anaphylactic shock

[Guest guest]

Hello Ron

Thanks for your reply - please keep us posted if you hear from Jean.

 

This question came up when we started working on hospice patients; one of the

doctors put the fear of god into us when he voiced concerns of such shock on

heavily medicated people. We looked into and decided we were OK because of the

protein angle (maybe the doctor had his own issues ...). That was some years

ago

though, so any further information would be welcome.

 

Helen in Cape Town

 

<I've asked Jean to see if she can track down a copy of the incident

mentioned. And, yes, given the mechanisms of " shock " due to proteins, like

bee venom, etc., eo's would not show this risk. This has only been theorised

to be the cause for skin allergies - eo compounds combining with proteins in

skin...>

[Guest guest]

> This question came up when we started working on hospice patients; one of

the

> doctors put the fear of god into us when he voiced concerns of such shock

on

> heavily medicated people. We looked into and decided we were OK because

of the

> protein angle (maybe the doctor had his own issues ...). That was some

years ago

> though, so any further information would be welcome.

 

I'm almost certain that the doctor had his own issues. It has been proven

time and again that good palliative care outweighs the actual treatment

(although the two should not conflict) in terminal patients. If someone in

the terminal stages of life were to be allergic to something, and merely

stopped breathing, it would (and I'm treading on all sorts of ethical corns

here)probably be a " good death " in view of the alternatives. Not that I

would suggest that we go round administering things which could cause

anaphylactic shock if we know which ones could and would, but bear in mind

that aromatherapy is gentle, non-invasive treatment which affirms the value

of the person at a time when he or she may be feeling like a collection of

symptoms.

 

The aims of treatment and care at end-of-life scenarios *are* different to

ones where the prognosis is for recovery. Aromatherapists working at

hospices need to be aware and sensitive to these differences. By and

large, sleep and relaxation together with pain control, are more important

than other therapeutic issues, but patients will each have their own

agendas.

 

Moira