Comments for Aroma Essentials http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:57:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 Comment on Essential Oils and Autism by Maria G. Turchi http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/12/02/essential-oils-and-autism/#comment-23 Maria G. Turchi Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:47:59 +0000 http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/?p=10#comment-23 Hi Penny - Thank you for your comment. You may visit my websites: http://www.aroma-therapy-info.com or my practice website: http://www.massage-tenafly.com. Although there are some similarities between all people on The Spectrum, there is also a wide range of difference in abilities. I tailor my work based on interview and work individually. Feel free to email me and I would be happy to make some specific recommendations for your grandson. Hi Penny -

Thank you for your comment. You may visit my websites: http://www.aroma-therapy-info.com or my practice website: http://www.massage-tenafly.com. Although there are some similarities between all people on The Spectrum, there is also a wide range of difference in abilities. I tailor my work based on interview and work individually. Feel free to email me and I would be happy to make some specific recommendations for your grandson.

]]> Comment on Essential Oils and Autism by Penny Thornton Hendrix http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/12/02/essential-oils-and-autism/#comment-22 Penny Thornton Hendrix Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:01:23 +0000 http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/?p=10#comment-22 We have a grandson with autism. Could you please be more specific about where and how to find your posts about using essential oils on autistic persons? Blessings! Penny We have a grandson with autism. Could you please be more specific about where and how to find your posts about using essential oils on autistic persons? Blessings! Penny

]]> Comment on What is Aromatherapy? Really….? by Barb http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/09/30/what-is-aromatherapy-really/#comment-16 Barb Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:25:40 +0000 http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/09/30/what-is-aromatherapy-really/#comment-16 Maria, Very well put and thank you. Unfortunately, many spas (no, not all) do not embody wellness. Many owners don't care about a client's well-being but rather about their "experience," their connections and word-of-mouth capabilities, and the financial bottom line. The essential oil (EO) niche has been the BG ITCH in the industry for the past ten years and it's really growing. I've worked in spas, launched spas, and consulted other in creating spas. I have seen the "ugly side" of spa conduct and day-to-day business practices. These companies buy bulk and they buy cheap. They cut the product, distribute it in pretty dark colored bottles where they are cut again in the treatment room. Then there are those who truly care about the benefits of the services they offer but continue to cut EOs because that is what's taught here in the states. For them, it's "safer," and cost efficient...but is it really? So, there's a few housekeeping items on the floor: 1. More education about EOs 2. Reviewing a spa's costs--how much money are they spending on products, how therapeutic are those products, and how can you save more money and still use pure-therapeutic oils? 3. What is the company's goals? Review the spa's philosophy and stick to it. 4. Employees need to Educate Their Clients. Education is a step beyond sales--think about it. Maria,
Very well put and thank you. Unfortunately, many spas (no, not all) do not embody wellness. Many owners don’t care about a client’s well-being but rather about their “experience,” their connections and word-of-mouth capabilities, and the financial bottom line. The essential oil (EO) niche has been the BG ITCH in the industry for the past ten years and it’s really growing. I’ve worked in spas, launched spas, and consulted other in creating spas. I have seen the “ugly side” of spa conduct and day-to-day business practices. These companies buy bulk and they buy cheap. They cut the product, distribute it in pretty dark colored bottles where they are cut again in the treatment room. Then there are those who truly care about the benefits of the services they offer but continue to cut EOs because that is what’s taught here in the states. For them, it’s “safer,” and cost efficient…but is it really?

So, there’s a few housekeeping items on the floor:
1. More education about EOs
2. Reviewing a spa’s costs–how much money are they spending on products, how therapeutic are those products, and how can you save more money and still use pure-therapeutic oils?
3. What is the company’s goals? Review the spa’s philosophy and stick to it.
4. Employees need to Educate Their Clients. Education is a step beyond sales–think about it.

]]> Comment on What Are The 3 Most Important Things to Consider When Choosing An Essential Oil? Grade, Grade, Grade! by Maria G. Turchi http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/09/01/what-are-the-3-most-important-things-to-consider-when-choosing-an-essential-oil-grade-grade-grade/#comment-14 Maria G. Turchi Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:55:27 +0000 http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/09/01/what-are-the-3-most-important-things-to-consider-when-choosing-an-essential-oil-grade-grade-grade/#comment-14 Sue - thank you for your comment. The essential oils I use are labeled as supplements, not medicines. No massage therapist can diagnose or prescribe. Before I start a session with a new client, I tell them about the different grades of oil and what grade I use. I then get permission to use oils on them during their session. I have given lectures at health food stores, senior centers, holistic gatherings and hospitals. I teach classes at massage schools and set up my own classes in hotels. It is up to the individuals who come to these classes and who come to hear these lectures to interpret the information that I give and apply it to themselves and their patients as they see fit. I for one am for less regulation. What I do is educate people about therapeutic grade oils and let them make their own choices about how to use them. Regards, Maria Sue - thank you for your comment.

