Aromatherapy uses medicinal plant oil to treat physiological, psychological, and emotional conditions. It’s a treatment renowned for its ability to balance, harmonise and promote the health of our minds, bodies, and spirits. Aromatherapy has been used as a medical treatment for thousands of years and is being validated with clinical evidence.
In aromatherapy, oils extracted from medicinal plants are called “essential oils”. Depending on the condition or problem being treated, an aromatherapist will blend a number of essential oils together, which are then absorbed by the patient through the use of diffusers, spritzers, inhalers, bath salts, body oils, and more. Essential oils are antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, improve digestion, and help to relieve stress.
Aromatherapy compliments other natural therapies, as well as orthodox medicine.
As an aromatherapist, you have the opportunity to provide treatment for a range of ailments, including reduced pain, improved sleep, reduced stress and anxiety, Improved digestion, and an enhanced immune system. With your knowledge of essential oils, there’s also the opportunity to create your own body care products using custom blends.
Aromatherapy can be a rewarding and profitable career.
Browse ANTA-approved, high-quality aromatherapy courses from recognised course providers.
aromatherapy uses aromatic essential oils to enhance well-being and to stimulate, cat...
Course Provider : Aminya Natural Therapies Academy
Campuses :QLD VIC
discover the power of essential oils and their profound effect on mind and body. c...
Course Provider : Massage Schools of Queensland
Campuses :QLD
this qualification reflects the role of a clinical aromatherapists who provide therap...
Course Provider : Max Therapy Institute
Campuses :VIC
Aromatherapists use plant-containing essential oils to provide healing for patients, and promote their physical and emotional wellbeing. Their qualification provides them with a comprehensive understanding of which essential oils work for which medical issues, allowing them to prescribe the most suitable oils for their patients. They also have a good understanding of botany, human anatomy and physiology, and pathology, as well as knowing how to produce new essential oils by blending them together, and how to administer essential oils in a safe way.
Aromatherapy is effective in treating a range of physical, neurological, and mental issues, including:
The responsibilities of an aromatherapist typically include:
Completing patient consultations
An aromatherapist will complete consultations to determine the patient’s issues and recommend an essential oil that will provide them with relief. They may also educate the patient on why the essential oil will work for their ailment.
Create treatment plans
If necessary, an aromatherapist will provide a patient with a treatment plan to follow, which may include a number of different essential oils working together. They will also explain their treatment plan to the patient.
Mix essential oil blends
Certain plants may work well together for a particular problem, and if the essential oil doesn’t already exist, the aromatherapist may create a new blend for the patient.
Apply essential oils for the patient
Essential oils can be absorbed by the patient through the use of body oil massage, diffusers, spritzers, inhalers, bath salts, body oils, and more. The aromatherapist may help the patient to absorb the oils, often through massage or another method.
Manage essential oil stocks
Aromatherapists will constantly prescribe essential oils to their patients, and will need to keep an accurate inventory of stock to avoid running out. If the aromatherapist has a lot of customers, they may require inventory management software to keep their stock levels accurate.
Offer lifestyle advice
As part of their service, aromatherapists may offer lifestyle advice such as exercising regularly, partaking in stress-reducing exercises such as yoga or meditation, avoiding stimulants, drinking plenty of water, getting plenty of sleep, and other tips that can improve your life.
Keep confidential patient records
Aromatherapists must keep confidential patient records, ensuring that they’re stored securely, and held for the necessary period of time.
Stay on top of professional development
To keep their skills as up-to-date as possible, aromatherapists must stay on top of their professional development. If they join ANTA, they must complete a number of mandatory annual hours of CPE (continued professional development) to remain a member.
Refer patients to GPs or specialists
If a patient will benefit from further treatment outside the scope of aromatherapy, aromatherapists may refer them to another natural healthcare practitioner, or even a GP or other specialist if necessary.
Manage a small business
Many aromatherapists are self-employed, running their own small business. As business owners, aromatherapists must have a number of business-related skills, including:
As a qualified aromatherapist, a variety of jobs become available, including those listed below. Many aromatherapists are self-employed, working full or part-time from home, or visiting their clients’ homes.
Aromatherapists study aromatherapy massage as a core unit in most aromatic medicine courses in Australia. Aromatherapy massage is used for a variety of reasons, including pain relief, relaxation, and mood enhancement.
A spa therapist delivers a variety of services such as massages, body treatments, facials, waxing, manicures, and pedicures. They need good communication skills, and be able to anticipate a customer’s needs and expectations.
With aromatherapy on the rise, opening your own aromatherapy store can be a lucrative business opportunity. With your expertise on essential oils, you will be educating and selling them to the general public. You can also become employed by such a store, with the possibility of working your way up.
Integrative healthcare seeks to combine the best of modern medicine with a holistic approach to health. As an integrative healthcare practitioner who specialises in aromatherapy, you will be recommending and administering essential oils to patients in clinical settings such as hospitals, to assist in the healing process.
Natural and healthy living is a growing industry, with health and wellness spas becoming more common across Australia. According to Market Research Future, the Essential Oil and Aromatherapy Market is set to grow at an annual rate of 6.5% for the next three years. This makes aromatherapy an up and coming career path that can be lucrative for those interested.
To become an aromatherapist in Australia, you will need to complete a Diploma of Aromatherapy, for which you can find more information below.
Diploma of Aromatherapy (HLT52315)
Number of days per week: 3
Course duration: 66-71 weeks
Units of study:
The following skills are important for becoming a successful aromatherapist: