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Associer les huiles essentielles et la réflexologie plantaire : une étude clinique

La fatigue est l'un des symptômes les plus désastreux des patients atteints de cancer. Le taux de prévalence dépassant 50% dans les stades avancés 2-3. Malheureusement, contrairement à la douleur, l’évaluation de la fatigue est souvent négligée4. Bien que les corticostéroïdes et les psychostimulants soient utiles pour diminuer la fatigue chez ces patients, des questions persistent quant à l'efficacité et à l'innocuité à long terme5. Par ailleurs, la majorité des patients cancéreux auraient des difficultés à recevoir ces traitements à la fin de leur vie en raison de la détérioration de leurs conditions générales. C'est ainsi que l'aromathérapie et la réflexologie représentent dans ce cadre une belle alternative pour renforcer le sentiment de soutien social des patients, améliorer leur qualité de vie et leur sommeil, et réduire leur anxiété et leur douleur6-7. Afin de vérifier l’efficacité d’une intervention combinée d’aromathérapie et de réflexologie dans la gestion de la fatigue chez des personnes cancéreuses en milieu hospitalier spécialisé en soins palliatifs, l’équipe japonaise de Kohara Hiroyuki et al.1 a mené l’étude clinique d'intervention infirmière qui suit : Expérimentation: Les 20 patients, en fin de vie de l'unité de soins palliatifs de l'hôpital national Sanyo (Japon), ont reçu une séance de 3 minutes de bains de pieds chauds avec 2 gouttes d’HE de lavande, suivie d’une séance de réflexologie de 10 minutes avec l’huile de jojoba additionnée de 1% d’HE de lavande. La fatigue des patients a notamment été évaluée avec un questionnaire spécifique, dite échelle ‘CFS’ (=Cancer Fatigue Scale)5 à 3 moments : avant les interventions, 1 h et 4h après. Le questionnaire porte sur 5 items et 3 dimensions (physique, affective et cognitive). Par conséquent, les items sont cotés sur une échelle de 0 à 5 points. Pour les études statistiques, le niveau de signification a été fixé à p ≤ 0,05. Résultats: D'abord, une diminution importante et significative de la fatigue générale, les scores totaux du CFS se sont nettement améliorés après ce traitement combiné. En effet, on passe de 25,6 points à 19,7 après 1h et à 18,1 après 4h du traitement (voir Fig. 1).Les scores des sous-échelles de la fatigue physique et de la fatigue cognitive ont été réduits de manière plus significative que la fatigue affective: de 11,3 à 6,7 - de 4,5 à 2,4 et de 9,9 à 9,0 respectivement (voir Fig. 1).Pour l’item de la fatigue affective (qui n’a pas été modifié significativement), les auteurs estiment qu’il faut prolonger le temps des interventions pour avoir des réactions sur l’état émotionnel des patients.Enfin, aucun effet indésirable n'a été ressenti. Conclusion: Ainsi, l’intervention combinée de l’aromathérapie et de la réflexologie dans la gestion de la fatigue chez des personnes cancéreuses semble être cliniquement efficace pour soulager la fatigue physique et cognitive des patients en phase terminale. Toutefois, l'action dans le temps de cette intervention combinée ne peut pas être confirmée, car l'effet n’a été mesuré que sur 4 heures. En outre, les auteurs avancent que 2 interventions par jour peuvent être plus utiles chez les patients présentant une fatigue liée au cancer. Cependant, pour confirmer l'efficacité de ce traitement combiné, des investigations supplémentaires, une augmentation de la taille de l'échantillon et des traitements randomisés sont nécessaires pour évaluer l’effet de chaque composante de ces interventions. andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; A. Zhiri --- Kohara, H., et al. (2004). Combined modality treatment of aromatherapy, footsoak, and reflexology relieves fatigue in patients with cancer. Journal of Palliative Medi-cine, 7(6), 791-796 (1)Vainio, A., et al. (1996). Prevalence of symptoms among patients with advanced cancer: an international collaborative study. Journal of pain and symptom manage-ment, 12(1), 3-10 (2)Mock, V. (2001). Fatigue management: evidence and guidelines for practice. Cancer: Interdisciplinary International Journal of the American Cancer Society, 92(S6), 1699-1707 (3)Simon, A. (2003). Cancer et fatigue. Medecine palliative, 2(1), 14-22 (4) Bruera, E., et al. (2003). Patient-controlled methylphenidate for the management of fatigue in patients with advanced cancer: a preliminary report. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 21(23), 4439-4443 (5)Kite, S. M., et al. (1998). Development of an aromatherapy service at a cancer centre. Palliative Medicine, 12(3), 171-180 (6)Stephenson, N. L., et al. (2000). The effects of foot reflexology on anxiety and pain in patients with breast and lung cancer. J Oncol Nurs Forum 2000; 27 (1): 67-72 (7)

Choosing your Virgin plant Oil: what fatty acid composition?

