Angela

I just wanted to add a few comments. Although this article quite rightly states that you should consult a qualified Aromatherapist and also that you should seek clinical approval to see if Aromatherapy would be ok for each client, I think it is too risky for anyone who is not a qualified Aromatherapist to practice Aromatherapy as there are too many variables. Not all, but most people in long term care facilities, as well as having their complex medical conditions to manage, are on many different types of medications. It's the job of the professional qualified Aromatherapist to get a Doctor's consent before treatment and to take all of this into consideration before treating anyone. You have to have a sound knowledge of contra-indications to massage and aromatherapy and also a sound knowledge of the oils, how they interact with other oils in a blend and very importantly which oils should not be used with certain conditions and with certain medications because of interactions. As a very rough example, lavender is widely considered to be one of the safer oils but it has the potential to lower blood pressure, so in someone who already has low blood pressure, this oil should not be used. Lemon and Bergamot mentioned above, can cause sensitivity and can also be photo-sensitive, so should not be used if you are then going out in bright sunlight because of the possibility of a skin reaction. Ylang ylang mentioned above can cause sensitivity in some individuals and because of it's very strong aroma, can cause headaches or nausea. I wouldn't recommend putting essential oil drops straight into a bath, as the oil droplets can sit on the top of the water and become very concentrated on that part of someone's skin. It's advisable to put the correct amount of essential oil drops first into some milk or carrier oil, mix well and then add to bath and disperse and mix well into the bath. I would also never add as many as 10 drops into a bath, especially for frail or vulnerable individuals. I'm sorry if this appears to be quite picky, but I think that it is important to advise people of these safety issues and precautions, so that the benefits of massage and aromatherapy can be enjoyed by all safely. My opinion on this is as a qualified professional Aromatherapist.