AROMATHERAPY

Most of the clients treat have secondary lymphoedema associated with surgery and/or lymph node clearance, e.g.lumpectomy, mastectomy, hysterectomy. The remainder have primary lymphoedema, a congenital abnormality of the lymphatic system, all different stages in the process of coming to terms with the fact that lymphoedema is a chronic condition with major implications for lifestyle and self-image.

The Vodder MLD is an extremely light massage, which moves only the skin. This action moves the lymph before it enters the lymph vessels, enabling the redirection of lymph to the existing and functioning lymph nodes. Clients with lymphoedema are not recommended to have the style of massage usually associated with aromatherapy. Massage of this type requires the application of pressure in order to relax the muscles.

This stimulates the blood flow, dilates the blood vessels and creates warmth. It also temporarily increases the size of the body and the closure of the superficial lymph vessels, which usually beneficial aspects of massage are not helpful to the lymphoedema sufferer.

They would most likely feel bloated, tight, uncomfortable and there maybe a risk of psychological damage. 

The lymphoedema limb requires special care to prevent cellulitis which is systemic and can be severe; the symptoms are similar to those of influenza. The limb becomes fiery red and painful, and hospitalisation is often necessary, requiring treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Clients are advised to avoid any cuts to the skin where bacteria or virus can enter.

Emphasis is placed on moisturising the skin, protecting it with clothing and avoiding direct heat of any type. Gentle exercise and the wearing of compression garments are advocated to control and prevent any increase of the lymphoedema.

To complement the MLD treatment, I suggest clients use aromatherapy without massage, e.g. vaporisers, baths, showers application of creams, or lotion, compresses, on tissues ect.- aromatherapy can assist with care of the limbs and the psychological aspects of living with this chronic condition.Initially I try to keep to the simple economical oils, giving straight forward instructions to ease the introduction of yet another new aspect to client`s lives.

Essential oils with a wide application

Cuts and sores:     

Lavendula angustifolia (lavender)direct onto the skin;cover with dressing;antiviral, bacterial.

Fungal episodes:  

Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree); foot bath application; anitfugal, antiviral.

Post leg waxing:  

L.angustifolia solution either in water or almond oil direct onto the skin ;anti-inflammatory,antiviral and antibacterial

Post radiation: 

L.angustifolia and/or Pelargonium graveolens (geranium): In water/almond oil.

Depending on the skin tolerance, spray  rub on to the skin, promotes skin regeneration; anti-inflammatory, uplifting.

Depression:

Citrus (bergamot); in burner or tissue, to lift the spirits, relieve anxiety and tension; antiviral. Prevention of Colds, ect     

Eucalyptus globulus/smithii (eucalyptus),Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) and Melaleuca alternifolia: in a burner or on tissue; morning use-rosemary particularly; evening-eucalyptus, tea tree and /or lavender; builds up the immune system.

Disrupted sleep:  

L.angustafolia: on a pillow or tissue or in a burner before retiring to bed; promotes calm and peaceful sleep 

Reference:Aromatherapy World 1998

 Author: Avril Lunken DIP COT .,MISPA (Vodder)

Thrush (Candida) Case History 

This is one of the most common, annoying and irritating infections that women have to deal with. Thrush is on the increase due to the use of antibiotics, the birth control pill, to stress and tension and various other ingredients of modern life. The constant irritation can cause depression and, one way or another, thrush can be a plague on sexuality. Indeed for some couples it puts a stop to all sexual activity. The fungus Candida Albicans is responsible for all the trouble and can be transmitted from partner to partner.

Some researchers men are the carriers, although they don't always carry the symptoms. If you have a partner it is important for him to get treatment, whether he has symptoms or not.

The real problem with thrush is that it can lead to more dangerous conditions such as non-specific urethritis (NSU) which may make urination very painful and can, in turn,  lead to Reitets disease, which is a form of crippling arthritis, and inflammation of the cervix. Thrush is no minor aggravation. It needs to be taken seriously and treated.

Thrush thrives on sugar, so the first thing to do is to change to a wholefood, sugar-free diet. Bicarbonate of soda also helps to clear the condition, as does garlic, yogurt and, of course natures essential oils.

Thrush can completely exhaust people - and their relationships. Judith was nineteen when she came to see me for thrush. This was the result of her experience with one lover, her current boyfriend peter, and yet she had already come to the conclusion that sex was more trouble than it is worth! Thrush had so worn her down that she was depressed, irritable and tired; sex was impossible because her vagina had become raw and her work was suffering because her ability to concentrate was being impaired. As a result of her troubles Judith could not sleep and had begun to eat all the wrong foods - purely for comfort.

It was very sad to see such an attractive young woman on the downward slope just because of a horrible little fungus. Judith and Peter had already been to the doctor together and had tried the usual treatment pessaries, creams and antibiotics, which had only made the condition worse. Judith was desperate.

First, I changed her diet to a wholefood one - the only sugar allowed was the natural sugar of fruits and fruit juices. She was advised to cut out all coffee and tea  and to take three tablets of acidophilus daily. These are freeze dried bacteria which enter the system and wage war on Candida Albicans (the only form of biological warfare we should be talking about). Wether  you have thrush or not, these acidophilus tablets are well worth knowing about because they encourage the growth of friendly bacteria' which means that the body can do a better job of elimination. Keeping the intestines clean, eliminating bad breath and flatulence, improving the complexion and reversing the damage caused by antibiotic treatment.

