM

I am afraid this message came out a mess and it is hard to tell what the

writer is saying, but it looks like a defense of the AIA and pushing their

educational rhetoric. I was not going to continue this theme, but if people

keep plugging this organisation on this group I will make it my business to

expose the wrong information on their web site and on their teachers web

sites line by line. I have already found enough to show their teachers are

just parroting wrong information found in the popular aromatherapy books.

Martin Watt

February 5, 2010

>What could be wrong with approaching a discussion with a civility and >mutual

respect,

Nothing and how many times have we seen those words over the years Marcia, and

despite it, the junk in this trade continues unabated. I have no respect for

people who teach students wrong information because they are too lazy to ensure

they know enough to get it right. I do not believe the AIA leaders are competent

to ensure their validation procedures are of any use.

All I see with the AIA is just another aromatherapy organisation who claim to be

promoting educational standards, yet their web site and the sites of their

principle members proves the opposite.

When I see such blatantly wrong information in a public arena such as a web site

claiming educational excellence, then I do not believe anything the people

running the thing say. It shows they do not have the ability to sort the wheat

from the chaff. All I see with the AIA is an organisation out to get students

for their teaching members by using educational rhetoric. I see it as no

different to the IFA, the IFPA and all the other AT organisations in the UK.

Martin

ATFE , " Marcia Elston " <Marcia wrote:

>

> Martin, I am so thoroughly disappointed and frustrated. I wrote Lora

> privately thanking her (in her role as the president of AIA) for a

> willingness to address concerns here, encouraging her to continue this open

> and transparent dialog. I believe it could be greatly beneficial for healing

> the long-standing rift in the larger U.S. AT community and perhaps bring us

> closer to a cohesiveness of organized purpose. It could have become one of

> the helpful ways to begin to reverse the perpetuation of erroneous

> information that has pervaded aromatherapy education. Then you threatened

> exposure, embarrassment, ridicule and all manner of abuse - lacking any

> constructive advice whatsoever . . . driving her away. What good is

> exposure if we don't help create a method to correct and move forward? What

> are you thinking? Especially as an educator yourself. What could be wrong

> with approaching a discussion with a civility and mutual respect, using

> facts to affect a rational outcome that might begin to turn things around?

> Your only purpose seems to be to claim yourself as the only authority, bent

> on crushing anyone who might threaten your self-appointed lofty perch (far

> across the pond) from where you assume the right to attack at whim, often

> without clearly assessing facts. I've admitted to being somewhat of a

> curmudgeon myself lately, but you take the cake when it comes to actual

> destruction of possibilities for change.

>

> At this point, I feel you might be the greater threat to the development of

> good aromatherapy education in the U.S., certainly more so than AIA who are

> at least taking on a step by step process to strengthen educational

> standards and move forward. This is not going to happen overnight, this

> misinformation has years of entrenchment. As I reminded folks earlier, all

> this mis-information originated across the pond (from whence you come), so

> if I were you, I'd slunk off to the dunce corner and think about what I was

> doing to actually correct and make it right.

>

> Be Well,

> Marcia Elston, Samara Botane/Nature Intelligence

> http://www.wingedseed.com

> http://www.wingedseed.blogspot.com

> http://www.aromaconnection.org

> " We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. " - Winston

> Churchill

>

> ________________________________

>

> ATFE [ATFE ] On Behalf Of Dan

> Cantele

> Thursday, February 04, 2010 6:54 AM

> ATFE

> Re: Re: EO and pregnancy.

>

> As you were chalenged with reading the text, I can send it to you

> separately.

>

> The reply was NOT in defense of the AIA nor is it a plug for the

> organization!

>

> You seem to be a defender of truth, as am I. I reply not for your benefit,

> but for that of the other readers in this forum. I believe that you are

> predisposed to believe that there is no one in the aromatherapy world that

> is doing anything to your satisfaction. Any attempt to show the truth about

> this organization has been immediately dismissed by you. The fact of the

> matter is that you are not a member of the AIA and have no first hand

> knowledge of the work of this organization.

