Aromatherapy Treatments

Aromatherapy & Arteriosclerosis

The therapeutic massage alone can reduce blood pressure by up to 40 points and when combined with selected essential oils as in an aromatherapy treatment, it becomes an excellent aid in countering the effects of stress, inducing relaxation and improving the blood circulation without putting additional strain on the heart. It helps the flow of blood through the veins and also stimulates the nerves which control the blood vessels. It has the added benefit of relaxing tense muscles and tight connective tissues which may have been constricting blood vessels, thus enabling blood to flow more freely. It is for this reason that soothing massage helps reduce emotional tension, it induces relaxation and calms stress-related conditions. It will therefore help improve your general health and well-being.

Massage therapist, Clare Maxwell-Hudson works at NHS hospitals Victorian Cardiologist, Sir Lauder Brunton, wrote that: "in cases of cardiac disease, massage allows other treatments to be carried out more easily than it would otherwise be, for it removes the feeling of weariness and irritability, fidgetiness and unrest. The appetite increases and the spirits become brighter." (1)

It should also be noted that aromatherapy massage has been shown to be an excellent treatment for headaches which are commonly associated with high blood pressure, post-stroke and other cardiovascular conditions.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not take any oils internally or use on babies under 18 months. Essential oils are very potent and it is therefore always advisable to consult a qualified aromatherapist before using any essential oils, and especially when pregnant or breastfeeding

(1) The Complete Book of Massage - Clare Maxwell-Hudson (Dorling Kindersley)

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.

Aromatherapy & Hypertension
Work carried out by Dr. Gary Schwartz, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Yale University, found that the aromas of some essential oils by themselves reduced blood pressure. The scent of spice apple, for example, was found to reduce blood pressure by an average of 3 to 5 points in healthy volunteers.

The following essential oils are also beneficial in the treatment of hypertension. Chamomile - relaxant and calmative Clary Sage - antispasmodic Cypress - anti-spasmodic Lavender - relaxant and calmative Marjarom - emotional balancer Rose - anti depressant Rosewood - calmative Ylang Ylang - sedative and antidepressant The therapeutic massage combined with selected essential oils makes aromatherapy an excellent aid in countering the effects of stress and inducing relaxation.

Guidelines for using aromatherapy essential oils: - Essential oils can be used at home in one of the following ways:- Massage - mix 5 -10 drops to 10 ml of a vegetable base oil. Baths - add 5 -10 drops to a pre-run bath and swish. Inhalation - add 2 - 3 drops to a bowl of steaming water, cover head with a towel. Tissue - put one drop on a tissue and inhale when required. Room - put between 1 - 10 drops in a humidifier filled with water or on a piece of cotton wool and place on a radiator.

Aromatherapy & Infertility
Whilst there is little evidence to suggest that aromatherapy can directly help infertility, it can help alleviate the emotional stresses associated with infertility. The is a great deal of evidence pointing to the extra strain infertility can place on individuals and subsequently on the marital relationship itself.

Aromatherapy can help alleviate these stresses. Work carried out by Dr. Gary Schwartz, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Yale University, found that the aromas of some essential oils by themselves affect the nervous system and even reduce blood pressure. The scent of spice apple, for example, was found to reduce blood pressure by an average of 3 to 5 points in healthy volunteers.

Infertility problems can create enormous emotional stresses and certainly, aromatherapy is an excellent therapy to help counter such stress and induce relaxation. The therapeutic massage combined with selected essential oils makes aromatherapy an excellent aid in countering the effects of stress and inducing relaxation. Massage improves the blood circulation in several ways without putting additional strain on the heart. It helps the flow of blood through the veins and also stimulates the nerves which control the blood vessels.

It has the added benefit of relaxing tense muscles and tight connective tissues which may have been constricting blood vessels and thus enable blood to flow more freely. It is for this reason that soothing massage helps reduce emotional tension, it enduces relaxation and calms stress-related conditions. It will therefore help improve your general health and well-being.

Aromatherapy & Insomnia
Do the odours of aromatherapy essential oils have any measurable physiological effects on us while we sleep? That is the question that researchers at the Psychology Department, Bowling Green State University, Ohio, USA (1) recently asked.

The researchers monitored ten participants (average age = 22.8 years) every three minutes to see whether any physiological changes could occur. The participants were given three-minute periods of either air alone or a peppermint odour during stage 2 sleep. The odour was delivered through a system comprising of an aquarium pump, Teflon and TYGON tubing, oxygen mask, filtering, and air flow valves. The responses, which were evaluated, included behavioural changes (i.e. awakening or other changes), changes affecting the autonomic nervous system (ie. heart rate, EMG, respiration rate), and changes relating to the central nervous system (EEG) components.

The results revealed conclusively that humans do react behaviourally, autonomically and centrally to the odour of the essential oil of peppermint administered while sleeping. Significant differences in responsivity to odour periods versus non-odour periods were found in eight of the ten participants for EEG, EMG, and heart rate as well as behavioural changes.

(1) Badia P; Wesensten N; Lammers W; Culpepper J; Harsh J. Responsiveness to olfactory stimuli presented in sleep. Psychology Department, Bowling Green State University, OH 43403. Physiol Behav (UNITED STATES) Jul 1990, 48 (1) p87-90