Seniors and Aromatherapy
Orientation:
Please listen to your animated instructor orient you to the page.
Go to the Ship’s Library to read the chapter and watch the video.
Bring your notebook and some compassion. Getting older has its challenges:)
Introduction to Using Essential Oils For Seniors and a Mature Population
Everyone ages so differently. Healthy, mentally competent seniors do not need a different approach to essential oils than younger people until they have health, mobility or mental capacity issues. At this point, it is important to use some caution.
Some of the ideas for this page are from Int. J. of Aroma pg. 170-177 98/99 /vol, 9 # 4 Lorraine Kyle.
People over 65 are projected to represent 13% of the population in 2000 & 20% by 2030. (Siegal 1990).
According to Chatgpt, in Alberta, as of 2022, individuals aged 65 and older constituted about 15% of the total population. Provincial data projections show that this percentage is expected to increase to 20% shortly.
As of July 1, 2021, in Canada, individuals aged 65 and older made up 18.5% of the national population. Projections indicate that this percentage should exceed 20% between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, and is expected to reach 25% by 2058/2059.
How individuals experience aging ranges greatly depending on their genetics, lifestyle, attitude and luck.
65 is generally the beginning classification for a senior. But obviously, there is a significant difference between a 65-year-old (a very young senior) and an 85-year-old.
Older seniors might be more fragile than their younger counterparts. In this case, the suggested essential oil quantity for application is similar to that of a child, about 0.2-1% for most uses. Concentrated amounts of essential oil for short periods may be higher.
If a senior has dementia, essential oils should not be left with them, as they might accidentally ingest the potions. Also, in some cases of Alzheimer’s, the ability to perceive scent diminishes, making aromatherapy less effective psychologically. Use essential oils stored in child-proof bottles only. If a senior has no memory of their sensitivities and allergies, be vigilant with patch tests and monitor mixtures’ effects. Do not expect accurate self-reporting.
Do not fool around with dangerous infections or situations yourself. They can deteriorate quickly. I’d appreciate it if you could get medical help. The following ideas are for prevention and complementary care.
A Short Overview Video of Aromatherapy and Seniors:
Essential Oil Use for Seniors:
To change the scent in the room and add ambiance, try orange and lavender essential oils. Depending on the recipient’s individual preference, makeup spritzer bottles containing mixtures of essential oils such as lemongrass, lemon, petitgrain, lavender, tangerine, and fir leaf might be appreciated.
Expectorant/mucolytic– frankincense, cedar, hyssop, peppermint, sage, Spanish marjoram. (Price 1995). Euc. smithii to increase resistance to respiratory infection.
Cross-infection from others: These oils are most effective against common airborne bacteria: lavender, lemon, clove, marjoram, mint, niaouli, thyme, rosemary, and pine (Bardeau 1976).
Respiratory Protection: Use rosemary, thyme, and savoury or wild basil in a diffuser or make a spray bottle.
Tea Tree, Niaouli, and cajeput can also be used under a cotton mask to treat respiratory ailments.
Bacterial infections: lemongrass, cumin, German Chamomile, manuka, lemon, and euc. globulus. Tea Tree is helpful against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (Cason 1995). Seek medical help in this situation.
Other methicillin-resistant ideas: In vitro, evidence suggests that oregano, thyme, thymol, ravinstara, juniper, lemon, cypress, peppermint, lemongrass, etc. glob, etc. smithii and Moroccan chamomile may be helpful (Buckle 1997). Of course, seek medical help.
Nasal Irritation:
A netty pot can work beautifully to irrigate the nose, but only some people like the sensation of water running through their nostrils or can perform this function. Ensure there is no staph infection before using this recipe- if there is any doubt, eliminate the aloe gel and replace it with salt water.
aloe gel 30 parts,
1 drop lavender
1 drop roman chamomile.
Insomnia:
England- Senior’s home results- Imperceptible amounts of lavender were put in the air system. The lavender proved slightly more effective than drug-based sedatives for promoting a good night’s sleep.
Other oils are laurel, lemon verbena, marjoram, lemongrass, and Roman chamomile. Methods of application are diffuser, massage, or bath.
Sleep disorders are linked with the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is created in the body by the amino acid tryptophan. It helps to eat foods high in tryptophan, such as quinoa and soy. The herb Saint John’s Wort is also suitable for mild-mid cases of depression, especially when it is linked to a seasonal response (SAD), and is also helpful in keeping adequate tryptophan supplies in the body.
