Case studies

CASE

STUDIES KATE STOCKBRIDGE

-

DRUG-INDUCED

AILEEN

NEILAN

-

DEPRESSION

ALISON

WALKE

-

NECK & SHOULDER

PHILLIPS

-

PRE-MENSTRUAL

ANNIE

______

___~

run down, had patches

‘GILLIAN’

PATIENT:

AGE:

18

COMPLAINT:

DRUG-INDUCED

OILS USED:

CLARY SAGE, ROMAN

PSYCHOSIS

~

illian is an 18 year old girl who was

admitted

Mental

under

Health

psychiatric

Act

Section

19X3 to a locked

psychosis with schizophrenic e.g.

hearing

cannabis

3 of the

ward due to drug-induced voices

hallucinations.

symptoms, and

visual

She had started smoking

when she was 13 and taking

ecstasy from 15. At 17 she started to feel ‘out of control’, was later referred

had a breakdown

admitted.

When

she

ward.

embarrassed

She

was

was now feeling

by her earlier

bchaviour,

guilty, ashamed and dcprcssed. still feeling psychotic

and

to me she had been moved to

an open

anxious

symptoms.

Her

depressed

(an

One

medication

was

antipsychotic

drug).

and scared

She was of the

She was physically

chlopromazine treatment

depression,

were

anxiety,

to

eczema,

and PMT and to boost self

esteem. and

5ml

evening

primrose

oil for the eczema and PMT. To

Salvia

sclnrea

euphoric,

(clary sage) or emotional stress,

mental

migraines,

menstrual

cramps

(Davis,

1991). b Anthemis hayfevcr,

- eczema, allergies

period

problems,

such as

headaches,

eczema,

PMT,

stress-related Rosa

nervous

disorders

damascena

eczema,

hayfever,

depression,

tension

and

(Lawless, 1992). (rose

Otto)

period

headache,

and stress-related

-

problems,

nervous

complaints

tension (Lawless,

1992). I carried massage

out a back and shoulder

with the above combination,

which she really enjoyed. Five days later I gave her a full body massage felt more

confident

as she

with me. It eased

the tension

in her calves and soothed

her period

pains. She found it deeply

and enjoyed

I didn’t Kate Stockbridge

as the

this

tension

and she

while as she had obtained

again

Social

arca.

in

her

feeling

WdS

I gave her

massage.

Services

accommodation admission,

a

She felt

vulnerable

to

find

for her. Prior

to her

Gillian

on the streets.

had been

sleeping

She was looking

more

and run down and her eyes

Ten

days later

back, shoulders,

for a

some illicit

I massaged

stomach

her

and arms as

low and her period was

due. She left feeling

“really relaxed...

lovely... gorgeous”. I shall continue

to see Gillian on a

weekly basis until she is discharged

and

then for a limited period of time as she settles either under

back into the community

the guidance

of a Community

Mental Health Team or as she attends a Day Hospital

as an out-patient.

w erences ??

Davis, P. (1991) Aromatherapy An A-Z.

The

C.W.

Daniel

Company,

Saffron

Walden. ??

Lawless, J. (1992)

ofEssential

the attention.

see Gillian

weeks after

and shoulder

she was feeling

(Lawless, 1992).

Pelargonium graveolens (geranium)

relaxing

from

and lips were red, swollen and dry.

(Roman

nob&

chamomile)

??

region,

I did a back,

massage

she was ‘walking on egg shells’ waiting for

was added.

??

again

Three back

this one drop of each of the following

anxiety

cleared

was

shoulder

later

hand

the effects of her period.

almond

??

month had

There

again with

She had also become

and withdrawn. and

eczema

The care plan I followed was lOm1 carrier

psychotic

thoughts.

shoulder

of the

headaches

____-

_____-.

G

from hayfever, PMT and headaches.

alleviate

KATE STOCKBRIDGE

THERAPIST:

drugs and become racing

Aims

ROSE OTTO,

on

PAIN

TENSION

face, feet and hands and was suffering

CHAMOMILE,

GERANIUM,

of ccLema

PSYCHOSIS

??

Lawless, J, (1994)

the Mind.

The Encyclopaedia

Oils. Element, Thorsons,

Shaftsbury.

