Questions and Answers from “A Webinar for Massage Therapists”

Questions and Answers from “A Webinar for Massage Therapists”
All type that is purple and underlined is a clickable link to the resources you’ll need!
1. Typically, how long does each inhaler last? How long will the essential oil in the inhaler last?
Generally, I use inhalers for about three months. If the inhaler is used actively, three months is a reasonable
expectation. If it’s not used much, it might last for six months or longer. It really depends on how many times it’s
opened and closed.
Of course, the inhaler’s lasting aroma also depends on the actual essential oils that you use, and their expiration times.
So for example, if you have citrus oil that is already expired, then the inhaler will not be of much use—it may even
irritate your nose. You want to make sure that your essential oils are within their healthy shelf lives. The company you
purchase essential oils from should be able to tell you their approximate shelf lives.
There should be a stock number on the label of your essential oil bottle. If you contact the company and give them the
stock number, they can tell you the approximate shelf life. If there is no stock number on the label, you may want to
consider purchasing from a company that appropriately tracks the essential oils they sell. In the resource document I
emailed you, I offered three wonderful resources for purchasing essential oils. Here is the link again for that document:
http://www.aromahead.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/AHWebinarResources.pdf
2. Are there any contraindications for these oils? Would this be okay for a pregnant or nursing mom?
The blends offered in the webinar are not appropriate for pregnant
women or nursing moms. The dilutions of essential oils are too
strong. There are specific blending guidelines for pregnant women
and nursing moms.
Many essential oils can be used, at a 1% dilution, during the later
part of pregnancy and after pregnancy for sure. 1% = about 5 drops
total of essential oil in 1 oz. (30 ml) of carrier oil or butter.
If there has been a previous miscarriage, or any health concerns are
present, I rarely use essential oils on the body during the first
trimester. I would wait to use them until the second trimester.
In the first trimester, you can diffuse oils into a room for inhalation. It can even help relieve nausea! Try citrus oils in the
diffuser, or Lavender. You can also safely use many use carrier oils and butters to avoid stretch marks and nourish the
skin. The butter we made without essential oil is a perfect blend for the skin during pregnancy.
For pain, I recommend topical use of trauma oil. It is safe for pregnant women, has no essential oils in it, and is
wonderful for pain (ex. low back pain).
http://www.aromaticsinternational.com/carrier-oils-and-butters/trauma-oil
Here is a link to my free online class with some good safety information that might help:
http://www.aromahead.com/class/introduction-to-essential-oils
3. Would clear PET jars be OK to use?
I only use glass jars for making butters. The hot wax and butters can deform and melt the plastic.
4. Do you have any experience using essential oils on animals, especially dogs?
I do not use essential oils on any animals. Essential oils can be used very successfully on large animals; however, I
suggest getting training with an Aromatherapist who works specifically with animals.
I know of multiple cases where animals, especially cats, dogs and birds, have been hurt by essential oils. I prefer to use
hydrosols.
5. Is the Orange referred to also called Sweet Orange?
Yes, Orange and Sweet Orange are the same oil. This is where the Latin names come in handy. As long as you know the
Latin name, you know which oil is being referred to. You can also use Blood Orange, Tangerine, or Mandarin for this
blend.
6. Is it okay that the inhalers are plastic, since we usually use glass with EOs?
The inhalers I’m using, purchased from AromaticsInternational.com, are made from plastic that does not react to
essential oils, and are not disturbed by the essential oil.
7. Love it! Any CEU’s for PA?
Right now, all Aromahead online classes are approved for CEU’s in New York and Florida. We are working on national
CEU approval for online classes.
8. I am vegan, so I do not use beeswax. Can I use something else?
Yes, you can use Candelilla wax. I’ve never used it, but I have heard that it is slightly harder than beeswax, so you might
need to adjust the recipe and use just a little less. Here’s one resource I’m aware of for organic Candelilla wax:
http://www.organic-creations.com/servlet/the-1521/wildharvested-candelilla-wax-beeswax/Detail
9. What is the shelf life of the butters and how are they stored?
Each butter and carrier oil has a different shelf
life, and should be stored in a cool dark area. They
range from about six months, to two or more
years. You can check with the supplier you buy
the butter from, and they’ll be able to tell you.
You should find out when the butter you
purchase was produced, so that you know the
actual shelf life.
Beeswax lasts for such a long time—up to 20
years. Coconut oil generally has about a two-year
shelf life. Personally, I prefer to buy organic and
unrefined butters and beeswax.
10. Will this inhaler work equally well on
migraines?
Migraines are different than tension or sinus
headaches, as you know. Sometimes this inhaler recipe works well to help prevent a migraine, or even helps reduce...
