Tuition: $149.
Join Erika Galentin, MNIMH, RH (AHG) Clinical Herbalist and Certified Aromatherapist (ITEC) for a four- part webinar series designed to demystify scientific research on essential oils and the practice of Aromatherapy.
In this series participants will learn about an Evidence Based Practice (EBP) framework and approach that is applicable to Aromatherapy, including skills of how to critically evaluate scientific research and incorporate such research into essential oil choices and ‘aromatherapeutic’ rationale. This webinar series seeks to explain, in simple terms, the different forms of scientific research commonly referenced by the Aromatherapy community and essential oil industry, providing guidance on how to discern the relevance of such research in regards to the safe and effective use of essential oils in both self-care and clinical settings.
In addition to research evaluation skills, participants will also learn basic internet and database resources and search techniques, including how to formulate efficient and effective search terms, as well as how to use and reference scientific research in essays, blogs, books, and presentations.
Whether you are new to essential oil use or a seasoned Aromatherapy practitioner, this webinar series provides a strong and empowering foundation for incorporating scientific research into your essential oil choices and aromatherapeutic rationale while preserving and fortifying knowledge from both traditional use and personal experience.
Course Description
Drawing from parallel conundrums in the field of clinical herbalism, Erika Galentin, MNIMH, RH (AHG) Clinical Herbalist and Certified Aromatherapist (ITEC) leads this four-part webinar series designed to demystify scientific research on essential oils and the practice of Aromatherapy. In this series participants will learn about an Evidence Based Practice (EBP) framework and approach that is applicable to Aromatherapy, including skills of how to critically evaluate scientific research and incorporate such research into essential oil choices and ‘aromatherapeutic’ rationale. This webinar series seeks to explain, in simple terms, the different forms of scientific research commonly referenced by the Aromatherapy community and essential oil industry, providing guidance on how to discern the relevance of such research in regards to the safe and effective use of essential oils in both self-care and clinical settings.
In addition to research evaluation skills, participants will also learn basic internet and database resources and search techniques, including how to formulate efficient and effective search terms, as well as how to use and reference scientific research in essays, blogs, books, and presentations.
The therapeutic use of essential oils spans centuries of traditions from all over the world. However, it is only within the last few decades that the young field of Aromatherapy has spurred pharmacological interest into the scientific study of essential oils and their chemical components. Over the last decade there has been an explosion of interest and use of essential oils coupled with increased concerns regarding safety, efficacy, and adulteration.
Seeking supportive answers, Aromatherapy practitioners and the public alike have been turning to a small, yet growing body of scientific research on essential oils to guide their choices, substantiate their claims of effectiveness, and clarify their safety concerns. However, not all scientific research is considered of equal merit and often members of the public and Aromatherapy practitioners alike find themselves confused, misinformed, intimidated, or overwhelmed. In addition, poorly conducted scientific research can be erroneously used in defense of manipulative marketing schemes or industry dogma. Both of these outcomes stem from a lack of understanding about the varying types of scientific studies of essential oils their relative validity and clinical relevance (often referred to as the ‘hierarchy of research’).
Who is this for?
Whether you are new to essential oil use or a seasoned Aromatherapy practitioner, this webinar series provides a strong and empowering foundation for incorporating scientific research into your essential oil choices and ‘aromatherapeutic’ rationale while preserving and fortifying knowledge from both traditional use and personal experience.
- CE hours and CPD hours for NAHA and/or AIA members.
Note: This webinar series was recorded live in May of 2018.
Earn CE hours for aromatherapy.
What you will learn:
- Defining the differences between pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic research within the interdisciplinary field of pharmacology and how this research is investigating essential oils.
- The difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources and why paying attention to this is important.
- The six steps of the Evidence Based Practice framework as applicable to the practice of
Aromatherapy and the skills that can be acquired through using this framework in applying
scientific research to clinical practice. - Different types of study designs, such as in vitro, in vivo animal studies, pilot studies, human clinical trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses and their strengths and weaknesses in regards to evaluating the safety and efficacy of essential oils.
- The ‘Hierarchy of Research’ and the clinical relevance of different types of essential oil research.
