Aromatherapy The use of essential oils to stimulate, soothe, refresh and heal (Hodgson 1994) The use of essential

al oils for general health and wellbeing (Stevenson 1994) The therapeutic use of essential oils (Buc le 199!) "romatherap# is a science and an art in which essential oils derived from plants are used for their therapeutic properties (Tiran 199$) Essential oils Highl# concentrated volatile substances e%tracted from different parts of numerous plants The# are volatile at room temperature The oils have different chemical constituents which give them their therapeutic &ualities The# interact with the bod# pharmacologicall#, ph#siologicall# and ps#chologicall# ('is(Balchin )**$)

Methods of application of aromatherapy treatment 1+ " diffuser, usuall# powered b# electricit#, giving out a fine mist )+ " burner, with water added to the fragrance to prevent burning of the essential oil (1() drops of essential oil to 1* mils of water)+ The burner can be warmed b# candles or electricit#+ ,+ -eramic or metal rings, placed on an electric light+

4+ " warm bath with drops of essential oil added, results in a slow vapouri.ation of the essential oil+ /+ " bowl of hot water with drops of essential oil used for soa ing the feet or used as a bidet+ $+-ompresses using essential oils on a wet cloth, either hot or cold+ 0 1assage, the essential oil is diluted in a carrier oil and massaged into the s in !+ 2ral inta e, not recommended and onl# to be prescribed b# an aromatologist+

Issues in the use of essential oils: Training3approved staff 4nformation from the woman5 suitabilit# and contraindications, treating the person and not the s#mptoms Selection of oils and dosage Selection of carrier oil Blending of oils 6o single oil should be used for more than , wee s at an# one time "dministration Storage "ftercare advice 7ocumentation

Adverse reactions associated with Aromatherapy (Lis-Belchin 2 !) Some oils act a respirator# irritants and can trigger asthma 1igraine and headaches "llergic reaction e+g+lavender, tea tree, sandlewood+ 8hototo%icit# e+g citrus ols , petigraain, neroli, #lang #lang 7ermal to%icit# e+g+ tea tree, camomile, lemon 2ral to%icit#5 thu9a, nutmeg, wormwood 6euroto%icit#, rosemar# Teratogenicit#3mutagenicit# "bortifacient3emmanogogue, e+g+penn#ro#al, nutmeg, lavender -arcinogenic 2ther issues5 sensitisation

"a#ardous essential oils contraindicated in Aromatherapy "rmoise Horseradish "rnica :aborandi leaf Basil (e%otic) 1elilotus Birch (sweet) 1ustard Bitter almond 2riganum Boldo leaf 8enn#ro#al Broom 8ine (dwarf) Bachu ;ue -alamus Sassafras -amphor Savin -assia Savor# -hervil Tans# -innamon bar Thu9a -love (bud, leaf or stem) Ton a -ostus <anilla 7eertongue =intergreen >lecampane =ormwood ?ennel (bitter) Essential oils that may cause s$in reactions Basil (?rench) :asmine Ben.oin 'avender Bergamot 'emon -ederwood 'emongrass -amomile 1elissa -innamon 2rrange -itronella 8eppermint @eranium Tea(Tree @inger Th#me Essential oils thou%ht to &e emmena%o%ic (use with caution in pre%nancy) "ngelica @albanum ?ran insense "niseed H#ssop Th#me Basil :asmine Ba# :uniper -arrot seed 'avender -amomile 1ar9oram -eler# seed 1#rrh -lar# sage 8eppermint ?ennel ;ose ("dapted from Tiran 7 )*** -linical "romatherap# for 8regnanc# and -hildbirth -hurchill 'ivingston)