(Cont.) the pain during one. Other times, the aroma is just too strong
for someone with a migraine.
You have to experiment. The best success I’ve had is using it the
moment someone feels like a migraine might be coming on, and I’ve
seen great results with stopping a migraine before it becomes fullblown.
11. Is there a difference between simmering on the stovetop, and
heating ingredients in a microwave oven?
Body butters should be made with the stovetop melting process I
described to you in the webinar and show you in my video.
Microwaves can potentially change the therapeutic nature of the
butters.
12. Does the inhaler work right away to relieve a headache?
It can. It’s different for everyone. For some people, it relieves the
headache right away, and within the first few minutes of using it the
headache will be gone.
For other people, it simply relieves the pain for a while, and they have
to continue to use the inhaler. For some people, you may have to adjust the recipe and find what really works for them.
I suggest inhaling deeply several times through each side of the nose. The inhaler can be used actively for five or 10
minutes, and then pause and see if it’s effective. It can be used several times an hour as well.
13. If I want to create products for wholesale to beauty salons and other businesses, what are the labeling
requirements, if any?
Since aromatherapy is not a licensing profession and is not regulated by the FDA, we use the American Herbal
Products Association guidelines for labeling.
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) adopted a trade requirement to support the correct identification
of undiluted essential oils used topically and for retail sales. Their guidelines are very good for the Aromatherapist to
follow on all labels for oils and products.
1. “Keep out of reach of children,” or similar cautionary language.
2. “External Use Only,” “Not for Internal Use,” “Not for Ingestion” or similar cautionary language.
3. “Keep away from eyes and mucous membranes,” or similar cautionary language.
4. For pure essential oil: Latin name of the plant from which the essential oil is derived.
5. Identification of the plant part from which the essential oil is derived.
6. Size of the product (not the bottle).
7. For essential oil: Country of origin.
8. All ingredients (essential oils and carrier oils need Latin names and chemotypes when relevant).
9. Business name.
10. Web address.
11. Phone (optional).
14. I keep having a problem with my butters sort of going grainy. Any suggestions to keep them smooth?
In my experience, the grainy texture is a result of too much heat. Try having the butters on the heat for as little time as
possible—just enough for them to melt. I also find that if I re-melt the butter in the glass jar, the texture smoothes out.
You can simply put the glass jar (with the lid on) into a little bit of simmering water, and allow it to fully melt. Then...
(Cont.) take it out and allow it to cool.
If you want to learn a lot more about making body butters, I recommend you register for the Body Butters and Lip
Balms class. It’s $225, and it’s an excellent class. You’ll learn everything you need to know to begin making all kinds of
great body butter blends!
http://www.aromahead.com/class/body-butters-and-lip-balms
15. Why are EOs so much more expensive than fragrance oils?
This is such a good question! Essential oils are distilled directly from plant material. Tremendous amounts of plant
material are needed in order to produce (yield) a small amount of essential oil. Fragrance oils are synthetically
produced in a lab, and are very inexpensive to create.
I have visited essential oil distillers all over the world, and am amazed at the amount of time and work involved in
producing essential oils. The farmers have to grow the plants, harvest them at the appropriate time, and distill them.
You would be amazed at how many flowers are needed to produce something like true Rose essential oil! It can take
50 roses to produce one drop of essential oil, and each rose is picked by hand. Can you imagine?
Here is a fun little blog post on a rose distiller I visited:
http://www.aromahead.com/blog/2012/07/01/rose-hydrosol-from-a-french-distiller/
16. Is this blend safe for lactation massage?
No, these are not the oils that I would use for lactation massage. I would suggest consulting with a certified
Aromatherapist on all issues related to pregnancy and nursing. I did address basic guidelines in a question above, but
this is a big topic, and requires more than I can express in this document.
17. In what states is aromatherapy certification recognized? I have massage licenses in NY and HI and am
currently living and practicing in Maui. Thank you and aloha!
Aromatherapy is not a licensing profession. What that means is that you can practice aromatherapy in any state in the
USA. Aromatherapy does have two national organizations in the USA that oversee educational guidelines:
- National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy: www.naha.org
- Alliance of International Aromatherapists: www.alliance-aromatherapists.org
18. Does mixing the essential oils into a hot liquid change the
therapeutic effects?
Because essential oils are distilled at such high heat, they can
tolerate the small amount of heat that we used to melt the butters.
Essential oils are dropped into the hot liquid; however the liquid gets
cool very quickly, and within a few minutes the heat is fully gone. It
does not seem to affect their therapeutic properties at all. I’ve been
doing this for so many years and never noticed that the essential oils
are any less effective after added into the hot butter. I do make sure
to put the cap on the jar immediately so that the essential oils don’t
evaporate.
