Working in a hospital’s ER is one of the most stressful jobs around: it is fast paced, hectic and requires you to think and respond quickly to provide the care your patients need and deserve. On top of the stress, most people will agree that hospitals have an unusual smell that adds to the discomfort. Many patients and staff members find the odor unpleasant and a bit depressing.
The ER’s wellness center at the Vanderbilt Hospital in Tennessee decided to try an experiment that involved using doTERRA essential oils. The goal was to try and boost productivity, improve mood and get rid of that hospital smell by using aromatherapy in its ER. The results are amazing and even a little surprising to many of the nurses and doctors working at Vanderbilt. Using aromatherapy to boost productivity was a hit!
Vanderbilt’s Aromatherapy To Boost Productivity Experiment
The Emergency Room management placed several diffusers throughout the ER department.
They choose essential oils that are known for their ability to decrease stress and improve energy: wild orange, lime, citrus bliss and lemon doTERRA essential oils to use in the diffusers.
doTERRA Lemon Essential Oil 15 ml
doTERRA Lime Essential Oil 15 mldoTERRA Wild Orange Essential Oil 15 ml
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Many of the staff members were very skeptic about the benefits of using aromatherapy in their work environment. They believed that diffusing essential oils would probably make the ER smell nice but that it would not have any effect on their mood or ability to be more productive.
The Results of the Experiment
doTERRA Lavender Essential Oil 15 ml The result of the experiment was remarkable. Many of the skeptics became believers and were amazed at the difference diffusing essential oils actually made. The hospital surveyed more than 100 staff members before using essential oils and then again afterwards.
Here are the results of those surveys:
- Before the hospital started using the oils, 41 percent of the staff members said they were stressed out when at work. After using them, only 3 percent still felt stressed.
- Before the oils were used, 60 percent of the staff said they were frustrated and that number went down to 6 percent after implementing aromatherapy.
- 84 percent of the staff members agree that using the oils help to create a more positive work environment.
The results were so amazing that some of the staff members said they starting using essential oils at home. It greatly improved the smell of the ER as well. Instead of that bad, depressing odor, patients said the hospital now has a pleasant smell. Watch the video to see the report on Vanderbilt ER using essential oils by Fox 17 News.
Those who support aromatherapy and believe in its therapeutic benefits also believe that it can help patients. These supporters agree that diffusing essential oils would make an excellent complementary therapy to the medical treatments they provide, by helping patients relax and stay calm.
Want to try DoTERRA oils? Amazon has doTERRA essential oils without the need to sign up for membership 😉
The ER’s wellness center considers the experiment to be a success and plan to publish the results. In the future, more and more hospitals may add aromatherapy to their facilities to eliminate that depressing odor, improve the overall mood of the staff and to increase productivity.
The Vanderbilt ER uses aromatherapy to boost productivity, improve mood and to eliminate that bad hospital odor with remarkable results.
So awesome that they have used these oils in the hospitals. I am a DoTerra Wellness Advocate, therefore I use these oils everyday. They are awesome!
I’m trying to implement this in my ER in California. I would appreciate if someone could contact me with more information on the process you used at Vanderbilt.
Lynn, I just found the video online: you’d need to call Vanderbilt hospital and ask them about it.
Lynn, send me a message on Facebook. Like you, I am working to get essential oils into doctor, dentist and chiropractic offices. I would love to talk with you, and help you in any way I can.
Andrea LeeAnn Bryant Faulkner
Were you able to reach someone to help you with finding out how you might best present the idea of using essential oils at the hospital where you work? If not, you are welcome to contact me and I will help you get the information you need!
Yes. Thank you 🙂
Yes!! I would very much like to know how and who I would present this to at a hospital! !
Rebecca, I’d recommend getting ion touch with Vanderbilt hospital to learn how they did this 🙂
There are many people who are sensitive to odors including essential oils. I worked in a laboratory in a hospital and perfume was a problem. I can not use many of the essential oils or end up with headaches. This would have been a real problem for me. Many migraine sufferers have their migraines start due to smells.
So this could start a lot of suffering for people and most people don’t believe you when you say you are allergic to perfume. I’d be careful before I published anything as being a success.
I understand what you’re saying Ginny, and I believe you. But this wouldn’t be a problem unless you stayed by the diffuser. They had one diffuser in the entire ER, and I’m sure it’s set at intervals in such a way as to only create an ambiance, and not be overpowering. As a medical facility, I’m sure they looked at all aspects.