The Journal of Clinical Nursing showed that aromatherapy massage could decrease anxiety and improve sleep quality in older adults (Goto et al., 2019).
A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that lavender oil could significantly reduce agitation in seniors with dementia (Dunn et al., 2005).
The soothing herbal teas mentioned in introductory aromatherapy are worth noting again.
The link to that page is here.
Essential Oils and Agitation in Elders
Essential oils can help soothe agitation in older folks. In one study, older patients from six residential facilities wore a cloth patch containing two drops of lavender, lemon balm, or placebo sunflower oil for two hours daily.
Both lemon balm and lavender helped reduce irritability, which was confirmed in patients with and without dementia. What a beautiful way to utilize the healing power of essential oils!
Source: Watson K, Hatcher D, Good A. A randomized controlled trial of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) essential oils to treat agitated behaviour in older people with and without dementia. Complement Ther Med. February 2019;42:366-373. Doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2018.12.016.
Anxiety:
Orange, mandarin, roman chamomile, lavender, rose, angelica, petitgrain, spikenard. One drop to the temple.
Mental Alertness, Memory and Concentration
Just as insomnia is a problem for many people, not just seniors, mental stimulation can also be problematic. Sometimes, it is due to the lack of meaningful social connection. The importance of this cannot be overstated. People need to feel valued, included and worthwhile. Meaningful relationships and a sense of purpose are significant. In senior institutions, people are sometimes drugged for pain relief, insomnia, or just to be more manageable or compliant. This can diminish alertness. Encouraging meaningful social connections is important.
At some senior homes, individuals are expected to share meals, interact, and sometimes even share a room with others with whom they may have little in common. Sometimes, meaningful connections are forged, and sometimes, the relationships are unhealthy. Monitor seniors’ interactions and emotional states to determine problems.
A few essential oils that are useful for stimulating the minds of adults can also help seniors.
Rosemary Essential Oil for Memory and Concentration
1. Increased Cognitive Performance: A study by the University of Northumbria in Newcastle found that rosemary essential oil positively affected cognitive performance. Participants exposed to rosemary oil showed improved performance in memory tasks compared to those in a control room. This study suggests that compounds in rosemary, such as 1,8-cineole, may be responsible for these cognitive enhancements (Moss, Cook, Wesnes, & Duckett, 2003).
2. Mood and Mental Clarity: Another aspect of rosemary’s benefit is its ability to enhance mood and mental clarity, indirectly supporting cognitive functions. The University of Miami found that rosemary aroma could improve mood and clear the mind, aiding in better concentration (Shirley Telles, Puthige Raghuraj, & Naveen, 2013).
Other Essential Oils for Memory and Concentration
1. Peppermint Oil: A study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience found that peppermint oil could enhance memory and increase alertness (Moss, Hewitt, Moss, & Wesnes, 2008). This makes it an excellent choice for stimulating the mind and improving concentration.
2. Lemon Oil: Research indicates that lemon essential oil has strong anti-stress effects and can improve cognitive function. A study in Psychoneuroendocrinology reported that lemon oil vapour has an anti-stress impact on mice, suggesting potential benefits for mental clarity in humans (Komiya, Takeuchi, & Harada, 2006).
3. Sage Oil, Salvia officinalis, and Salvia lavandulaefolia have been identified for their potential to enhance memory and cognitive functions. A study in Pharmacological Biochemical Behavior found that sage oil might improve memory and attention in healthy adults (Kennedy et al., 2006).
Sedative Body Oil-
Use a drop or two of Euc citriodora, Roman chamomile, with lavender or as a body oil in the bath.
For men who have loved the outdoors, try the scents of spruce or fir for that forest scent during the day.
Pain Relieving Oil:
Blue Chamomile, helichrysum, peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, laurel, lavandin, marjoram, niaouli, rosemary spearmint, thyme linalool in a base of dandelion.
Painful Joints–
Arthritis- St. John’s wort-infused oil, Roman chamomile, birch, eucalyptus globulus, black pepper, and camphor essential oils. Apply by massage, bath, on a compress, or in a footbath (Sheppard Hanger, 1995).
Arnica-infused carriers are also effective for pain relief. Always check for a skin reaction. Ensure humans or pets do not consume them internally.
Schnaubelt recommends Euc. Citriodora and helichrysum 10 drops of each in 5 ml of sesame oil.
Dr. Penoel recommends peppermint oil using light strokes. Dilute this to a 2% mixture.
Gentle movement exercises, like Tai Chi and stretching, are sometimes the best medicine.