19. Is there a specific temperature the base oil should be raised to when adding the EOs?
There is no specific temperature—just hot enough to melt the butters so they become liquid.
20. If I don´t have an inhaler, can I massage with these oils?
Yes, you can add the essential oils to carrier oil or unscented cream. I would use at least 1 oz. (30 ml) of carrier for the
same amount of essential oils that we added to the inhaler.
21. Can you use the pain relief butter on the face?
No, I would not use the pain relief butter on the face. I use much lower concentrations of essential oils on the face. This
butter would be much too strong.
22. I heard that lavender disrupts hormones. Your stand?
I’m going to refer you to the essential oil safety expert, Robert Tisserand, for this question, as I would simply be
repeating what he said. Here is a link to one of his blog posts on the subject:
http://roberttisserand.com/2013/02/lavender-oil-is-not-estrogenic/
23. Are there regulations in different countries for selling these products?
There are different regulations in different countries. You would have to research this for the specific country you’re
interested in.
24. Since we’re using Sweet Orange in this blend, is there any
concern about photosensitivity after the
massage?
Great question, glad you asked! Sweet Orange is not phototoxic or
photosensitive. Most citruses are, but Orange, Mandarin and
Tangerine are not.
25. Approximately how many hours does the course take to
complete?
The Aromatherapy for Massage Therapists class takes approximately
36 hours to complete. The Body Butters and Lip Balms class takes
approximately 14 hours to complete.
Aromatherapy for Massage Therapists class: http://www.aromahead.com/class/aromatherapy-for-massage-therapists
Body Butter and Lip Balm class: http://www.aromahead.com/class/body-butters-and-lip-balms
26. I’m in the early stages of the Aromatherapy Certification course. I would love to sign up for this class, but
can’t do both at the same time. How long can you pay for the class and use it?
When you register for an online class at Aromahead Institute, you get permanent access. There is no timeframe in
which you need to begin. You can purchase a class and begin immediately, or in six months, or even a year later. Once
you complete the class, you keep your login forever. You can access all the class materials and videos forever, too.
27. Do you pre-make inhalers or make them on the spot?
I suggest both. People will love some blends so much that you just know they’re going to sell. Other times, you want
to make an inhaler for someone for something very specific, and so you’ll make it on the spot.
28. Can fragrance oils be used in these recipes?
No, fragrance oils cannot be used. These are therapeutic blends and require pure essential oils. The fragrance oils will...
(Cont.) not provide any medicinal effects. In fact, the fragrance oils may
even cause allergies and headaches.
29. Is it possible to change Orange to Lemon oil?
Absolutely. Any citrus oils can be used. However, Lemon oil is phototoxic
and Orange oil is not, so you have to learn the phototoxicity guidelines
and keep that in mind for safety. Phototoxicity is a very serious issue.
30. What does GC/MS testing stand for?
I’m so glad you asked! Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry is a
testing procedure to check for adulteration of the essential oil and let you
know exactly what’s in it.
31. Do you have tests at the end of each lesson?
We have review questions at the end of each lesson, and a final exam at
the end of the course.
32. If I want to become an Aromatherapist, what is the process?
Excellent question. You can start with an aromatherapy certification
program approved by the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, and or the Alliance of International
Aromatherapists. Both have approved Aromahead Institute’s certification program. It is a 235-hour program, and when
completed, fulfills your requirements for calling yourself a certified aromatherapist. Here’s the link to all of the
requirements: http://www.aromahead.com/class/aromatherapy-certification-program
33. Can this be done as a “whipped” butter?
Yes, you can make the pain butter blend as a whipped butter. I would add some shea butter to the blend if you were
going to do it this way. It would be beautiful! When I whip shea, I add coconut oil but I don’t use any beeswax.
34. I exclusively use Young Living Essential Oils. Is the number of drops to use in the recipes still the same?
Yes, the number of drops would be exactly the same.
35. Do these classes count towards the aromatherapy certification?
Yes, the Aromatherapy for Massage Therapists class and the Body Butters and Lip Balms class both count towards the
Scholar’s Program. The Scholar’s Program is a 400-hour program that meets the highest educational requirements in
the USA for Aromatherapists. Here is a link to learn more: http://www.aromahead.com/scholars-program
36. Is there a chance that a client could have a reaction to the essential oils or to the coconut oil?
There is always the chance that someone can have a reaction to an essential oil, carrier oil, or butter. It is unusual, but
it does happen. You can reduce the chances of that tremendously if you use high quality essential oils and butters that
are fresh, and blend within the blending guidelines that I referred to in the free online class:
http://www.aromahead.com/class/introduction-to-essential-oils
Fortunately, when people have reactions it’s usually just a small skin irritation. The real concerns are sensitization
and phototoxicity. Sensitization and phototoxicity are subjects that are too extensive for this document, but learning
about them is vital if you’re going to be making products for other people to use. You can read about them in many
aromatherapy books, or learn about them in the online Aromatherapy Certification Program.
