In aromatherapy we have several people who use the title doctor, to give people the impression that they are medically qualified. Are they a doctor of industrial chemistry, I know of at least three leading names in our trade that are just that. Are they a doctor of philosophy, religion, politics, or indeed have they any such qualification. Yes, there are some leading figures in our trade that obtained a doctorate by attending a course for a few days in Sri Lanka which had nothing to do with aromatherapy. The organization awarding these phony degrees offered it to many people in the International Federation of Aromatherapists in the UK, and doubtless elsewhere.
Lets say for arguments sake that the individual did train as a medical doctor at some stage.
Fine, at least they should have a knowledge of medicine, but that certainly does not mean they have an adequate knowledge of essential oils. In that regard there are some well known names in France whose course notes and writings indicate an appallingly inadequate knowledge of safety. The same individuals also clearly have not got a sound understanding of the chemistry of essential oils, or a sound knowledge of a significant part of their medicinal properties. While I am on this subject, do not be mislead by those that claim aromatherapy is widely practised by medical doctors in France, this simply is not true and is just another example of aromatherapy hype. My investigations have indicated that of the few doctors in France that use essential oils, most do it in private practice, not within the French health care system.