Notice
Road and parking lot construction in Madison, Wis. may result in travel delays and route changes to UW Health clinic and hospital locations. Please plan accordingly.Read more
Road and parking lot construction in Madison, Wis. may result in travel delays and route changes to UW Health clinic and hospital locations. Please plan accordingly.Read more
It is the use of an essential oil for health and healing.
Essential oils
(EOs) are found in the flowers,
leaves, bark, wood, roots, seeds and peels of
aromatic plants. EO is a liquid product that
is extracted from an aromatic plant.
There are 5 EOs available to patients who would like to try aromatherapy:
Peppermint Mentha piperita
Ginger Zingiber officinale
Red mandarin Citrus reticulata
Lavender Lavandula angustifolia
Rose Rosa damescena
These EOs are offered during hospital stays.
Please do not use EOs brought from home.
These EOs can be used to:
Decrease nausea and vomiting after surgery
Decrease pain
Promote sleep
Promote wellbeing
Your nurse will ask you about what you hope to receive from aromatherapy. This will help your nurse to choose EO options with you. Your nurse will offer you samples of the EO options until you find an aroma you like.
The re are two options for you to receive aromatherapy by inhalation
Your nurse places 1 3 drops of the EO on a cotton ball, places it in a cup and asks you to breathe deeply for 5 10 minutes with the cotton ball near your nose.
Your nurse places 1 drop of the EO
on each of the top corners of your
bedsheet, or 1 drop on your
pillowcase.
Diffusers will not be used to give EOs in the
hospital.
Sometimes EOs are not a good choice for patients. Below is a list of reasons not to choose to use EOs:
If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
If you have a history of using EOs and had breathing problems while using them.
If you have asthma , allergies or other breathing problems
If you have migraine headaches.
Peppermint w ill not be used with
children 3 years old or younger.
Talk with your nurse if you have any questions about aromatherapy.