Aromatherapy London.

and

mediLaLion, which seemed

to help her

great deal. I saw her once again that ieek and she reported

suffering

from

ery itchy skin due to eating something he was allergic .dded

to the previous

German

beppermint

day, I

chamomile

and

to rose and sandalwood

so

haL Lhe blend of oils would address the kin problem ,motional After

M

next

argaret

rang me one

asking

if I would

day. She had just that

psychiatrist diagnosed her

on

also

Prozac.

been

day

clinical

The

who

had

and put

psychiaLrist

had

aromatherapy,

Lhe Prozac was building day and we arranged aromatherapy and

up its effect.

I

the following twice

Limes the

week. I then treated

that

following

her once

to be

treated as often. When first

holding

on her forehead

for about 5 minutes.

Margaret

warned throughout

treatment

arrived

she looked

for her tired

tears

I

did

She

and

Margaret

also just

experienced

better

to

a

relationship.

sleeping

very

appetite,

this

panic

attack

Monday.

She

badly had

had

and

been

had

culminated

no in

Her

is 50 and

employers

a

caring

and

problem

immediately

a busy

were

recognised

a

very

serious

and ensured

relax I

that

saw

day and she

before

after

coming

I again using

her

the

voice seemed

same

oils,

less

treatment

appetite

for

the

strained

because

of

arrived

for her fourth

days 1aLer Margaret

to do everything well again

already won). diet

and

doctor

in her power to get

(which

is half

the

battle

She eats a very healthy

exercises

had signed

regularly

and

her

her off work until

treatment

was

Margaret

enough

the next

24 hours.

gentle

that

recognised

relaxing

oils (bcrgamot,

a

lavender

and,

improving

‘first

the aid’

first to

lift

to get her through I gave her a very

t jccn

to improve

and

again

and

her

sleep

It was a great privilege )f Margaret’s

healing

Lave been vhen

especially

she

:motional

so

in the early days

desperately

necdcd

supporl.

PATIENT:

‘ANNA’

AGE:

35 NECK AND SHOULDER

COMPLAINT:

WITH

her

that

her

pillow sleep

at

MOVEMENT.

TINGLING

SENSATION.

SLEEPING.

problems

and

were rose,

sandalwood

in also

with

The oils I used and lemon

help with past emotional her through

linked

BLACK PEPPER,

OILS USED:

5%

BLEND:

VETIVER,

LAVENDER

ON NECK AND

SHOULDERS ARMS, THERAPIST:

NUTMEG,

ROSE,

AI&ON

AND TOPS OF

2.5%

REST OF BODY

WALKE

nna A

is single,

described

ucky until

lives

herself

to

,houlder

alone

she was involved

six months

ago.

in a car

Since

pain which had progressed

in her arms

:ombined

sensation

with a tingling

Lhe changes

she

t physiotherapist

a lot

of

to

gradual loss of movement

rer fingers. Her GP had referred

doing

then

from neck and

and

herself.

and

as happy-go-

problems

healing

POOR

DEPRESSION.

#he had been suffering

depression.

TO ARMS WITH

was

to use oils to Lreat the trauma

Margaret’s

LOSS OF

MOVEMENT

she was still waking a little

PAIN

RESTRICTED

decided

was

and it

vas greaL Lo see how much help the oils

Lccident

Margaret

has

to be part

process

JUNIPER,

her

neroli

looks

pattern

two

on her

lifted

making

and

She

i mproved greatly

treatment

mood

support

now

vyell and her voice is strong and vibrant

physical symptoms were noL so severe I

was

She

has

to work part-time.

YLANG-YLANG,

her

had

sandalwood

taken off Prozac completely

i:s back

and that she felt

although a little,

and

EUCALYPTUS,

several Limes in the night. Because

massage with euphoric and clary sage)

make up parL of Lhe blend.

she

reported

had improved

and emotional

she was fully recovered. I

night

c)fLen

c.ontinues

rose

When

was using

who needed

although

her

this.

in

as a valuable

was very determined

to her needs at that

t ime,

some

that she had a little more energy. She

employee

every two to three weeks. We vary

oils according

I saw her

she saw a doctor. They viewed Margaret help. This client

for several weeks and now see her

her

I substituted

bergamot

blend

appetite

of

once a

cmce

in her sleep but that her

was very variable.

mandarin

ESR

and

a 1iLtle stronger.

improvement

amount

her

music.

