Schools of Thought for Essential Oil Usage

The more we use essential oils, the more we want to learn about them, and it is important to be aware that there are different "schools of thought" regarding their usage. In your quest to learn more about the use of essential oils, it will be beneficial to understand these different schools of thought and which of these the author ascribes to, because the different schools have different opinions about essential oil usage.

In aromatherapy there are basically three distinct viewoints for the use of essential oils. The German school emphasizes inhalation as the best way to receive the benefits of essential oils. Inhalation puts oil molecules directly into the bloodstream through the lungs, as well as directly into the brain through the olfactory nerves which connect to the central brain through the limbic system. Using our sense of smell when diffusing essential oils into the air can be a powerful way to open up emotions stored in the brain, bring healing vapors into our lungs and evoke relaxation through the numerous properties of essential oils.

The British/English school teaches that we should dilute 1-5% essential oil with a fatty oil such as jojoba and massage it into the skin. With this dilution, they seek to reduce muscle aches, invoke relaxation and treat skin disorders, such as eczema. On rare occasions, the British school will use undiluted Tea Tree or Lavender (melaleuca alternifolia). They discourage taking essential oils orally or using them undiluted. This school is very conservative with many warnings and cautions associated with their teachings. Many of them do not emphasize the use of therapeutic grade essential oils, which likely accounts in part for the warnings.

The French feel that this type of testing is not valid: for one, animals are much more sensitive to the oils than humans; and two, isolating a single component of a complex essential oil disregards the fact that all the components have to be present because they are quenching, helping, supporting and promoting each other to work together in a balance created by God that cannot be duplicated in a laboratory.

Due to the research that the British school follows, they claim that many essential oils are unsafe and state many cautions and hazards for oils used neat (undiluted) or orally, and they typically recommend that oils be administered by trained, certified professionals.

The French school uses essential oils as a valid form of treating health issues of all kinds. They believe that high-quality, pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils can be taken orally, by injection, topically (many undiluted), rectally and vaginally. Safety is not compromised. The oils that absolutely require dilution are diluted, and the ones that are not suitable for internal use are not used in this manner.

Dr. Daniel Penoel, a native Frenchman and medical doctor, uses essential oils in the treatment of his patients. He claimed, "In my country, we've given millions and millions of clinical treatments with essential oils." It is from this medical application that the term "Aromatic Medicine" was coined. Essential oils used with the French model must be high quality oils.

The French base their practice on testimonies of people using whole, pure, high-quality therapeutic-grade essential oils. Jean Valnet, M.D., was the French doctor who pioneered and promoted essential oil healing properties in the mid-twentieth century and was the first to write a modern book on essential oils. He strongly advocated that anyone using common sense could administer essential oils with minimal training and that high quality, pure essential oils were safe and effective.

Together, these three schools of thought show how versatile and powerful essential oils can be. By integrating all three schools, we believe that when the oils are high quality and pure they have healing properties, and most oils are safe and effective by inhalation, topically and for oral use.

Why is this Important?
A new student of essential oils can become confused very quickly if they lack a clear understanding of the different viewpoints presented in aromatherapy material online or in books. Realizing that the British school disagrees with the French school and why will help you clarify your position and glean what you can from each of the different schools.

Many of the aromatherapy books available were written from the British perspective, and although they may have a very conservative approach with a number of cautions and warnings about essential oil usage, they can still prove quite valuable. I have personally found that when using high-quality oils, the British warnings seem completely invalid, but I still find an appreciation for their knowledge and experience.