Smell Of Success

The Age

Saturday April 12, 2008

Yvonne Nicolas

AROMATIC medicine is a relatively new area of study in Australia. Elise Scully, aromatherapy teacher at Health Arts College in Box Hill, discarded her corporate suit for a career in natural therapies in the early '90s.

"It wasn't until 1999 that I started up a consultancy business incorporating kinesiology, massage and aromatherapy," she says.

She says some people think aromatherapy is just adding a few nice smells to a shampoo, or putting some lavender in a burner. "While these may be fine uses for essential oils, it is only a small component of the art and science of aromatherapy. Professional aromatherapy training leans more to aromatic medicine, which is a holistic application of essential oils."

The main aspects of aromatherapy taught in Australia originated in Britain, in the beauty therapy industry. Ms Scully subscribes more to the French philosophies of aromatic medicine. "While this acknowledges the basic olfactory responses, we also look deeper at the effect on brain chemistry, pharmacological application of essential oil compounds and other similar areas."

Ms Scully says the results speak for themselves. "I formulate a lot of treatments for skin conditions that are often effective where pharmaceutical applications are not.

"I do a lot of work with clients who suffer depression and find the application of essential oils helps to shift the brain patterning in a dynamic way."

The college runs government-accredited certificate IV and diploma courses in aromatherapy. Students can practise following completion of a certificate IV, however, college staff recommend they complete a diploma.

Both courses run for 10 months with 20 days of aromatherapy practice and theory, which includes anatomy and physiology training.

The college had its first certificate IV intake in 2007, having run introduction courses for three years.

Graduates can work in clinics or establish their own consultancies.

Ms Scully combines work as an aromatherapist with other disciplines, which she says is fairly common among natural therapists.

"Your training is ongoing so you tend to be constantly adding new strings to your bow.

"I could practise solely as an aromatherapist, kinesiologist or massage therapist, but I'd find that too confining. I've been a full-time natural therapist since 1999 following a few years working part-time to supplement my income while building a client base."

She says some aromatherapists set up their business better than others.

"Training is provided within the course to help with business development that enables graduates to start out on their own almost immediately after completing their studies.

"My experience is that I now handle more complex issues than when I started out and have more confidence in developing programs and treatment plans."

How much a practitioner earns is determined by skill application, Ms Scully says.

"Other than working as an employee, there is ample consultancy work available in private practice, or areas such as aged care and special development schools."

-- YVONNE NICOLAS

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© 2008 The Age

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