The essential oils I use are labeled as supplements, not medicines. No massage therapist can diagnose or prescribe. Before I start a session with a new client, I tell them about the different grades of oil and what grade I use. I then get permission to use oils on them during their session.

I have given lectures at health food stores, senior centers, holistic gatherings and hospitals. I teach classes at massage schools and set up my own classes in hotels. It is up to the individuals who come to these classes and who come to hear these lectures to interpret the information that I give and apply it to themselves and their patients as they see fit.

I for one am for less regulation. What I do is educate people about therapeutic grade oils and let them make their own choices about how to use them.

Regards,

Maria

]]> Comment on What Are The 3 Most Important Things to Consider When Choosing An Essential Oil? Grade, Grade, Grade! by Sue Worwood http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/09/01/what-are-the-3-most-important-things-to-consider-when-choosing-an-essential-oil-grade-grade-grade/#comment-13 Sue Worwood Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:01:58 +0000 http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/09/01/what-are-the-3-most-important-things-to-consider-when-choosing-an-essential-oil-grade-grade-grade/#comment-13 Maria, I am a founder member of the Aromatherapy Trade Council in the UK, although now living in Cyprus. This organisation was started in 1993 as a self-regulating authoritive body for the UK aromatherapy trade. This was to ensure that members of the ATC supplied only therapeutic grade essential oils which was a guide for professinals and the public alike to be able to source true aromatherapy essential oils. Labelling was a major issue and in the UK we decided that, due to the fuss the pharmaceutical companies were causing, to put on 'for external use only'. As a clinical aromatherapist in the UK and now Cyprus, I am not permitted to advise internal use of essential oils as they can then be deemed medicines and will need to be licensed. Something that we and I am sure therapists around the world do not want. So although I appreciate your advice I can say that that particular statement is misleading. Having been in this business for many years I know the source of my oils and of course you are right in saying that only true therapeutic grade essential oils will give the results you are looking for. Maybe a similar organisation in the USA and Canada would solve a lot of problems for therapists and public alike. I appreciate being able to comment on this. Happy oiling Sue Maria,
I am a founder member of the Aromatherapy Trade Council in the UK, although now living in Cyprus. This organisation was started in 1993 as a self-regulating authoritive body for the UK aromatherapy trade. This was to ensure that members of the ATC supplied only therapeutic grade essential oils which was a guide for professinals and the public alike to be able to source true aromatherapy essential oils. Labelling was a major issue and in the UK we decided that, due to the fuss the pharmaceutical companies were causing, to put on ‘for external use only’. As a clinical aromatherapist in the UK and now Cyprus, I am not permitted to advise internal use of essential oils as they can then be deemed medicines and will need to be licensed. Something that we and I am sure therapists around the world do not want. So although I appreciate your advice I can say that that particular statement is misleading. Having been in this business for many years I know the source of my oils and of course you are right in saying that only true therapeutic grade essential oils will give the results you are looking for. Maybe a similar organisation in the USA and Canada would solve a lot of problems for therapists and public alike.

I appreciate being able to comment on this.

Happy oiling
Sue

]]> Comment on What Are The 3 Most Important Things to Consider When Choosing An Essential Oil? Grade, Grade, Grade! by Maria G. Turchi http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/09/01/what-are-the-3-most-important-things-to-consider-when-choosing-an-essential-oil-grade-grade-grade/#comment-12 Maria G. Turchi Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:33:29 +0000 http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/09/01/what-are-the-3-most-important-things-to-consider-when-choosing-an-essential-oil-grade-grade-grade/#comment-12 Melissa – I appreciate your comments. . Essential oils are gifts of nature and have been used safely for thousands of years. Anything you put on your skin is ingested into your blood system so it is important to be aware of the purity of what you are putting on your body, inhaling into your lungs or taking internally. Each one of these applications deliver benefits internally. In choosing an essential oil to use, any essential oil that would otherwise be safe to ingest internally such as peppermint, lavender, frankincense, etc. that is labeled external use only is NOT therapeutic grade even if the label says so. The ingestible essential oils I use have the FDA Supplemental Facts label on them. Adding vegetable oil to an essential oil does not make it safer if the underlying oil is adulterated. The purpose the mixing oil serves is to slow down the absorption of the oils through the skin – by adding larger fatty molecules - so if there is any topical sensitivity it will be minimized. Education is important and what I teach people is how to find true therapeutic grade oils. There are many health food stores, online sellers and others who sell essential oils so to try to limit their use is impossible. What is important is to teach people how to find a therapeutic grade oil that will truly deliver the benefits they are seeking and in the process cause no harm. Love & Light, Maria Melissa –

I appreciate your comments. . Essential oils are gifts of nature and have been used safely for thousands of years.