>

> Had you actually taken the time to read my reply you would have discovered

> that the AIA shares your desire for improved standards of aromatherapy

> education. You seem to pride yourself on your knowedge and desire to

> improve standards, so I do not understand why you are so keen on disparaging

> an organization that shares this goal with you and is working hard to that

> end?

>

> This will be my last post on the issue and I respectfully decline my

> membership to this forum, as your participation doesn't seem to do anything

> to promote aromatherapy in a positive way and franky I choose to no longer

> be a part of the negative energy that you bring to (what is upposed to be)

> an educational forum for all. It seems you are more concerned with plugging

> your own agenda.

>

> I invite the other readers of the ATFE to visit the AIA website and

> encourage them to talk with our members about their experience of the

> organization.

>

> Lora

>

> --- On Thu, 2/4/10, Martin <aromamedical

> <aromamedical%40hotmail.com> > wrote:

>

> Martin <aromamedical <aromamedical%40hotmail.com> >

> Re: EO and pregnancy.

> ATFE <ATFE%40>

> Thursday, February 4, 2010, 4:49 AM

>

> I am afraid this message came out a mess and it is hard to tell what the

> writer is saying, but it looks like a defense of the AIA and pushing their

> educational rhetoric. I was not going to continue this theme, but if people

> keep plugging this organisation on this group I will make it my business to

> expose the wrong information on their web site and on their teachers web

> sites line by line. I have already found enough to show their teachers are

> just parroting wrong information found in the popular aromatherapy books.

>

> Martin Watt

> <snipped>

>

February 5, 2010

>I wrote Lora privately thanking her (in her role as the president of AIA) for a

willingness to address concerns here, encouraging her to continue this open and

transparent dialog. I believe it could be greatly beneficial for healing the

long-standing rift in the larger U.S. AT community and perhaps bring us closer

to a cohesiveness of organized purpose.<

And once again, you demonstrate the class many of us know you have, and why you

are one of the most respected people in this community. Good for you. I hope

Lora returns. It is well past time to put egos aside, and the future of

aromatherapy at the forefront. NO ONE can do anything about what was taught in

the past, the mistakes people honestly shared believing them to be true. Thank

you Marcia...for leading the way.

Sue Apito

February 5, 2010

As a person who is constantly searching for the good education and training

organization, I thank all of you for sharing your valuable information and

opinions. As a student who is both a PhD from a prestigious US university

and has also finished a 2-stage one-year-long aromatherapy training course

from a certified training program, I think I know what 'good' education

means, and want to share what I felt about Aromatherapy training. I have no

purpose of defending or offending anyone, just want to share some

information, and hopefully it could be any helpful.

I am surprised to hear Martin's plainly clear and honest comment, and speak

what I am afraid to say. The certified training program I was in is

certainly a crap to me. Not to mention that I spent over 3000 bucks, but the

material is extremely outdated and misleading. I have no idea by then and

now it is just so obvious to me! They also claim many hours, and guys,

hours, no matter how many of them, means nothing! I have no idea how they

calculated! I was so thrilled to registered for this course at first but I

found out I'd better to buy some aromatherapy books from Amazon and teach

myself! But why did I still register for 2-stage training? Part of the

reason is that I am so dumb to believe the certification from certain

organization, yes I admit I am dumb, I just thought what could go wrong for

a certified program? Part of reason is that they tricked to register for

more courses before I even started, for example, discount price and benefit

packages and many others! They have very good sales though! After I was in

the class for a month, I want a refund, but getting refund is such a pain in

the ass that I basically give it up.

