|
| |
People that suffer from epilepsy or any form of seizure should take care when visiting an aromatherapist, or in other instances where essential oils are used.
|
Rosemary, fennel, sage, hyssop and wormwood essential oils should not be used by people suffering from epilepsy. Some herbalists recommend hyssop herb as useful for people with epilepsy but the essential oil of hyssop should not be used. | It would also be a wise precaution not to use these oils in burners in vapor therapy nor in any bathing preparations and to consult with your registered medical practitioner before using any alternative therapies, including that of aromatherapy in any form.
Although epileptics should never use the above essential oils, some research has indicated that essential oils, and the use of aromatherapy massage, can help those suffering from epilepsy.
Dr Tim Betts, Consultant Neuro-psychiatrist of the Queen Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital in Birmingham, England, has performed tests on epileptics and the use of essential oils.
The volunteers had aromatherapy massages with an essential oil of their liking and with the help of self-hypnosis a relaxation conditioned response was initiated to help the epileptics relax when they felt a seizure starting.
The volunteers triggered the conditioned response to the relaxing massage by simply smelling their oil of choice when so required to relax.
More research is being undertaken on this application of essential oils and epilepsy although the above reporting is an over-simplification of the research done by Dr. Betts.
It is worth taking note of this if you are interested in the use of essential oils with epilepsy and you can read further what Dr. Betts have concluded. |
During the above research, some oils were found to be effective in this application, including jasmine essential oil.
Please note that we are in no way advising patients to discontinue their epilepsy medication, but thought that the research of Dr. Betts might be of interest to people suffering this medical problem.
For more information on epilepsy, please visit www.epilepsy.org.uk
Headings of links underneath |
| |
|