Anything you put on your skin is ingested into your blood system so it is important to be aware of the purity of what you are putting on your body, inhaling into your lungs or taking internally. Each one of these applications deliver benefits internally.

In choosing an essential oil to use, any essential oil that would otherwise be safe to ingest internally such as peppermint, lavender, frankincense, etc. that is labeled external use only is NOT therapeutic grade even if the label says so. The ingestible essential oils I use have the FDA Supplemental Facts label on them.

Adding vegetable oil to an essential oil does not make it safer if the underlying oil is adulterated. The purpose the mixing oil serves is to slow down the absorption of the oils through the skin – by adding larger fatty molecules - so if there is any topical sensitivity it will be minimized.

Education is important and what I teach people is how to find true therapeutic grade oils. There are many health food stores, online sellers and others who sell essential oils so to try to limit their use is impossible.

What is important is to teach people how to find a therapeutic grade oil that will truly deliver the benefits they are seeking and in the process cause no harm.

Love & Light,

Maria

]]> Comment on What Are The 3 Most Important Things to Consider When Choosing An Essential Oil? Grade, Grade, Grade! by Melissa Alosso http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/09/01/what-are-the-3-most-important-things-to-consider-when-choosing-an-essential-oil-grade-grade-grade/#comment-11 Melissa Alosso Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:26:13 +0000 http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/09/01/what-are-the-3-most-important-things-to-consider-when-choosing-an-essential-oil-grade-grade-grade/#comment-11 Dear Maria and all readers, Thank you for discussing the importance of sourcing high quality, pure essential oils for their therapeutic benefits. It is a valuable reminder to question your source and know what you are buying. I have one critically important comment to make about this point: "Are oils that you can ingest or add to cooking like basil, lavender, peppermint, ect. [sic] able to be ingested? A bottle that says 'external use only' is a dead give away that the oil is NOT therapeutic-grade." This is not necessarily a true statement. Essential oils vary in intensity and toxicity and customers have differing levels of experience and knowledge of proper use. The supplier who advises customers to ingest pure, undiluted essential oils, as is directly from the bottle, is inviting liability. It is NOT SAFE for just anyone to ingest pure, uncut essential oils! You can burn the mouth, the esophagus, cause severe gastro-intestinal upset and even die from ingesting certain essential oils. Essential oils are very potent, can be toxic and should only be used by trained professionals. If you wish to consider essential oils for ingestion, consult a trained and experienced aromatherapist and please educate yourself. It is responsible, and a duty in our litigious society, for the supplier of your essential oils to warn against ingesting them. There are myriad "essential oils" out there in stores, online and in professional massage catalogues. I believe Maria may be trying to point out that fragrance oils are not safe to ingest and will be labeled as such. However, in my experience, the absence of a label stating "do not ingest" or "for topical use only" may imply that the essential oil is cut with vegetable oil (or some other substance) so that it is safe, or safer, in case it is used inappropriately. These are often sold to retail consumers for home use rather than for professional aromatherapeutic use. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this article. I welcome your thoughts. In wellness, Melissa Alosso, VP Pure Pro Inc Dear Maria and all readers,

Thank you for discussing the importance of sourcing high quality, pure essential oils for their therapeutic benefits. It is a valuable reminder to question your source and know what you are buying.

I have one critically important comment to make about this point:
“Are oils that you can ingest or add to cooking like basil, lavender, peppermint, ect. [sic] able to be ingested? A bottle that says ‘external use only’ is a dead give away that the oil is NOT therapeutic-grade.”
This is not necessarily a true statement. Essential oils vary in intensity and toxicity and customers have differing levels of experience and knowledge of proper use. The supplier who advises customers to ingest pure, undiluted essential oils, as is directly from the bottle, is inviting liability.

It is NOT SAFE for just anyone to ingest pure, uncut essential oils! You can burn the mouth, the esophagus, cause severe gastro-intestinal upset and even die from ingesting certain essential oils. Essential oils are very potent, can be toxic and should only be used by trained professionals. If you wish to consider essential oils for ingestion, consult a trained and experienced aromatherapist and please educate yourself. It is responsible, and a duty in our litigious society, for the supplier of your essential oils to warn against ingesting them.

