What is a Clinically Trained Aromatherapist?

In 2011, I completed an intensive Clinical Aromatherapy program at a Harvard teaching hospital in Boston, MA. Created by Dr. Jane Buckle, this program was developed for those in the health care industry to bring the art and science of using natural essential oils to the medical field, as an adjunct to traditional care. This was the first aromatherapy course to be endorsed by a national nursing organization (www.ahna.org) since 1999. Upon graduation in 2013, I received my CCAP ~ Certification as a Clinical Aromatherapy Practitioner.

This clinical program also included a research component, in addition to 40+ case studies and an exam. One of the requirements for completion was to create and execute a research project using 1-4 (of the 40+) essential oils that we had been studying. The spectrum was broad and the canvas was blank. Daunting for some, yet I thrive on endless possibilities!

Around that time I had taken part in another Reach the Beach Relay -- 200 miles, 2 vans, 10 runners, and 24 hours to complete the 200 miles. Fun!! 

Now the first time you ran, it was pretty easy. Yet after the second run many hours later (and possibility in the middle of the night), one tends to be a bit sore… And by the time your third and final run comes, you're sleep-deprived, sore, and slightly delirious! Yes, still FUN! :-) 

Since I had never completed a research project to this extent before, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Yet I knew I needed to find an audience of participants that would commit to my protocols to completion. I thought, 'What better participants than runners!' Who else is going to get up at the crack of dawn, rain-shine-or snow, to run because 'it's their scheduled run and that's what they do'. If you are a runner, you totally get this. And if you're not a runner, well I guess you could say we're a bit crazy. Dedicated and committed is my word of choice. However a bit of crazy is mixed in I'm sure!

So I set out to create a research project that would be helpful for future Reach the Beachers. My research tested the effectiveness of a blend of essential oils during the recovery phase of long distance runners. After a rather long road (pun intended) to publication beginning in 2013, my research was published* in 2015. The rest, well you’ll just have to read it. If you’re interested, just ask!

I later created Grateful Spirit Organics, a subdivision of my prior business Grateful Spirit Healing, which offered handcrafted organic & vegan aromatherapy and botanical medicine products.

*Harrison-Robinson K, Cordell B. The Effects of Aromatherapy on Muscle Soreness During the Acute Phase of Conditioned Runners. IJPHA. 2015;4(3):25-35.