Also most perfumes use synthetic fragrance because it’s cheaper. Pure oils have total different effect.
Wearing Young Living Essential Oils on my body, I have had the unsavory personal experience of bringing on an asthma attack in a sales clerk who had to practically run away from me, and I have caused a reaction in a co-worker by diffusing Young Living Essential Oils in my office….. and these were “pure therapeutic grade” essential oils, no synthetic fragrances (or so they say). Anyone can have a reaction to an essential oil, so diffusing in public spaces is not a good idea. Shame on you Vanderbilt!
That is why they are diffusing doTERRA and not Young Living. There is no shame on diffusing the world’s most potent, pure and therapeutic grade on the planet.
I was in no way saying that YL is superior, quite the contrary. I DO NOT advocate any MLM EO company. I am simply stating that anyone can have a reaction to any essential oil, pure or adulterated. I do not want to start a “brand war”.
Anyone can have an allergic reaction any type of plant or tree as well. Are you also suggesting they shouldn’t landscape or have flowers in the gift shops too?
The problem I see is that if someone has a sensitivity to the EO that is being diffused in the ER at the time of their unfortunate visit, they have no control over the environment- what if they are on a gurney parked next to the nurses station where the EO is being diffused and are only semi-conscious? If you are sensitive to a plant or cut flower, one has the option to get out of the area or leave the gift shop. If a person is brought to the ER for treatment, their issues may be exacerbated by a sensitivity to the EO.
You cannot bring flower gifts into the ICU and other critical care areas of a hospital for just these reasons, so why would intelligent medical professionals put visitors to their ER at risk?
I like essential oils and use them frequently, but they need to be used with caution.
The reason you can’t have live flowers in ICU is because of Bacteria on live plants, not smells….
Amen Amber! People just assume these oils cause asthma attacks and cause headaches. In fact, they do just the opposite. It’s the way these plant oils are processed. You can’t, however, tell ignorant people anything. They just assume it will cause a problem.
As a respiratory therapist, I know that people who are used to reacting to smells get scared. That fear can trigger asthma attacks. I believe with all of my heart that doTERRA EO’s are far better than the smells from the cleaning agents used in a hospital. I applaud Vanderbilt!
Actually people do have reactions to oils. And you have to be cautious which ones you use around children.
There are other essential oil companies that produce exceptional quality oils; Young Living and doTerra aren’t the only companies out there. YL and DT are multi-level marketing companies, therefore their essential oils are priced accordingly. Price does NOT equal exceptional quality when it comes to essential oils. A person needs to do their homework when it comes to choosing a company. You want a company that will furnish GC/MS reports when asked OR already have them posted on their website. Important items to obtain on each essential oil you purchase include: Common
name, Latin name (exact genus and species), Country of origin, Part of plant
processed, Type of Extraction (distillation or expression), how it was grown
(organic, wild-crafted, traditional) and chemotype (when relevant).
Also, just because a multi-level marketing company states that their essential oils are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade, this really means nothing. It is just a trade-marked term that signifies that their oils are better than other essential oils and this is not true.
Sensitivities and reactions to oils do exist, just as sensitivities and reactions exist with other products such as cleaners, etc. Just because essential oils smell better than cleaning products doesn’t mean that they are safer. That is where people are making big mistakes with essential oils. They are NOT meant to be diffused 24/7. You really should only diffuse about 10-15 minutes out of an hour. You also never want to ingest essential oils unless under the care and guidance of a doctor who has been trained. You also never want to rub essential oils onto your skin without diluting them first (and using proper dilution ratios). Essential oils can offer your body support during difficult times, especially hospital stays, but knowing the safe way to use them is key to maximizing the benefits of these wonderfully amazing drops of oils!
Most perfumes use synthetic oils and that may be the reason for the sensitivity to the scent…many migraine suffers use essential oils to help reduce the severity
I am a massage therapist and a young living advocate. The issue with people who are sensitive to smells such as perfumes is because they use frangrance oils which are stilled and blended separately and use a bit of chemicals- essential oils used in aromatherapy are the oils that plants release and are distilled from the plants so it is taking a live plant and putting it up 300 notches- that is why you only need to use a few drops of essential oils at a time. And their healing properties are endless for each essential oil. I am thankful that it is finally creeping into the medical realm. God has given us everything on this earth to heal and prevent illness’s- which includes plants. Allergies come out of a root of fear and trauma- and I have seen and experienced through prayer that God can heal that too.
