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Aromatherapy Research
Listed below are health
problems for which Aromatherapy has been shown to help. For full details,
please click on the health problem.
Introduction
Research has shown
that when they are applied to the skin or inhaled, essential oils are
absorbed into the bloodstream and metabolised in the body, similar to other
substances.
Many essential oils possess
significant antimicrobial properties, in both liquid and vapour form.
Clinical trails have shown that tee tree oil is highly effective in treating
thrush. Another study has shown that aromatherapy massage with lavender oil
was significantly more effective that both plain oil massage and a control
group, in reducing heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and pain in
patients in an hospital intensive care unit. There are many studies that
demonstrate how essential oils positively affect mood and the sense of well
being.
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Aromatherapy
and elderly patients
Researchers
at Oldham Cottage hospital recently investigated the potential of essential
oil of lavender to aid rest and relaxation and thereby encourage the healing
process in elderly patients.The patients were monitored for seven days
during which time their sleep patterns, dozing and alertness during the day
were recorded. The following seven days one drop of Lavender augustfolia was
put on each patient’s pillow at night. No other changes were made to the
patients’ daily routine or medications that they were receiving.
At the end of the seven days, all of
the patients’ records were collated and analysed. Interestingly, all of
the patients reacted favourably to the treatment; the researchers observed
increased daytime alertness, improved sleep patterns and those patients who
had previously experienced confusion were observed to display as much as a
50 per cent decrease in their symptoms.
Hudson R. The value of
lavender for rest and activity in the elderly patient. Complementary
Therapies in Medicine. 1996: 4; 52-57.
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Aromatherapy
and High Blood Pressure
Aromatherapy
is widely used for the purpose of relaxation and reserchers are now
investigating the alleged benefits. One small, pilot study was conducted
by Jolanta Basnyet, aromatherapist at the Natural Health Centre in
Preston, Lancashire, UK.
Twenty patients were divided into two groups;
the first group to receive five 45 minute aromatherapy treatments using
15ml of unrefined grapeseed carrier oil containing one drop of each of
Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata) , Clary sage (Salvia sclarea) and Marjoram
(Origanum marjorana) over a period of six weeks. The second group
received the same massage but without the essential oils.
The massage technques used were effleurage
(stroking), petrissage (kneading), gentle friction, vibration and
feathering using 15ml of unrefined grapeseed carrier oil which in the
aromatherapy group contained one drop of each of the essential oils.
At the end of the treatment period, the results
revealed that 7/10 in the treatment group and 6/10 in the control
experienced a reduction in their raised blood pressure. The improvement
in pulse rate of patients in the treatment group was consistently higher
than improvement observed in the control group.
The report conludes that 'overall blood
pressure readings in both groups improved successfully, which would
indicate that this type of tactile treatment can have a beneficial
effect on the raised arterial blood pressure.
Alternatives in health
Vol 3:4
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Essential
oil of thyme is antibacterial
Essential
oil of thyme is an effective agent against Salmonella typhimurium
according to researchers at the Institute of Technology and Storage of
Agricultural Products, Volcani Centre, Bet Dagan, Israel.
Viable counts of Salmonella typhimurium on
nutrient agar (NA) were found to decrease upon the addition of either the
essential oil of thyme or its constituent thymol, especially under
anaerobic conditions. Antagonistic effects of thymol against
Staphylococcus aureus were also greater under anaerobic conditions. In
contrast to the phenolic constituents of the oil, thymol and carvacrol,
the chemically related terpenes p-cymene and gamma-terpinene had no
antagonistic effects against Salm. typhimurium. However, the antibacterial
action was inhibited when bovine serum albumin (BSA) was added to the
medium.
Juven BJ; Kanner J; Schved F; Weisslowicz H.
Fac-tors that interact with the antibacterial action of thyme essential
oil and its active constituents. Appl Bacteriol (ENGLAND) Jun 1994, 76 (6)
p626-31
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