This is my story. I am never a picky person, none of my friends think so

neither. But to me, this school is more like a business crap rather than

dedicating to education. Since then I lost confidence in any so-called

certification or organization, though I am eager to take advanced courses. I

am just afraid, I don't know what I should believe and who I should listen

to. My goal to be a good clinical aromatherapist and a good educator, and I

am dead serious. I want to do something to help people and the world. But

the whole training thing is a joke. I just found out this school is

currently under AIA's recognition renewal guideline, and I felt I should do

something, anything...!

I completely believe AIA are doing many good things, wonderful things, and

they are trying hard to improve Aromatherapy education, I just hope this

school does not get AIA accredited, or I will lose faith to AIA.

I was once full of hope and passion, now is drowning in the messy training.

I am now just teaching myself from reading aromatherapy books, thanks for

Kurt Schnaubelt's 'Advanced Aromatherapy' and 'clinical aromatherapy', I

know there is hope. If you know any good advanced Aromatherapy course, I

would love to pick up my lost confidence and start rolling!

Many thanks!

Bing

On Fri, Feb 5, 2010 at 12:31 PM, SUSAN <sueapito wrote:

>

> >I wrote Lora privately thanking her (in her role as the president of AIA)

> for a willingness to address concerns here, encouraging her to continue this

> open and transparent dialog. I believe it could be greatly beneficial for

> healing the long-standing rift in the larger U.S. AT community and perhaps

> bring us closer to a cohesiveness of organized purpose.<

>

> And once again, you demonstrate the class many of us know you have, and why

> you are one of the most respected people in this community. Good for you. I

> hope Lora returns. It is well past time to put egos aside, and the future of

> aromatherapy at the forefront. NO ONE can do anything about what was taught

> in the past, the mistakes people honestly shared believing them to be true.

> Thank you Marcia...for leading the way.

>

> Sue Apito

>

February 5, 2010

Martin,

If you look at the approved schools on AIA's website, there is only one

actually approved at the moment and several pending.

http://www.alliance-aromatherapists.org/Aromatherapy_schools.htm This

indicates to me that they are seriously re-vamping curriculum standards.

Just because other educators are members does not mean that their schools

are at this time approved by AIA as meeting their current standards. The

actual membership listing is not on the website, it needs to be obtained by

contacting them or becoming a member yourself, so I don't know where you are

finding a list of their principle membership to back up your claims here of

seeing the same-old same-old. I do see a couple aromatherapy schools who

are claiming AIA approval on their own websites, who are on the pending list

and AIA should make them remove the designation until fully approved. I am

not, myself, aware of the specific changes in standards that AIA has made,

however, any movement off stuck-on-center gives me hope.

Let's roll this discussion over into something constructive. I have been

using a textbook published by Pharmaceutical Press, written by Maria

Lis-Balchin (whom I belive you are well acquainted with). The book

(published in 2006) is Aromatherapy Science: A Guide for Healthcare

Professionals. IMHO, it appears to be the most comprehensive textbook

available today and it vehemently challenges many of the established rules

pertaining to aroma-chemistry, outlining science that challenges grouping

heterogeneity/bioactivity of the chemical groups in the works of Franchomme

and Penoel, which works have greatly influenced aromatherapy education. She

challenges the same with pH groupings (Caddy 1997), stating that it is wrong

to group components by pH because there is no measurable pH for hydrophobic

components. If this information is true, it definitely blows the lid off a

core foundation in current accepted aromatherapy education. Lis-Balchin is

an honorary research fellow at the School of Applied Sciences/South Bank

University, London and holds BSc and PhD degrees. She is also a retired

Reader in Applied Biochemistry. I mentioned this book to you in the past

when we were discussing 'aromatherapy novels'. This is one of the recent

publications that I believe should be examined and perhaps could be used as

an approved textbook in the future, along with others. The process of

identifying factual textbooks and educational materials is paramount to

breaking from the past and moving forward. A discussion here could result in

a good list of books for people to avoid (with sound reasoning), as well as

those to look for when seeking formal aromatherapy education.