Vegetable oils have been at the heart of debates on health and healthy living for some years now. But with so much information out there, it can be hard to know which fats are 'good' and which are 'bad'. This obsession can have perverse effects, such as Omega 3 deficiency, leading to imbalances at various levels, particularly inflammatory. As always, the most important thing is to find stability, by opting for fatty acids whose composition really meets our needs.Saturated/unsaturated?Unsaturated fatty acids are fatty acids with one or more carbon-carbon double bonds.They fall into two categories:monounsaturated fatty acids, including Omega 9, which have only one double bond,polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as the famous Omega 3 and 6, which have several double bonds. Liquid at room temperature, they include the famous essential fatty acids that our bodies are unable to produce, forcing us to draw them from our diet and our environment.Within Omega 6, we often speak of 2 types of acid. Linoleic acids and gamma-linoleic acids (GLA), often recommended for mature skin. Evening primrose vegetable oil is particularly rich in these acids. It is therefore often recommended to promote skin elasticity. Saturated fatty acids have no C=C bond. They are solid at room temperature in our latitudes and keep longer than unsaturated fatty acids. The best known are coconut oil and shea butter.UnsaponifiablesThe nutritional virtues of a vegetable oil derive partly from its fatty acids and partly from its unsaponifiables. Although unsaponifiables only account for 1-15% of the composition of a vegetable oil, they make a proportionally large contribution. They include vitamins E, for example, which have antioxidant properties. Cranberry Vegetable Oil is particularly rich in these. Phytosterols and Triterpenes have healing, repairing and anti-inflammatory properties. They are found in shea butter and Argan oil. While their contribution to the virtues of a vegetable oil is considerable, it is also the unsaponifiables that may explain why some of them, such as rosehip vegetable oil, are not recommended for sensitive skin. Oily macerates, on the other hand, are rarely chosen for their unsaponifiables (since they come from a neutral oil), but rather for the active ingredients in the macerated plant.What is a balanced Plant Oil?As always, it depends on the desired effect.2 values are important: the proportion of acids making up the Plant Oil and their ratio: A high Omega-3/Omega-6 ratio will help to balance inflammation. It will be "soothing" and suitable for sensitive skin. Cranberry vegetable oil is particularly rich in this respect, as is Rosehip vegetable oil.The higher the Omega-6/Omega-9 ratio, the more the oil will promote indirect hydration of the skin by helping to create better intercellular cement, which is particularly effective in limiting dehydration.Generally speaking: the richer an oil is in polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omega 3 and 6), the more penetrating its texture.The richer the oil is in monounsaturated fatty acids (Omega-9), the more nourishing and supple it will be, such as avocado (70%), macadamia (75%) or castor oil (85%).The richer an oil is in saturated fatty acids, the more it provides a protective barrier. Like coconut or shea oil, for example.How do I choose my Plant Oil?In other words, for cracked skin, choose an oil rich in saturated fatty acids and unsaponifiable matter. This will promote healing and create a barrier effect, like a protective shield against external aggression. As a preventive measure, these oils can also be useful in the fight against the cold or other aggressions on sensitive areas. For example: Shea Butter or Coconut Oil.For dry skin with a crocodile-skin effect or brittle hair, opt instead for a vegetable oil rich in Omega 9. Avocado Plant Oil, for example, is particularly nourishing. It will help re-establish bonds and make the skin smoother and more balanced.To support the skin's natural hydration, we prefer oils that are particularly balanced in polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omega 3 and 6), preferably with a higher ratio of Omega 3, which provide the skin with the elements it needs to reinforce its natural barrier from the inside. As a general rule, opt for Cranberry, Argan, Nigella and Rosehip Plant Oils.And in the long term?As we've seen, plant oils used externally are a simple, natural solution to some of the minor skin problems of everyday life. However, applying them to the skin is not enough, as it only treats the symptom without treating the cause. In other words, if you have dry skin, applying an oil is not enough. It's the sign of a lipid imbalance and a lack of hydration in your body, and it's important to take simple measures to counteract it: Drink plenty of waterBe careful about alcohol consumption, which dehydrates the bodyEat good lipids by mouth, especially those rich in Omega 3. For example, black cumin oil and evening primrose and borage oils are particularly good for meeting the specific needs of mature skin.Pure or blended?Vegetable oils are an excellent dilution base for essential oils. They can also be used pure on the skin, with different effects depending on their composition. However, for a smoother texture and faster penetration, create a small emulsion in your hands by mixing your vegetable oil with a small amount of Aloe Vera gel. If you wish to prepare your emulsion in advance, remember to add a natural preservative. Vegetable oils generally keep for 6 months after opening.Table of properties and uses of Virgin Plant oils