
Jade Shutes
Thirty years ago, while living in London, England, I was blessed to have my first experience with aromatherapy. Suffering with debilitating back pain, a friend referred me to her friend Sophie, who offered aromatherapy. The British approach to aromatherapy was and is through the application of the essential oils via massage. My first aromatherapy session was life-transforming! At some point during the massage I fell fast asleep, and upon waking the very first thought I had was “THIS is what I want to do for the rest of my life!”. I wanted to give others this transformative experience.
Within the year I was enrolled at the Raworth College of Natural Health in Dorking, England. I was trained in anatomy and physiology, basic chemistry (hardly a focus in those days!), applied kinesiology, reflexology, iridology, and of course, essential oils and massage. Shortly after graduating, I returned to Boston, MA, my home town, to set up a practice for aromatherapy. This was 1991. What I found was that no one knew what aromatherapy was so it was a bit challenging to build a practice without first educating people on what aromatherapy was and what it could potentially do for them.
And now thirty years later, that is what I have lived to do: educate, practice, research, and write. I believe in the power of education and have seen how it empowers our students and graduates with the knowledge, they need to thrive in the 21 st century wellness movement.
EDUCATION
Diploma in Holistic Aromatherapy, Holistic Massage, Anatomy and Physiology, and Reflexology from the Raworth College of Natural Medicine in Dorking, UK, and a Diploma in Aromatherapy from the International Therapist Examining board (ITEC).
INDUSTRY ROLES
- Past-President of NAHA (2000-2003, 2013-2015)
- NAHA Education committee – Pivotal in setting education standards for aromatherapy (1997)
WRITING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Author of Aromatherapy for Bodyworkers (2006)
- Author of Ultimate Guide to Aromatherapy (2020)
I am a strong advocate for the use of aromatherapy and herbal medicine for self-care
healthcare and believe education is the key to self-empowerment. I believe
aromatherapy 'plants a seed' in each of us, awakening our inherent relationship with the
beauty and wisdom of the natural world.”