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Features for Senior Citizens
Cancer Center Teaches Using Aromatherapy to Heal and
Soothe
Oils have properties that affect the
brain, enter the bloodstream
 August
25, 2006 - A bubble bath that improves memory – that gets the
attention of most senior citizens. A kitchen cleaner that wards off
nausea and energizes. A scented handkerchief that calms a patient
entering the MRI. The benefits of aromatherapy are real, according to
the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. A cancer specialist shares
her advice on using oils for healing.
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Features for Senior Citizens |
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Aromatherapy is the use of oils extracted from
plants to alleviate physical and psychological disorders, usually
through massage or inhalation.
Scan the shelves of the local bath and body stores
and one is sure to find products labeled for aromatherapy. Many might be
surprised to learn the science behind it. So what is aromatherapy, how
is it used and will those products actually work?
Cherie Perez, a supervising research nurse in the
Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, teaches a monthly
aromatherapy class to answer those questions for cancer patients and
caregivers undergoing treatment at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Perez's classes are offered free of charge through
M. D. Anderson's Place of wellness, a center within the institution that
focuses on helping patients and caregivers deal with the non-medical
issues of living with cancer, and is the first complementary therapy
facility to be built on the campus of a comprehensive cancer center.
Perez, who first became involved with aromatherapy
to help relieve the physical pain and discomfort caused by fibromyalgia,
shares her professional knowledge of the basics of aromatherapy, safety
precautions and interactive demonstrations in each hour-long class.
Oils and healing
While essential oils may not directly stimulate the
immune system, they can complement cancer treatment by boosting the
system's ability to fight off infections, says Perez.
Certain oils can also stimulate lymphatic drainage
or have antibacterial properties. Since it has many potential uses
ranging from managing anxiety and nausea to helping with sleep, general
relaxation, memory and attention, many individuals, including cancer
patients, can benefit from aromatherapy [See on this page: Five Oils to
Reduce Stress and Relieve Ailments.]
There are a variety of different products and
methods of diffusion to obtain the healing benefits of oils. Some oils -
like lavender, ylang ylang and sandalwood can be applied directly to the
skin - while others are too concentrated and need to be diluted into
carriers such as massage oils, bath soaps and lotions [See on this page:
Everyday Uses for Aromatherapy.]
Most typically, Perez advises patients to put a few
drops of an oil, or a combination of oils onto a handkerchief and "fan
themselves like Scarlett O'Hara." Burning oils or incense is not
recommended because most are poorly constructed and give off unhealthy
fumes and soot.
Who should, or shouldn't, use oils?
Widely sold in health food stores and beauty chain
stores, essential oils do have chemical properties that can affect the
brain and enter the bloodstream, and for some patients may be toxic when
combined with common cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation
therapy.
Perez says essential oils, like many medicines, can
increase a person's sensitivity to the sun and should be used with
caution. Patients should always inform and discuss with their physicians
before using aromatherapy oils to complement a medical condition.
People with high blood pressure should avoid
hyssop, rosemary, sage and thyme, while diabetics should avoid angelica
oil. Women who are pregnant or nursing should avoid a number of oils
that stimulate the uterus including star anise, basil and juniper to
name a few and should use with caution peppermint, rose and rosemary in
the first trimester. According to Perez, pediatric patients can use
aromatherapy essential oils in very low concentrations. [See on this
age: Tips for Buying Oils.]
Aromatherapy's role in cancer treatment
"The nature of aromatherapy makes it challenging to
study due to the fact that it is difficult to create a placebo and every
person is different in their nasal sensitivities and skin absorption
rates," says Perez.
In the future, however, she would be interested in
designing research to examine how aromatherapy can be used to treat/heal
burns caused from radiation treatment safely and effectively, soothe
pre-treatment anxiety and manage loss-of-memory issues in cancer
survivors.
Five Oils to Reduce Stress and Relieve Ailments
● Lavender - First used as perfume by ancient
Egyptians 2,500 years ago, lavender is now used to treat insomnia,
migraines and provide stress relief.
● Rosemary - This fragrant plant relieves muscle
pain, low blood pressure and cold feet and hands.
● Spearmint - The oil from spearmint aids
digestion and eases nausea and vomiting.
● Masculine scents - Scents such as bay laurel
and ylang-ylang appeal to men for their deep scent. They also treat skin
rashes, rheumatism and stomach ailments.
Everyday Aromatherapy Uses
● Muscle Relaxation Bath Salts - 2 cups of Epsom
salts, 5 drops of each oil - lavender, lemon grass, tea tree & orange.
Use 1/2 cup mixture per bath.
● Room Spray Diffusion - Use any oil 5-20 drops
along with 2 to 4 ounces of distilled or spring water. Common sense
precaution - don't spray in your eyes.
● Energizing Carpet Cleaner - Combine pink
grapefruit oil with baking soda and sprinkle before vacuuming.
● Natural House Cleaner - Blend lemon and
ravensara leaf oils with distilled water and non-sudsing soap.
Tips for Buying Oils
When purchasing oils for themselves, Perez gives
the following guidelines:
● Essential oils from a bath or general store may
be of questionable quality; shop for oils in a specialty store, staffed
by salespeople with aromatherapy training.
● Quality oils, which are light and heat
sensitive, will be in a blue or brown light protective glass.
● Labeling on the bottle should provide should
provide both the common and botanical name for the oil.
● Steer clear of concentrated oils with rubber
eyedroppers since the oils react with the rubber causing it to break
down and contaminate the oil.
Source: M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
M. D. Anderson is located in Houston and was
designated by the National Cancer Institute as one of the first three
Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the United States. For 4 of the last 7
years, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center has ranked number one in cancer care
in "America's Best Hospitals," a survey published annually in U.S. News
& World Report. M. D. Anderson has provided care for more than 600,000
cancer patients since 1944.
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