Stimulating Oils:
Basil, cardamom, juniper, lemon, peppermint, palmarosa, rosemary. Spruce or pine diluted and rubbed onto the adrenal area is a favourite remedy of Dr. Penoel for adrenal exhaustion. Use a 1-3% dilution.
Bedsores:
Bedsores can quickly become a significant health risk if they are not treated. Ideally, the client needs to be moved frequently enough to prevent pressure sores from developing. An air mattress might be helpful.
They may be treatable with aromatherapy if they are dealt with while very small. If one waits too long, bedsores may need surgical intervention and may quickly become life-threatening. If your family member is experiencing these in a hospital or a long-term senior facility, you will probably need to comply with the institution’s rules. But, from what I’ve witnessed, the protocol the nurses must follow when getting help for these sores can be too long. My mother required a risky surgical operation to heal a bedsore and then a few months with uncomfortable draining tubes attached. She did get better, but this could have been prevented if the system had reacted more quickly.
Here are some aromatic ideas—but like with all things medical, monitor the subject extremely closely and get a physician’s help if the wound is not healing, becomes infected, or gets bigger.
Calendula base: Frankincense, lavender, geranium. You can also use a water-based spray with ten drops of essential oil in 100 ml.
Compresses for bedsores, boils, and leg ulcers: Price 1995 – When skin is reddened but intact, use lavender or chamomile.
Other Wound Healers: Niaouli, lemon, tea tree, and German chamomile.
Make a compress with aloe gel, helichrysum, or Roman chamomile. If a staph infection is possible, leave out the aloe gel.
Carriers Oils and Infused Oils–
Arnica for bruising, calendula for swelling and wound healing. Saint John’s Wort to reduce skin inflammation and heal wounds. Aloe gel helps regenerate cells. Ensure there is no staph infection with aloe, as it can trap the infection.
Gastro-Intestinal:
Constipation:
Could you check for adequate fluid intake? The diet of seniors in institutions can be horrible and should be looked into.
A good fibre supplement used regularly will be a strong helper. Sufficient fibre is essential. Magnesium sulphate internally can be beneficial. Please ensure the senior’s teeth are in good shape, as difficulty chewing relates to many digestive issues.
If someone is on opiate painkillers, this alone can impede their body’s ability to have bowel movements. My mother’s doctor aptly stated that the hand that writes the painkiller must also write the laxative.
Check if the elder has been on a dose of antibiotics. If so, try bio-k or another helpful probiotic. Prune juice is often beneficial. Soak a flannel cloth in hot castor oil for chronic constipation and cover it with cling film. Ensure it is at a comfortable temperature. Place a heating pad over this for an hour or more. Put it onto the abdomen.
Sometimes, elders or people with disabilities can not make it to the bathroom by themselves, and this can cause them to “hold it” or face an embarrassing accident.
Gas:
Mint tea or rosemary tincture.
Foot Care:
Use a foot bath to help prevent foot problems: lemon, lemongrass, cypress, spike lavender, niaouli and tea tree are recommended for their anti-bacterial and deodorizing effects.
Tagetes with tea tree, manuka, oregano & clove, not exceeding 5%, may help against nail fungus.
Circulation:
Treatments may help alleviate symptoms but not the underlying cause. For perpetually cold feet, foot massage and footbaths can help. You can also try wearing microfiber socks.
Warming Blend–
Create a bath with marjoram, ginger, black pepper, rosemary, and five drops of essential oil in 1 tbsp of carrier oil or full-fat milk. You might also make an Epsom salt bath. If so, could you put on a moisturizer afterward, as Epsom salts dry out the skin?
Diuretic footbath for edema of the feet or legs: 5 drops of lemon, cypress, juniper, and ¼ cups of Epsom salts. Soak the feet for 15 minutes. After patting the feet dry, elevate the legs 6-8 inches above the heart for at least 15 minutes.
A leg and foot massage with light strokes toward the heart can relieve symptoms of lower leg edema. In 1 oz. of carrier, mix five drops each of cypress, juniper berry, and grapefruit. Int. J. of Aroma, pg. 170-177 98/99 /vol, 9 # 4 Lorraine Kyle inspired much of this write-up.
Int. J. of Aroma, pp. 170-177, 98/99 /vol, 9 # 4 Lorraine Kyle inspired much of this write-up.
