The Benefits of Aromatherapy As You Get Older
Ranfurly Hospital General Interest
Aromatherapy is an ancient healing discipline that has survived the test of time for one primary reason—it works. For seniors at our residential care home in Auckland, aromatherapy is incorporated into a big-picture approach to wellness and quality of life.
Your sense of smell has a powerful effect on your sense of well-being, and aromatherapy has been used for thousands of years as a powerful way to shift mood, stabilise nerves, and treat and alleviate a wide range of ailments. Read on to discover the retirement care Three Kings approach to using this wonderful natural tool to increase positive experiences for seniors.
Benefits for Seniors' Health & Wellbeing
Besides enjoying a wonderfully scented room, seniors at Ranfurly Hospital are accessing numerous health benefits when they utilise the services our Auckland retirement hospital Aromatherapist offers on-site. Let's look at the many ways you can use aromatherapy to improve your quality of life at Ranfurly Hospital.
1. Relieve Stress
The scent is a powerful trigger that works to bring back memories; the way this works is through the activation of the olfactory nerve. This means it can be used to relieve stress by using particular aromas to work to calm and ease the fight or flight response that can be quite active when we are feeling unwell or under pressure.
Lavender, in particular, has been found to relieve stress when used in a lotion to massage hands or feet. Essential oils can be used in this way to access all of the meridians in the body, which can be tremendously relaxing.
2. Improve Sleep
Using aromatic oils as a sleep aid has been found to be highly beneficial at our residential care facility Auckland location. One way to reap these benefits is to use an electric diffuser to dispense soothing scents that will help you drift off to a restful slumber. Some people like to pop a sachet of lavender in their pillow case, and you can also lightly spray lavender through your bedding to promote a night of deep sleep.
3. Circulatory Problems / High Blood Pressure
Ranfurly Hospital offers clinical aromatherapy, and Julia Nessim, the Health Services Manager at Ranfurly Hospital is passionate about utilising this natural alternative in the treatment of circulatory problems and for relief from the symptoms of high blood pressure. You can incorporate a range of oils into your wellness regimen that will address a sluggish circulatory system, and peppermint and wild orange are two of the best choices in this case.
If you suffer from high blood pressure, you may find that neroli oil can be beneficial. Marjoram and ylang-ylang are also thought to be excellent aromas for the treatment of the symptoms of high blood pressure. At Ranfurly Hospital, we believe in trying various different angles in our quest for holistic care.
4. Boost Immunity/Fight Infection
When you feel calmer and more relaxed, your body has more resources to fight off attacks. Using Aromatherapy for our residential care facility residents is one way we help you to maintain good health and heal faster. There are lots of great aromas that have been found to boost immunity, and oregano is a great start for the respiratory system.
You can try Copaiba, similar to Black Pepper, to boost your cardiovascular health. And for those winter chills and ills, eucalyptus can be highly beneficial as an inhalation or through the diffuser. Your body has a greater chance of speedy recovery if you are well-rested, so using a combination of aromas is often the best way to get on top of infections and boost your health in natural ways.
5. Good for Seniors with Dementia / Alzheimer's Disease
At Ranfurly Hospital, we strongly support the application of holistic therapies within the care setting. Aromatherapy is just one of the ways we assist our residents with dementia and Alzheimer’s to enjoy a quiet moment. Scent can evoke peaceful surroundings, alleviate distress, and bring peace to those who may struggle to maintain a positive frame of mind.
Some studies support the idea that essential oils can improve cognitive function for those with Alzheimer's, and rosemary and cedarwood are widely recommended as soothing for people with dementia.
6. Memory/Mood
All the residents at our retirement hospital in Auckland can access aromatherapy, and many love the evocative quality of this lovely natural therapy. Rose or lavender oil can be used to transport you to a garden state of mind, and symptoms of anxiety and depression have been shown to dissipate during an aromatherapy session.
7. Using Different Essential Oils to Soothe
It makes sense to treat all the senses, and aromatherapy is used at our Auckland care facility to bring a little joy and natural healing to your day. A myriad of different essential oils can soothe, relieve stress, improve sleep, and treat the symptoms of common ailments for seniors. It makes sense to incorporate the joys of nature into your wellness approach, and at Ranfurly Hospital, that is a part of our ethos.
Get in touch
Get in touch with the experienced team at Ranfurly Hospital to discuss your future wellness and learn about the other ways we are improving life for our residents in natural ways.
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