There are myriad “essential oils” out there in stores, online and in professional massage catalogues. I believe Maria may be trying to point out that fragrance oils are not safe to ingest and will be labeled as such. However, in my experience, the absence of a label stating “do not ingest” or “for topical use only” may imply that the essential oil is cut with vegetable oil (or some other substance) so that it is safe, or safer, in case it is used inappropriately. These are often sold to retail consumers for home use rather than for professional aromatherapeutic use.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this article. I welcome your thoughts.

In wellness,
Melissa Alosso, VP
Pure Pro Inc

]]> Comment on What Are The 3 Most Important Things to Consider When Choosing An Essential Oil? Grade, Grade, Grade! by Maria G. Turchi http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/09/01/what-are-the-3-most-important-things-to-consider-when-choosing-an-essential-oil-grade-grade-grade/#comment-10 Maria G. Turchi Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:40:54 +0000 http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/09/01/what-are-the-3-most-important-things-to-consider-when-choosing-an-essential-oil-grade-grade-grade/#comment-10 Crystal - Plants contain 2 types of oils: Essential Oils and Fatty Oils. Fatty oils are pressed from the seeds (nuts) and are used as carrier oils, such as almond oil. Fatty oils contain large molecules which cannot pass through the distillation process necessary to produce essential oils, which contain small molecules. When essential oils are adulterated, particularly with petrochemical solvents, you will have fatty oils in the essential oil which will then leave residue. Regards, Maria Crystal -

Plants contain 2 types of oils: Essential Oils and Fatty Oils. Fatty oils are pressed from the seeds (nuts) and are used as carrier oils, such as almond oil.

Fatty oils contain large molecules which cannot pass through the distillation process necessary to produce essential oils, which contain small molecules.

When essential oils are adulterated, particularly with petrochemical solvents, you will have fatty oils in the essential oil which will then leave residue.

Regards,

Maria

]]> Comment on What Are The 3 Most Important Things to Consider When Choosing An Essential Oil? Grade, Grade, Grade! by Crystal http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/09/01/what-are-the-3-most-important-things-to-consider-when-choosing-an-essential-oil-grade-grade-grade/#comment-9 Crystal Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:22:08 +0000 http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/09/01/what-are-the-3-most-important-things-to-consider-when-choosing-an-essential-oil-grade-grade-grade/#comment-9 Thank you for your insight Maria. I have also used EO's for about 20 years, mostly for personal application (fragrance) and I have one question spurred by something you said: that EO's are not fatty oils and should leave no residue when put on a piece of paper. Can you please explain what you mean by that? Thank you for your insight Maria. I have also used EO’s for about 20 years, mostly for personal application (fragrance) and I have one question spurred by something you said: that EO’s are not fatty oils and should leave no residue when put on a piece of paper. Can you please explain what you mean by that?

]]> Comment on What Are The 3 Most Important Things to Consider When Choosing An Essential Oil? Grade, Grade, Grade! by Maria G. Turchi http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/09/01/what-are-the-3-most-important-things-to-consider-when-choosing-an-essential-oil-grade-grade-grade/#comment-8 Maria G. Turchi Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:34:46 +0000 http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/aroma-essentials/2008/09/01/what-are-the-3-most-important-things-to-consider-when-choosing-an-essential-oil-grade-grade-grade/#comment-8 Darcy - Thank you for your comment. The use of essential oils is not limited to therapists – oils are God given plant materials that anyone can use and share. Essential oils have been used from 3000 B.C. safely and effectively starting with the Egyptians. The Bible contains over 1,000 references to essential oil use. It is from those looking for profit and control that the safety of essential oils has come into question and a need created for extensive education. I find the only harm that can come from using oils is when you use a grade that is adulterated in any way. I do not see any use for an essential oil that is not therapeutic grade. Why would I want to use an essential oil that cannot deliver what nature provided and may be harmful due to manipulation or lower standards of distillation? Any company that sells different grades of essential oils cannot fully understand (and may be not even deliver) the power of the therapuetic agents present in pure plant materials. Regards, Maria Darcy -

Thank you for your comment. The use of essential oils is not limited to therapists – oils are God given plant materials that anyone can use and share.

Essential oils have been used from 3000 B.C. safely and effectively starting with the Egyptians. The Bible contains over 1,000 references to essential oil use.

It is from those looking for profit and control that the safety of essential oils has come into question and a need created for extensive education.

I find the only harm that can come from using oils is when you use a grade that is adulterated in any way. I do not see any use for an essential oil that is not therapeutic grade.

Why would I want to use an essential oil that cannot deliver what nature provided and may be harmful due to manipulation or lower standards of distillation?

Any company that sells different grades of essential oils cannot fully understand (and may be not even deliver) the power of the therapuetic agents present in pure plant materials.

Regards, Maria

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