Addressing stress-related health issues with essential oils

4 min to read
Andrea Butje
09/20/2021

Stress is bad... but how bad is it, really?

You've probably heard that stress is bad for your health.

Study after study confirms it—stress can affect your sleep, mental well-being, heart health, and more. 

Aromahead graduate David Kropp
learned the hard way
how dramatic the effects of stress can be.

In 2012, David began experiencing serious digestive issues—bloating, cramping, an inability to eat, and even feeling like he was being stabbed in the stomach repeatedly! (Ouch!)

He went to the emergency room multiple times, but doctors couldn't find anything seriously wrong with him.

David's diagnosis

After another debilitating episode of pain, David's wife drove him to a different hospital. 

There, doctors looked more deeply into David's problems. After a series of uncomfortable tests, they finally had a diagnosis: David had IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and severe acid reflux. The doctors prescribed him a few medications, most of which didn't work very well—and David still couldn't leave the house without knowing how far he was from a bathroom.

On his website, David says, "The problem with IBS is that in every case you could have different symptoms and multiple triggers. 

For me, my trigger is stress!!!

Even though David loved his job and had been there for 10 years, it was a high-stress, long-hours position. Soon, the stress overpowered David's prescriptions. His symptoms were as bad as ever. 

And he began having heart problems, too. 

David goes stress-free with aromatherapy!

David decided to take some time off work—two months—to get his health in order and spend time with his family.

Those two months changed everything.

During this time, David discovered essential oils. 

"I was amazed at how I felt just by breathing
in some essential oil aromas. Let me just tell you,
I was a different person without all of that stress.

As David's stress levels dropped, his heartfelt steadier, his IBS calmed down, and he was able to eat a wider variety of foods with no trouble. 

A hard decision, a new direction

But eventually, the two magical months came to an end. David had to go back to work.

Within a week, his symptoms returned.

He began to ask himself difficult questions: 

  •  In 5 to 10 years, will I regret staying at this job for the money and security? 

  • How much of my happiness and life with my family would I sacrifice for that? 

Making the decision to leave his job was one of the hardest things David ever did.

David turns to Aromatherapy Certification

After experiencing the way they'd helped to lower his stress, David was an essential oil believer! 

With his new, freed-up schedule, he began making more aromatherapy blends. He felt happier, more relaxed, and a lot healthier... and people noticed.

They started asking him for advice and customized blends.

"The more people came to me looking for advice," David says, "the more I wanted to make sure I knew what I was talking about! But the more I researched essential oils, the more confused I felt about all the different information that was out there."

My research led me to
Aromahead Institute School of Essential Oil Studies.

David became a Certified Aromatherapist not long after leaving his stressful job. 

Now, he runs Essentials by DK, selling aromatherapy blends and essential oils at markets and vendor shows in Oneonta, New York. He also makes customized blends for his clients and sells a wide variety of products at his online store—including aromatherapy jewelry, lotions, inhalers, pure essential oils, and more! 

See David's online store, Essentials by DK, here.

David's aromatherapy journey: an example of helping others

David's story is an example of the profound effects that aromatherapy can have on stress relief and overall health and on helping you start a brand new phase of life (if that's your dream).

If you're struggling with ongoing health issues or with a lifestyle that doesn't support your well-being, aromatherapy certification could be for you. Understanding the science of essential oils can help you work with nature to find greater peace in your life—physically, mentally, and emotionally. 

Curious about where to start?

Gain the knowledge and skills you need to make therapeutically effective essential oil blends! The Aromatherapy Certification Program provides you with the highest-quality aromatherapy education available so you can feel 100% confident in your ability to use your essential oils safely and effectively. You’ll gain the expertise needed to create blends for others – and even transform your career!

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