- ‘Anatomy’ of scientific research papers and their various sections and why we must look beyond the abstract before using research to guide our essential oil choices and ‘aromatherapeutic’ rationale.
- Searching skills for published research using online research databases and internet search engines as well as ‘following the paper trail’.
- Sources of bias in pharmacological research including funding sources, conflicts of interest, and disclosures.
- How good quality research can augment traditional knowledge and personal/clinical experience within an Evidence Based Practice framework.
- Differences in relevance of research on isolated components versus whole oils and whole plants.
- How to critically evaluate and critique published research within an Evidence Based Practice framework including the importance of acknowledging the confirmation bias of ‘cherry-picking’ research.
- Incorporating essential oil research into ‘aromatherapeutic’ rationale from an Evidence Based Practice approach.
- Common terms and concepts used in the interpretation and presentation of study data.
- Referencing research publications in writing and teaching.
Upon completion of this webinar series you will be able to:
- Understand the difference between pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic research and the clinical relevance of each field to the understanding of the safety and efficacy of essential oils and their chemical components.
- Identify the driving forces behind scientific studies and their publication as potential sources of undocumented bias. Locate information about potential biases of research studies including funding sources, conflicts of interest, and other disclosures.
- Navigate the ‘anatomy’ of scientific research papers and their various sections with an understanding of common terms and concepts used in the interpretation and presentation of study data such P values, sample size, forest plots, etc.
- Formulate effective search queries to efficiently search for published research online using research databases and internet search engines.
- Deduce the strengths and potential weaknesses of the Western scientific model in regards to studying the multivariate nature of essential oils, aromatherapy, and aromatic medicine.
- Understand the ‘hierarchy of research’ in regards to whole plant extracts and essential oils.
Discern between different types of scientific research studies such as in vitro, in vivo animal studies, pilot studies, clinical trials, systemic reviews, and meta-analyses and their clinical relevance. - How to compare different types of scientific research and/or various studies on the same essential oil by paying attention to things such as mode of administration, dose, and dosage form.
- Discern the applicability of research on isolated essential oil chemical components to modern clinical practice within an Evidence Based Practice framework that is relevant to Aromatherapy.
- Ask questions of the different forms of research studies and their publications in order to ascertain validity and clinical relevance.
- Decipher the differences between different types of research into a single essential oil and how to compare them to inform therapeutic rationale.
- Incorporate and reference research in your writing, teaching, and presentations using common referencing formats/styles.
- Understand the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources and which sources of information are generally more desirable when researching, writing, and developing aromatherapeutic rationale.
- Feel empowered by how scientific research, clinical and personal experience, and traditional knowledge from herbal medicine and Aromatherapy can all complement each other in developing ‘aromatherapeutic’ rationale within an Evidence Based Practice framework.
About Erika Galentin, MNIMH, RH (AHG)
Erika is a Clinical Herbalist and an ITEC certified Clinical Aromatherapist consulting from Sovereignty Herbs in Athens & Columbus, OH. She holds a degree in Herbal Medicine from the University of Wales, Cardiff, UK and Scottish School of Herbal Medicine, Glasgow, UK. She is a professional member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists(UK) and the American Herbalists Guild (USA).
A decade of clinical practice has provided a platform for a deep and influential understanding of the efficacy of medicinal plants within a clinical environment. It is through this clinical practice that Erika is able encourage positive, learned relationships between plants and people. She is a firm believer in celebrating the role humanity plays in the ecology of our landscapes and that our relationships with the natural world should be based upon reciprocity and exchange. In addition to clinical practice, Erika is both a student and teacher of horticulture and native medicinal plant conservation and ecology.
Erika teaches, lectures and writes on native medicinal plant conservation and applied ecology, propagation, herbalism, aromatherapy, and clinical efficacy. Former Course Development Director for the Herbal Academy, Erika is a guest instructor at the Ohio Herb Education Center, Gahanna, Ohio, Faculty at the Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine, Lowgap, NC, and Course Contributor for the School of Aromatic Studies. She also participates as a member of the Stewardship Committee for Appalachia Ohio Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of land and water in Southeast Ohio.
You can follow Erika on her personal website, facebook, and instagram.