Aromatherapy in Nursing Practice

Therapy Related

What is Aromatherapy?

Client Related

Origins of Aromatherapy

• Aromatherapy is the practice of using natural oils extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots, or other parts of a plant to enhance psychological and physical well-being
• Inhaled aroma from these "essential" oils is widely believed to stimulate the brain function. Essential oils can also be absorbed through the skin, where they travel through the bloodstream and can promote whole body-healing
• There are a wide number of essential oils available with its own healing properties
• An aromatherapist uses essential oils to enable the body's natural healing process

• Dates back as many as 6000 years, originating in Egypt, China, France, India, Middle East, and the Mediterranean
• Decreased in popularity in the 17th/18th Century, but soon became popular again
• Rene Maurice Gattefosse
• Thousands practice aromatherapy today in multiple countries around the world

Benefits to Client

Limitations to Aromatherapy

• Connections between Aromatherapy and the Limbic System
• Link between scent and memory (comforting)
• Effective Therapy for Dementia Patients to reduce agitation
• Reduction in anxiety symptoms for Mental Health Patients
• Improves quality of life for Cancer Patients

• Scent Free Zone
• Sensitivity/allergy to essential oils
• Contraindications during pregnancy
• People may not believe in use of essential oils as therapy

Cost & Availability

• 5ml bottle of oil can range from $5 to $50 or more
• $10 for 10mL bottle
• $1 per mL divided by 25 drops = 4 cents a drop
• Diffuser can range from $20 to hundreds of dollars
• Carrier oils can range from $5 to over $30
• Readily available in health food stores, some grocery stores and various independent shops.
• Also sold by consultants, and online through major distributors

Underlying Principles/Concepts

Certification/Education

• Balance Body, Mind, Spirit
• Enhance both psychological and physical well-being
• Improve mood
• Relaxation and relieve anxiety
• Improve sleep patterns
• Treatment for depression
• Improve focus
• Reduce aggitation in patients with dementia
• Reduce pain
• Treatment of burns, wounds, skin impurities, and poor circulation

• Aromatherapy is commonly used without any education/certificate
• Incorporated into many other forms of therapy
• British Columbia Alliance of Aromatherapy (BCAOA) holds a trademark for the title Registered Aromatherapist (R.A) or Essential Oil Therapist (EOT)
• Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists (CFA) is a governing body

Nursing Related

Essential Oils

for

Nursing Students

For Sleep: Lavender

For Anxiety: Bergamot

For Focus: Rosemary

Nursing Roles & Responsibilities

- ensure no allergies or contraindications occur

- follow the institutions protocol

(i.e do not use in scent free facility)

- learn the indications and cautions

(not all oils are safe for direct skin contact)

- educate the patient

- advocate for patients

(i.e may be beneficial in Snoozelen rooms)

References

Aromatherapy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2016, from http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/

treatment/aromatherapy

Aromatherapy (Essential Oils Therapy). (n.d.). Retrieved from March 20, 2016 from

http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthtopics/content.asp?hwid=aa118637spec

Aromatherapy and Essential Oils (PDQ) : Complementary and alternative medicine-

Patient Information [NCI]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthtopics/content.asp?hwid=ncicdr0000458089

Ballard CG, Gauthier S, Cummings JL, Brodaty H, Grossberg GT, Robert P, Lyketsos CG.

Management of agitation and aggression associated with Alzheimer disease. Nat Rev Neurol. 2009 May;5(5):245-55. Review.

Berger, L., Tavares, M., & Berger, B. (2013). A Canadian experience of integrating complementary

therapy in a hospital palliative care unit. Journal Of Palliative Medicine, 16(10), 1294-1298. doi:10.1089/jpm.2013.0295

British Columbia Alliance of Aromatherapy. (2010). Summary of Core Curriculum Items.

Retrieved from http://www.bcaoa.org/index.php/standards

Cancer Research UK (2015). Aromatherapy. Retrieved from

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/aromatherapy

Da Silva Domingos, T., & Braga, E.M. (2014). Meaning of aromatherapy in mental health. Acta

Paulista De Enfermagem, 27 (6), 579-584. Doi: 10.1590/1982-019420140094

Enteen, S., RA, BA, LMBT. (2012, April). The Business Side of Adding Aromatherapy to

you Practice. Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=14563

Essential Oil & Aromatherapy: Young Living Essential Oils. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19,

2016, from http://www.youngliving.com/en_CA

Fu, C., Moyle., & Cooke, M. (2013). A randomised controlled trial of the use of aromatherapy

and hand massage to reduce disruptive behaviour in people with dementia. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, (13) 165. Doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-13-165

Interior Health. (2016). Family and friends: Support your loved one in their recovery. Retrieved

from https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourStay/FamilyFriends/Pages/default.aspx

Raetz, J. (2013). A nondrug approach to dementia. The Journal Of Family Practice, 62(10),

548-557.

Tang, S. K., & Tse, M. M. (2014). Aromatherapy: does it help to relieve pain, depression, anxiety,

and stress in community-dwelling older persons?. Biomed Research International, 2014430195. doi:10.1155/2014/430195

The History of Aromatherapy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2016, from http://

www.aromatherapynaturalhealing.com/history.html

Westcoast Aromatherapy. (2016). Aromatherapy Training. Retrieved from

http://www.westcoastaromatherapy.com/aromatherapy-courses/

What is Aromatherapy? (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2016, from http://www.aromatherapy.com/

Aromatherapy in Nursing Practice

Tanis, Krista & Emily