Essential Oils for Cancer Care

Transcription

1 Essential Oils for Cancer Care Supportive care for Pain, Infection, Anxiety and Stress Presented by: Katherine Anderson, ND FABNO Slides adapted from J. Boice, ND

2 Plant Medicine Native people: literally look in your back yard for food and medicine Seek local plants and remedies Gather and use with respect Relies on a healthy, diverse plant community; requires caring for the land

3 Plant Medicine and Infectious Disease Control Plant constituents vary according to Soil quality Rainfall Sun exposure Pesticide/insecticide exposure Handling after harvest Plants address infections without directly attacking bacteria or viruses Echinacea increases white blood cell count Bacteria and viruses usually do not develop resistance to plant medicines Genova Diagnostics, CDSA, tests enteral bacteria against certain botanicals; some resistant

4 Four levels of working with herbs Take this for that Pharmacological actions Energetic actions Spirit level

5 Essential oils Volatile oils in plants Usually less than 2% of the plant Facilitates communication with other plants Attracts or deters insects and animals including humans Extremely concentrated

6 Potency of essential oils ONE DROP of an essential oil is roughly equivalent to 30 cups of tea! Essential oils are incredibly concentrated, technically bordering on synthetic, and should be used carefully.

7 Storage of essential oils Keep out of the reach of children Keep cap on Store in a cool, dark area Store in brown OR deep violet glass bottles; will destroy most plastics and rubber Rebottle when the bottle is less than half full (air oxidizes oil)

8 Essential oil absorption Essential oils are lipophilic, fat loving Every cell membrane in our bodies is composed of phospholipids and cholesterol, fatty substances. Respiratory tract: essential oils pass right through the cell membrane and into the cell Inhalation directly effects the central nervous system, respiratory system

9 Why don t bacteria become resistant to essential oils? Most antibiotics work with a single mechanism of bacterial cell formation or metabolism Bacteria quickly develops a mutation to thwart the antibiotic Essential oils have numerous effects on a bacterial cell; nonspecific Because cell walls are made of lipids/fats and essential oils are lipophilic, they pass right through the cell membrane A cell cannot mutate and become resistant it needs its membrane!

10 Essential Oils, antibacterial Cinnamomum verum (cinnamon bark) Diplococcus pneumoniae, Enterococci, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Proteus species, Salmonella pullorum, Staphylococcus albus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus beta-hemolytic, Yersinia enterocolitica Eucalyptus globulus Diplococcus pneumoniae; most of the above, moderate action Staphylococcus albus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus beta-hemolytic, Streptococcus faecalis Eucarya spicata (Australian sandalwood) Streptococcus aureus

11 Essential Oils, antibacterial cont. Laurus nobilis (bay leaf) Mycobacterium tuberculosis Malaleuca alternifolia Salmonella typhi Melaleuca leucadendron (cajuput) Diplococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella species. Several others moderately effective

12 Essential Oils, antibacterial cont. Thymus vulgaris the winner! (also very caustic) Diplococcus pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterococci, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Proteus species, Salmonella pullorum, Sarcina species Staphylococcus albus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus beta-hemolytic, Streptococcus faecalis NOTE: Oreganum vulgare (oregano) only moderately effective for about half a dozen bacteria

13 How to apply essential oils Skin application Dilution with vegetable oil Hands and feet, especially children, for system effect Steam inhalation (close the eyes!) Inhaler Mist insect repellant; air freshener/purifier Terra cotta figures impregnated with oil On a tissue short term replacement for inhaler

14 Cautions with essential oils Avoid heating essential oils; caustic, damaging for lungs; oxidizes oils Pets may become toxic (especially carnivores; not as developed CYP pathways) With a few exceptions, dilute oils in a stable vegetable oil, back to 2 5% concentration AVOID ingestion; hard on the liver. You need advanced training to prescribe essential oils for internal use Remember: toxic effects of essential oils triggered the development of the liver s metabolic pathways!

15 Use a variety of oils Rotate oils every two weeks Think of the category/primary action of an oil and consider additional oils Example: sleep support Two weeks of lavender Two weeks Roman Chamomile

16 Melaleuca alternifolia Tea tree Antiseptic antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral; immune stimulating Reduces IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 levels in macrophages¹ Non-toxic to the skin and body; can be applied neat, without dilution (only if bottle has been open less than 6 months) Treats skin condition (cuts, abrasions, acne etc..) Infections, e.g. sore throat, sinus infection, bronchitis (different application routes)

17 Lavendula angustifolia lavender Analgesic (reduces pain) Antispasmodic Migraines Burns ( neat, not with carrier oil) Adaptogenic (helps the body better adapt to stress), amphoteric action Insect repellant Harmonizes the actions of other essential oils; great to include in a blend (licorice)

