Education and training/ 18.02.24
HOW TO SPOT HYPE AND CON ARTISTS IN AROMATHERAPY
HOW TO SPOT HYPE AND CON ARTISTS IN AROMATHERAPY By Martin Watt A lecture written for a NAHA conference that ultimately I refused to attend. The following is a review of the misleading information endemic within aromatherapy. All my efforts over the years have been targeted at trying to introduce truth into the trade. Unfortunately, t...
Education and training/ 18.02.24
AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATIONS
AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATIONS Most aromatherapy trade associations have desperately tried to improve their public image and sphere of political influence in the UK. This has been done by proclaiming publicly "our registered therapists have to abide by stringent codes of conduct". Yet, I have assembled a small mountain of evidence on leading me...
Education and training/ 18.02.24
AROMATHERAPY BOOKS AND COURSES
AROMATHERAPY BOOKS AND COURSES Look at any course notes you had during your training. Do they contain any references to justify claims like: "German chamomile is anti inflammatory", "lavender is a relaxant", "tea tree kills bacteria". If you see no references to scientific papers justifying such claims, then your course provider has not bo...
Education and training/ 18.02.24
Herbs and Essential oils - the differences in action and the errors in aromatherapy
Herbs and Essential oils - the differences in action and the errors in aromatherapy By Martin Watt The following three old newsgroup emails have been put into this article because aromatherapists are still not being educated on these vital issues. Indeed leading course providers and oil suppliers continue to promote essential oils based o...
Therapeutic use issues/ 18.02.24
Unrefined versus refined oils-short article
REFINED ESSENTIAL & FIXED OILS COMPARED TO CRUDER EXTRACTS FOR TREATING WOUNDS The man credited with some of the founding research on the clinical value of essential oils Rene-Gattefosse, did not think that the terpene content of natural oils was beneficial for the skin. He makes reference to this in his book and in the 1950s he produced s...
Therapeutic use issues/ 18.02.24
AIDS HIV and how aromatherapy may help
A.I.D.S. H.I.V. & AROMATHERAPY By Lyn Gardenchild and Martin Watt Originally published many years ago in: 'TAI CHI & Alternative Health', issue 1. Note to Overseas readers: This was originally written for UK readers only. Massage and aromatherapy can provide valuable supportive care to people suffering from A.I.D.S. related illnesses,...
Therapeutic use issues/ 18.02.24
Ancient Egyptian uses of aromatic plants
SOME PLANTS USED IN ANCIENT EGYPT WITH THEIR POTENTIAL MEDICINAL PROPERTIES By Martin watt Written for the benefit of the participants on an aromatherapy trip to Egypt. Important note: When this was written it was mainly an article about the herbs. Therefore, do not assume all the comments are applicable to a distilled oil. CHAMOM...
Therapeutic use issues/ 18.02.24
Health advice for rescuers
Could Aromatherapy and Massage Help Survivors and Workers Recover from September 11? By Martin Watt First published by: The journal Aromatic sage People who do not know much about aromatherapy will think that it may be a nice relaxing massage with a nice smell, but that’s about it. However, that alone give tremendous relief from physi...
Book reviews/ 17.02.24
Reshaping Herbal Medicine
Reshaping Herbal Medicine by Catherine O’Sullivan, PhD. Churchill Livingstone, Oxford, 2005. ISBN 0 4431 0135 3 Reviewed by Martin Watt. This book is really about statutory regulation of herbal medicine in the UK. Thus, my comments have to address some of the points the author raises. The text is an academic’s talk shop, often using words...
Education and training/ 17.02.24
AROMATHERAPY BLOGS
AROMATHERAPY BLOGS 1 Recompiled from 3 older articles Most of the blog type sites use various social media platforms. Never rely on such blogs for accurate information. The majority of these blogs are in the total control of whoever set them up. They will delete any negative comments from those who know better than themselves. Some blog...