Aromatherapy and the Elderly

Article submitted by A Wonderful Life Home Care and Assisted Living. They can be reached at 970-593-8444.

From the beginning of time plant material has been used to make clothing, heal a wound, repel insects, or to season food. Perhaps with healing it started when humans sitting around a fire noticed certain effects from a plant material they burned. They could breathe better or a headache went away. With experimentation, teas were made and ointments created for many ailments. Medicine was discovered.
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils extracted from plant material such as flowers, herbs, barks, leaves, roots, berries or fruits for psychological and physical well-being and healing.

The oils enter the body through absorption and inhalation therapies such as massage or bath treatments. The use of essential oils has been on the rise for several years now but has been in use for thousands of years from ancient Egypt to Rome. They were used to lubricate the skin, cleanse the air, heal the body and mind or simply to just smell good.

In the past few years there have been a number of clinical studies of the effects of these oils in the care of elders. These studies demonstrated a significant impact on behavioral problems in patients with dementia with little side effects. One such study was aromatherapy in conjunction with massage on the elderly with dementia and depression.

• Evidence was reported there was increased alertness, raised motivation, reduced levels of agitation, wandering and withdrawal. Many had improved sleeping patterns.
• Some essential oils affect the nervous system and can even reduce blood pressure.
• The relaxing and calming effects through massage, bath and inhalations therapies can help relieve stress, accumulated tensions and anxieties.
• Blends have been prepared for dry cracked skin to bed sores. Use of these oil blends has shown improvement in physical conditions.
• Massage in itself is a relaxing experience but being used in conjunction with healing essential oils have shown through various studies worldwide that they indeed can have true healing effects.
• In elder care with dementia and depression this can be an alternative or added therapy in their care as well as just to make them feel good!
• Lavender essential oil for example is an anti-depressive, antibacterial, astringent, analgesic, antispasmodic, anticonvulsive, deodorant, diuretic, to name a few

Do you remember the little lavender pillow Grandma used to make? One would put them by their own pillow for a good nights sleep. The world is abundant with healing herbs and plants. From the start of mankind we have used these wonderful healing materials, perhaps it time we got back to that.