One of the questions I was going to ask Lora (and I do hope she decides to

remain a member here) is why the actual list of textbooks or annotated

research basis for classroom materials used by any one approved school

couldn't be publicly transparent for any potential student to see before

making a choice of schools. This could be either a list on the AIA website,

or in any individual approved school's materials, or (preferably) both.

Be Well,

Marcia Elston, Samara Botane/Nature Intelligence

http://www.wingedseed.com <http://www.wingedseed.com/>

http://www.wingedseed.blogspot.com <http://www.wingedseed.blogspot.com/>

http://www.aromaconnection.org <http://www.aromaconnection.org/>

" We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. " - Winston

Churchill

_____

ATFE [ATFE ] On Behalf Of Martin

Friday, February 05, 2010 3:29 AM

ATFE

Re: Was: EO and pregnancy - Now Educational Standards

>What could be wrong with approaching a discussion with a civility and

>mutual respect,

Nothing and how many times have we seen those words over the years Marcia,

and despite it, the junk in this trade continues unabated. I have no respect

for people who teach students wrong information because they are too lazy to

ensure they know enough to get it right. I do not believe the AIA leaders

are competent to ensure their validation procedures are of any use.

All I see with the AIA is just another aromatherapy organisation who claim

to be promoting educational standards, yet their web site and the sites of

their principle members proves the opposite.

When I see such blatantly wrong information in a public arena such as a web

site claiming educational excellence, then I do not believe anything the

people running the thing say. It shows they do not have the ability to sort

the wheat from the chaff. All I see with the AIA is an organisation out to

get students for their teaching members by using educational rhetoric. I see

it as no different to the IFA, the IFPA and all the other AT organisations

in the UK.

Martin

February 5, 2010

Marcia,

I'm in concurrence with the need for texts to be identified PRIOR to

registration or any other contact with a " school " beyond website perusal.

I'm curious about Lis-Balchin's book. I acquired the Price's Aromatherapy for

Health Professionals prior to finding this list and I wonder if anybody has

viewed both books and can offer an opinion.

Jessica, NC

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

February 6, 2010

Marcia,

I used to know Maria and she visited me years ago when we were in agreement with

the trash being taught in aromatherapy. I don't have her book, but have no

doubt it contains some excellent information. If I had the time I would do a

review of it, but I have other more important battles to fight at the moment

over the UK impending regulation of herbalists. I would though say that a lot

of her work has involved experiments on pieces of isolated animal tissues which

I have grave reservations about how applicable that is to aromatherapy.

I would just like to reply to a couple of issues raised by various people here.

1. I certainly do not think I am the only one in the world capable of assessing

the quality of courses. We have had many students over the years but very few

indeed bother with newsgroups where by and large they know they are wasting

their breath. That also applies to the REAL experts in essential oils, plant

chemistry and all the sciences surrounding aromatherapy. It has become clear

over many years that those who try to tell it like it, is rather than what

people want to hear, are sidelined and castigated and drop out.

2.It is also clear that members of associations such as the AIA do not want to

hear criticism of the organisation. That applies not just to them but to many

others. All I see here are constant references to the structure and function of

that group. Nowhere do I see the slightest concern that the teachers they are

approving know their subjects. I would dispute that they do as evidence by their

own web sites.

Martin

ATFE , " Marcia Elston " <Marcia wrote:

>

> Martin,

>

> If you look at the approved schools on AIA's website, there is only one

> actually approved at the moment and several pending.

> http://www.alliance-aromatherapists.org/Aromatherapy_schools.htm This

> indicates to me that they are seriously re-vamping curriculum standards.

>

> Just because other educators are members does not mean that their schools

> are at this time approved by AIA as meeting their current standards. The

> actual membership listing is not on the website, it needs to be obtained by

> contacting them or becoming a member yourself, so I don't know where you are

> finding a list of their principle membership to back up your claims here of

> seeing the same-old same-old. I do see a couple aromatherapy schools who

> are claiming AIA approval on their own websites, who are on the pending list

> and AIA should make them remove the designation until fully approved. I am

> not, myself, aware of the specific changes in standards that AIA has made,

> however, any movement off stuck-on-center gives me hope.

