Here's another article that I thought might be of interest to those on the
list who might be into essential oils and so on. This news is a another
good reminder that just because something (herb, potion, or dietary
philosophy) is called "natural" does not mean that the thing can't kill
you.
This article is not intended for anyone in particular (including the
reference to something "smelling 'right',") nor does it have any relation
to sexually transmitted diseases.
Love Liza
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[log in to unmask] (Liza May)
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Nurses warn against rash use of herbal oil treatments
The growing market in healing oils, from
apricot kernel to parsley seed, was
criticised yesterday by British nurses.
The annual congress of the Royal College
of Nursing (RCN) overwhelmingly backed a
call for tougher regulation of aromatherapy
treatments, which have seen a 70 percent increase in sales over two years
and
which are now standard treatment for
pain relief in some NHS hospitals.
At the Turkish baths in Harrogate, where
the RCN is meeting this week,
aromatherapy professionals demonstrated
the correct use of oils, such as evening
primrose and blood orange. But, after
mixing essences for massage treatments,
Carole Cunningham, a nurse and
aromatherapy specialist, warned that
cause burns as well as rashes and
seizures.
"Used correctly, natural oils can make a
tremendous difference to patients,' she
said, 'but a lot of people have no idea just
how potent these treatments are.'
The congress was told how misuse and
overdosing had led to agony for some
patients with skin conditions. Some
experienced a rise in blood pressure,
pushed to dangerous levels by certain oils.
'What smells right may not be right,'said
Mrs Cunningham. She called for
legislation to require the comprehensive
labelling of potions, such as juniperberry
and spikenard, which look attractive but
which are also powerful chemicals. 'All
essential oils should come with
appropriate data about what has gone into
them, a batch number and other details to
satisfy nurses and patients about what
they are administering.'
Every speaker during a half-hour debate
backed the call for action. Janet Holmes,
a nurse and aromatherapist from Kent,
described the pain of a friend with a rash
who had topped up her bath oil. Mrs
Holmes, who has a diploma in
complementary medicine from Greenwich
university, said: 'She [used] almost half of
a small bottle. The result was skin burns,
a serious worsening of her rash and severe
irritation. In unskilled hands, aromatherapy
can be extremely hazardous.'
Robert Sawney, a hospital nurse, said his
daughter had been given unprescribed essential oils during a five-day
admission to hospital with 'no choice, no agreement
and no parental consent'.
A three-year trial on 500 patients by the
Cancer Research Campaign is studying
application of the oils. But the
intensive
marketing of the treatments was
criticised
by Roswyn Brown of the RCN's research
society.
She said: 'Benign magic bullets in the
NHS may be safe in qualified hands, but
nothing could be further from the truth
if
they are misused. We need to press for
better regulation and the teaching of
proper skills.'
Yesterday, aromatherapists agreed that
responsible marketing of the products,
which range from familiar treatments
like
camomile to the exotic opopanax, would
ultimately help the trade.
Chris Wild, who was sorting out 500ml
shots of carrot tissue at £25 each in
the ID
Aromatics store, in Leeds, said: 'We
issue
the fullest instructions we've got and
make
it clear that oils are for external use
only.'
The RCN congress voted 509 to 10 for a
public awareness campaign, clearer
instructions for patients, and better
training for staff. Mrs Cunningham said:
'There is a real danger when
aromatherapy
is presented as being on a par with
fashion accessories, hairdressing and
baby massage treatment. Nothing could
be less appropriate than a parent
pouring
oil on sensitive skin to calm an
infant, or
attempting an aromatherapy way of
dealing with head lice.'
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