I recently treated a sedated and ventilated patient who was struggling with extremely severe psoriasis. That was not the reason for his stay in the intensive care unit, but it gave us yet another construction site. Bacteria could enter through open skin and cause an infection. Normally we use disinfecting disposable washcloths to wash the patients. This is the most hygienic option, but the washcloths are also quite hard – much harder than a terry cloth washcloth that you are familiar with from home. But when I stood in front of the man and saw his broken and scaly skin, I thought to myself: No, I can’t possibly go over it with the hard washcloth. Then I had an idea: aromatherapy.
When it comes to aromatherapy, most people probably think of incense sticks or bowls, the smell of which is spread around the room with excessive movements of the hands. In care, however, this means something different, namely when certain mixtures of essential oils are used in therapy.
We use four different standard oils, which are formulated by aromatherapists and which we have specially mixed in pharmacies. For example, a bed oil, with which we mainly rub the coccyx area or heels of the patients – just think how much weight the skin in these areas has to withstand when lying down, despite regular relief. The oil helps keep the skin supple and elastic in the appropriate areas. It’s a preventative measure.
Intensive care specialist Pola Gülberg from the Ebersberger district clinic.
(Photo: Peter Hinz-Rosin)
We also have pure aromas that we can use as needed – I used one of these for my psoriasis patient. After consulting a colleague who knows the profession better than I do, I prepared a lavender wash for him. Because lavender has a very good antiseptic, calming and pain-relieving effect and was therefore exactly what the man needed.
First, I put some lavender oil in a cup of coffee creamer, which acted as a carrier. Then I poured both into a bowl of warm water. I then dipped a soft towel washcloth into the mixture and washed my patient. A few days later his skin looked a lot better, the dry patches were smoother and generally it wasn’t all that red anymore.
I am continually amazed at what we can achieve through the use of aromatherapy and certain oils. This form of therapy is used as a supportive measure above all in the palliative care unit, even more so than in the intensive care unit. Aromatherapy is definitely much more than a pleasant scent spray.
Pola Gülberg is an intensive care nurse. In this column, the 38-year-old talks about her work at the district clinic in Ebersberg every week. The collected texts are below sueddeutsche.de/thema/Auf Station to find.