18 Lavender and gynecomastia Four case reports in 2007 linking lavender (3) and tea tree (1) essential oil with young boys with gynecomastia, NEJM (1) Recently refuted, rat study (2) NO in vivo evidence of estrogenic activity from extremely large applications of lavender oil (5,000 1,000,000 times higher concentration than shampoo exposure)

19 Antiseptic, antiviral Expectorant, bronchodilator Insect repellant Analgesic (pain relieving) E. globulus - more mucolytic, stimulating E. radiata for children skin applications Eucalyptus globulus Eucalyptus radiata

20 Eucalyptus globulus and Chlorhexidine Three essential oils tested against planktonic and biofilm preparations of Staphylococcus epidermidis Thymol performed best Followed by tea tree and then Eucalyptus essential oil Eucalyptus essential oil significantly increases absorption of Chlorhexidine digluconate (1) Synergistic activity Crude Eucalyptus essential oil had stronger antimicrobial activity than 1,8 cineole extract (2) Exception: 1,8 cineole had stronger activity against Candida albicans

21 Helichrysum italicum (Immortelle or Everlasting) For bruises, strains, blood blisters. The faster the oil is applied, the more likely you will be to avert bruising. The Arnica of the essential oils Apply undiluted ( neat ) for acute injuries. For old scars and stretch marks, apply a 20% dilution regularly over 2 3 months Insect stings, to reduce swelling

22 Boswellia frereana: Frankincense Prevents collagen degradation, reduces inflammatory markers Can avert asthma attack Immune booster Speeds tissue healing, skin Increases alpha waves in brain

23 Commiphora molmol, Myrrh Anti-inflammatory Anti-viral

24 Matricaria recutita German Anti-inflammatory More soothing for topical applications Azulene: characteristic stunning blue color Antispasmodic Analgesic Anti-allergenic Chamomile

25 Anthemis nobilis: Roman Chamomile Anti-spasmodic More soothing for nervous system Safe for infants Nervine Stomachic, carminative

26 Abies siberica:siberian Fir Rheumatism Muscle aches and pains Bronchodilating Mucolytic Sore throats Diuretic

27 Mentha piperita, peppermint Carminative Relieves indigestion, gas Careful: relaxes cardiac sphincter of stomach Relieves nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy Antiseptic and mucolytic

28 Lemon Store in refrigerator Uplifting Antimicrobial Used in Europe as disinfectant in medical offices Study in Japan, subolfactory levels, effect on work, concentration, productivity

29 Citrus sinenses: Orange Antidepressant Antiseptic Digestive Nervine Amphoteric effect digestive system (constipation or diarrhea) Uplifting CAREFUL: sensitizes to sunlight; may irritate some skin types

30 Grapefruit Least photosensitizing Uplifting Store all citrus oils in the refrigerator

31 Rosemarinarinus officinalis, Rosemary Analgesic, antiseptic, antirheumatic, antineuralgic, cardiac tonic, nervine Increases circulation in the brain (memory, intuition) Cephalic three: rosemary, basil, peppermint Stimulates hair growth

32 Rosemary and cognitive effects Study with 20 subjects, 2008 Inhalation of rosemary increased speed and accuracy of recall (1) Increased blood levels of 1,8 cineole Study with 66 subjects, 2013 (2) Difference between the two groups was per cent, Rosemary group would remember to do seven things compared with four tasks completed by those who did not smell the oil, and they were quicker. Deliberately gave lots of tasks; hence, may help with multi-tasking No link between the participants mood and memory. Improvement in remembering events, remembering to complete tasks at particular times, and the speed of recall.

33 Applying your knowledge We will review 6 common conditions so that you have the experience of individualizing treatment Rely on basic, conventional first aid

34 Burns Lavender German Chamomile Non-oil base Mixed with aloe vera gel Spray

35 Insomnia Lavender Frankincense Rosemary Bath dilution with milk Tissue Inhaler

36 Insect repellant Eucalyptus Rosemary Lavender Conifer family 2% dilution = 96 drops in 8 ounces of water; add 1 tsp of alcohol to disperse. Shake before using For bites: lavender

37 Stress Lavender Citrus family (uplifting) Frankincense Rosemary

38 Trauma, cuts, abrasions Almost any essential oil has antimicrobial effects Helichrysum: Arnica of the essential oil world Lavender: calming German chamomile: soothes skin, antimicrobial Frankincense: tissue healing

39 Colds Eucalyptus globulus/radiata Siberian fir Citrus Asthma: Frankincense Peppermint

40 Thank you! Katherine Anderson, ND FABNO