Mixing Aromatherapy and Cancer - part one
When someone is given a cancer diagnosis, the stress responses go sky high. All of the negative horror stories come to mind such as disfigurement, loss of use of an organ or area or loss of life after hellish treatments and pain. With those horrific thoughts circulating in one’s mind, who would think of going to see a qualified aromatherapist? (When the word qualified is used, one should bear in mind that this means someone completed recognized training, sat exams and has met the qualifications set out by the umbrella organization of the BCAOA and not someone who has just spent a week or so playing with oils while receiving other wholistic education.) Your aromatherpaist with your help, will determine all of your physical challenges through accurate questioning and then blend various essential high quality oils, carefully, to firstly boost your immune system AND ALSO address the emotional issues that are facing you and that demand immediate attention.
EMOTIONAL ISSUES
Your physician may suggest that you take an anti-depressant (or not) and to be mindful of the side-effects these may have. One of the fundam entally important organs that your aromatherapist will target is your hypothalamus or stress percep- tion centre. This is the central issue and as most oncologists will now recognize, emotional stress is the #1 depressant of a patient’s immune system. However, your aromatherapist will create a blend of oils that will also boost your liver and kidney functions as well as stimulate your lymphatic system (your swat team!).
There are essential oils such as sweet orange, neroli, jasmine, patchouli, benzoin and rose which all have reassuring and uplifting actions on the emotional system. They are also used to improve liver and kidney functions. A blend of sweet orange, neroli and benzoin is very mellow, calming and creates a feeling of: “It’s going to be okay; I can handle this.” This particular feeling is exactly what is needed at various times during serious illness. This blend can be used by those people whose digestive system (both appetite / stomach and bowel function) changed or modified. One of the reasons we choose these oils due to the manner in which they counter the adrenal over-reactions that our brain is constantly asking for. Use 12 drops of sweet orange, 9 drops of neroli and 9 drops of benzoin in a 30 ml unscented (all natural) lotion. It is preferred that the lotion not have any petroleum by-products since this hampers assimilation through the skin and by the lymphatic system. Add 6 drops of rose to the blend if the cancer is of the breast area. This part of the female body carries a heavy emotional impact when cancer manifests there, since, as young girls, we get so excited when our breasts start their appearance. Rose is regarded as a female empowerment oil since it makes us feel more positive about being female.
For those people who are not too aware of their bodies or that it changes function in response to life, a blend with jasmine, patchouli and a touch of lemon works well. These are all adrenal stimulants which will help the emotional system get back into balance. So mix 8 drops of lemon, 12 drops of jasmine and 9 drops of patchouli into a 30 ml lotion.
ANOTHER BLEND
This blend can be used for those unusual people who only ever have EITHER their appetite or bowel function change (not alternating). Use 8 drops of pink grapefruit, 12 drops of lavender and 12 drops of rose in a 30 ml lotion. Once again please strive for a lotion with out any mineral oil or parabens.
The above mentioned blends can be used on the hands, face and back of the neck in the morning or at nighttime or at any time that life is “getting” to you. These essential oils create a subtle brain chemical change for the better The will allow you to continue on in a conscious manner but your stresses won’t get the “better” of you quite to the same extent. When life and stress careen totally out of control, these blends may need to be undiluted and used on the base of the throat or back of the neck to do a proper calming down. Due to the delightfully positive side effects, the blends can be used every 15 minutes or when needed to quiet the shaking feelings.
PHYSICAL CHANGES
Physical changes may happen while dealing with cancer, varying with which type of treatment you choose. This article is not about choosing conventional or alternative methods or therapies for treatment or which chemotherapies to choose or if radiation is a smart option. It is best to research these topics with proper unbiased sources, specialists to make your incredibly important decisions when the calmness of mind returns enough to allow you to be proactive and make your decisions wisely and without panic.
What also needs addressing here is how to help your immune system and your nervous system and possibly your skin (depending on our choices of treatment). How to improve your blood counts, whether the white cells, the hemoglobin or platelets, becomes another focus in order to achieve normal levels. Fluid retention and puffiness that may show up in various parts of the body needs attention, too. Scars resulting from surgery need not be keloid or purplish and can benefit immensely from the correct essential oils.
Let essentials oils lighten the way along this difficult journey.
Jennine Stromkins, RA, can be reached at www.scentsofcomfort.com.
Jennine is also the author of a comprehensive aromatherapy book:
The Autonomic Nervous System, ISBN 0-9684356-0-2 (1998).
