We are taught to ‘avoid’ death. It can be an uncomfortable topic to talk about – I know ‘end of life’ can be quite a morbid subject, but today’s article is for anyone with a deep calling to be a sacred part of the work of ‘death doulas’ – whether that is as a career as an aromatherapist, or simply for a loved one to support you as you transition through this rite of passage.
The end of life is a sacred rite of passage that we should not face culturally. Yet it is an important part of life – and one that we should try to make as sacred, special – and relaxed – as possible. It takes a special person to be willing to fully ‘be’ with someone in their last moments and create it this way. And yet for those brave enough to be here to support that journey, aromatherapy can be truly supportive in palliative care.
Over the years, there has been a lot of research into the use of essential oils for end-of-life care – and there are many hospices with an ‘in-house’ team of aromatherapists. In particular, scent has the ability to evoke memories and improve mood, so can be really supportive in creating an environment that promotes calm, comfort and well-being for someone who is feeling anxious and in pain. Providing a relaxing environment for someone in their final moments is a beautiful gift in itself – and so, while essential oils are therapeutic, there are so many reasons to use them, including creating an environment that feels sacred and a tribute to this time of life. .
That’s why we wanted to explore how essential oils can be of benefit as we approach our final moments – whether supporting loved ones, or for aromatherapists helping people navigate the final stages of their lives.
What can aromatherapy mean for palliative care?
There has been so much more research into the role of aromatherapy in palliative care. Studies say essential oils can help with:
- Reducing stress
- Reduce anxiety
- Decrease depression
- Reduce pain
- Improvement of sleep patterns
- Helping specific symptoms – such as constipation or edema
And what’s more, essential oils in the atmosphere can really help the caregiver deal with challenging emotions. I remember when my grandmother was going through end-of-life care at home with us, how my mother would diffuse lavender essential oil to create a nice environment – and I think this is something that can stay with us as a memory; bringing some peace and tranquility – and some sacred tribute – to something that can feel so painful, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically.
How can we use essential oils to support end of life?
We need to use discernment to determine how best to provide palliative support depending on the circumstances, but for the purposes of this article – where I try to keep guidance as simple and safe as possible – we will discuss two ways: diffusion and massage oil. mixtures. I always recommend checking with the patient’s healthcare providers as to which oils you plan to use. Consider yourself part of their support team and check for any concerns or suggestions before proceeding.
Spread
Overall, diffusion will be suitable for most circumstances, and is especially useful where we are working to improve the overall scent of the room, creating a peaceful, relaxing and sacred environment. Don’t underestimate the power of diffusing essential oils – this is one way we can get oils into the bloodstream, through inhalation, but it also creates an environment of honor.
Massage
Where necessary, a light touch massage can be very comforting and relieving for people in pain. When working with massage, especially on those who are more delicate, use only the lightest massage pressure.
Some blend ideas will follow.
Which essential oils can we use?
I recommend some essential oils described below as safe and effective:
Relaxation oils: to calm anxiety and create calmness
- Bergamot – a sweet, fruity citrus oil that is also warm, this is a relaxing, calming oil
- Cedarwood – a woody, balsamic oil, this calming oil is very soothing
- Chamomile – an intense, spicy oil, excellent for relaxation and soothing pain
- Clary Sage – a dry, musky oil, this is the oil of euphoria, making it deeply relaxing
- Lavender – a floral, fresh, sweet, herbaceous oil. This is one of the most popular essential oils for calming, relaxing and soothing
- Mandarin – a gentle, uplifting, soothing citrus oil, for those who are sensitive
- Neroli – a light floral oil for people who are stressed
- Patchouli – a musky, spicy, spicy oil, this is relaxing and uplifting
- Rose – a floral, rich oil, this is soothing and also has a spiritual, motherly feel
- Ylang Ylang – an intense, sweet, but woody, exotic oil that has a soothing effect and helps lower blood pressure
Oils for pain:
- Black Pepper – a spicy, woody oil, this pain-relieving oil helps with muscle pain, fatigue and digestion
- Clary Sage – this oil is not only ‘euphoric’ and calming, but also a powerful muscle relaxant and can help with pain
- Chamomile – this oil is not only relaxing, but is also good against pain, inflammation and spasms
- Geranium – a flower oil, this also helps with pain
- Lavender – this is not only relaxing, but also a deeply pain-relieving oil
Selection of the oils:
I recommend that when choosing oils you make a choice based on what your loved one likes. If they are conscious and can let you know their favorite, have them select their top three. If they can’t respond, choose what you intuitively feel they would like. If you are a caregiver, perhaps ask family members about the person’s favorite scents.
Oils not to use:
Some oils have what we call ‘contraindications’, meaning oils should not be used in certain circumstances. That is why it is useful to contact the care team first. I recommend that you review any oil you choose to do some research – we usually post any safety notes on each oil’s page, which can serve as a guide. Of the oils I’ve recommended here, I’ve purposely recommended oils that are fairly ‘safe’ – just avoid Bergamot with estrogen-based cancers. .
Instructions:
So how do you use these oils?
As mentioned above, diffusion is one of the best ways to create a sacred, reverent, and peaceful environment that can create a sense of calm for loved ones during this rite of passage.
For diffusion mixtures, proceed as follows:
Spread: Choose your loved one’s three favorite oils and add 1-2 drops of each oil (5 drops total) to water in an electric aromatherapy diffuser or candle burner. Diffuse in short bursts of 15 minutes at a time, as desired, throughout the day or night.
For those in pain, don’t be afraid to use a very light touch and gently massage the hands, feet or face.
Massage: choose one favorite essential oil to work with so that the massage is not overstimulating. Add 1 drop of essential oil to 5 ml of carrier oil (in this case olive oil or comfrey is used) and gently and gently stroke the oil into the skin, in the direction of the heart. This does not want to be a stimulating massage, so use very gentle, light movements.
It can be surprising what impact it has when you bring essential oils into an environment that can usually be so emotionally confrontational. Culturally, we are taught not to deal with death up front and personally, but it can be so rewarding to face death fully and honor its sacredness as a rite of passage. Essential oils are one way to do this, and they also provide a wonderful therapeutic relaxation effect.