Randomized Trial of Aromatherapy. Successful Treatment for Alopecia Areata

[Guest guest]

Interesting ...

*Smile*

Chris

 

Turkish Rose Items To Delight

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

~~~~~~~

 

Randomized Trial of Aromatherapy. Successful Treatment for Alopecia Areata

 

http://www.medscape.com/medscape/Dermatology/journal/2001/v02.n02/ca-md0327.

01/ca-md0327.01.html

 

Hay IC, Jamieson M, Ormerod AD

Arch Dermatol. 1998;134:1349-1352

 

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of aromatherapy in the treatment of

patients with alopecia areata.

 

Design: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of 7 months' duration,

with follow-up at 3 and 7 months.

 

Setting: Dermatology outpatient department.

 

Participants: Eighty-six patients diagnosed as having alopecia areata.

 

Intervention: Eighty-six patients were randomized into 2 groups. The active

group massaged essential oils (thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood) in

a mixture of carrier oils (jojoba and grapeseed) into their scalp daily. The

control group used only carrier oils for their massage, also daily.

 

Main Outcome Measures: Treatment success was evaluated on sequential

photographs by 2 dermatologists (I.C.H. and A.D.O.) independently.

Similarly, the degree of improvement was measured by 2 methods: a 6-point

scale and computerized analysis of traced areas of alopecia.

 

Results: Nineteen (44%) of 43 patients in the active group showed

improvement compared with 6 (15%) of 41 patients in the control group (P =

..008). An alopecia scale was applied by blinded observers on sequential

photographs and was shown to be reproducible with good interobserver

agreement (kappa = 0.84). The degree of improvement on photographic

assessment was significant (P = .05). Demographic analysis showed that the 2

groups were well matched for prognostic factors.

 

Conclusions: The results show aromatherapy to be a safe and effective

treatment for alopecia areata. Treatment with these essential oils was

significantly more effective than treatment with the carrier oil alone (P =

..008 for the primary outcome measure). We also successfully applied an

evidence-based method to an alternative therapy.

[Guest guest]

Hi Chris

Thanks so much for this info.

There's a lot of talk here in the UK about the lack of research into

essential oils and different treatment processes.

Would you mind if I posted it on a newsgroup that I run specifically for

aromatherapists who belong to our association? - IFA (now amalgamating

with ISPA and RQA to form IFPA which is the International Federation of

Professional Aromatherapists)

It's research like this that will give credibility to the profession

and make the medics sit up and take notice

Thanks again

Regards

 

Ann - Scotland

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann

 

> Hi Chris

> Thanks so much for this info.

> There's a lot of talk here in the UK about the lack of research into

> essential oils and different treatment processes.

 

It is true... more needs to be done ....

 

> Would you mind if I posted it on a newsgroup that I run specifically for

> aromatherapists who belong to our association? - IFA (now amalgamating

> with ISPA and RQA to form IFPA which is the International Federation of

> Professional Aromatherapists)

 

I wouldn't mind .... but give the credit to the Medscape web site, that is

where I got the artcile. I HIGHLY recommend anyone the free sign up for

access to their site ... you'll find MANY informative articles

 

 

> It's research like this that will give credibility to the profession

> and make the medics sit up and take notice

 

We in the world of Aromatherapy need the research (and a lot more) to stop

being this little cottage industry and be taken seriously!

 

 

> Thanks again

> Regards

>

> Ann - Scotland

 

*Smile*

Chris

 

Turkish Rose Items To Delight

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

[Guest guest]

Thanks Chris

 

I've passed it on, together with your referemce to the Medscape website

 

Thanks

 

Ann - Scotland