Week 8

Certified Aromatherapist vs. Distributor vs. Veterinarian 

It can be confusing and overwhelming when it comes to who to listen to about essential oils. Your veterinarian says one thing, your co-worker who is a distributor swears by another thing, and then you have the Certified Aromatherapist who will tell you neither is right. So who do you believe and what do you do? Well, it comes down to your own research, responsibility, and what you are comfortable with. I personally am all about safe and effective use of essential oils. It’s not as popular as those making lots of money off oils you can drink and do whatever with. Ultimately, this is your choice for you and your animals. I thought it might be helpful to break down these different types of people so you can come to your own conclusions. 

Veterinarian - Without having graduated from an essential oil or aromatherapy program, they might not know all the positive and negative effects essential oils can have. Veterinarians are AMAZING and extremely beneficial to us and our animals, but many will go ahead and join a multi-level-marketing company because it is convenient to sell oils. Veterinarians have to be certified in specific areas such as acupuncture in order to legally perform acupuncture on an animal, same with being certified in canine rehabilitation. If the veterinarian has not been certified in essential oil use for animals like they would acupuncture or rehabilitation then I would proceed with caution.  

Distributor - Anyone can become an essential oil distributor. I repeat, ANYONE can sell and distribute essential oils and act like they know what they are selling or talking about. There is no class to take, no certification, nothing. You pay a fee, you work to sell the oils or you lose money. It’s that simple. There is little to no knowledge given on safety, chemistry, adverse reactions, etc. 

Certified Aromatherapist - is someone who has taken at the minimum 50 to 100 hours in coursework from a reputable aromatherapy school covering the following subjects in aromatherapy: 

• History
• Safety
• Chemistry
• Anatomy & Physiology
• Profiles
• Use Methods
• Blending
• Contraindications
• Acupoint Therapy
• and more

Please take using essential oils seriously for yourself and your pets. They are a powerful therapeutic tool when used correctly! I hope this information and course was helpful for you as  you navigate the world of essential oils and use them safely with dogs! Do let me know if you have any questions!