Bipolar

[Kiariiiiiiiis Reyes]

Hi everyone,
I wonder if anyone may have any advice for using aromatherapy on a client with bipolar. Is it likely to unsettle their medication? Would bipolar be a contraindication for aromatherapy massage that would need a GP letter?

Thanks
Ellie

 

[cutiepie316280]

Hi Ellie

I have Bipolar II, and get regular aromatherapy treatments. I mainly get massages when my mood is hypomanic because a symptom is an increased need for human touch, and at times I've had 3 treatments a week, especially over the Winter.

The oils that are used on me depend on what phase of bipolar I am going through. The oil which is I seem to respond to the best is Bergamot - which is wonderfully grounding. He tends to use a lot of citrus on me - lemon and lime - neither of which I like, and he can only add them if he doesn't tell me. Clary Sage is fabulous for low mood. We stayed on Bergamot and Lavender for a long while, when I was having a rough time. That worked quite well when I was fragile, I'd just go home afterwards in a cloud and sleep.

If the person is using medication they tend to be either/and/or mood stabilisers, antidepressants, antipsychotics. It depends on what type of bipolar they have, and the degree of severity. My GP thinks it's all codswallop anyway (complementary medicine) - so when I told her I was getting aromatherapy massages she just said 'that's nice'. But then I'm no longer on medication so she'd not be worried about interactions. My masseur got me to sign the regular disclaimer form, and left it to me to tell my GP. We play it by ear, and he takes feedback from every session. He's on Facebook, so I send him a message there with an update.

The only oil I've had trouble with is Frankincense. It gave me terrible racing heart and feelings of doom. But, that may have nothing to do with bipolar, it may be my unique physiology.

Ava x

 

[Escape]

Thanks Ava, that is a very interesting reply. The person in quesiton has rapid cycling bipolar with hypomania. They are fairly stable on meds.

Thanks again!

 

[whizzbitz]

I haven't massaged anyone with Bipolar but regularly sent blends (we lived too far apart for a massage) to a "friend" to use in the bath and to inhale, he said they helped a great deal with his moods. He called them his uppers and downers (each to their own).

Just remember the mood they are in to determine how long the massage is for, I would start off with 30 mins see how they cope with it. Doubt you would need a letter from the GP. Good luck

If you want me to post the blends I used I will do, will have to be later tho, am off out now x

 

[trd93]

Thanks I would love a list of the blends you use.

 

[yfemcuymiugidkebt]

Sorry Ellie, had company this evening..

Here goes..

Blend 1 (apathy, lethargy)

20 drops Jasmine
20 drops Bergamot
20 drops Peppermint (obv not if the person has epilepsy)

I know it sounds excessive, but I used to make up a lot for him, adjust to what you require, but equal amounts.

Blend 2 (Nervous tension, anxiety)

5 drops Neroli
15 drops Roman Chamomile
20 drops Sandalwood

Use whatever carrier oil is needed, I just made him the blend, he got his own carrier oil.

Hope it helps

 

[Jona B]

Thanks for that! That's very helpful.

 

[? cosmochick ?]

No worries

 

[Bucky Karnes]

Ava, thanks for sharing your experience with aromatherapy. As a therapist, I have had clients with Bipolar d/o. They were on medication. But majority of them eventually gave up taking meds because they did not like how those medications made them feel or they could not stand side effects. Your post was eye-opening to me because I had never heard about someone getting aromatherapy for bipolar d/o.