>

> Let's roll this discussion over into something constructive. I have been

> using a textbook published by Pharmaceutical Press, written by Maria

> Lis-Balchin (whom I belive you are well acquainted with). The book

> (published in 2006) is Aromatherapy Science: A Guide for Healthcare

> Professionals. IMHO, it appears to be the most comprehensive textbook

> available today and it vehemently challenges many of the established rules

> pertaining to aroma-chemistry, outlining science that challenges grouping

> heterogeneity/bioactivity of the chemical groups in the works of Franchomme

> and Penoel, which works have greatly influenced aromatherapy education. She

> challenges the same with pH groupings (Caddy 1997), stating that it is wrong

> to group components by pH because there is no measurable pH for hydrophobic

> components. If this information is true, it definitely blows the lid off a

> core foundation in current accepted aromatherapy education. Lis-Balchin is

> an honorary research fellow at the School of Applied Sciences/South Bank

> University, London and holds BSc and PhD degrees. She is also a retired

> Reader in Applied Biochemistry. I mentioned this book to you in the past

> when we were discussing 'aromatherapy novels'. This is one of the recent

> publications that I believe should be examined and perhaps could be used as

> an approved textbook in the future, along with others. The process of

> identifying factual textbooks and educational materials is paramount to

> breaking from the past and moving forward. A discussion here could result in

> a good list of books for people to avoid (with sound reasoning), as well as

> those to look for when seeking formal aromatherapy education.

>

> One of the questions I was going to ask Lora (and I do hope she decides to

> remain a member here) is why the actual list of textbooks or annotated

> research basis for classroom materials used by any one approved school

> couldn't be publicly transparent for any potential student to see before

> making a choice of schools. This could be either a list on the AIA website,

> or in any individual approved school's materials, or (preferably) both.

>

> Be Well,

> Marcia Elston, Samara Botane/Nature Intelligence

> http://www.wingedseed.com <http://www.wingedseed.com/>

> http://www.wingedseed.blogspot.com <http://www.wingedseed.blogspot.com/>

> http://www.aromaconnection.org <http://www.aromaconnection.org/>

> " We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. " - Winston

> Churchill

>

_____

>

> ATFE [ATFE ] On Behalf Of Martin

> Friday, February 05, 2010 3:29 AM

> ATFE

> Re: Was: EO and pregnancy - Now Educational Standards

>

> >What could be wrong with approaching a discussion with a civility and

> >mutual respect,

> Nothing and how many times have we seen those words over the years Marcia,

> and despite it, the junk in this trade continues unabated. I have no respect

> for people who teach students wrong information because they are too lazy to

> ensure they know enough to get it right. I do not believe the AIA leaders

> are competent to ensure their validation procedures are of any use.

>

> All I see with the AIA is just another aromatherapy organisation who claim

> to be promoting educational standards, yet their web site and the sites of

> their principle members proves the opposite.

>

> When I see such blatantly wrong information in a public arena such as a web

> site claiming educational excellence, then I do not believe anything the

> people running the thing say. It shows they do not have the ability to sort

> the wheat from the chaff. All I see with the AIA is an organisation out to

> get students for their teaching members by using educational rhetoric. I see

> it as no different to the IFA, the IFPA and all the other AT organisations

> in the UK.

>

> Martin

>

February 6, 2010

Wonderful. Just great to hear someone with the guts to acknowledge that a course

they paid a lot for was a pile of bovine excrement as Butch would put it. Love

to know whose course that was. Why not name and shame them, or send me the

details as I am not scared to put things like this on my website.

