Leukaemia and massage

[jaymax173]

Hi,
I have a client soon with early stages of Leukaemia .
He has talked on the phone about it and has seen his doctor.

Can you tell me what oils i should use?

 

[BigTom]

As you have posted this in the massage forum and not aromatherapy, I assume you mean carrier oil. Personally, I would use something light and easily absorbed, such as grapeseed or sweet almond.

Has he spoken to his doctor about having massage? I only ask because I am currently undergoing training to work with cancer patients with all my therapies and my mother had leukaemia for two and a half years, so I do have a special interest. If the doctor is happy for him to have treatments, ensure that they are very gentle.

Obviously, there are different types of leukaemia, with varying treatments, but if he is having any kind of chemo, hygeine is paramount as his immune system will be severely impeded. Find out at what stage of treatment he is at and you will need to know whether his platelet count is low, as even gentle massage can lead to bruising.

Having said all that, he should really benefit from the therapies.

Sorry - you may have known all of the above. Just felt that it was important information.

Lesley

 

[Katie O]

Hi thankyou for that.....know some of that but not all.

 

[Bonusmom]

CANCER
NOTE: No cancer treatment should be undertaken without consulting a licensed medical practitioner.
The essential oil applications listed here can be used to complement the effectiveness of conventional cancer therapies. These essential oil applications should continue until the cancer is in remission.
Groundbreaking research slated to be published in 2004 at Brigham Young University for the first time identified essential oils which effectively kill cancer cells while being non-toxic to normal cells (non neoplastic cells). Some of the most effective oils studied included sandalwood essential oil which inhibited growth by up to 90% of several different types of cancer cells (cervical, breast, skin and prostate) while having little or no harmful effect on normal cells. Sandalwood showed excellent action even at very small concentrations (100 ppm). Tsuga, thyme, grapefruit, and thyme linalool also showed low normal cell toxicity and strong anticancer action.
Oils rich in limonene, such as lemon, orange, tangerine, and Idaho balsam fir have been shown in clinical studies to have potent anticarcinogenic effects. According to a study at the University of Indiana, "monoterpenes would appear to act through multiple mechanisms in the chemopre-vention and chemotherapy of cancer." Studies using 1-15 grams a day of limonene in very advanced cancer patients resulted in almost 20% of the patients going into remission.
To enhance the action of essential oils, strong cleansing and nutritional building programs are required.

Leukemia
Single Oils:
Frankincense, clove, lavender.



VITA FLEX,(similar to reflexology) 1-3 drops on soles of feet 2 times daily
BODY MASSAGE, apply very gently, do not do deep tissue massage.

NutritionalSupplementation:

Supplementation regimen:
Take the following daily, for 30-40 days:
[ul][*]VitaminC: 12 tablets daily[*]Wolfberries (Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharide is reported tohelp to rebuild white blood cell count and improve major classes of T-cells). (veryhigh in anti-oxidants)[*]Greens Drink ie. wheetgrass (Spirulina). (Known for detoxifying properties.)[*]Thyme, Orange, Clove, Frankinsense:1-3drops of each,3 times daily[*]Fresh carrot juice: 1/2 gallon daily[*]Bee pollen: is high in protein and low in fat and sodium. It also contains high levels of vitamins and minerals including potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper and B vitamins.[*]Reduce or eliminate dairy.[/ul]
Caution: when using essential oils for medical conditions ensure that they are of a therapeutic grade. These are non-synthetic, and best when undiluted.
For ingestion, it is then recommended to dilute the more potent oils such as thyme and clove in honey at a ratio of 20:80%. Alternatives to honey include rice milk, soy milk, or vegetable oil.

 

[akluis]

In my opinion only aromatherapists should be using essential oils on cancer patients and I would even go on to suggest that they take additional training in aromatherapy and cancer care.

Whilst there are many essential oils thatmay help cancer (and we must never claim to cure), we should also be thinking about the various symptoms and side effects that the patients are presenting with, but importantly to note that many essential oils can react and interact with the various drugs that the patients may be on.

This is a really useful article - be sure to click on the links within the article.

[link=http://www.aromacaring.co.uk/palliative_care.htm]http://www.aromacaring.co.uk/palliative_care.htm[/link]

Lesley

 

[Godboy]

I've got to agree with Aromababe, trained aromatherapists should be the only ones using EOs on cancer patients, preferrably with additional training.