looked

second

for

intensive

I then saw Margaret

gave her a gentle

five days later and she rcportcd

at work on the previous

Margaret

executive.

end

to

massage.

that night but that she felt very again

Margaret

and

a traumatic

and

weeks and that she had slept a little

points and relaxing

and had

neck

for the first time in

massage

depressed

cry

reporLed Lhat she had felt hungry after

taking her case history I found that she 7 months

had

so I had lots

the next

quiet and she looked close to tears. On feeling

to

She

her

the

again

treatment.

her voice was very

for about

I

rnighc

appeared

during

step was an effort,

been

she

the treatment

shoulders.

low

strcsscd

relax.

that

while

pale and was moving slowly as if every

had

the treatment

to

me

the first treatment

Margaret

the ESR points

played music through

deeply

a week

until she did not feel the need

and included

the

Yveek

t he

of tissues ready but she only shed a few

for her to have

treatmenLs

three

A&en Nielan

help

in the first two weeks while

was able to see Margaret

week

the

to see a

depression

recommended

especially

her

this

t reatment

afternoon

treat

as well as continuing

support.

in

her to

whom she was visiting

wice weekly at the time our sessions :ommenced.

Anna

found

the physio

sessions

painful

afterwards

and

exercises

stated

relief and muscular

sore

to do the aim

to

in an office

lundarnental

typing,

Filing,

drawers

tasks

opening

etc.,

impossible

had

prior

been

-

heavy cabinet almost

on some days due to pain

and deteriorating months

where

become

mobility.

to seeing

suffering

depression

For

three

me she had

from

After deep

bouts

of

freely, although

not fully, from side to

(depression, (pain

frustration),

relief

and

pain and stirfness

that she use the bath oil at

and

defeated

by it all.

night as often as possible vctiver,

and then to

lavender

and

clary

and

she

felt

massage

she

without

pain.

had

following

had

an

the and

two baths

them very cornPorting

better,

she

rested the following not vaporised

had

felt

she more

morning.

She had

any oils. Tha

Fain had

crept back gradually and by the end of the

second

Mobility

day was as bad

decrcasrd

as ever.

with the onset

of

pain. Anna asked if it was possible

to

have more of the ‘high’ feeling because she

believed

contributed eucalyptus euphoric

problem

the physical

as a priority, because

I felt this

would help lift her depression

by giving

her some respite.

Bath oils and general

encouragement

would also help relieve

When session

Anna

(which

lunch

break)

arrived

for the first

took place

during

she was barely

her

able

turn her head and she had tingling her

fingers.

medical

We talked

history including

and Anna stated problem

and

through

to in her

the accident

that she had a neck

didn’t

need

i‘ull body

this

back

her

shoulders,

arms and hands.

pepper, pepper

eucalyptus

a blend and

and eucalyptus

of black

vetiver.

The

were for pain

of

the set

from

regained in

95%

her

physiotherapist

of

neck.

We

agreed massage

that

had

slowed

appointments treatments

played

down

to fortnightly

see her once a month sometimes difficult

the after

and her neck is

day in the office

she comes for relaxation

but mainly and spiritual

uplift. Anna is now very aware of how to and vaporising

and has also

taken up yoga. Looking

back on how

she felt when she first came she just

remembers

she says being

relief

had

pain with everything

track.

helping

high

of

However,

her

nights

to focus

her

and she

sleep

was

on things

more

in her fingers had

not occurred

at all during the week and

the morning

tears were less frequent.

Following

a lengthy

discussion,

appointments

change

the

of

to the end of the day and treatments

~PATIENT:

her back on

‘JANE’

AGE:

40

COMPLAINT:

PRE-MENSTRUAL

OlLS USED:

FRANKINCENSE, ROMAN

I used

the original blend but added two drops

TENSION YETIVER,

CHAMOMILE,

ROSE OTTO, LAVENDER, MANDERIN, THERAPIST:

ANNIE

GRAPEFRUIT.

