5 Ways Aromatherapy Supports Hospice Care

When the soul is ready to let go of the human form, the process can be painful to all involved. Aromatherapy has a way of supporting the mind, body and soul like nothing else on Earth. It is not a wonder it would earn its place in the dying process.

Here are 5 ways Aromatherapy can be used in Hospice:

1. Emotional Support

Whether it is anxiety, depression, fear, grief, or another unpleasant emotion, the relaxing and uplifting properties of essential oils are a gentle and effective way to soften these moments and help us process through them in a healthy way. Diffusing an essential oil or blend can bring a sense of peace the room, calming family and patient alike.

2. Pain Relief

Essential oils have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, warming, relaxing and cooling properties which can ease headaches, aches, pains, arthritis and more. Families can be encouraged to provide light massage as a way to connect with their loved one during their final days. Studies show aromatherapy alters the perception of pain through inhalation alone. Both the ill and the loved ones by their side during long days and nights can find relief.

3. Illness Support

Aromatherapy is generally supportive to the whole person, with specific essential oils particularly protective over germs, viruses, etc. which tend to be abundant in healthcare settings. Aromatherapy can relieve cold and flu symptoms and help us breath better.

4. Better Rest

Nothing is better than good sleep. Some loved ones will hold on for days and families might find themselves spending the night with them. Others might go home, and lose sleep worried their loved one might pass over night. Quality rest is important. The well-known relaxing properties of many oils can not only carry us into sleep, but also help to keep us there.

5. Spiritual Significance

Aromatic plants have played an active role in the spiritual life of many cultures since antiquity. There are several references to the use of plants and oils in the Bible, for example. Other cultures use them in various rituals also, including the dying process. Historically aromatics were used for embalming and as a means for protection and purification while working with the dying. The calming and meditative oils were purported to help the dying transition from one life to the next.

Losing a loved-one is never easy. Sometimes the process of transitioning and letting go is the hardest part. Aromatherapy is just one way to support this process. Remember, although our loved-one is gone from our physical world, their legacy is everlasting. We can always call them back into our life through the memories we hold and cherish and celebrate their life here on Earth.

A Note from our Founder:

“I recall my first Hospice experience. I was 19 years old and my mother had reached the end of her 7-year battle with cancer. People often ask me how I “got into the business” of natural healing. For me the answer is clear. Watching my mother suffer physically, emotionally and spiritually was life-changing and inspired my own journey in many ways.

The Hospice staff caring for my other during her final days was wonderful. These nurses are well-trained to help families cope with losing a loved one. Yet the environment was cold and sterile and that ever-familiar hospital scent, a mix of chemicals and bodily fluids, was evident. The walls were concrete and the chairs uncomfortable. We spent long hours and even days waiting for her to pass. Sadness, anger and grief ensued. Losing a loved one is never easy.

I later came to realize there was more that could be done to make families and their loved ones comfortable during the dying process. The magic aromatherapy brings to the body, mind and soul could provide much needed comfort and healing during even the most troubling times. I believe every Hospice should make aromatherapy available to both patient and their families and hope more families find relief when they cross this bridge.”