1. The Benefits of Aromatherapy
Presentation by:
Susan Kristiniak DHA, MSN, RN, AHN-BC, BC, IAC

2. Today’s presentation
Describe Complementary therapies and use in the United States
Describe the integration of aromatherapy, guided imagery and Reiki into nursing care at Abington Memorial Hospital
Discuss aromatherapy and use of essential oils by nurses in acute care and home care settings.
Identification of self care and the creation of the Healing Room

3. Complementary and Alternative Therapies
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a group of diverse medical and health systems, practices and products that are not considered to be part of conventional medicine.
NCCAM (2008) reports 36% of the population uses complementary therapies adding prayer and vitamin use-62%.
Target population: stress and pain management
More likely to be used by women than men; people with higher education; people who have been hospitalized in the past year and former smokers as compared to those who smoke or who have never smoked (NCCAM).

5. Integrative Therapy Categories
Natural Products
This area of CAM includes use of a variety of herbal medicines (also known as botanicals), vitamins, minerals, and other “natural products.” Many are sold over the counter as dietary supplements. Large amount of consumables in probiotics, and supplements
Mind and Body Medicine
Mind and body practices focus on the interactions among the brain, mind, body, and behavior, with the intent to use the mind to affect physical functioning and promote health.

6. Integrative Therapy Categories
Manipulative and Body-Based Practices
Manipulative and body-based practices focus primarily on the structures and systems of the body, including the bones and joints, soft tissues, and circulatory and lymphatic systems
Energy Medicine
A therapy in which practitioners seek to transmit a universal energy to a person, either from a distance or by placing their hands on or near that person. The intent is to heal the spirit and thus the body., and healing touch are examples of such practices.
Whole Medicine Systems
Complete systems of theory and practice that have evolved over time in different cultures and apart from conventional or Western Examples of ancient whole medical systems include Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.

8. Integration into Abington Health
Department of Integrative Medicine
Aromatherapy
Reiki
Acupuncture
Mindfulness
Guided Imagery
Community Education
Heart Health
Stress Management

9. Integrative Council Survey of nurses for interest in integrative care
Development of an Integrative Nursing Council in shared governance model
Goals
Educate nurses
Provide complementary experiences for nurses
Create a healing room
Pilot education program: Integrative Nursing Workshop

10. Expanding Scope of Nursing Care
Pilot (n=22) nurses
Weekend program
Reiki,Guided imagery and Aromatherapy competency based education program
Monitored nurses’ lived experiences of patient care with integrative therapies

11. Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy: “The therapeutic use of pure, unadulterated essential oils, hydrosols and other fragrant plant materials for holistic health treatment.” Gattefosse

13. Plants Scent acts as attraction and defense Chemical factories
Draw energy from light and darkness; sun and earth
Synthesize energy into molecules of carbohydrates, proteins and fats
Become crude fuels that humans and animals breakdown into adenosine triphosphate which is human energy source

14. Essential Oils
Essential oils are the by-product of water or steam distillation that produces
Volatile, non-oily liquid = essential oils
Botanically named
One pound of any given plant creates one drop of essential oil.
Over 350 oils marketed
Vary in price
Quality=therapeutic value

15. Chemical: From Gattefosse to Gas Chromatography
Terpenes: antiviral: lemon, ginger
Sesquiterpenes: anti-inflammatory: pine, cypress
Alcohols: energizing: peppermint, neroli
Ketones: mucolytic: eucalyptus,camphor
Aldehydes: sedative: melissa oil
Esters: soothing, balancing: geranium, ylang-ylang
Phenols: antibacterial: oregano, clove

16. How aromatherapy works…
500,000 scents on the earth
Average breaths per year: 6.3 million
The only sense with direct brain connection
Response to smell: 0.5 sec.; to pain: 0.9 sec
Sense of smell is 10,000 greater than taste and has more neurons that eyes.

