Aromatherapy and the use of essential oils for pressure sores.

It's always interesting how you seem to meet people with similar concerns in cycles. When you're pregnant or you know someone who is pregnant, all you see are pregnant ladies. Well lately I seem to have met or spoken to a lot of people who have friends or relatives who are bedridden or wheelchair bound. These people face many challenges, one of which is the integrity of their skin. Being so immobile causes pressure sores and the breakdown of the skin's integrity. Essential oils have been shown to be wonderful in helping to cope with this ongoing problem. While we may not be able to reverse the reasons why someone is bedridden or wheelchair bound, how wonderful that we can offer them something that will at least improve their quality of life and their comfort.

You can read more about Bed Sores in an article I have on my website, as well as Articles Page you will also find links to mini profiles of many of the essential oils mentioned in both articles.

An interesting article was published in the Journal of Wound Care, Issue 11(8): 317-320, 2002, by Hartman D, Coetzee J C.

Two US practitioners’ experience of using essential oils for wound care.
The effects of essential oils on chronic ulcers (grade II or above) of three months duration or longer that had not responded to at least two conventional wound care treatments were evaluated. Eight patients were recruited who possessed a total of nine wounds of between three months to two years duration. The wounds, regardless of whether they were pressure or vascular-related, were assessed using the US NPUAP guidelines that are based on depth and visual characteristics. The treatment consisted of applying a 6% solution of Lavandula angustifolia and Matricaria recutita essential oils (2:1) in grapeseed oil directly onto the wound, around the wound border and to the primary wound dressing. This was applied twice daily and covered with a dressing and outer gauze wrapping. A visible improvement in the patients occurred each week, with their wounds healing more quickly than the controls. Two patients were fully healed after 77 and 79 days and another after 176 days. A patient who initially acted as his own control requested that the control wound be treated with essential oils after 56 days, since it was getting progressively worse. This healed 308 days later. His other wound, a grade IV ulcer, did not fully heal but reduced in size from 3.5 x 4 cm to 1.6 x 1.9 cm after 420 days. Of the remaining two control subjects, one did not heal whilst the second healed after 182 days. It was noted that all of the wounds treated with essential oils worsened for the first two weeks, with increased exudate and erythema, before they began to heal. None of these wounds became infected during the trial.

Thinking of making up a present in time for Father's Day? There is still time to do this and I have lots of easy and fun recipes in my e-Book Aromatic Gifts for all ages and for all seasons.


Blend for the day: Grapefruit 5 drops, Lavender 3 drops, Vetiver 1 drop.