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E. Joy Bowles
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Dr E. Joy Bowles is best known for her contribution to the understanding of essential oil chemistry in the aromatherapy community. After completing her Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Organic Chemistry and Cell Biology, she developed the first course in essential oil chemistry in Australia in 1991. The third edition of her book "The Chemistry of Aromatherapeutic Oils" (Allen & Unwin, 2003) is still used as a text in many aromatherapy courses around the world.
In 2007 she gained her PhD on the effect of essential oils on cognitive function in dementia. After motherhood and working in chronic disease management, Joy has returned to share her chemistry and pharmacology understanding with a new generation of essential oil enthusiasts, aromatherapists and health practitioners. In 2016 she attended the Botanica conference in England, and was invited to present in the Asia-Pacific Aromatherapy College's World Expert series in Hong Kong.
In 2017 she presented two webinars for the Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association, developed a 10-week webinar series titled “How Essential Oils Work on the Body”, and a one-day “Inside Aromatherapy” workshop. In 2018 she collaborated with the Tisserand Institute to create the Foundational Chemistry webinar series, and presented a 2 day “Joy of Chemistry” workshop 20-21 October in Longmont, Colorado, as well as several other offerings of the “Inside Aromatherapy” workshop, and a 21-hour webinar series titled “Refreshing Chemistry”. Dr Bowles was the key-note speaker at the annual NAHA conference in Salt Lake City, Utah (23-28 October 2018), and her talk on the psychological effects of essential oils included insights on dementia gained from her PhD, and current research on the neurobiology of olfaction.
Research-wise, in 2017-18 Joy collaborated with Peta Day (Paperbark Oils), and Monica Witsch (naturopath and aromatherapist) on the Fragonia Collaboration. This is a practitioner-led group on Facebook collecting case-study information on the therapeutic uses of Fragonia oil (Agonis fragrans). She collaborated with Dr Tamara Agnew and Dr Jessie Hawkins and Christy Hires from the Franklin Health Research Foundation to investigate various aspects of the practice of aromatherapy and the use of essential oils.
In 2020 Dr Bowles appeared in the Netflix docu-series (Un)Well speaking as an essential oil science author and educator in Episode 1: Essential Oils. The episode displays some of the ways essential oils are being used to promote wellness, from the 'do-it-yourself' home-use of essential oils, to the non-pharmacological use of essential oils in hospitals to help patients manage nausea, insomnia and pain. The more traditional practice of an authentic aromatherapist is also highlighted, showing the treatment of child with special needs. Dr Bowles was able to further explore this intersection in her talk at the Botanica 2020 conference in September: "Aromatherapy at a cross-roads - wholism, ingestion and pharmacological uses of essential oils".
From 2020-2023, she focused on preparing recordings for the Aromatherapy Journal Club, co-authored a rapid review on the use of essential oils for viral respiratory infections, and a review on the anti-microbial use of Tea Tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia). She is the vice-president of ARQAT, (Aromatherapy Research Quality Appraisal Taskforce), working to create aromatherapy research reporting guidelines, and the TREATS check-list was published in 2024.
Publications
In 2007 she gained her PhD on the effect of essential oils on cognitive function in dementia. After motherhood and working in chronic disease management, Joy has returned to share her chemistry and pharmacology understanding with a new generation of essential oil enthusiasts, aromatherapists and health practitioners. In 2016 she attended the Botanica conference in England, and was invited to present in the Asia-Pacific Aromatherapy College's World Expert series in Hong Kong.
In 2017 she presented two webinars for the Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association, developed a 10-week webinar series titled “How Essential Oils Work on the Body”, and a one-day “Inside Aromatherapy” workshop. In 2018 she collaborated with the Tisserand Institute to create the Foundational Chemistry webinar series, and presented a 2 day “Joy of Chemistry” workshop 20-21 October in Longmont, Colorado, as well as several other offerings of the “Inside Aromatherapy” workshop, and a 21-hour webinar series titled “Refreshing Chemistry”. Dr Bowles was the key-note speaker at the annual NAHA conference in Salt Lake City, Utah (23-28 October 2018), and her talk on the psychological effects of essential oils included insights on dementia gained from her PhD, and current research on the neurobiology of olfaction.
