Complementary Therapy

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

A few years back, I attended an in-school inservice given by a nurse from one of the area's major pediatric hospitals. She discussed how they sometimes use aromatherapy as a treatment modality (primarily for headaches). 

Does anyone out there (under normal, non-COVID circumstances) have experience with using aromatherapy in school?

[Keeperofbandages, LPN]

I have not due to respiratory issues in many of my students.

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

We do not use anything like that. No aromatherapy, no infusers, nothing. I myself have asthma and have had some bad reactions to some essential oils so I don't want any of that in my health office. One of our other district nurses has also brought up the fact that if you use aromatherapy for one  student and there are other people in the room you are essentially treating those people without their consent since the smell gets everywhere. 

[RuralMOSchoolRN, ADN, RN]

I don't use aromatherapy but I definitely use "complementary therapy" in my school.  I utilize sugar free peppermints for stomach aches, I have a bottle of baby safe lavender lotion I sometimes use on the younger kid's hands (barring allergies of course), using a heat pack/pad for cramps or stomach aches, etc.  

Honestly, a lot of my kids are looking more for attention than illness so giving a full exam even if it isn't needed and doing SOMETHING makes them feel better --like they don't need meds but they are much more willing to go back to class after a full check, talking with me, and getting a peppermint or heat pack. 

[LikeTheDeadSea, MSN, RN]

Essential oils aren't FDA approved, so they're a no-go based on my state's medication administrator rules for schools that our district policy is created from. 

[BunnyBunnyBSNRN, ASN, BSN]

I've used the smelling an alcohol pad for nausea.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6189884/

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

46 minutes ago, BunnyBunnyBSNRN said:

I've used the smelling an alcohol pad for nausea.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6189884/

Wow! That's a new one. Looks interesting, but I can only wonder how the kids would describe this to their folks later.