How Seniors Can Integrate Essential Oils into Their Lives Video:
Jo Anna, the Ship’s Tour Guide, Will Narrate
Senior’s Student Project- Lynda Hughes
Seniors In 2020
I picked this topic because I am a senior, and right now (April 23, 2020), COVID-19 has paralyzed the world. The hardest hit with death is the seniors, mainly in the “assisted living care centers.”
Our daughter Jennifer, a professional teacher, told me to make a presentation like a sandwich or three layers—the sound layer, the layer that needs to be worked on and the great layer. So here goes.
The excellent layer for me and other mature folks is that we have lived through a fabulous time. When I was born, I came home from the hospital for twelve miles in a sleigh pulled by a team of horses. It was February, and my breath froze my blankets. Let’s say they made us tough in those days. Here we are today; we can and do go anywhere by plane, train or ship. Too much fun. We have, and many folks have, two vehicles we can drive anywhere in the world, driving across a continent and taking a water taxi to our next destination. Not to mention how astronauts travel to outer space and the moon.
Our health system has gone beyond a vast improvement. As a ten-year-old, I had my appendix removed, and the hospital bill was $110.00. At the time, I was devastated; there was not enough money for a down payment on a free lunch, and I worried about how my parents would pay that bill. We have come a long way for the good, as everyone can go to a hospital for any procedure and walk out without opening their wallet. It’s an honour and a privilege to live here and be so well looked after.
Living conditions for most adults have improved because there are so many housing options for seniors, from multi-bedroom homes to sharing a room at an assisted care center. These options depend on lifestyle, finances, health, and mobility issues.
Here we go on the middle layer, a rant that I express any time my friends will listen. All seniors should embrace technology as best they can. Some folks might “live in place” with reasonably good health, but others will live in a senior home. That’s all good, but I think this should happen as we go through these golden years and prepare for whatever lies ahead—embracing technology to get past just using the phone. Get an iPad or a computer to keep in touch with the outside world whenever they want. It can keep them in touch with family and friends in an almost real way. It doesn’t sit well with me when mature folks don’t want to keep up with the times. As I said, we will not ride our horses to town in 2020.
I find that many seniors are complainers. Get on with your thing and let the rest of the world do the same. Most people, including myself, dislike being around or even near those who don’t keep themselves on the sunny side of life. They have lived through hardships, no doubt about it, and so has everyone else who is fifty-five plus. That’s life, and like all life, let’s make the best of our remaining years.
Now for the third layer and the great part of being a senior: the freedom and not worrying about making a living. The government sends that monthly cheque, and what a relief that is. We are flexible and can adjust as the need arises.
Freedom of time constraints. Our time is our own, and we can relish it any way we want. Oh, too lovely. The family is raised, and one can pop in on them and enjoy how they are doing. It is a slower pace, and it is unnecessary to feel rushed.
We can let our young folks do what they have to do; if it doesn’t affect us, we can have at it. It’s a great time to relax and see what the next generation does and how they do it. Young people are still made tougher differently than we were ….. which makes them suited to their world.
The generation before us cleared the land, and now we can enjoy lovely homes, parks, restaurants, theatres, churches, acreages and bountiful stores of everything known to humankind. There are numerous environments to live in.
Seniors have lived enough years to have many varied interests in books, clubs they can belong to, and people they have met. One of my favourites is the Earth Spirit Medicine course I took with Northern Star College. Remember to reduce the strength of oil when working with seniors and use essential oils compared to younger adults. Hydrosols might work better. Essential oils, such as a room spray or a diffuser, can bring back great memories. Some seniors suffer a great deal of anxiety and can be helped with a drop of orange, mandarin, angelica or spikenard to the temple. I want my diploma, but it pales compared to all the knowledge I have gained and all my fine instructors and classmates over the last three years. I promote taking a course in something completely different from your occupation during your working life.
The best part of being a senior is that our length of life has given us wisdom. I don’t mean just knowledge, but wisdom. We all receive lots of information daily, and if we go beyond that, we know. The challenge is to get past straight science or knowledge to come to a knowing or wisdom. It’s a genuine blessing that comes with age.
I am well aware that without our health, we have nothing. Hold onto your health, as it is our most precious thing.
Our son, Bill, is a farmer, and it’s the spring of the year right now, and this is when the cycle of life starts with the outside plants and the calves being born. The calves jump and buck in the sunshine, a joy to behold. As seniors, we may not jump and buck, but we can sure grab life by the horns and hang on to the extraordinary life we have for however many days, weeks, or years that are given to us.
God bless you all.
Lynda Hughes
Graduate of 2020
You can go to your Practical Potions Journal below for a simple download.