17. Smell brain connection

18. Emotional Response
Proximity of olfactory bulb to limbic system: the seat of emotion
Use essential oils to recreate experiences
Elderly: seasonal and cooking scents
End of Life: familiar and comforting
Trauma: desensitizing
House sales: baking bread
“Smell is a potent wizard that transports us thousands of miles and all the years we have lived.”
Helen Keller

19. Using essential oils Quality: critical to therapeutic value
Identify quality oils/distributors
Notes: blending variables
Top: bright
Middle: lingering
Base: grounding
Carrier: diluents for application
Neat: direct, undiluted application
TEA TREE AND LAVENDER ONLY
Distillation/hydrosols: the process of oil extraction
Steam and Water.
Hydrosol: scented water remaining after extraction. Not as powerful
Costs: vary with supply/demand.

20. Application: Inhalation
Sprays/spritzers
Diffusers
Passive solar
Electric
Cotton ball/handkerchiefs
Car diffuser

21. Diffuse
Passive, solar, electric

22. Massage and compresses
Dermal absorption
Key areas: palms,
Soles of feet,
forehead,
underarms,
wrists.

23. Soaks and Steams Steams allow for a comfort
inhalation that can improve
respiratory pathways
Soaks are the direct
application of essential
oil without massage

24. Lavender Lavendula officinalis, lavendula angustofolia Middle note
Low odor intensity
Floral scent
Do not use: first trimester,
extremely low BP
All inflammations, hypertension
pain from strains, arthritis, anxiety

25. Aromatherapy and Research
Lavender:
Calming, reduces stress through a higher alpha brainwave activity, reduces spasms, stimulates the amygdala producing effects similar to diazepam and results in pain relief, alleviates depression (Liu, 2003; Tisserand, 1988; Buckle, 2003; Moss, 2003)
Kristiniak & Soniak (2007) Effects of lavender aromatherapy on the dementia patient with agitation in the acute psychiatric setting

26. Peppermint Mentha Piperita Top note Strong and sharp
High odor intensity
Do not use during
pregnancy or lactation
Vasoconstriction, anti-
spasmodic, digestive

27. Blending
Blend: combining different oils to achieve a therapeutic effect
Carrier oils
Dilution percentages:
depend on treatment
application type
Synergies: the end product of mixing oils and carriers

28. Blending Lavender and Peppermint Dilution Palm blends Spritzers Baths
1%=6 drops/ounce
Palm blends
Spritzers
Baths
Cotton Ball/ 2X2

29. Safety Rules Never consume: dangerous due to potency
Always dilute: less is best
Keep out of reach of children
Use tried and true oils: Avoid mugwort
Know cautions and contraindications
Photosensitivity, minimal use, dangerous, carcinogenic
Use protective gear when handling oils
Ventilation
Special precautions with children, elderly and pets
Use common sense: overuse
Recognize botanical names: genus and species.
Contraindications: insomnia avoid peppermint, rosemary, basil

30. Important Points Quality of oil = therapeutic value Less is best
Never consume
Only lavender and tea tree can be applied ‘neat’
Keep out of reach of children

31. Use of aromatherapy for nurses
Competency based training
Use of lavender and peppermint with nursing policies/procedures that define standard of care.
Teach hand massage
Supply essential oils

32. Expansion of the program
The word got out….
Over 200 nurses are trained
Added nurses in the hospice unit
Home Care nurses
* some adaptions

33. The demand for self care
Council success and increased participation
The requests and discussions in the Integrative Workshop classes
The stories reported began including staff caring for staff.

34. The Healing Room

35. Healing Room Opened September 28, 2010
Within an hour, the room was used
To date, 250 staff have received treatments
Self-care
Provider
Research survey
Stress level pre and post healing experience
Demographics
How you got there…
Would you come back…
Treatments received and comments

36. © AMH

37. Any Questions
Contact information

38. References
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2011). What is CAM? Retrieved from
Kristiniak, S. (2011) Exploring the experiences of complementary nurses: A qualitative phenomenological study. Research Methodology. Lentz: Las Vegas, NV
Watson, J. (2005). Caring science as sacred science. Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis.