This weekend the BCAPA had two Continuing Education Days and their AGM, so I had a great time connecting with other Aromatherapists from all over BC. Jennifer Jefferies from Australia was the presenter both days. On Sunday she gave us a shortened version of her 7 Steps to Sanity presentation that she gives to corporate business all over the world. She is passionate about introducing aromatherapy and the use of essential oils into the workplace as they really can help one to function so much more effectively.
Research carried out by Takasago, Japan's biggest producer of fragrances showed that people working with computers made 54% fewer typing errors when the workplace was perfumed with lemon; 33% fewer with jasmine; and lavender, so incorporating essential oils into the workplace not only smells great it's also effective. Just imagine instead of everyone having to grab some sort of stimulant as the day wears on, an invigorating, gently stimulating blend is diffused instead. In addition to blending for work efficiency, one could also create blends to keep those workaholics more relaxed and grounded.
There have been a few research studies done on using essential oils in the workplace for instance:
Int J Nurs Pract. 2000 Apr;6(2):110-2.
Tysoe P.The effect on staff of essential oil burners in extended care settings. Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Because hospital wards may be associated with smells, such as chemicals, food, and people and their produce, essential oils in burners were considered a way of improving the ward atmosphere for staff. A study was conducted in three parts. A questionnaire covering a period of 1 month; lavender oil in burners for a 3-month period; and a second questionnaire. A significant number of respondents (88%) indicated in the first questionnaire their belief that the use of essential oil would have a positive effect on the workplace. Eighty-five per cent of respondents to the second questionnaire believed that there had been an improvement in the work environment following the use of the lavender oil burners.
Chemical Senses,16: 183, 1991, Kikuchi A, Tanida M, Uenoyama S, Abe T, Yamaguchi H
Effect of odours on cardiac response patterns in a reaction time task.
The effect of odours on human cardiac response patterns were examined during a simple reaction time task. Changes in the cardiac pattern were triphasic during the foreperiod between the warning stimulus and imperative stimulus (IS). Heart rate deceleration (DE), seen just prior to IS, was thought to reflect the processes of attention and anticipation. Stimulant odours would be expected to activate such processes and sedative odours would suppress them. The effect of the inhalation of rose and lemon on DE amplitude was noted, and after each trial subjective states were assessed by questionnaire. Lemon activated anticipation or attention processes (the effect increased with increasing odour concentration). The rose odour which was thought to be sedative suppressed the processes at all odour concentration levels. If a subject preferred a particular odour, its effect was stronger.
My diffuser blend for the day: Lemon 6 drops; Lavender 3 drops; Jasmine 1 drop.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Essential Oils and Depression
This morning I'm feeling a little blue. This weekend I said goodbye to my son, daughter-in-Law and my precious grandchildren. While they're off on a wonderful, exciting, new adventure and are moving today to Phoenix, Arizona, Nana is coming to terms with the fact that they won't be a couple of hours drive away any more. I'm sitting here with mixed feelings, on the one hand I am very happy for them and the wonderful opportunity that lies ahead, on the other I'm selfishly a bit sad for me.
It's certainly high time for me to put together an uplifting blend for myself and I've decided to make up a spritzer in a spray bottle. I'm also going to add a couple of the Bach Flower Remedies to help with the emotions.
Essential oils and Bach Remedies are wonderful at times of emotional challenge. Depression, feeling down, feeling blue etc is something that we can all face at one time or another in our lives and at varying different degrees. There is an article on the website Aromatherapy and Depression that is very helpful as well as the Depression Buster Blends. If you are interested in incorporating the Bach Flower Remedies into your blend you can find more info on them here just scroll down the page.
For the light mist spray: 10 drops grapefruit, 5 drops neroli, 3 drops pine, 2 drops black spruce plus 2 drops each of the following Bach Remedies: Gentian, Willow and Hornbeam all added to 125ml (4oz) distilled water. Uplifting and it will get me back on track.
More information on making little products as well as gifts and crafts can be found in my little e-book Aromatic Gifts for all ages and for all seasons.
It's certainly high time for me to put together an uplifting blend for myself and I've decided to make up a spritzer in a spray bottle. I'm also going to add a couple of the Bach Flower Remedies to help with the emotions.
Essential oils and Bach Remedies are wonderful at times of emotional challenge. Depression, feeling down, feeling blue etc is something that we can all face at one time or another in our lives and at varying different degrees. There is an article on the website Aromatherapy and Depression that is very helpful as well as the Depression Buster Blends. If you are interested in incorporating the Bach Flower Remedies into your blend you can find more info on them here just scroll down the page.
For the light mist spray: 10 drops grapefruit, 5 drops neroli, 3 drops pine, 2 drops black spruce plus 2 drops each of the following Bach Remedies: Gentian, Willow and Hornbeam all added to 125ml (4oz) distilled water. Uplifting and it will get me back on track.
More information on making little products as well as gifts and crafts can be found in my little e-book Aromatic Gifts for all ages and for all seasons.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Helichrysum - Helichrysum Italicum
Although it is on the more expensive side, Helichrysum is one of the best oils to have around the house for first aid.
A few years ago, when I pulled open an old drawer in a bathroom dresser, the whole drawer came out and the corner of the drawer fell sharply on the back of my right foot. Once I got over the shock I immediately grabbed my bottle of Heli. and spread the essential oil directly over the area. Slowly the throbbing stopped. The next morning I had a really vivid illustration of how well this oil works for bruising. On looking at my foot I just had to laugh. Here I was with a beautifully, vibrantly, bruised top of my right foot and around the point where the drawer had landed was an area of beautifully clear and normal looking skin about the size of a Toonie. That's right no bruising in the area where I had applied the oil but obviously I hadn't put the oil on in a large enough area to take care of the problem.
There is a mini profile on Helichrysum on the website.
On a subtle level, Helichrysum can help to dissolve energy blockages. It promotes compassion for one’s self and others. It helps to integrate compassion and spirituality. It activates the right side of the brain and assists in communicating psychic impressions. It helps in promoting understanding. Helichrysum promotes longevity in any situation. It is especially helpful for the “walking wounded”, those people who cannot reminisce for fear of the painful emotions that may be remembered. It is also helpful for those who feel that their physical self has lost touch with their soul.
It is also known as Everlasting and Immortelle and is generally considered to be non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
More information on the subtle side of the essential oils can be found in my e-book, Subtle Aromatherapy available as a download directly from the web site.
A few years ago, when I pulled open an old drawer in a bathroom dresser, the whole drawer came out and the corner of the drawer fell sharply on the back of my right foot. Once I got over the shock I immediately grabbed my bottle of Heli. and spread the essential oil directly over the area. Slowly the throbbing stopped. The next morning I had a really vivid illustration of how well this oil works for bruising. On looking at my foot I just had to laugh. Here I was with a beautifully, vibrantly, bruised top of my right foot and around the point where the drawer had landed was an area of beautifully clear and normal looking skin about the size of a Toonie. That's right no bruising in the area where I had applied the oil but obviously I hadn't put the oil on in a large enough area to take care of the problem.
There is a mini profile on Helichrysum on the website.
On a subtle level, Helichrysum can help to dissolve energy blockages. It promotes compassion for one’s self and others. It helps to integrate compassion and spirituality. It activates the right side of the brain and assists in communicating psychic impressions. It helps in promoting understanding. Helichrysum promotes longevity in any situation. It is especially helpful for the “walking wounded”, those people who cannot reminisce for fear of the painful emotions that may be remembered. It is also helpful for those who feel that their physical self has lost touch with their soul.
It is also known as Everlasting and Immortelle and is generally considered to be non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
More information on the subtle side of the essential oils can be found in my e-book, Subtle Aromatherapy available as a download directly from the web site.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Insomnia and Essential Oils
Insomnia is a condition that can plague anyone. For some it is an occasional occurrence while for others it can be a debilitating chronic condition and everything in between.
You will find an article on Insomnia on the website as well as an article on Insomnia Blends. You will also find mini profiles on most of the oils mentioned in these blends on the Articles or Newsletter pages of our website West Coast Aromatherapy
CAM on PubMed have a number of abstracts on using essential oils with different conditions including one on the use of Lavender with insomnia.
A single-blinded, randomized pilot study evaluating the aroma of Lavandula augustifolia as a treatment for mild insomnia. Lewith GT, Godfrey AD, Prescott P, University of Southampton Southampton United Kingdom. Journal Alternative Complementary Medicine 2005 Aug 11(4):631-7.
BACKGROUND: Insomnia is the most common of all sleep complaints and is under-researched. The current treatments of choice are conventional hypnotics agents, but these have potential for serious adverse reactions. Uncontrolled and anecdotal evidence suggests that lavender oil is an effective treatment for insomnia, but this has not been formally investigated.
