Are you in immediate danger and having a life-threatening emergency? If the answer is “yes”, please call 911 immediately, or go to your nearest emergency room.

If your situation is not immediately life-threatening, and you want free and confidential emotional support you can access the following services:

• Call or text 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and ask for your local mobile crisis team.
• Contact the Crisis Text Line through text (text HOME to 741741), online chat, and WhatsApp.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

National Alliance on Mental Illness – Minnesota (NAMI – MN) Crisis Resource page

Addiction and Recovery info coming soon.

All of these organizations have resources and additional information for caregivers. In alphabetical order.

Alzheimer’s Association

American Cancer Society

Brain Injury Association of America

Caregiver Action Network

Lupus Foundation of America

Minnesota Disability Hub MN

MinnesotaHelp.Info

Minnesota Senior Linkage Line

Minnesota Veterans Linkage Line

National Alliance for Caregiving

NAMI National Alliance on Mental Illness

National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA)

National Library of Medicine Medline Plus

National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Parkinson’s Foundation

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs

US Pain Foundation

Support groups info coming soon.

Books info coming soon.

Family, relationships, and parenting info coming soon.

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)

American Counseling Association (ACA)

American Psychiatric Association (APA)

American Psychological Association (APA)

Mental Health America (MHA)

National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)

National Institute of Mental Health (NIH-NIMH)

Sleep Foundation

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 

• The Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness by Nerys Purchon and Lora Cantele
• Authentic Aromatherapy by Sharon Falsetto
• The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy Volume 1 (3rd ed.) by Salvatore Battaglia
• Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals (2nd ed.) by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young
• Essential Oils: A Comprehensive Handbook for Aromatic Therapy (3rd ed.) by Jennifer Peace Rhind

There are many educational programs available. Each school and training program has something different to offer in terms of information, teaching style, experience of the educators, focus, etc. 

• Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA) – List of recognized schools for formal aromatherapy education
• National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) – List of approved schools for formal aromatherapy education
• American College of Health Care Sciences
• Essence of Thyme College of Holistic Studies 
• The School for Aromatic Studies – Free online Introduction to Aromatherapy course
• Tisserand Institute

Aromatherapy is the skillful use of pure essential oils with a specific goal in mind. This goal lies within the context of an overall holistic picture: to restore balance, harmonize, and enhance the well-being of the individual.

Essential oils come from aromatic plant material such as: bark, roots, rinds, leaves, buds, seeds, flowers, and needles. They are extracted from plants by either steam distillation or expression (cold pressing). Each essential oil is highly concentrated and has its own special make up based on its chemical constituents, therapeutic properties, and aroma profile.

I want to empower you to find reputable essential oil companies that are the right fit for you. Here are some articles that will support you in your selection process:

• How to Shop for Essential Oils – AromaWeb
• The Quality of Essential Oils – The School for Aromatic Studies
• Resources for Aromatherapy – The School for Aromatic Studies

I do not sell essential oils. I am not affiliated with any particular company, and I do not receive kickbacks or financial reimbursements for essential oils. 

• Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA)
• National Association for Holistic Aromatherapists (NAHA)
• Canadian Alliance of Aromatherapy (CAOA)
• International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (IFPA)

• Aromatherapy safety – Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA) 
• Safety information – National Association of Aromatherapists (NAHA) 
• How to Use Essential Oils Safely – Tisserand Institute
• Essential Oil Safety – AromaWeb
• Report an adverse reaction and view the Adverse Reaction Database – Tisserand Institute

The quality and purity of essential oils are not regulated in the United States. Therefore, it is important to know and trust who you are purchasing from. Essential oils are regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the sense that they fall under either cosmetic and/or drug labeling guidelines. The advertising claims are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Key points about the regulation of aromatherapy practice:

• In the U.S. there is no current regulation or licensure of aromatherapy practice or aromatherapists.
• A qualified practitioner is typically recognized by a professional aromatherapy organization.
• Aromatherapists who are members of professional aromatherapy organizations must adhere to specific standards of practice, codes of ethics and conduct, legal requirements, and take continuing education to maintain certification.
• Depending on their education, someone can call themselves a “certified aromatherapist” with as little as 50 hours of training. On the other end of the spectrum, qualified clinical aromatherapists will have 450 to over 1,000 hours of training.
• Aromatherapists (or anyone using/selling essential oils) are not authorized to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent medical diseases, as doing so would constitute practicing medicine without a license.

You can find the ethical guidelines, statutes, and standards of practice that I follow for aromatherapy on the FAQ page.