Hi Liza :)
The article reminded me of my days working at a store here in town
that sells lots of essential oils. I was often amazed by the way
people would insist that they get "pure" oils, but didn't want to
have anything to do with oils that I described as "refined". What
else did they think "pure" meant? Many of our customers were under
the impression that those oils were simply squeezed out, that there
was no more processing involved, and that therefore, such oils were
harmless. The logic escapes me.
Carol
-----
Liza May wrote:
>
> Here's another article that I thought might be of interest to those on th=
> e
> 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
>
> -- =
>
> [log in to unmask] (Liza May)
> =
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> 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 =A325 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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