>Kurt Schnaubelt's 'Advanced Aromatherapy

Please see the book review on aromamedical.org

Martin Watt

ATFE , Bing Ma <bma.virulence wrote:

>

> As a person who is constantly searching for the good education and training

> organization, I thank all of you for sharing your valuable information and

> opinions. As a student who is both a PhD from a prestigious US university

> and has also finished a 2-stage one-year-long aromatherapy training course

> from a certified training program, I think I know what 'good' education

> means, and want to share what I felt about Aromatherapy training. I have no

> purpose of defending or offending anyone, just want to share some

> information, and hopefully it could be any helpful.

>

> I am surprised to hear Martin's plainly clear and honest comment, and speak

> what I am afraid to say. The certified training program I was in is

> certainly a crap to me. Not to mention that I spent over 3000 bucks, but the

> material is extremely outdated and misleading. I have no idea by then and

> now it is just so obvious to me! They also claim many hours, and guys,

> hours, no matter how many of them, means nothing! I have no idea how they

> calculated! I was so thrilled to registered for this course at first but I

> found out I'd better to buy some aromatherapy books from Amazon and teach

> myself! But why did I still register for 2-stage training? Part of the

> reason is that I am so dumb to believe the certification from certain

> organization, yes I admit I am dumb, I just thought what could go wrong for

> a certified program? Part of reason is that they tricked to register for

> more courses before I even started, for example, discount price and benefit

> packages and many others! They have very good sales though! After I was in

> the class for a month, I want a refund, but getting refund is such a pain in

> the ass that I basically give it up.

>

> This is my story. I am never a picky person, none of my friends think so

> neither. But to me, this school is more like a business crap rather than

> dedicating to education. Since then I lost confidence in any so-called

> certification or organization, though I am eager to take advanced courses. I

> am just afraid, I don't know what I should believe and who I should listen

> to. My goal to be a good clinical aromatherapist and a good educator, and I

> am dead serious. I want to do something to help people and the world. But

> the whole training thing is a joke. I just found out this school is

> currently under AIA's recognition renewal guideline, and I felt I should do

> something, anything...!

>

> I completely believe AIA are doing many good things, wonderful things, and

> they are trying hard to improve Aromatherapy education, I just hope this

> school does not get AIA accredited, or I will lose faith to AIA.

>

> I was once full of hope and passion, now is drowning in the messy training.

> I am now just teaching myself from reading aromatherapy books, thanks for

> Kurt Schnaubelt's 'Advanced Aromatherapy' and 'clinical aromatherapy', I

> know there is hope. If you know any good advanced Aromatherapy course, I

> would love to pick up my lost confidence and start rolling!

>

> Many thanks!

> Bing

>

> On Fri, Feb 5, 2010 at 12:31 PM, SUSAN <sueapito wrote:

>

> >

> > >I wrote Lora privately thanking her (in her role as the president of AIA)

> > for a willingness to address concerns here, encouraging her to continue this

> > open and transparent dialog. I believe it could be greatly beneficial for

> > healing the long-standing rift in the larger U.S. AT community and perhaps

> > bring us closer to a cohesiveness of organized purpose.<

> >

> > And once again, you demonstrate the class many of us know you have, and why

> > you are one of the most respected people in this community. Good for you. I

> > hope Lora returns. It is well past time to put egos aside, and the future of

> > aromatherapy at the forefront. NO ONE can do anything about what was taught

> > in the past, the mistakes people honestly shared believing them to be true.

> > Thank you Marcia...for leading the way.

> >

> > Sue Apito

> >

>

February 6, 2010

Hi Jessica,

We have both of these books and will ponder through them on various cases and

questions from customers/clients.

Both have good information. But as with ANY BOOK in aromatherapy, you need to

individualize for the specific case, especially when the more common

scenarios/essential oils are not responding the way you had hoped.

Lis-Balchin's book has essential oil monographs and is handy when it comes to

finding out information on over 75 essential oils and absolutes. The

copyright/printing is from 2006 so is one book that is more current than so many

others.

