In the lastest issue of Prevention magzine there is an interesting article about aromatherpathy helping patients with AD and other types of Dementia.

The fragrances of the two oils most often used to treat dementia, lavender and lemon balm. The article says aromatherapy may help caregivers manage behavorial problems.

If anyone has read it, please let me know what you think.

Thanks,

"Friends are angels who help us to our feet when our wings forget how to fly." Gwen

Call me stupid, but something as simple as aromatherapy having beneficial effects for people who suffer from dementia never dawned on me!!!! Guess I'm trained to look for a "new" drug and not fragrances ....but I really love the idea and intend to use it soon...wonder if it works on animals too? With 12 of 'em we all need relaxation.

Gypsy, maybe you could make the oils and we could buy them from you?

Sonia, aromatherapy certainly can't hurt your raging hubby....maybe it's worth trying and he doen't have to take another med...if it doesn't work then you can go to plan B. Just a thought and hope you both are having a better day.

Vickie, have you tried the aromatherapy? I'd really like to hear from someone who'd tried it . I'm just tickeled pink with the simplicity of this. (Does


n't take much to make me happy, huh?)

"Friends are angels who help us to our feet when our wings forget how to fly." Gwen

Sonya

I'm so sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time managing your husbands behaviors. The plan you have in place sounds like a good one.

Have you tried touching him on the arm or shoulder and speaking softly to him when this is happening? Sometimes this helps, not always.

Vicki

Sugarlips

Gwen

Aromatherpathy has been around for a long time. It makes sense to me that it may have a benificial effect on someone with AD.

Gypsy

I'm in total agreement with you on the issue of giving the person with AD something to calm them when necessary. Had I not been able to do that with Mom I never would have been able to care for her at home for many years. Her Dr. suggested I crush the pills and put them in her food. She was very paranoid at the beginning and refused to take them period. What a nightmare those days were. That was the very beginning of my journey into the hell of AD. It became much worse over time.

I didn't mean to ramble down memory lane. I was responding to your comment about quality of life issues for both the person with AD and their caregiver. As you can tell, it is the right thinng to do in my opinion.

Vicki

Sugarlips

Gwen- this sounds like an interesting topic.I grow lavender and bee balm and use it in flower bouquets.I was just looking in my gardening book and it says Bee Balm is used in aromatherapy.We also used to make and use lavender sachets. I wonder if these kept us calmer? Sechang-I'm so sorry you had another bad day.I realize it would be sneaky but could you crush the pills and put it is some food?-with the Dr. support of course. I feel sometimes we have to consider the quality of life and avoid upsets even if we have to be sneaky.Hope this doesn't upset too many-maybe I'm totally out of place as I have on first hand experience with this.I'm off to bed as it's almost midnight.Gypsy

ggjones (Gwen). How much lavender will it take to soothe a raging husband? I needed a few pounds of the oil last night. The rages are escalating in frequency and severity and there is no way to predict what is going to set off the next episode. His doctor comes back from vacation next week and I have an appointment to see him alone and will take a diary of all that has transpired since the beginning of March. I will also raise the issue of whether Hospice can offer us anything; but he is resisting that idea as well. I wonder if doc will give me a small amount of anti-depressant. I would have to give it on the sly somehow, because he refuses to take another pill and he looks at those he does take to be sure nothing strange in appearing there. AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!! I need a new husband; well, you might say I do have a new husband; he is changed into somebody new .... but I do not like this one much.

These rages are usually followed by sleep, and then the next day, he may be really lethargic and sleep a lot.