OBJECTIVES: This was a pilot study with randomized, single-blind, cross-over design (baseline, two treatment periods, and a washout period, each of 1 week duration).
SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Volunteers with defined insomnia treated on a domiciliary basis participated in the study.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes were assessed with the following: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) indicating insomnia (score > 5 at entry); Borkovec and Nau (B&N) Questionnaire evaluating treatment credibility; and Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (HCAMQ) assessing attitudes to and health beliefs.
RESULTS: Ten (10) volunteers (5 male and 5 female) were entered and completed the 4 week study. Lavender created an improvement of -2.5 points in PSQI (p = 0.07, 95% CI - 4.95 to - 0.4). Each intervention was equally credible and belief in did not predict outcome. Women and younger volunteers with a milder insomnia improved more than others. No period or carry-over effect was observed.
CONCLUSION: The methodology for this pilot study appeared to be appropriate. Outcomes favor lavender, and a larger trial is required to draw definitive conclusions. The aims of this study were to evaluate the proposed trial methodology and the efficacy of Lavandula augustifolia (lavender) on insomnia. Interventions: Interventions consisted Lavandula augustifolia (treatment) and sweet almond oil as placebo/control. The aroma was supplied via an Aromastream device.
My diffuser blend for the day: Grapefruit 5 drops, Geranium 2 drops, Vetiver 1 drop.
You will find an article on Insomnia on the website as well as an article on Insomnia Blends. You will also find mini profiles on most of the oils mentioned in these blends on the Articles or Newsletter pages of our website West Coast Aromatherapy
CAM on PubMed have a number of abstracts on using essential oils with different conditions including one on the use of Lavender with insomnia.
A single-blinded, randomized pilot study evaluating the aroma of Lavandula augustifolia as a treatment for mild insomnia. Lewith GT, Godfrey AD, Prescott P, University of Southampton Southampton United Kingdom. Journal Alternative Complementary Medicine 2005 Aug 11(4):631-7.
BACKGROUND: Insomnia is the most common of all sleep complaints and is under-researched. The current treatments of choice are conventional hypnotics agents, but these have potential for serious adverse reactions. Uncontrolled and anecdotal evidence suggests that lavender oil is an effective treatment for insomnia, but this has not been formally investigated.
OBJECTIVES: This was a pilot study with randomized, single-blind, cross-over design (baseline, two treatment periods, and a washout period, each of 1 week duration).
SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Volunteers with defined insomnia treated on a domiciliary basis participated in the study.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes were assessed with the following: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) indicating insomnia (score > 5 at entry); Borkovec and Nau (B&N) Questionnaire evaluating treatment credibility; and Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (HCAMQ) assessing attitudes to and health beliefs.
RESULTS: Ten (10) volunteers (5 male and 5 female) were entered and completed the 4 week study. Lavender created an improvement of -2.5 points in PSQI (p = 0.07, 95% CI - 4.95 to - 0.4). Each intervention was equally credible and belief in did not predict outcome. Women and younger volunteers with a milder insomnia improved more than others. No period or carry-over effect was observed.
CONCLUSION: The methodology for this pilot study appeared to be appropriate. Outcomes favor lavender, and a larger trial is required to draw definitive conclusions. The aims of this study were to evaluate the proposed trial methodology and the efficacy of Lavandula augustifolia (lavender) on insomnia. Interventions: Interventions consisted Lavandula augustifolia (treatment) and sweet almond oil as placebo/control. The aroma was supplied via an Aromastream device.
My diffuser blend for the day: Grapefruit 5 drops, Geranium 2 drops, Vetiver 1 drop.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
SpringHay Fever (Allergic Rhinitis)
In spite of some of the weather we've been having Spring is in the air and with it some people will start to be affected by hay fever. For ideas on how to work with this with essential oils check out the article I have on the website Hay Fever and the Blends for Hay Fever.
I also have some great mini profiles on essential oils that are great at this time of year. Look at German Chamomile, Lemon and Eucalyptus.
My special blend for the day : Lemon 5 drops, Rose 2 drops, Juniper 3 drops.
I also have some great mini profiles on essential oils that are great at this time of year. Look at German Chamomile, Lemon and Eucalyptus.
My special blend for the day : Lemon 5 drops, Rose 2 drops, Juniper 3 drops.
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