Article: Aromatherapy - effective alternative treatment for alopecia

February 10, 2005

I stumbled upon this and figured I'd share ...

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

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matherapy-treatment.htm

Alopecia Areata

Aromatherapy Treatment

Aromatherapy - effective alternative treatment for alopecia

Aromatherapy is an effective, alternative treatment for patients

suffering with Alopecia areata, according to researchers at the

Department of Dermatology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill,

Scotland.

In a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, lasting 7 months,

eighty-six patients diagnosed as having Alopecia areata were split into

two groups. The first group received a combination of essential oils -

thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood in a base of carrier oils

(jojoba and grapeseed) - massaged into their scalps daily. The second

group had just the base massage oil massaged into their scalp.

The treatment was assessed using sequential photographs taken by two

dermatologists (I.C.H. and A.D.O.) independently of each other, and the

photographs were then analysed via two methods - a 6-point scale and

computerized analysis of traced areas of Alopecia. Records were taken

before the treatment commenced, after three months, and then again after

seven months.

The results revealed that nineteen (44%) of 43 patients in the treatment

group showed improvement compared with just 6 (15%) of 41 patients in

the control group. The degree of improvement on photographic assessment

was found to be highly significant. A demographic analysis showed that

the two groups were well matched for prognostic factors, and the

researchers concluded that, from the results of their study,

aromatherapy is a safe and effective treatment for Alopecia areata.

Source: Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful treatment for

alopecia areata. Hay IC; Jamieson M; Ormerod AD Arch Dermatol,

134:1349-52, 1998 Nov

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