Juniper oil

[JanStolz]

Hi there,

I am currently studying reflexology and I need a little advice regarding a case study. I am using the same reflexology blend for all my case studies. However my lastest one suffers from polycystic kidney disease. It is not at an advanced stage, in fact he has little or no sysmptoms. It was recommended to me to use juniper oil in my blend. I have read that it should not be used with kidney disease so what should I do. It was an aromatherapist and herbal physician who suggested the juniper to me.

Any advice is gratefully appreciated.

 

[Elyse]

Hi Jungdreamer

I wonder why are you using aromatherapy oils with reflexology whilst you are still learning and doing case studies? How can you tell if any effects/results are coming from the reflexology or not?? Has your reflexology tutor advised you use aroma oils on your case studies?

I am a non practicing qualified aromatherapist, I certainly would not be using Juniper myself on anyone who had any kind of kidney problems.
The decision is yours>

 

[kja63]

Agree with Fleur - surely the case study should be "clear". And definately NO to Juniper with any kidney problems...

 

[ynetvudyiqtixbets]

If you are not aromatherapy trained you should NOT be using essential oils.

When I was doing my ITEC reflexology, the tutor suggested we used peppermint and some other oil in the massage. When the external verifier turned up she absolutely wiped the floor with the tutor for using essential oils in the treatment.

when she came round to talk to the students and asked what I was using in the massage blend, I explained that as I was a qualified aromatherapist, I had decided to use essential oils, I and my tutor just about got away with it.

Your insurance would be void if found using oils when not trained.

I use plain oil to do my massage with even today.

 

[IDNSFG818]

Wow! thanks for that. The blend she gave us has essesential oil in it too. I am ok to burn the oils in my therapy room? I would hate to use them inappropriately.

 

[Arrow Slinger]

Hi Jungdreamer - my ITEC A&P tutor warned us only last week that we should not use essential oils at all unless qualified in Aromatherapy, even to vaporise in the room as the oils are inhaled and enter the bloodstream that way.
(She's an Holistic Massage tutor and not an Aromatherapist, so she herself never touches them when treating clients.)

HTH!

x

 

[astrospacerich]

Thanks for your comment. I have so much to learn. I think i may speak to my tutor about this. I am definitely not comfortable using essential oils now. Funny as I have used them willy nilly before without thinking. Its all alearning curve.

But as a matter of interest what oil do reflexolists use?

 

[fyou6382]

I'm a reflexologist and an aromatherapist and I don't mix the disciplines in fact I find it very difficult using any oil in reflexology as my hands tend to slip with oil whereas without you can hone in on a particular reflex.

I don't think reflexology needs any essential oils, it is quite effective without. Some therapists may use cornstarch with a drop of oil in the powder though. Other therapists use a wax.

As with anything its down to personal preference.

Love Binah
x

 

[emotionalzombie7997]

I'm another who doesn't usually use oil for reflexology. I prefer to use a wax and also use a moisturisng mint foot cream from Boots. It's soaks in easily and doesn't leave any residue and because it's minty, feels nice and cooling on the feet. Smells okay too.

 

[JoeBlow]

I don't use oil for the actual reflexology treatment, but as an aromatherapist as well, I finish with a foot massage using some warm base lotion, blended with a drop or two of an appropriate oil.

 

[Brandon N]

I am a reflexologist and I use non talc powder for the 'working' treatment and calendula cream for the relaxation/massage time towards the end of the treatment.

I do burn some oils but only generally safe ones (which I have saught advice) as I am not an aromatherapist. I do alot of pregnancy work so have to be cautious. I would NEVER put oils on the skin on clients.

 

[jvac345]

I am a reflexologist and aromatherapist.

I use a wax medium, never oil nor talc as I don't like either. I think the general consensus is most prefer wax.

Like someone else said, I use a drop of an aromatherapy oil in my wax but only at the end of the treatment for a brief cooldown massage and even at that I have selected something that is suitable for the client for the way they feel that day and is also something that I know they will like and that there is no contra-indications to that oil.

I am surprised that a course tutor is telling non-aroma students to use essential oils.....is she off her trolley?

Never use anything that you aren't qualified to do. I recently took on a person to do massage at my place (I am getting to old to do it) she said she was qualified to do hot stones but couldn't produce a certificate to say she was. She kept saying she had done it before in a beauty salon (as if that info should be enough) but there was no way she was getting near the hot stones till I saw a certificate, she never did show me one. Needless to say she isn't with me anymore. She also said she was a qualified aromatherapist but her certificate said she was only qualified to massage using pre-blended oils. Again, no way was she getting near my EO box.

Patchouli

 

[Nikki - choke it]

p.s. I never, ever burn eo's in the room. It's all about personal taste. What one person likes another doesn't.

Patchouli

 

[Clampinon]

In Tisserands book on essential oil safety it states: "Juniper is the only profile included which the authors do not regard as hazardous. it is included because other sources have frequently flagged juniper as being contraindicated in both pregnancy and kidney diseases. No evidence could be found to support the contraindication of juniper oil in kidney disease." (nor for pregnancy).

There is quite a lot of confusion between Juniper (juniperus communis) and savin (juniperus sabina) and a lot of sources that state the contraindication refer to 'juniper' generically.

There are a lot of myths about essential oils and contraindications and their toxicity and it takes a while to sift through it all. If there is no evidence that it exacerbates a kidney problem, then I don't see why it should be avoided.

 

[laughing_stock]

I am also an aromatherapist and reflexologist - plus a tutor in both disciplines.

I specialise in pregnancy/fertility so need to be very careful about what I use on my clients, as you can imagine.

Like many of you, I find that the reflexology is powerful enough on it's own and it find that I don't need the essential oils to be used during the treatment itself, but I'll often use them blended at the end for each client. I use either a plain homemade balm or non-talc powder (unscented) during the reflexology. Like Patchouli I don't burn oils in my rooms due to the personal taste, but also you never know if your next client might have contraindications to one of the oils you're burning.

As a tutor, I'm horrified that your tutor has given you aromatherapy blends to use whilst you're studing. She should know better than that, and her own insurance will not cover her if something happens to one of you. Also, your own student insurance will not cover you if one of your test subjects/case studies reacts to an oil. My students all use plain oils/powders for their treatments. Please let us know what your tutor says about this.

As for juniper essential oil - it will depend upon what sort of renal problem it is, as for some kidney problems it is actually quite good.

Reflexology is a wonderful treatment to do - hope you're enjoying it