Dealing with End-of-life care? Physical Touch with Essential oils can reduce Anxiety

Touch with compassion can significantly reduce anxiety, depression and agitation especially in those dealing with end-of-life care. Physical touch can help to connect physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. The Aromatouch Technique with pure essential oils is a scientifically validated means to create a special connection with someone and positively influence their wellbeing. It is a combination of two of the most powerful senses, touch, and smell, used in conjunction to establish one simple way to give those you care for a comforting experience.

Touch - Tactile communication is our first form of communication. We begin receiving tactile signals in the womb, and then touch plays a critical role in parent-child relationships before verbal communication is possible. It is, in essence, the first sense we acquire, and it is astonishingly effective.  In recent studies, researchers have shown that emotional communication is very effective through touch, nearly as effective as words and facial cues. Touch can communicate multiple emotions, such as love, gratitude, sympathy, fear, and anger.  The elderly crave this touch as much as a child and it can offer emotional comfort during such a difficult time. Tender touch activates the release of oxytocin which is a hormone that is often referred to as the “love” or “hug” hormone.  It decreases heart rate and blood pressure, and reduces cortisol, the stress hormone.

Aromatherapy (smell)- How does the brain process aromas? Anytime we inhale a distinct aroma (including the scent of an essential oil), that aroma will be processed through different parts of the brain in a special sequence. After inhaling an aroma, the scent will be processed in the brain’s olfactory system, which is responsible for controlling our sense of smell. When an aroma is inhaled, it travels to the olfactory system by way of the olfactory nerve, so that it can be processed. The olfactory system is connected to the limbic system, a part of the brain where our emotions and memories are stored. This connection to the limbic system causes a response to the aroma based on any memories that are associated with that smell. The response produced by the limbic system of the brain often causes an immediate rush of feelings— also known as an emotional response.

Each essential oil has a unique chemical profile, which gives the oil certain properties and benefits. The chemical makeup of the essential oil will determine its attributes, benefits, and what kind of emotional responses it can produce. Therefore, it is possible to choose an essential oil based on its chemical profile for the purpose of eliciting a specific emotional response. While there are many elements involved in the chemical makeup of an essential oil, many of the chemical constituents included in an oil depend on what kind of plant it comes from. Most essential oils come from plants, fruits, or plant materials, which will determine what kind of chemical constituents are included in the oil once it is produced. Below is a list of   how the plant source and chemical profile of an essential oil can determine its benefits.

MINT: With a high concentration of ketones, mint essential oils typically hold significant energizing, invigorating, and uplifting properties.

FLORAL: Composed mostly of monoterpene alcohols and esters, floral essential oils are known to promote toning and calming properties.

CITRUS: Using the monoterpenes known as limonene and beta-pinene, citrus essential oils typically have strong uplifting characteristics.

TREE, GRASS, HERB: Rich in esters, oxides, and sesquiterpenes, essential oils taken from trees, herbs, and grasses promote soothing, renewing, and grounding feelings.

SPICE: Phenols are the primary chemical constituents of most spice essential oils, making these oils particularly useful for their warming properties.