The mucous membrane of Judith's vaginal tract was completely raw and she could only hardly bear to urinate, so my first concern was to make an essential oil cream for her to apply to the delicate area to relieve the soreness and awful itch. You can do this yourself by adding two drops of any essential oils that appear on the list that follows to 1 teaspoon of either vitamin E ointment or KY jelly.

Judith's discharge was very thick and heavy and I treated this with yogurt and essential oil, first in a douche  and then in a thicker solution inserted into the vagina every day for two weeks.

When I saw Judith again after two weeks, she looked a different person. The scowl she had worn on her last visit  had gone . Peter had played his part too. Here is the treatment I advised him to use.

Fragrant Pharmacy: Valerie Ann Wormwood/Raphael A Louisy.

These natural plants oils can be used to treat your child`s flu, or called upon when you want to create a delicious and exciting new dish when the boss is invited to dinner. They will get rid of the fleas from your dogs coat as easily as the aphids from your garden plants.They will help you at work or play – at the same time as helping your tomatoes to grow. With essential oils you can take control of your life and environment, secure in the knowledge that your well-being will be improved.

You can use them for all the same purposes that the medical professions and the food and beauty industries do… and more! All who know the pure product and use it with understanding come to respect the essential oils. One cannot but admire their ability to operate effectively not only on the cellular level, physical level, but in the emotional, intellectual, spiritual and aesthetic areas of our lives also.

If anything in this world is holistic, essential oils are.However, it is not only because the essential oils treat a human being as a whole that they could be the materia medica of the future.They provide a system of medicine which is not only in total biochemical harmony with the human body, but also non-invasive to it in terms of heat and electro-magnitism. In addition, their delivery system is so efficient that chemical drugs are made to look crude by comparison.

The usual way of taking chemical drugs–orally-is the least effective method of taking essential oils because it involves passing the substance through the digestive system where it comes into contact with food and bacteria with which it could chemically interact. Essential oils, on the other hand, can be applied through the skin–in massage oils or by osmosis in the bath-or by inhalation in a variety of methods.

The extraordinary versatility of nature`s essential oils is made possible by the fact that they come in a most convenient form. A few drops of pure lavender oil wiped on a burn effects the most remarkable cure as the skin returns to normal within days, whereas without it there would be a blistering patch and, eventually, a scar.You can return to the same little bottle when you have a headache-just one drop rubbed on the temples will bring relief.

Because lavender is a natural deterrent of mosquitoes and moths, among other insects, it can easily be dabbed on a ribbon and hung at the window to deter the former, as put on a cotton–wool ball and placed in the wardrobe to deter the Latter.The natural antibiotic and antiseptic qualities of lavender oil make it not only a highly effective wash for cuts and grazes –on you or your pet-but also for tables, tiles and fridges.

The fact that it smells divine means that it`s a delight to use anywhere and any time, and makes it a useful oil when creating an air-freshner. Essential oils are one of the great untapped resources of the world. Here we have a system of natural help that is far more than a system of medicine, that can prevent illness and alleviate symptoms.

These extremely complex precious liquids are extracted from very specific species of plant life and are in harmony with people and provide our family and home with protection and pleasure they need without polluting ourselves or our environment with chemicals.

These days the medicines and household goods we use are mostly chemical-based, and the food we eat and the air we breathe contain more chemicals than we like. The cumulative effect of these, and the unknown effects as they react together within us, cannot be good for us, any more than chemical overload is good for the planet. Sooner or later we are going to have to find some alternatives and, for some of our problems, the alternative is literally right under our noses, drawing us to them with their sweet-smelling aroma-precious miracles and delights of creation, nature`s essential oils. 

Ref: The Fragrant Pharmacy-Valerie Wormwood.Pps:2-3

The alarming issue of world deforestation has highlighted sandalwood and rosewood, both sources of popular essential oils, as being among those trees which may be at risk of extinction from over-harvesting.

Deforestation is a problem which, thanks to the Earth Summit in Rio de Janerio, is once again the focus of constant media attention. And yet somehow it still seems to be a distant problem belonging to places like  Brazil OrIndia and not really having anything to do with our daily lives. But what about the wood oils that we use as aromatherapists? When Sandalwood (Santal Album) and Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora) oils reach us neatly packaged in sterile bottles it is all too easy to forget where they come from, and ignore the fact that production of these oils may play its own small part in the overall problem of deforestation.

For many centuries Sandalwood in various forms, such as incense, ornaments, furniture and essential oils, has been a major export item for India, one of its main producers. As such it provides a huge income, but still no one outside India seems to know exactly how much sandalwood is harvested annually. The main reason for this is that while many of the organisations concerned with deforestation are willing to admit that India should be included in their research, a lack of financial support dictates that a line be drawn somewhere. Sadly, as India is separate from the apparently more pressing issue of the tropical rainforests, it falls the wrong side of that line. 

It is obvious, however, that sandalwood has been sorely exploited in the past with no thought about its future and that only now with the species suffering severe depletion is the Indian government is beginning to take action. All sandalwood trees are state owned, even if they are growing on private land. No healthy trees are harvested, only those which are dead or dying, and a replanting programme has been introduced. However two factors must bring into question the effectiveness of these programmes. Firstly, it is estimated that up to 30% of all oil available comes from smuggled wood. Secondly, when I spoke to several organisations such as Friends of the Earth, no one knew anything about any replanting or sustainable management going to India.

Reference: Aromatherapy Magazine