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Essential Oils, Aromatherapy Course Review: Indiana University at South Bend, Department of Chemistry, recently offered two courses for college credit: The healing art and science of aromatherapy owes a debt to Drs. George Nazaroff and Robert Pappas, each physical chemists, for designing and offering the first courses on Essential Oils and Aromatherapy for college credit. Dr. Pappas, blending an obvious exuberance for essential oils with a powerful knowledge of pertinent chemistry, is the sole instructor for C390. The Chemistry of Essential Oils, C390, is designed for students having backgrounds in chemistry and includes a lab where students performed steam distillations (lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, spearmint, lime) using a still designed and manufactured by Dr. Pappas. Students developed skills in identification of odors by recognizing characteristic chemical groups and specific chemicals within a group. This is really a nose on class!
One interest everyone could agree upon is an attraction and passion for the oils. Students were most fortunate to have several instructors with years of practical experience in the art and science of aromatherapy. Introduction to Aromatherapy was designed to attract a wide range of students from varied backgrounds. Included were nurses, massage therapists, estheticians, persons who were knowledgeable concerning herbal medicines, chemistry and biology students, business majors, some with general interest or those needing science credits. The textbook for the course is The Aromatherapy Practitioner Reference Manual by Sylla Sheppard-Hanger. She founded the Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy in Tampa Florida and has been interested in aromatherapy long before it became so popular. At the invitation of Dr. Nazaroff I have had the opportunity to audit each of these courses. In contrast to many science-related courses there was a noticeable and I think remarkably high level of interest for the topic by students and most of the instructors. It seems everyone responds to olfactory stimulus but few prior to these classes had any idea why or how. Initially there were several lectures by Dr. Rob Pappas introducing students to the classification of organic molecules and chemical nomenclature. Rob has a way of simplifying what most non- science students find especially intimidating. Carolyn Sajdecki, a practicing Aromatherapist, gave a most interesting lecture on the history of Aromatherapy from antiquity till more modern times. University professors gave other guest lectures related to their professional training: Dr. Andy Schnabel spoke on the Botany of Plants yielding Essential Oils. His lecture clarified the taxonomic hierarchy by which living organisms are classified and covered which plant families are most widely used for essential oils. Dr. Paul Bushnell gave two lectures on The Anatomy and Physiology of the Skin while students appreciated the complexities of the human body. Students learned about nerve action potentials in the context of the anatomical and physiological considerations of olfaction. Dr. Paul Schnur, a psychologist, encouraged students to become skeptics and critical thinkers while doing reasonable justification to some important characteristics of science. His characterizations of non-science however fit poorly with the personal experience of many in his audience having years of clinical experience in the healing arts. Some examples given to illustrate alleged non-science were so cursory and poorly thought out that they provoked criticism. Dr. Schnur seems to believe that if it isn't in the peer reviewed journals then it could not be scientific failing to recognize that as much as 60% of what is taught currently as scientific fact is known to be false a decade later.
25 basic oils were covered including psychological, cosmetological, and medical applications. Sylla's teaching style is warm, informal, and hospitable while encouraging questions and much dialogue. Everyone seemed to appreciate the relaxed atmosphere while learning actual and practical uses for the oils. Scent strips that had been dipped in the oils were passed around the class as they were covered lending additional reinforcement and pleasure to the learning experience. Special attention was given to the Ancient Oils including Frankincense, Myrrh, and Helichrysum. Dr. Pappas performed a steam distillation of Frankincense oil from the resin using a still he designed and manufactures for sale to the trade. That day the classroom had an almost meditative bouquet conducive to learning. A wealth of practical information that could be put to immediate use by novice or professionals was gleaned from Sylla while Rob provided the necessary chemical understanding making for a dynamic learning experience. Rarely in higher education is such powerful reinforcement encountered. The top 10 essential oils, their uses and chemistry were covered. Several case histories were given with student imput on how essential oils might be useful in commonly encountered situations. Safety considerations and sensitization were covered in detail. Students expressed much interest in conducting further research after learning of the promising work by Sylla and her colleague, Dr. Trevor Stokes, treating behavioral and emotional disorders in children. Many remarked that her presentations were the high point of the course. Dr. Cynthia Softhauser, a registered surgical nurse, gave an interesting introductory talk on Complementary Therapies in Health Care along with her colleague family nurse practitioner Sue Anderson. She was careful to give credit to other healing arts including acupuncture, ayurveda, chiropractic, massage therapy, healing touch, even prayer. Dr. Softhauser pointed out deficiencies in the current allopathic model for health care while providing suggestions for improvement based on better education for both physicians and the public. She called for interdisciplinary respect but cautioned that any lasting change is likely to take place slowly. Her lecture included contributions to a Mind/Body model for health care popularized by Drs. Weil, Dossey, Chopra, Benson, and Selye. She made clear differentiation between healing and curing and called on the need for a truly preventive model for health care. Dr. Softhouser suggests we quit shoulding on ourselves and Just Do It! Dr. Rachel Hurz, a psychologist with training in evolutionary theory, spoke on the connections between olfaction, memory, and emotion. She believes that attraction or disdain for odors is mostly a learned response drawing heavily on cultural bias. She pointed out the difficulties in verbally labeling odors. Her research seems to indicate that powerful emotional response is mainly the province of olfaction much less acoustic, palpable, or even visual stimuli. She concludes that olfaction and emotion are the same thing viewed from the perspective of evolution and further considers emotions "abstracted versions of what olfaction tells an organism (which seems to include us!) on a primitive level." One way to measure interest in a college class is to look for students who have fallen asleep. I can assure you there were none! Lets hope that these first college courses give birth to others to fulfill a need to elevate the therapeutic uses for essential oils to its rightful position in the healing arts. Paul Willems, D.C. © 1996 - 2002, Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy |
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Dr. Pappas is the lead instructor for Introduction to Aromatherapy, C208, where several guest lectures contribute in their specific areas of expertise to the course. Drawing on his background in the perfume industry Dr. Pappas offers a wealth of practical information to students of varied educational interests. Additionally he provides customer tailored instrumental, analytical, and consulting services to those in the essential oil industry.
Perhaps the most memorable lectures of the course were presentations given by Sylla Sheppard-Hanger, a licensed massage therapist and well known aromatherapist who quickly won the confidence of students while educating them concerning the uses of essential oils in therapeutic treatments. Sylla also conducted a three-day introductory workshop where highly interested persons worked directly with the oils creating their own blends while exploring the possibilities of incorporating them into their personal or professional lives.