Essential Oils for Surgery Candace Newman MAT, LMT, The Oil Lady Surgery can be challenging at best, and often traumatic. Aromatherapy’s top two attributes are its ability to (1) instantaneously relieve mental stress, and (2) support a healthy immune system. Thus, essential oils are a wonderful integrative part of surgery. They are microcosms of Holistic Medicine: as their medicinal liquid heals the physical body, their powerful pure aromas soothe the mind and emotions. The reaction is synergistic. To receive all these benefits, it is optimum to use them in 3 forms: a mist for a breath of fresh air, a pure essential oil for inhalation and diffusers, and a blend (in a base ingredient) to safely apply to skin. Here are some recommendations to consider: Have a mist with you to use in all 3 phases. Use the Art of Misting with Lavender or Lavender-Peppermint Mist as often as you like. The Art of Misting: make big sweeping circles around the top of your head, circle down around the face, then closely mist the back of the neck at the center of the hairline. Close eyes and breathe deeply. 1. Before surgery – (a) inhale deeply from a bottle of pure undiluted essential oil while setting your intentions and visualizing the surgery and healing. It's important that the aroma is VERY pleasant to you, ideas are: Lavender, Geranium, Orange, Lemon or Cedarwood. (b) Also at quiet times apply a blend (essential oil in base oil) to your nose, temples, back of neck, and appropriate areas for a gentle massage. This blend can be a Palm Blend you make with a base like our Organic Jojoba: add1 drop of essential oil in a palm-full of base oil. Ready-made options are our professional proprietary blends: Soother, Balancer, Stimulator or Comforter. 2. During surgery and hospital stay – (a) Continue to use your straight single oil for inhalation directly from the bottle … and/or put 1 drop on a cotton ball to tuck in your pocket or pillow as a personal diffuser. Take pure Peppermint with you to inhale if nauseated, and when coming out of the anesthesia. (b) A room diffuser with highly antimicrobial properties like Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, or Ravintsara is excellent preventive care. Add some Lavender to enhance the aromatic effects. Diffusers come with directions as to the number of drops of straight essential oils to use. (c) Use your Mist as often as you like to lift your spirits and clear the dross. (d) Use your Blend on nose, temples and back neck, and then for massage. Having someone give you a foot or back massage is lovely if possible! 3. After surgery – (a) Before the stitches are out, use the Scar & Bruise Oil around the stitches to help all the surrounding tissue heal. (b) After the stitches are removed and the incision is "dry", massage the scar area very gently. This is like "playing with the skin” to get the Scar & Bruise Oil thoroughly absorbed. Do this 2-3 times a day for about a week … then twice a day for another week or so ... then once a day for as many weeks as you like. (c) Continue to use the Mist for a breath of fresh air to the mind and emotions … and the single oil for inhaling a quick aromatic healing-zap to the brain. Scar & Bruise Oil is for skin/tissue repair. It is used for surgical scars, bruises, and sensitive skin issues. Ex-Pro football players have used it for knee replacement surgical scars. It's been used for open-heart surgery, breast surgery, and hip replacements. In Summary: The Quick 1-2-3 Step … 1. Mist with Lavender or Lavender-Peppermint Mist as often as you like. Mist your head, face, back of neck if possible, and pillow if appropriate. 2. Inhale directly from a bottle of pure essential oil (5-7 deep breaths), and/or put 1 drop on a cotton ball for your pocket or pillow as a personal diffuser. A room diffuser is another option. 3. Use a blend of essential oils in base oil for soothing massage. Use the Scar & Bruise Oil to comfort, soothe and restore damaged tissue. The Good Medicine Tin® is a self-care kit with a 12 page Guide booklet. It provides all the options one needs … except the Scar & Bruise Oil. Customer Stories (1) My first experience using essential oils with surgery was when my husband had his knees replaced. With Candace’s guidance, I took my Lavender, Lavender Mist, Peppermint and Tea Tree essential oils to the hospital. I felt like I needed to sneak them in because I thought the nurses and personnel wouldn’t understand what a blessing the oils are. I would spray the Lavender over Paul’s head and encourage him to breathe deeply. There would be such a peace come over him and he would relax and rest. I also put drops of Lavender on a cotton ball and put it in the pocket on the front of his hospital gown so he could smell it. As the nurses came in the room they would ask what smelled so good and enjoyed coming in to check on Paul. After he came home, I rubbed Scar & Bruise Oil around his surgical site but not on the wound. As soon as the clamps came off, I used the Scar & Bruise Oil on the site every day. He healed so beautifully and has very faint scars on his knees. (2) I had hip surgery in March 2013. I brought my Lavender, Peppermint, Lavender Mist, and several others. I used the Peppermint when I felt nausea coming on. I just waved it under my nose and inhaled it. Immediately I would feel the nausea subside. I also used the Lavender to relax, especially at night when I had trouble sleeping. I would just feel myself let go and rest. When the nurses and caretakers would come in my room, they wondered what smelled so good. There was even one young man that actually used Tea Tree oil he had purchased from the Oil Lady. He was a big believer in the oils. My oils made all of us feel good and everyone loved coming into my room. Since I have been home from the hospital and my scar has started to heal, I use the Scar & Bruise Oil every day to soften my scar. We are big users of essential oils in our home. It was so great to see everyone’s reaction the oils in the hospitals and to experience their appreciation for them. I found hospital personnel were more familiar with essential oils for my surgery four years after Paul’s. Maybe one day the oils will be part of hospital care. From Nancy in Florida www.OilLadyAromatherapy.com Oil Lady Aromatherapy® & The Good Medicine Tin® are a registered trademarks. All rights reserved.