Essential oils have the power to help relieve conditions such as insomnia and anxiety and to uplift and nurture our bodies and minds. Clinical aromatherapist Leanne Bracey tells us how
y earsago, I bought a tiny bottle of frankincense oil at the side of a dusty road in the Green Mountains of Oman for just a few rials. I inhaled that now-familiar scent – woody, resinous and grounding – and was transported to another time and place.
That experience sparked my interest in the power of fragrance and many years later I finally acted on that moment, resigning from my job on a national newspaper and retraining in clinical aromatherapy.
It’s been a fascinating journey. As a student, I discovered there are essential oils thought to help with a multitude of medical symptoms and conditions, and today, as a qualified clinical aromatherapist, I use these oils to help ease a variety of symptoms in my clients. As an aromatherapist, it’s important to have a deep understanding of the way chemical compounds interact. Because of the potency of some of the oils, a full clinical history must be taken at a client’s first visit. Essential oils are seen as a natural way to ease modern-day malaise, but they must be used with care. ‘What people don’t realise is that essential oils have teeth,’ says Jonathan Hinde, managing director of essential oil supplier Oshadhi (oshadhi.co.uk). As well as reacting with each other, essential oils can interact with medication to reduce or enhance the efficacy; just two of the reasons it’s worth seeing a trained specialist.
AND HAVE HEALTH CONCERNS OR ARE ON MEDICATION, DISCUSS WITH YOUR GP FIRST IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING AROMATHERAPY
Public interest in aromatherapy mushroomed at the start of the pandemic, as we sought ways to boost immunity and relief from Covid-induced headaches and coughs. ‘Covid produced a massive interest in respiratory and antiviral-type oils,’ Jonathan explains, pinpointing eucalyptus oil as one high performer thanks to its antiviral properties.
Post-pandemic, the aromatherapy industry continues to thrive, says Caren Benstead of The Well School (thewellschool.co.uk), who runs online clinical aromatherapy courses. Caren’s courses, she says, are booming, as more and more people step away from fast-paced jobs in search of new, off-the-beaten-track careers. ‘The pandemic gave us the gift of time,’ explains Caren. ‘And many of us re-evaluated our careers. Clinical aromatherapy makes sense for many reasons – you can work flexibly, it’s all about human connection, and it allows you to get in touch with a more mindful life.’
THE POWER OF PLANTS
I’ve always been sensitive to scent: I remember following a man through Oxford Circus tube station because his aftershave reminded me of an exboyfriend. That waft of aroma was powerful enough to invoke memorie