Research-wise, in 2017-18 Joy collaborated with Peta Day (Paperbark Oils), and Monica Witsch (naturopath and aromatherapist) on the Fragonia Collaboration. This is a practitioner-led group on Facebook collecting case-study information on the therapeutic uses of Fragonia oil (Agonis fragrans). She collaborated with Dr Tamara Agnew and Dr Jessie Hawkins and Christy Hires from the Franklin Health Research Foundation to investigate various aspects of the practice of aromatherapy and the use of essential oils.
In 2020 Dr Bowles appeared in the Netflix docu-series (Un)Well speaking as an essential oil science author and educator in Episode 1: Essential Oils. The episode displays some of the ways essential oils are being used to promote wellness, from the 'do-it-yourself' home-use of essential oils, to the non-pharmacological use of essential oils in hospitals to help patients manage nausea, insomnia and pain. The more traditional practice of an authentic aromatherapist is also highlighted, showing the treatment of child with special needs. Dr Bowles was able to further explore this intersection in her talk at the Botanica 2020 conference in September: "Aromatherapy at a cross-roads - wholism, ingestion and pharmacological uses of essential oils".
From 2020-2023, she focused on preparing recordings for the Aromatherapy Journal Club, co-authored a rapid review on the use of essential oils for viral respiratory infections, and a review on the anti-microbial use of Tea Tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia). She is the vice-president of ARQAT, (Aromatherapy Research Quality Appraisal Taskforce), working to create aromatherapy research reporting guidelines, and the TREATS check-list was published in 2024.
Publications
- Quality Appraisal of Research Reporting for Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Studies in Humans: Proposed Checklist for “Transparent Reporting for Essential oil and Aroma Therapeutic Studies. Reven, M. E., Bowles, E. J., Audia, D. D., Cohen, M. M., Joswiak, D. J., Kurkas Lee, B. A., May-Fitzgerald, A. C., Peppers-Citizen, M., Resnick, J. A., Tomaino, J. M., & Unger, B. J. (2024). Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 30(5), 469–477. https://doi.org/10.1089/jicm.2023.0006
- Efficacy and safety of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil for human health—A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Kairey L, Agnew T, Bowles EJ, Barkla BJ, Wardle J and Lauche R (2023) Front. Pharmacol. 14:1116077. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1116077
- A report on the Aromatherapy Workforce Survey, E. Joy Bowles, Tamara Agnew (2021) International Journal of Professional Holistic Aromatherapy, vol 10, issue 1.
- Effects of essential oils on symptoms and course (duration and severity) of viral respiratory infections in humans: A rapid review, Sebastian Prall, E. Joy Bowles, Kathleen Benett, Carolyn Giselle Cooke, Tamara Agnew, Amie Steel, Tina Hausser (2020) Advances in Integrative Medicine, vol 7, issue 4.
- Remembering the Heyday of Aromatherapy in Australian Aged Care Facilities (2020) International Journal of Professional Holistic Aromatherapy, vol 8, issue 4.
- A regional diabetes database improves Type 2 diabetes outcomes in general practice Regional Universities Network conference, Rockhampton, 2016.
- Sustainability of diabetes management in general practice (poster) March 2016, Joy Bowles, Michelle Guppy
- Supporting participation: Facilitating inclusion of rural Australians aging with intellectual disabilities in research using validated survey tools Joy Bowles, Rafat Hussain, Stuart Wark, M. Janicki, Jan 2016 Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 60:642
- Rational phytotherapy — A physician's guide to herbal medicine
E. Joy Bowles
International Journal of Aromatherapy 12/2001; 11(4):229-230. DOI:10.1016/S0962-4562(01)80042-4 - Effects of essential oils and touch on resistance to nursing care procedures and other dementia-related behaviours in a residential care facility
E. Joy Bowles, Dilys M Griffiths, Letitia Quirk, Anne Brownrigg, Karen Croot
International Journal of Aromatherapy 01/2002; 12(1):22-29. DOI:10.1054/ijar.2001.0128 - A survey of aromatherapy practices in aged care facilities in northern NSW, Australia
E Joy Bowles, Philip Cheras, John Stevens, Stephen P Myers
International Journal of Aromatherapy 01/2005; 15(1). DOI:10.1016/j.ijat.2004.09.012 - Evaluation of a Memory Assessment Program, Dementia Collaborative Research Council conference, 21-22 September 2013, conference proceedings.
