Pallative Care
Aromatherapy and Palliative/Hospice Care Setting
Being a Licensed Massage Therapist and Aromatherapist working in a hospice/palliative care setting I have the great honor of working with these patients. I was recently contacted by a representative from mesothelioma, which promoted me to add this page to my website. I also had the privilege in January 2010 of working on a dear friend who was a member in my local massage chapter which promoted LMT’s in my chapter to create a network of Massage Therapist to work on friends and family who are dealing with a terminal illness. Working with palliative care patients is very different; patients who have a terminal illness are dealing with a very low immune system to begin with and have a lot of stress and anxiety on the body and mind. So how can aromatherapy work? There are several ways you can use aromatherapy working with palliative/hospice care patients. Here are 2 ways.1) Aromatically – Patients can place a couple of drops of essential oils on a tissue (I do not recommend using a diffuser it can cause the room to smell to much) Using a cottonball or tissue is a better alternative if the patient decides the aromatic smell is to much they can remove the tissue and the room clears out much faster. The patient can smell the tissue with the essential oil or they can place the tissue next to their bedside.
2) Topically - You can create a blend to use in crème (I use a crème versus a lotion – crèmes have a slightly thicker consistency and can add hydration to the skin. I personally do not use an oil as a carrier (carrier is a lotion or oil to place essential oils in) when working with cancer patients. Oils can create heat and cancer patients if they are going through radiation/chemo treatments are already dealing with a very high heating factor in their body. Also patients who are receiving radiation/chemo treatments should use essential oils for aromatic use only. Their body is going through a lot of changes and even the simple products they normally use can cause irritation on the skin. (Patients who go through radiation/chemo treatments are told to limit the products they are putting on their body due to high skin irritation)
Some Essential Oils you could use
Citrus (citrus oils are photosentizing)
Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) – This essential oil has anxiety, antiseptic and antispasmodic qualities.
Lemon (Citrus limon) – Emotionally uplifting, this essential oil has antiseptic qualities can use in a blend to cut down aromatic smell when using several essential oils in a blend.
Orange – Sweet (Citrus sinensis) – This essential oil has antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic qualities. Aromatically smelling can create a sense of expansion (not feeling trapped) and can create saliva glands to excrete to stimulate the urge to want to eat.
Cooling and Breathing
Euclayptus Radiata – Euclayptus radiata species is safer to use. This essential oil has great antiseptic, anti-viral, cooling and decongesting properties. is Great for respiratory.
Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) – This essential oil has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic and cooling poperties. Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint (Mentha aquatic) and spearmint (Mentha spicata).
Spearmint (Mentha spicata) – Same qualities as Peppermint but aromatic smell is not as strong. Spearmint is not a cross breed as Peppermint is.
Cedarwood (Juniperus virginia) – This essential oil has anti-infectious, antiseptic qualities; great for nervous system. Most men like the aromatic smell.
Calming and Skin Nourishing
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)- Wide range – This essential oil has anti-depressant, antiseptic, antibacterial, sedative and anti-inflammatory properties; Release body and mind tension
Neroli (Citrus aurantium var- amara) – This essential oil has anti-depressant, antiseptic and antispasmodic qualities. Great to use to calm the mind and body.
Vetivert (Vetiveria zizanoides) – This essential oil has antiseptic, cooling and grounding properties. The aromatic smell is not for everyone but you can always use another essential oil to create an aromatic smell you like. This is another oil I include in all of my blends
Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini) - This essential oil has anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-bacterial qualities. It is a great oil for calming and cooling the nervous system and great to include for skin care.
Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum) – This oil has antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic and skin healing properties. I include this in all of my blends
Comfort Care Aromatherapy Kit Coming Soon! Use my contact form to signup.
What does the Kit include?
4 Custom Blends and essential oil of Lavender
1 Bamboo spoon
Himalyan Salt Stone in a small bamboo dish (to use as a naturual aromatic difusser
2 oz Creme
A card that lists essential oils listed above with dilution rates
Dilutions
Depending on the specific oil and the situation, a total of 5-18 drops of essential oil blended into 1 oz of carrier oil/crème/lotion. These amounts may vary based on the person for whom you are making the blend (see dilutions below) and on the strength of the specific oil you are using. For example, you can use several drops of Lavender to every 1 drop of Rose. How are these dilutions derived? It takes 500-600 drops of essential oil to make 1 ounce.1% Dilution = 5 to 6 drops of essential oil to each ounce of carrier oil or cream. This dilution is used for children, elders, chronically ill individuals and pregnant woman.
2% Dilution = 10 to 12 drops of essential oils to each ounce of carrier oil or cream. This dilution is used for in massage oils for the average adult.
3% Dilution = 15 to 18 drops of essential oils to each ounce of carrier oil or cream. This dilution is used for specific illnesses or for acute injury. (For short periods 1 to 3 weeks tops; then you would go back to a 2% dilution).
The term carrier oil (also known as “fixed oil” or “base oil”) refers to the solution and delivery method to dilute essential oils in. Carrier oils have their own therapeutic advantages as well as the essential oils.
Note: Please keep in mind that what works today might not work tomorrow. The body is always changing and patients with terminal illness are already dealing with a lot of fluctuation in their body; due to a low immune system, medications etc. Also when using essential oils in the mint family such as peppermint and spearmint if you are on any homeopathic medicines it can cancel out the homeopathic medicine; please check with your doctor.
I use Aromatherapy, Massage, Reiki and Meditation as a form of alternative therapy when working with my patients.
The American Cancer Society and many other groups are incorporating alternative therapies for patients. Here is what they had to say:
How is it promoted for use?
Aromatherapy is promoted as a natural way to help patients cope with stress, chronic pain, nausea, and depression and to produce a feeling of well-being.
Aromatherapy Beneficial in Complementary Cancer Care please visit their site