Aromatherapy Journal November 2015
What Impact do Essential oils have on Fibromyalgia symptoms
Ask the expert ...
What impact do essential oils have on
fibromyalgia symptoms? (A case study)
This
month's
expert ...
Elaine
McArthur
CAHP
Registered Massage
Therapist
Fibromyalgia is a
rheumatic disorder
characterized
by chronic
achy muscular pain.
It commonly affects
the back, the neck, the
shoulders, the back of the
head, the upper chest and/
or the thighs.
The pain and stiffness
is often greater in the
morning than at other
times of the day and it
may be accompanied
by chronic headaches,
strange sensations in the
skin, insomnia, irritable
bowel syndrome and
temporal mandibular joint
pain.
Other symptoms include
premenstrual syndrome,
painful periods, anxiety,
palpitations, memory
impairment, irritable
bladder, skin sensitivities,
dry eyes and mouth.
Sleep problems and
chronic fatigue are
additional disorders
associated with FS.
Activities such as lifting,
climbing stairs are often
very difficult and painful.
Depression often
accompanies this disorder
and stress may trigger the
development of problems
similar to those associated
with cardiovascular
disease and adrenal gland
disorders.
Because the immune
system is compromised,
there is opportunity for
viruses and bacteria to
afflict them as well.
There are a multitude of
symptoms and not all with
FS experience them.
The most distinctive
feature of fibromyalgia is
the existence of "tender
points". These are tender
spots in the muscles when
touched
Client's main health
concern:
Fibromyalgia
Client’s Symptoms Reported:
Lack of sleep
• Digestion, reflux
Bladder, bowel
problems
• Hemorrhoids, varicose
veins
Heart palpitations
Lumbar osteopenia
Neck aches
Depression, anxiety
and nervousness
Roseacea
Areas of Focus for
Treatment:
• Sleep issues
Existential pain
Roseacea
Reduce stress
Encourage exercise
EssentialOil Blends
With this case history I
decided to support her
sleeping issues; to allow
her body to rest and repair ..
The oils used were a
3% blend of Virginian
Cedarwood, Grapefruit
a nd Lavender with
Avocado carrier Oil.
The next appointment's
focus was to support her
existential pain. A3% blend
of Clary Sage, Lemongrass
and Grapefruit in Avocado
carrier oil were blended.
The pre and post blend
that I made for my client
for her exercise routines
is as follows; the preexercise
blend consisted
of cedarwood, cajeput and
black pepper in canola
carrier oil to warm the
muscles and prepare them
for exercise.
The post exercise
blend was to help with
inflammation and pain;
roman chamomile,
peppermint and black
spruce in canola carrier oil.
Client Feedback From
Using the Essential Oils
The client reported
improved sleep with
using this blend described
above.
The outcome of the
second blend changed
the client's mood and
skin. She applied this to
herface and her blemishes
disappeared. She started
going to a gym and had
others remark on her
complexion, boosting her
self-esteem.
The client had good results
with her two blends for pre
and post exercise ..
My Perspective On the
Essential Oils with this
Client
The client that I have been
treating with essential oils
recently has had FS for over
20 years. She is 60 years
of age and has decided to
discard all he medications
as she felt they didn't help
her She had been a client of
mine forthe past two years
receiving strictly massage
therapy. She was willing to
try massage and essential
oils over a three month
period, Marchto June2015.
I had the client chart her
symptoms and rate them
with a number from 1-10
for the months of May and
June 2015.
Feedback
My client felt that even
though she didn't sleep for
a great length oftime, the
sleep she had after using
the oil blend was more
restful. She didn't feel as
tired when she awoke.
She responded positively
to the oils and she felt she
was handling her stresses
better. Overall she is more
emotionally relaxed and
felt a sense of calm.
With her chronic pain,
she has felt that the oils
have given her some
relief; she can live with
the fibromyalgia pain; the
pain has been reduced and
she has had relief of pain
for a greater length oftime
compared to when she
used medications. There
aren't any side effectsfrom
the essential oils as she
had with the medications.
Overall, she feels a need to
maintain the application
of the oils in order to
continue the positive
benefits she is currently
experiencing.
To date, this client has
changed in several
ways. Her mental status
especially; she is focused
and goes to the gym doing
pilates / yoga 3-4 times
per week. In addition she
works out 3 times during
the evening doing weights
and the treadmill!
Other Notable Changes
She is reading about other
Alternatie practices
and her interests are
broadening.
She is practicing relaxation
and breathing techniques
as suggested to help her
relax.
The only drawback she
is finding is experiencing
more pain/tender points
during damp weather.
She finds the oils are
helping her in her daily
activities and she is
achieving her personal
balance.
I have tried myofascial
release, essential oil
visualizations, lymph
drainage and light
massage with this client
to support her when I see
her for a treatment. I have
noticed that I am able to
touch her tender areas
with less reaction from her
now. She has responded
very well to both the
massage and essential oil
treatments.
Findings
Improvement in sleep,
fatigue, morning stiffness,
heartburn, skin changes
and sore throat issues
have lessened.
Overall the client is very
happy with the outcome
of the oils on her physical
and mental health; they
have had an impact on her
even in small ways. I have
seen her for the past two
years and she has never
hadt hese kinds of changes
occur. The potency of the
oils have made some
positive life changes for
this person.
Final Result
The oils that had the most
effect on my client were
the Virginian Cedarwood,
Grapefruit and Lavender
blend in canola carrier oil.
Myclient hasshown to me
in a very short time how
the essential oils have
affected her physically
and mentally; it has been
life changing for her and
she has said she can't live
without them now.