Janelle unfortunately you are wrong I have diffused several different companies essential oils and all give me headaches including Young Living.
Karen that makes sense to me because I have allergies to several plants. I do use essential oils but I am careful. As a school teacher I would never consider diffusing oils in my classroom.
The headache is probably because you are detoxing. Make sure you’re drinking enough water (half of your body weight in ounces) every day.
The excuse of detoxing is a myth used as an excuse.
Does anyone know what the name brand of the diffuser that the hospital uses? I already know that the essential oils are doTerra. I’m sure a phone call Vanderbilt Hospital would tell me and I’m sure they are bombarded with phone calls. Thought I would ask here first. Thank you
Karyn, it’s a doTERRA diffuser. you can find it on Amazon here: http://amzn.to/1UzInnk
I believe it’s the Aroma Ace. It’s a great diffuser. I got mine through DoTERRA.
Wow what a negative Nellie. They are just trying to improve the frightening and depressing environment of hospitals. Im sure they will take issues into consideration when they implement something new like this. Give them a chance..a step forward to humanizing a hospital is a wonderful thing. Additionally hospitals often harbor lots of bacteria and essential oils are known to be antiviral, antimicrobial and antifungal.
What about those patients who have allergies or are extremely sensitive to scents? That would skyrocket my daughter’s migraine pain. 🙁
Ivy, I’m sure the hospital thought of it before they implemented this.
Please do homework and look into the chemicals that are being used in schools. Hospitals restaurants for dissecting purposes we did a full blow out analysis and you would t believe the amount of toxins they contain.
Anything we take in that is synthetic can cause and does cause side effects that are not positive . Perfumes have been causing a lot of issues in the past everal years. Well they always have its just now that people a realizing this . There is a thing called cell memory response …… I have found that once one realizes this. The effects to certified pure grade oils end up being positive . I just check into weather the essential oil company does the eight different tests with the oils to be sure all is safe ….. Of course just like perfumes. Chemical scented candles incense one can’t know that information while being exposed to it. Thinking about all the other things people can be and are allergic too in a hospital like setting . They almost lost my husband by giving him nitric acid ( what they use if one is having a heart attack) they had to quickly reverse it…. I was glad to be standing there when it happen. No one else was.! The good these oils do for the major population ….. Outweighs the possibility of one getting a massive migraine from these pure throughly tested oils , which I have several friends who use past tense tge minute they feel one coming on …….relaxes them and releases the tension they feel starting to build up .
So much good happens from these oils. I am so thankful that the hospitals dr offices. Schools will consider them to aiding are hard working personnel feeling more relaxed. And less stressed is a huge success coming from this experiment . Thank you to. News for reporting happy news!
Always have to hear from the anti-scent police. If you all had your way, the world would be a scent free environment. Nothing of beauty to experience.
Usually people reeact to the synthetic scents. Would be interesting for her to try essential oils that are certified pure.
I have had a lot of bad reactions to scents over the years. The perfume other people are wearing triggered many headaches for me. I can’t use most body sprays or perfumes on myself either, but I can and do use essential oils everyday and I only get positive benefits from them except when I walk into my local health food store and start smelling different brands and then the headaches start. So I know there is a difference in qualities for sure, but if the oils are pure, distilled or processed without adding anything to the process and no fillers added they are a great benefit to all who use then. Open your minds people and do research and experiment. Not trying to start a brand war so left the name of the brand out intentionally. honestly and thankfully there are choices available to purchase great oils either from a network marketing company or standard retail options. Just do careful research and ask questions .
It sounds like it was diffused by staff areas not waiting room. I work at this hospital and have had multiple patients diffuse doterra in their hospital room! I have never heard a complaint when I wear them. I have actually had many patients ask what “perfume” I had on because it smelled so good! I love that my hospital tries to incorporate all types of “healing “!
I was in our financial planners office today where they were diffusing something. Guess what? I got a migraine.We left as quickly as possible. I called them to ask what and why they were diffusing. It was 2 blends by DoTerra and they were using it strictly because it smells good. I told the lady on the phone that it had made me sick and they needed to be careful with diffusing.
This is the 3rd time I have reacted to a DoTerra blend. The problem with these reactions is that I have no way of knowing what oil I reacted to.
Yes the oils are natural and good quality. But so are onions and mushrooms and both give me migraines. Those of you claiming that its not possible to react to DoTerra are so, so wrong and you may bring harm to others by saying so.