37. Do you pre-blend the EOs or add to the cotton individually?
You can do either.
38. There are many varieties of beeswax on the market—yellow pastilles, white, even beeswax from
beekeepers. Which do you recommend?
I recommend using organic beeswax that has been cut into small pellets so they are easy to work with—beeswax is
very hard to cut!
39. Can you mix the pain-relieving blend with Epsom salts for a bath treatment?
I would not recommend that, because there is
Peppermint in the blend, and using Peppermint in the
bath can cause serious skin irritation. I would go with the
guideline of about five drops of essential oil per bath. You
can add the drops of essential oil into salts or whole milk.
Whole milk is actually lovely in a bath. Be sure to only use
skin nourishing essential oils in your bath.
40. What is your take about Neroli EO in serums, and
what do you suggest to use in a face serum? I’m not
into massage but I love facials.
I love Neroli, and I think it’s very nourishing for the skin
and the face. I tend to use hydrosols on the face, or a
nourishing combination of aloe vera gel and a carrier oil (Argan oil is nice). Here is a link to a blog post I wrote about
cleansing your face with Argan oil (and 1 drop of Neroli in this blend would be perfect):
http://www.aromahead.com/blog/2013/10/16/argan-oil-face-wash/
41. Does it matter what order the oil drops are put in the inhaler?
Nope, you can add the oils in any order you like.
42. Does our LMT insurance cover liability for these products?
You’ll have to check with your insurance provider to see if your specific policy covers essential oil products. Some do,
some don’t. Here’s another option for insurance: http://www.insurebodywork.com/aromatherapy-insurance
43. Do you prefer Eucalyptus Globulus, or is Radiata okay?
Both species are fabulous. They’re very similar; however the aroma is slightly different. I find the radiata to be a bit
softer.
44. Do you know all your suppliers for EOs? How do you know that the EOs you sell are therapeutic grade?
I don’t actually sell essential oils. I have worked with distillers for many years, and I used to sell oils (via Aromatics
International), but now I teach full-time. I buy my oils primarily from Aromatics International, and some from the other
two suppliers that I have provided for you in the research section of this PDF. All three companies are fantastic.
The reason I buy from these three suppliers is because they all buy directly from distillers, and they test every batch of
oil they buy with GC/MS. This is how we know that the oils are actually therapeutic and high-quality.
I also personally know most of the distillers that they’re buying from, and I have worked with these distillers for a...
(Cont.) long time. This way I can feel assured of the quality, because I know the work that the distillers are doing
intimately. I have visited many of these distillers personally, and have a lot of contact with each of them.
Resource list and cost pricing:
http://www.aromahead.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/AHWebinarResources.pdf
45. What about measuring by weight?
I measure all butters and carriers by weight, and essential oils by volume. You can measure liquids by weight or by
volume, as long as you’re consistent in the recipes.
46. Would spearmint be as effective as Peppermint in this blend?
Spearmint is different than Peppermint, but it can be used as a replacement for Peppermint in this blend. The number
of drops would stay the same.
47. Is there a book Andrea recommends, or that she has written?
I have written a book, thanks for asking! Here’s the link:
http://tinyurl.com/Aromahead
48. Approximately how long does this 2 oz. jar of butter last?
Does a little go a long way?
It does go a long way. You don’t have to use that much to be
effective. You can rub it into the area as if you were rubbing in cream
and cover the whole area. If used several times a day, it could last for
a month. If used once or twice a day, it could last for a few months.
49. Is the pain butter just for muscular pain or is it good for joint
pain as well?
It’s wonderful for both muscular pain and joint pain.
50. Would this butter work well for leg cramps at night?
For nighttime leg cramps, I might go for more sedating and calming
oil. You could use the same butter base, but replace the Peppermint
with Roman Chamomile. The other two oils, Lavender and Orange,
are perfect.
51. Why is the Latin name important? I have seen that before.
Latin is the universal language used for plants. We can’t count on
the common name. Chamomile is an example. There are many types of chamomile—there’s German Chamomile the
dark blue oil (Matricaria recutita), and there’s Roman Chamomile, (Chamaemelum nobile) and although they are both
chamomiles, they are different plants with different flowers, and very different chemistries, and they provide different
therapeutic effects. We need to know the Latin name so we understand the exact oil and plant that we want to
purchase or use.
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