Prices' book published in 1995 is a quite a bit older. They still have many

referenced articles within. The best part of their book is the many case

studies by a variety of aromatherapists and the results they achieved.

These are often times helpful since some individuals when seeking aromatherapy

as an alternative and us as aromatherapist may not think of trying some of these

ideas/oils in our current case/s.

That's one thing I really love about aromatherapy. We have so many and varied

essential oils to utilize and we can use different essential oils for a variety

of situations. If one doesn't work, we have several others that may fit that

particular person better. And finding the essential oils that work for AND the

client enjoys makes the experience for them so much better and enjoyable!

This very short review might not be of much help but if you can find a library

that has copies or a Barnes & Nobles store (or other bookstore) that has them -

you can easily compare for yourself.

Lis-Balchin book isn't too expensive. If you are just starting out building

your library for information on essential oils - purchase this one first. Then

Prices' book when you are more familiar with essential oils and their possible

properties. We have always told folks " Get to know a few oils at a time and

slowly add more (information) as you continue to learn. "

Yours in Aromatherapy,

Penny

Birch Hill Happenings Aromatherapy, LLC

www.birchhillhappenings.com/aroma1.htm

Your One Stop Aromatherapy Shop since 1997

ATFE , familymassage wrote:

> I'm curious about Lis-Balchin's book. I acquired the Price's Aromatherapy for

Health Professionals prior to finding this list and I wonder if anybody has

viewed both books and can offer an opinion.

>

> Jessica, NC

> Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

>

February 6, 2010

Hi All,

I also had the misfortune of having a rubbish education in aromatherapy with

ITEC in the UK. My tutor had no passion for the subject, very little knowledge

and often contradicting herself i.e. telling us that the only oils to be used

neat on the skin are lavander and tea tree and then in the next breath saying

that you can use lemon (maybe a little dangerous also).

ITEC Aromatherapy is meant to be a level 3 course (equivalent to A levels or US

High School Diploma) however the standard of work, the course main text book on

which the course was based- " Introduction to Aromatherapy " by Louise Tucker - was

highly simplistic and less advanced than GCSE level. In fact the only person

that may find it a little bit difficult would be my 3 year old son who cant even

read yet(nice pictures though!). There was also little referencing on the

subject. As someone who has studied at Masters level at a prestigious UK

university, I found this very very frustrating and insulting and although the

course was only about £350.00 (as apposed to $5000, it was still a waste of time

and money. I was and still am very disappointed.

That said,I have noticed that there appears to be a lot of discourtesy amongst

members of this group. I think it is a little bit unneccessary and often does

not get any where except for stopping meaningful discourse and causing upset -

we are all human after all. I think there is a way to put a good arguement

across without getting personal or resorting to a diatribe.

I think that people may want to start expecting the best intentions from others

rather than the worst as a place to start maybe.

Well,that is my 10 pence worth.

Rebecca

ATFE , " Martin " <aromamedical wrote:

>

> Wonderful. Just great to hear someone with the guts to acknowledge that a

course they paid a lot for was a pile of bovine excrement as Butch would put it.

Love to know whose course that was. Why not name and shame them, or send me the

details as I am not scared to put things like this on my website.

>

> >Kurt Schnaubelt's 'Advanced Aromatherapy

> Please see the book review on aromamedical.org

>

> Martin Watt

>

> ATFE , Bing Ma <bma.virulence@> wrote:

> >

> > As a person who is constantly searching for the good education and training

> > organization, I thank all of you for sharing your valuable information and

> > opinions. As a student who is both a PhD from a prestigious US university

> > and has also finished a 2-stage one-year-long aromatherapy training course

> > from a certified training program, I think I know what 'good' education

> > means, and want to share what I felt about Aromatherapy training. I have no

> > purpose of defending or offending anyone, just want to share some

> > information, and hopefully it could be any helpful.

