| The aromatherapy company in Santa Cruz, profiled in | | | | instructs the family members on how to use them |
| Medical Aromatherapy - part 2 is providing GC/MS | | | | on their loved ones in her absence. |
| tested essential oils for use in Hospice. One California | | | | Essential oil therapy has a tremendously positive |
| Hospice started with the use of peppermint, lavender | | | | effect on the various symptoms a Hospice patient |
| and grapefruit. Soon the patients were asking for | | | | experiences and there is valuable evidence from |
| more and eventually they were being used by grief | | | | many professionals who work with these patients to |
| counselors, social workers, home health care, | | | | support the fact that the essential oils do provide |
| massage therapists, spiritual teams, directors, nurses | | | | many benefits on the physical, emotional, and spiritual |
| and doctors in skilled nursing facilities. | | | | levels. |
| Esther Johnson, RN, BSN, PHN, CHPN is the | | | | Esther Johnson's work in the medical aromatherapy |
| Integrative Therapies Program Director for Pathways | | | | field is certainly making a huge difference in the lives |
| Home Health & Hospice, Sunnyvale, California. | | | | of patients who are transitioning from this life, and |
| Esther is a recognized expert in introducing and | | | | for their family members. The world needs more |
| training other clinicians about complementary and | | | | people like Esther because not all Hospices are using |
| alternative medicines, and is also a clinical | | | | essential oil therapy. They need the voice of |
| hypnotherapist, certified imagery guide, certified | | | | someone like her who champions for the therapeutic |
| acutonics practitioner and reiki practitioner. She is | | | | use of the essential oils in the Integrative Therapy |
| currently enrolled in the College of Botanical Healing | | | | Programs, and sometimes this involves fund raising or |
| Arts aromatherapy certification program in Santa | | | | grant writing for the funding to obtain the essential |
| Cruz. | | | | oils. |
| During our interview, Esther told me that she is using | | | | As medical aromatherapy continues to grow and |
| essential oil therapy on her patients through her work | | | | expand, all the pioneers of this movement keep |
| with Pathways. The most common reasons to use | | | | forging ahead with new ideas and with its progress |
| this therapy on hospice patients are for nausea, | | | | and growth. On the east coast, there is a company |
| vomiting, pain, anxiety, depression and oedema. She | | | | that has a training program that trains nurses and |
| uses only 4 essential oils that are purchased from | | | | other health professionals in clinical aromatherapy. It is |
| Elizabeth Van Buren by Hospice on her patients. | | | | called R.J. Buckle Associates. Their website claims that |
| Those 4 oils are lavender, grapefruit, peppermint and | | | | they have trained over 3,000 health professionals, to |
| a blend called Transition. Transition is a synergy blend | | | | include 2,000 nurses, in the use of clinical |
| which has six essential oils including sandalwood, rose | | | | aromatherapy. |
| and frankincense that comforts the patient by | | | | According to Elizabeth Jones of Elizabeth Van Buren, |
| calming the nervous system, relieves discomfort, | | | | the west coast actually supports aromatherapy more |
| soothes the mind, opens the heart chakra, uplifts the | | | | in the hospice sector where the east coast does not; |
| spirit and relaxes the body. Esther told me that she | | | | and the east coast supports aromatherapy in more |
| cannot keep enough of the Transitions blend on the | | | | hospitals where the west coast does not. Hopefully |
| shelves and that the essential oils are kept locked up. | | | | the two will meet somewhere in the middle and both |
| Once the needs of the patient are determined, | | | | hospitals and hospices all over the United States will |
| Esther will decide which oils are to be used, how | | | | be offering medical / clinical aromatherapy |
| often and through which modality. The various | | | | treatments. In that way, every person will have |
| methods for use of essential oils on patients can | | | | access to essential oil therapy with either their holistic |
| include hand, foot and neck massage and lymphatic | | | | practitioner or with their doctor / nurse in the hospital |
| drainage. | | | | setting. When that happens, the term medical or |
| The essential oils are are not sold to the patient or | | | | clinical aromatherapy will mean something to |
| family members. However, family members are | | | | everyone and the benefits will be felt nationwide. |
| provided with various sources where they can | | | | Here's to a truly amazing holistic therapy that has not |
| purchase their own. Going the extra mile, Esther | | | | been utilized to its fullest potential! |