By Sangita Maharjan RN Aromatherapy Holistic treatment based

By Sangita Maharjan RN

Aromatherapy Ø Holistic treatment based on the external use of essential aromatic plant oils to maintain and promote physical, physiological, and spiritual well being. Ø a part of herbal medicine and one of the fastest growing field in alternative medicine. Ø Used for the relief of pain, reduce anxiety, and promote relaxation.

The History of Aromatherapy Ø Nearly 6000 years old Ø used in Greece, Rome and Egypt. Ø By Egyptian physician Imhotep, God of medicine and healing and Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine.

The History of Aromatherapy contd… Ø In modern era, the term is coined in 1928 from the French term aromatherapie by a French chemist, René Maurice Gattefossé. Ø Discovered the healing properties of essential plants oil. Ø Used In world war I and World war II Ø by Dr Jean Valnet, a French army surgeon and Marguerite Maury, a surgical assistant

The Benefits of Aromatherapy

The Benefits of Aromatherapy contd Ø With holistic perspective, preventive health care and useful complementary treatment Ø Essential oils have antiseptic, and some have antiviral, anti inflammatory, pain relieving, antidepressant, stimulation, relaxation, digestion improvement, diuretic properties and expectorant properties. Ø widely used at home, clinics and hospitals.

How does Aromatherapy work?

How does Aromatherapy work? Ø The effects of an aroma can be relaxing or stimulating. Ø Work at psychological, physiological, and cellular levels. Ø affect body, mind all the delicate links in between Ø Produced Only steam distillation or expression or squeezing methods.

Methods of application Ø Three ways: Ø through ingestion, Ø through olfaction, the fastest effect, triggers olfactory sense and trigger responses in limbic system. Ø through topical application, via diffusion, compression, massage.

Evidence Based Research and Clinical Practice Ø Human can the capability to distinguish 10, 000 different smells. Ø Smell controls our moods, emotions, memory and learning. Ø doctors have found that a life without fragrance can lead to high incidence of psychiatric problems. Ø smelling lavender increases alpha waves in the back of head. Ø Fragrance of Jasmine increases beta waves in the front of the heads.

Evidence Based Research and Clinical Practice contd. . Ø A study conducted in Japanese fragrance company found that Japanese have reported less mistakes by key punch operators when exposed to fragrance. Ø British Medical Journal Lancet, elderly patients slept "like babies" when a lavender aroma was wafted into their bedrooms at night. Ø Han et al. (2006) found a mixture of essential oils topically applied to the abdomen of 67 nurses had a statically significant effect on reducing menstrual pain

Evidence Based Research and Clinical Practice contd. . Ø Warnke et al. , Edward-Jones et al, Bowlers et al. tested tea tree against several staphylococcal strains including MRSA, four streptococcus strains, and three candida strains including candida krusei Ø decrease in prevalence of MRSA, most effective against MRSA in dressing. Ø peppermint, and lemon reduced malodor and volatile sulfur compound in intensive care unit patients. Ø A Japanese study found that black peeper stimulated swallowing reflex in people with dysfunction following stroke Ø A paper by Lesho suggests that essential oils would be useful to reduce the incidence of hospital acquired and ventilator associated pneumonia

Implication for Nursing Practice and Theory Ø Aromatherapy resonates with various theory of nursing. Ø Watson’s Theory of Caring Ø Barret’s Theory of Power Ø Nightingale’s Theory of Nursing Ø Erickson’s work which led to the modeling theory Ø Roger’s Nursing Theory Ø Added to holistic nursing board examinations in the United States

Implication for Nursing Practice and Theory Ø In the United States and Great Britain, the contemporary practice of aromatherapy is often associated with naturopathy and Western herbal medicine. Ø The fastest growing therapy among nurses in the united states. Ø In the United States, many hospital-affiliated centers for the study of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) offer aromatherapy as well as other alternative approaches.

Risks of aromatherapy Ø Not all essential oils, however, should be taken internally. Ø Oral consumption only under the care and supervision of an experienced practitioner. Ø Cautious use during pregnancy, have allergy, high blood pressure or epilepsy. Ø Cautious use in young children or babies. Ø post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or any of the dissociative disorders.

REFRENCE Ø Aromatherapy. com (n. d). The balance and harmony of body, mind. Essential oils. Retrieved 01/26/2014 from http: //www. aromatherapy. com/essential_oils. html Ø Holisticonline. com( 2007). Aromatherapy. Retrieved 01/26/2014 from http: //holisticonline. com/Aromatherapy/aroma_benefits. htm Ø Dossey, B. M. , & Keegan, L. (2013). Holistic nursing: a handbook for practice (6 th ed. ). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Ø Rebecca J. Frey( n. d). Encyclopedia of mental disorder. Aromatherapy. Retrieved 01/26/2014 from http: //www. minddisorders. com/ABr/Aromatherapy. html.