'ome (esearch )indin%s *reatin% +epression and An,iety with Aromatherapy ,) patients with depression3an%iet# allocated to aromatherap# or control group+ "romatherap# group received5 $ fortnightl# massages lasting for 4* mins+ 2ils were selected according to ph#sical and ps#chological s#mptoms -ontrol group received the same massage routine without the essential oils+ -utcomes: 7epression rating scale, an%iet# rating scale, hospital an%iet# rating scale monthl# until 1) wee s+ Significant differences in all measures were recorded in the aromatherap# group+ Essential oils most fre.uently used: Bergamot, lemon, clar#(sage, lavender, chamomile, geranium, rose, sandalwood and 9asmine ('emon A )**4 "n assessment of
trerating depression and an%iet# with aromatherap# 4n : of "romatherap# 14()) $,($9)+)

*he effects of Lavender &aths on psycholo%ical well&ein% " single blind randomised controlled trial to assess lavender baths on positive mood state and positive outloo with respect to the future measured in !* participants randoml# allocated to lavender or grapeseed oil baths for 14 da#s -utcomes 1easure of anger Bfrustration was reduced with lavender baths but no difference for energetic arousal ( feeling vigorous and alert), tense arousal (nervousness and perceived stress) and hedonic tone( feeling cheerful and happ#) showed no difference3 There was also a mar ed reduction in the number of negative responses from the lavender group+(1orris 6 )**) The effects of
lavender baths on ps#chological wellbeing -omplementar# therapies in 6ursing and 1idwifer# 1* )),())!+)

-il of peppermint reduced fati.ue and improved mood in 2/ healthy sleepers in a sleep la&oratory (adaptation0 control and stimulus ni%hts)1 In addition was rated more pleasant0 intense and stimulatin% and elatin% than water (2oel and Lao 2 3) -dours of lavender and oran%e reduce an,iety and improve mood in a dental office when compared to music or a control %roup 'panish ore%ano0 thymus vul%aria and cinnamon were found to &e effective a%ainst candida and 'treptococcus B (Arnal et al 2 4) Essential oils used in Burns and Blamey study 2 Essential oil -lar# sage >ucal#ptus ?ran incense :asmine 'avender 'emon 1andarin 8eppermint ;oman -hamomile ;ose absolute 2

(eason for use "ugment labour 6asal congestion, pain relief High an%iet#, h#steria, h#perventilation 7epression, an%iet#, to enhance labour, to e%pel placenta "n%iet#, tension, stress, rela%ation, headache Cpper respirator# tract infections, to mood enhance3uplift3energise ;ela%ation, mood enhance3uplift3energise 6ausea, vomiting, headaches, p#re%ia 1others with multiple allergies, an%iet#, s in irritation, ec.ema 7epression, low spirits, bereavement, an%iet#, to augment labour+

5 year study of 5 35 women who used aromatherapy in la&our /667 /0362 mothers ! 8 primips0 4 8 multips ma9orit# of mothers used aromatherap# when in established labour ($*D) )9D used it in the latent stage 1ost common reason cited for using aromatherap# was for an%iet# and3or fear 4rrespective of parit# and labour onset women rated aromatherap# as being helpful rather than unhelpful+ The upta e of epidural analgesia was significantl# less for women who used aromatherap# regardless of parit# and labour onset "romatherap# was associated with a reduction in the use of opiates (2+4D in 1990) 2nl# 1D of women reported an# s#mptom following the use of aromatherap#+ *+)9D of caregivers3partners reported s#mptoms S#mptoms were of a minor nature5 developing a rash or itching (Burns > )**) "romatherap# in -hildbirth MIDIRS Sept 1)(,) ,49(,/,) 1others in 1ousel#Es ()**/) audit reported a greater sense of rela%ation than analgesia whilst using aromatherap# in labour but greater effectiveness in easing the pain of perineal and caesarean wounds (1ousel#Es S )**/ "udit of an aromatherap# service in a maternit#
unit -omplementar# therapies in clinical practice 11()*/()1*)

=omen who received a ,* min aromatherap# massage on the ) nd postpartum da# were found to have increased emotional wellbeing and infant attachment scores (4mura et al )**$The 8s#chological >ffects of "romatherap# 1assage in health 8ostpartum 1others :ournal of 1idwifer# and =omenEs Health /1()) )1()0)