[/b][/font]
clove - hepatoxic I believe, so kill off the liver cells while wokring on the cancer cells?


how are you meant to get a drop of honey to dilute the oils? And yet again it is that pesky hepatoxic clove oil Eugenia caryophyllus .... What kind of thyme? Red thyme Thymus vulgaris??again a possible hepatoxic oil. It's all very well quoting research about the effect of an oilagainst a specific type of cell, but you have to look at the effect that oil has on other types of cells before you go "research shows so use xyz". And arguements that the dosage used that showed clove/thyme was hepatoxic were unrealistic doses would also apply to the cancer cell research too.

 

[Karate Kat :)]

Hi

I totally agree with Aromababe and cola here, as aromatherapists in this country we are not licenced to use essential oils internally andmost are not familiar with internal use, they also become far more potent used this way so should be treated with extreme care.

But I have to disagree with not using them in a massage even if you are not trained in aromatherapy as I feel the advantages of massage with an aroma (touch and smell) are vast and lets be honest here anyone can buy an essential oil or blend from loads of places.

It is important that you check with the ongology unit that they are happy for someone to be massaged and aromababe is correct that specialist training is advisable if treating cancer patients as it does differ and you do have to take into consideration all the side effects etc. if permission is given usually the unit will offer extra advise on what not to use, especially if that person is undergoing chemo or radiation treatment and this should always be adheared to. But I do believe that aroma plays an important part in someones recovery as its a "real feel good factor" and I would let the person chose which essential oil they like the smell of at that time, I always find the body/mind choses correctly and will chose an appropriate oil. I would use a low to verylow dilution say 1 drop to 5mls of cold pressed vegetable oil or 1 drop per 10mls and then massage accordingly (with love, care and respect). I would like to point out that I used essential oils all the time when I had kidney cancer and they helped me recover in record time! They also helped me manage the renal colic as I am allergic to all the main painkillers, but thats another story.

Having said all the above it is advisable to get proper training in the use of essential oils as there are some very 'potent' ones out there but usually they are not sold to the 'general public' but please don't use them internally or in high doses unless you are highly trained in their use.

As for using a cold pressed vegetable oil in massage again I agree with aromababe and would chose something light such as peach, apricot orsunflower.

I wish you all the best

Love and light

 

[??? ?????? ?? ??? ????]

Hi, wow very interesting reading.
Well the massage went well and he has booked again next month.
He bought the doctors note and that had the platelet count on it and explained it all to me.
The massage was light and relaxing. I used grapseed oil.
I would be very interested in doing a cancer course for aromatherapy.... where would i look to do that?

Thing is at college was always told not to work on clients with cancer for aromatherapy...i am a fully qualifed aromatherapist but hearing so much about it now that is ok as long as you know as you all say about whidh oils and how much.

thankyou kathy

 

[j??????]

I am very pleased to hear that the massage went well.

In response to some of the comments made in this discussion, I would say that all make valid points.

No cancer treatment should be undertaken without consulting a licensed medical practitioner.




This is true, although it does not rule out it's validity. If you were to look at the French model, only medical doctors may prescribe essential oils. The model however is built around using the oils internally, and essential oils are prescribed for many health conditions. The only oils not to take internally are the absolutes ofJasmine and Neroli.



The dilution ratio 20:80 I have used is the one which is generally regarded as safe. If it is diluted further then there is no problem with this.






The thyme I was referring to was indeed Thymus vulgaris CT Thymol



It is true that essential oils are readily available. Care should be taken to use only pure non-synthetic oils, as it is the petrochemical compounds in synthetic oils which are the cause of the vast majority of any side effects they may have.

 

[Down]

Katherine, I have emailed you this information in reply to your email, but am posting it here for the benefit of the forum.

Hi Katherine

Glad the massage went well for both you and your client.

I know when we first train, tutors tell us that massaging cancer patients is a big 'No', but I've checked with my insurance FHT (who are very hot on contraindications) and they are happy for me to treat such patients once I have had the extra training and of course, with doctors' consent.

So far I have done Reflexology and Cancer Care at Middlesex School of Complementary Medicine

http://www.mscm.biz/

They also run courses on massage and cancer and aromatherapy and cancer.

Next week I'm doing a two day course at the S.E.E.D Institute on Aromatherapy and Palliative Care

http://www.theseedinstitute.co.uk/Pall.htm I know they also do other courses.

Not sure where you are in the country, but other places that run such courses are

http://christie.man.ac.uk/profinfo/...es/adapting.htm

[link=http://www.tees.ac.uk/schools/soh/s...157&SubAreaID=2]http://www.tees.ac.uk/schools/soh/s...157&SubAreaID=2[/link]

[link=http://www.pennybrohncancercare.org/]http://www.pennybrohncancercare.org/[/link]


Hope this is of helpto you.

Lesley