The Effects Of Essential Oils On Therapists

The Effects Of Essential Oils On Therapists by Penny Price

In an aromatherapy treatment generally the dilution of essential oil to carrier is only 1.5% - 3%.  This means in reality the dilution of essential oil in the carrier makes it very safe.  There have been no known hazards of using essential oil in this dilution as long as the essential oils are well researched and known about.  Added to this, the essential oils will take longer to pass through the skin when applied with carrier oil, as carrier oil molecules are large and take a long time to penetrate even the top layers of the skin.

When applied during a full body massage, obviously the client surface area is much larger than the surface areas of the human hand.  The palms, in any case, are the least absorbent part of the body, and it is the palms that are used for massage.  Therefore, one can assume, that because of the surface area of the client being so much larger relatively than the palms of the hand, the client gets the majority of the treatment oil, with the therapist only getting a minute amount of already diluted essential oil.  Also, the laws of gravity would dictate that the oils would gravitate towards the client rather than travel upward to the therapist.

Margaret Wong, in her questionnaires sent out from the Autumn ’94 issue of Aromatherapy Quarterly, says in the report of that in Aromatherapy Quarterly issue 46 Autumn 1995, that most people said they had witnessed an effect of the essential oils in themselves as aromatherapists.  She lists effects on the digestive system, urinary system, lymphatic system, with the greatest effect being shown on the immune system, the respiratory, circulatory, muscles and joints.

Although the questionnaire is very interesting, it does not prove that essential oils in themselves have any negative effects in the therapist.  It is to do with touch and with massage.  She cites two experiences where clients give energy to the therapist, or the therapist picks something up which can oppress them or make them feel ill from the client.  This is not the work of essential oils, this is the work of massage and touch and the mind of the aromatherapist.  It is interesting that the greatest effect on the bodily systems was on the immune system, where 90% said that they had fewer colds, coughs and illnesses since they had started being an aromatherapist.  But by far the largest effect was shown on the emotional and mental states, where people were uplifted and affected by the actual smell of the massage mixture that was being applied to their clients.  This is very likely since our odour receptors in the nose can pick up one part in thirty billion, so the smell would not have to be concentrated for us to benefit in this way.  Obviously, essential oils inhaled into the therapists nose are going to have the same effects mentally on them as on the client, and so if we are treating the client for stress, then the therapist will also be de-stressed using those oils, through the olfactory system.

Olfaction/inhalation is the safest way in which to take in essential oils.  Only the tiniest amounts need to be registered by the brain for them to be effective, and it is doubtful whether this would lead to overload or any negative effects within the therapists herself.  Martin Watts, in his Plant Aromatic manual, (sets 1, 2, and 4,) distinguishes between skin irritation, sensitivity and photosensitivity.  Sometimes dermatitis has been reported to become more irritable, or eczema has become more stubborn in on therapists who already have that problem.  It can appear that in very rare occasions, sensitivity of the oils can occur when the therapist would have to wear gloves.

There are many other methods of applying essential oils without using hands, home treatment being one of them.  However, since the worsening of eczema, dermatitis or sensitivities through massage is so very low, this is not considered a common problem.  It can also be that it is sensitivity to the carrier oil that can be causing the problem. 

In an aromatology treatment, sometimes oil would be used neat in fairly large quantities.  Here, one would have to check the client’s sensitivity and, of course, the therapist sensitivity, as their fingers might well be distributing and spreading neat oil over the client’s body.  From personal experience, I have never had any reaction, even from skin sensitising oil such as cinnamon and clove.

In conclusion I would say that the main effect on the therapist is on the emotional system.  If we are using oils that we don’t like on our clients, we may not enjoy doing the treatment as much as we could have.  If we like and enjoy our client’s mixture, then we possibly become more attuned with them and give a better treatment and feel more relaxed afterwards.  As for deep, long lasting effects on the body, treating clients throughout the week, one can only assume that this is going to make us healthier and more relaxed.

Copyright 2007 Penny Price Med(Oxon),
Director Penny Price Aromatherapy Ltd
The Stables
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Hinckley
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LE10 1LW UK
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