PHILLIPS

(STUDENT

AROMATHERAPIST)

her

also to a full body massage. For subsequent

a

and

-__l_l_-

which

tears, Anna time

has brought

in

being

baths

given

increased

clearly. The tingling

previous

three

had

and peaceful the

the

the

managed

that

six

a little stiff if she has had a

aromatherapy

the

comfort

a

and then to monthly. Now I

lasted only about an hour and she had

had

the The

large part in her recovery.

not

had

the

after eight sessions with

fog. She says she was out of control

to

I used

had

aromatherapy

that

pain

agreed

and arms which took around

was discharged

and

she

had

unfortunately,

neck,

shoulders

some

constant

that

felt

to do

On the next visit Anna reported

had

30 minutes.

its and

as well as neck,

on the morning

her

for

qualities

massaged

she

euphoria

had felt on the

bathing

ylang-ylang

focused

massage

had

the

with

I only

to

She

that

of a full body

look after herself and uses self massage,

massage. After the consulcation time

feeling

mobility

to the respite. I substituted and balancing

treatment.

both pain and depression.

that

arm

After the fourth massage

able

physiotherapist movement

slept

she

the day.

the physiotherapist

me

had

to address

felt

said that the respite had done wonders

she was not certain

and

produced

for her. She had managed and had found

Alism Walke

Anna

afternoon

She was overjoyed

and, although

I decided

massage

first occasion.

that

that

over the next three

was seeking and indeed

her.

reported

neck

the peace and relaxation

she

shorter’

(juniper,

longer and longer, She discovered

exercises

me

depression

weeks and the periods without pain got I

the middle of the day) one week later,

‘the good periods were getting

shorter

myrrh

comfort).

and fear of the day;

the start of the day. Anna consulted

for

and frankincense)

Anna’s

When Anna came back (again in

in tears at

Anna Cound

the oils when she

She found this a great comfort.

to

she would often find herself because

and

and

sage to aid sleeping.

had

due

blend

gradually improved

nutmeg

uplift)

uplift

more time off sick. The mornings difficult

a

side, I made her a bath oil with rose

vaporise

particularly

began to burn oils at night time as well. After the third treatment

could have on a tissue during

piling up and she was taking more and become

and Anna

wasn’t able to have a bath so we mixed

during

she could move her head quite

suggested

was

uplift)

couch

and her inability to work

to have baths and eventually

lavender

do her job properly

the

Anna

discomfort

(spiritual

continued

that she was missing

her shoulders

of the neck.

some

the

of myrrh

the massage but when she got off the

(spiritual

meant

I used

to release

across

and up the back experienced

shr was not able to

tasks

and vetiver

effleurage

massage

muscles

because

complete

initial

tissue

knotted

of her job

release

was to sedate, earth and for defeatism.

The her

80% of her neck movement.

Anna worked the

wry

suggested.

physiotherapist restore

was

and was unable

J

ane’s presenting

problem

and she felt angry,

anxious

was PMT

aggressive

and

for up to seven days before

a

period.

She described

mental

not physical.

spoke of ongoing The

as she

back problems,

pain and discomrort sacrum.

her tension In addition,

with

in her coccyx and

pain was preventing

play the sports

she loved, the

first

tennis

her

be useful for her muscular

tension

stiffness.

oil,

session,

and tense, and her jaw was set firm. My was of

an

yang

(hot,

masculine)

anxious,

with lots of

flowing,

energetic,

I chose

(respiratory,

area was a lillle

while

her

puffy and the

as

to the hormonal

that

period

occur

before

psychological

sensitive,

already

recommended

She

poor

hands

circulation,

and feet,

(seemingly

occasional

hormonal

some respiratory shortness

headaches

sensitivity

of breath)

of pollution

cold

and cyclical) she

in the atmosphere

of her

drinker

described

herself

- she drank up to three glasses

of red wine with meals

be

extremes

perhaps

four

useful

of aggression

Because

mandarin

acted

nervous

sixth trcatmcnt oils

as she found that too stressftll she now

massage

works part time.

for

She does not smoke

and eats a varied wholefood diet, low in dairy products carbohydrates

vegetarian and high in

and pulses.

Her

life is full and active which, pleasurable,

sometimes

stress because Jane appeared

of limits Lo

social

although

added

to her

on her

time.

be a fit young woman

and

to use

I introduced

in

the

its

feminising

calming,

qualities

and

encourage

her

her

between

treatmenls,

and whatcvcr

oils I

more yin energy needed

to have

quality.