> >

> > I am surprised to hear Martin's plainly clear and honest comment, and speak

> > what I am afraid to say. The certified training program I was in is

> > certainly a crap to me. Not to mention that I spent over 3000 bucks, but the

> > material is extremely outdated and misleading. I have no idea by then and

> > now it is just so obvious to me! They also claim many hours, and guys,

> > hours, no matter how many of them, means nothing! I have no idea how they

> > calculated! I was so thrilled to registered for this course at first but I

> > found out I'd better to buy some aromatherapy books from Amazon and teach

> > myself! But why did I still register for 2-stage training? Part of the

> > reason is that I am so dumb to believe the certification from certain

> > organization, yes I admit I am dumb, I just thought what could go wrong for

> > a certified program? Part of reason is that they tricked to register for

> > more courses before I even started, for example, discount price and benefit

> > packages and many others! They have very good sales though! After I was in

> > the class for a month, I want a refund, but getting refund is such a pain in

> > the ass that I basically give it up.

> >

> > This is my story. I am never a picky person, none of my friends think so

> > neither. But to me, this school is more like a business crap rather than

> > dedicating to education. Since then I lost confidence in any so-called

> > certification or organization, though I am eager to take advanced courses. I

> > am just afraid, I don't know what I should believe and who I should listen

> > to. My goal to be a good clinical aromatherapist and a good educator, and I

> > am dead serious. I want to do something to help people and the world. But

> > the whole training thing is a joke. I just found out this school is

> > currently under AIA's recognition renewal guideline, and I felt I should do

> > something, anything...!

> >

> > I completely believe AIA are doing many good things, wonderful things, and

> > they are trying hard to improve Aromatherapy education, I just hope this

> > school does not get AIA accredited, or I will lose faith to AIA.

> >

> > I was once full of hope and passion, now is drowning in the messy training.

> > I am now just teaching myself from reading aromatherapy books, thanks for

> > Kurt Schnaubelt's 'Advanced Aromatherapy' and 'clinical aromatherapy', I

> > know there is hope. If you know any good advanced Aromatherapy course, I

> > would love to pick up my lost confidence and start rolling!

> >

> > Many thanks!

> > Bing

> >

> > On Fri, Feb 5, 2010 at 12:31 PM, SUSAN <sueapito@> wrote:

> >

> > >

> > > >I wrote Lora privately thanking her (in her role as the president of AIA)

> > > for a willingness to address concerns here, encouraging her to continue

this

> > > open and transparent dialog. I believe it could be greatly beneficial for

> > > healing the long-standing rift in the larger U.S. AT community and perhaps

> > > bring us closer to a cohesiveness of organized purpose.<

> > >

> > > And once again, you demonstrate the class many of us know you have, and

why

> > > you are one of the most respected people in this community. Good for you.

I

> > > hope Lora returns. It is well past time to put egos aside, and the future

of

> > > aromatherapy at the forefront. NO ONE can do anything about what was

taught

> > > in the past, the mistakes people honestly shared believing them to be

true.

> > > Thank you Marcia...for leading the way.

> > >

> > > Sue Apito

> > >

> >

February 6, 2010

Marcia

I have been a lurker for many years, having been interested in aromatherapy for

a long while. I took a certificate in aromatherapy, and rapidly realised that

it was not as " robust " as it was made out to be. Papers there were many,

citations by the dozens, but alas, taking herbal usage and extending that to

essential oils, and extrapolating from in vitro experiments to general usage

disturbed me big time. Anyway. This list has help me and many to be more

discerning in the mis-information that goes around.

I have some of Martin's work, and respect his efforts, and feel his frustration.

For all the bluster, at least the man is consistent in his stance.

Thank you for taking this conversation and steering it back towards something

useful. When I worked at the UN, I used to ponder aloud about the speed of

progress, and it was a Canadian colleague who told me, " You're chinese - you

should know about the saying about slow water cutting through mountains? That's

what we are doing here... if we don't keep dripping that water, the channel

will never be cut. "

Carry on cutting.

With thanks,

Darren