(eferences "rnal(Schebelen et al )**4 >ssential oils in infections g#naecological disease5 a statistical anal#sis of $/! cases 4nternational :ournal of "romatherap# 1494) 19)(190 Ba er :, 199! >ssential oils5 a complementar# therap# in wound management Journal of Wound Care 0,0+ ,//(,/0 Broughan - )**/ The ps#chological aspects of aromatherap# The International Journal of Aromatherapy 1/ ,($ Buc le :T 199, "romatherap# Nursing_Times !9+)*+ ,)(,/ FG Buc le :, 1990 -linical "romatherap#HJn of Nursing "rnold 'ondon Buc le :, 199! "lternative3-omplementar# Therapies Critical Care Nursing 1!,/+ /4($1 Burns >, Blarne# -+ 1994 Csing aromatherap# in childbirth Nursing Times 9*,9+ /4, /$, /!, $* Burns >, Blarne# -+ )*** Csing aromatherap# in childbirth 1474;S Sept1)(,) ,49(,/, 7unning T )**/ "ppl#ing a &ualit# use of medicines framewor to using essential oils in nursing practice Complementary Therapies in Clinical ractice 11 10)(1!1 -awthom ", 199/ " review of the literature surrounding the research into aromatherap# Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Mid!ifery 4+ 11!(1)* -lar e S )**) "ssential chemistry for safe aromatherapy >ndinburgh -hurchill 'ivingstone 7ale ", -ornwell S, 1994 The role of lavender oil in relieving perineal discomfort following childbirth5 a blind randomised clinical trial Journal of Ad#anced Nursing 19, !9(9$ 7owner -+ 1999 Safet# is of the essence Nursing Times 9/+0+ 14(1/ ?owler 8, =all 1, 199! "romatherap#, -ontrol of Substances Ha.ardous to health (-2SHH) and assessment of the chemical ris Complementary therapies in medicine $, !/(9, Hodgson T 1994 "romatherap# ( a note of caution for midwives Modern Mid!$fe :an ,1 (,,

'emon A )**4 "n assessment of treating depression and an%iet# with aromatherap# 4n : of "romatherap# 14()) $,($9+ 'is(Balchin 1 )**$ Aromatherapy Science% a guide for healthcare practitioners + 'ondon+ 8harmaceutical press+ 1addoc s(:ennings =, =il inson : )**4 "romatherap# practice in nursing5 literature review Journal of Ad#anced Nursing 4!(1) 9,(1*, 1orris 6 )**) The effects of lavender baths on ps#chological wellbeing -omplementar# therapies in 6ursing and 1idwifer# 1* )),())!+ 1ousel# S )**/ "udit of an aromatherap# service in a maternit# unit -omplementar# therapies in clinical practice 11()*/()1* 8rice S, 8rice ', 199/ Aromatherapy for &ealth rofessionals -hurchill 'ivingstone 'ondon 8rice S, 199! Csing essential oils in professional practice Complementary Therapies in Nnursing and Mid!ifery 4+ 144(140 ;ose S+ 1994 "dvantages of antenatal and postnatal aromatherap# British Journal of Mid!ifery )+,+ 1,,(1,4 Silver(man ;(199/ Cse of alternative therapies in childbirth 'ritish Journal of Mid!ifery ,+4+ I9$()** Tale S, 1990 8eppermint oil5 a treatment for postoperative nausea Journal of Ad#anced Nursing )$+ /4,(/49 Tiran 7, 199$ "romatherap# in midwifer#5 benefits and ris s Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Mid!ifery ), !!(9) Tiran 7, 1999 " holistic framewor for maternit# care Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Mid!ifery+/,1)0(1,/ Tiran 7, 199$ Aromatherapy in Mid!ifery ractice Balliere Tindall 'ondon 9seful addresses "romatherap# 2rganisations -ouncil ("2-)82 Bo% 19!,4, 'ondon S>)/ $=8*1!1 )/1 091) 4nternational ?ederation of "romatherapists, Stamford House, )(4 -hiswic High ;oad 'ondon =4 1TH ;esearch -ouncil for -omplementar# therapies $* @reat 2rmond Street 'ondon =-46 ,:8 *101 !,, !!90