I worked

that

the

PMT

to encourage

into her life, so they a sedative,

calming

on the assumption was

causing

these

problems. relaxant,

The the

to use frankincense

as a

to try to reduce her irritability

to

self in-

her

using

the

same

massage

was adapled

from

neuromuscular

recommended with

the

sympathetic nervous particularly

I decided

for each

and shoulders

cncouragcd head

to

blend I used in the treatment.

chose for this I wanted to also work on her PMT. I also wanted

twice monthly,

days prior

I

anxiety,

to Jane

period.

perpetual

for (yin)

(yin) qualities.

massage her

of

On the

bring

came for a massage two consecutive

movements

by Merguerite intent

to

and system.

Maury

balance

the

parasympathetic I

on shifting

in

her pelvic area - I worked using deep pettrisage

along

the

sacroiliac

supplemenl

joint,

in parlicular into action,

using

a

B

in the second

she

vitamin

half of her

cycle. I was happy with the amount

of

with

the

elimination

pelvic

of

congestion

prior 10 her period. were

her

excellent.

By the

came for a treatment

pre-menstrual

phase

and

reported

very positively.

She had been

feeling

very

better,

physically

much

and

being excellent previously).

(on

and

health, up lo 8.5 from 6 up fencing said

two weeks and tennis

she

was

altogcthcr

happier

and

much

energetic.

IIcr

PMT

including

the headaches,

disappeared

more

symptoms, had virtually

prior to a period.

Her neck and back no longer back

feeling

but she still experienced

some water retention tension

a

scale of O-10, with 10

In the previous

she had taken again,

both

emotionally

general wellbeing

they did before was virtually

recommended

held the

and her lower

pain-free.

she continue

I have to burn

vetiver and frankincense

at night if she

feels anxious and unable

to settle.

If you are a yualz&d therapist and have any case studies you think would be oJ interest to OUTTeaders, please send them to the editor at the addTess in the jF0n.t of he journnl. paid for

concenlraled the energy

about

during

and

and

than calm her. I suggested

Results

lavender

tea

It seemed

to “fire” Jane

fifth session Jane

frankincense

out her womanly

the use of alcohol

her

in-between

femininity

stimulants

as far as possible.

oils

the

balancing

(sugar,

on

help

hormonal,

(yin) qualities;

its soothing,

more

down

so reducing

a mix of rose otto

anti-depressant,

and

“grounding”

that she drink

waste;

case

a

energy,

more

would

some new

bath,

Creatments,

anxiety. aim was to reduce

in the

bring

I

on

cast

head

any

These

ease the headaches.

whose health seemed marred by visible My first

to

of

Gbrc she was eating; but felt more water

and irritability.

the massage.

tension,

13, and is at present

year ago she was working full time, but

balance

indirectly

grapefruit,

A

a

or grapefruit

her pillow during also

thus

these oils were so heavy, 1

times a week. She has one child aged a single parent.

to

counterbalance

and lhat she cut

think

of both

area.

to

I recommended

her

and relieve her anxiety. qualities

to

clear

period.

I

the

water and less alcohol,

rather

remove

along

bring more cncrgy downwards into her

so I

burn her

predominance

was helping

and vetiver mix at night

grounding

sprinkled

as a social

I

Jane

this would help

would

car fumes.

She was not on any medication. Jane

The

extreme

balance

intent

and shoulder

coffee)

fluctuations

symptoms.

a few days before

believed

an

could

trapezius

some

and oedema.

energy, creativity, and fun into her life.

anger

menstruation

that

psychic blocks

felt

to the high levels

town - particularly

oils

frankincense for

and

(tighmess,

which

were possibly related home

with

was

with similar

pelvis,

soothing

Jane’s

a

in energy. Her facial skin was fine and to wrinkles.

though

reaction wanted

had

and

before

whole pelvic area felt cold and lacking prone

and

Roman

to remove

tension,

I wanted

skin and mind) and for its

I felt

and neck,

that

as a mid note for sensitivity

anti-inflammatory

the stiffness,

tensions

It would also

a yin

of

worked

properties.

I noted that tensions were held in back

of insecurity.

chamomile,

energy.

her upper sacral

for its base note, its earthy qualities

and sacrum

buttocks

the

to use vetiver

and feelings

and neck were palpably hard

and angry woman,

I decided

With

and

At

impression

frankincense,

and reduce

sensitivity.

are so good for deep, mental

shoulders

tense

her breathing

respiratory

her

fencing.

first

and deepen her

substantial

A sum of L50.00 case studies edit@

b

zuill be

published; required

amount will be reduced ncsoudingly

ZT this