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Helping Australians with dementia, and their carers

Across the BordersA newsletter for service providers and carers of people with dementia living in the Northern Territory, the Kimberley and the Pilbara.

November 2010

The Dementia clowns provided light relief and a break from the challenges of the day by visiting over 100 of our elderly and staff at these centres.

Corrugated Iron clowns Wobbie and Hobbs entertained us with their humour, skills and music. The power of their performance was not in their words but in their actions.

Their ability to touch others through movement and expression was amazing. From those in the audience who smiled and laughed to those who gave encouragement and praise all enjoyed the day immensely.

Research has shown that humour and laughter can change ones mood, has a positive effect on the cardiovascular and respiratory system, relaxes muscles, reduces pain by releasing endorphins (the body’s natural painkiller), reduce stress, help overcome loneliness, fear, anxiety and boredom, enhances the feelings of wellbeing and has an association with living longer.

Laughter is the best medicine

The success of the day was seen through the joy and delight across people’s faces, the various levels of interaction and engagement and the bonds created between the clowns and those touched by

On the 23rd September NT DBMAS celebrated Dementia awareness week through fun and laughter. DBMAS staff along with Clowns visited Darwin residential aged care services, the ROST respite centre also dropping in to the Alzheimer’s Australia NT and Frontier Services offices.

their presence.

Such a small thing lifted the spirit of many. “A clown is like an aspirin but works twice as fast”. (quote author unknown)

Helping Australians with dementia, and their carers

Australia is fortunate to have over 18 700 species of plants (including offshore islands), with 13 000 species inhabiting the West Australian landscape.

Over thousands of years, indigenous groups throughout the continent and all over the world have known the healing potency of plants and used them extensively for medicinal, spiritual and bush tucker purposes.

The beautiful Sandalwood tree (Santalum spicatum) is found growing in the drier regions of Western Australia. Australian Aboriginals used it to calm and relax children and adults, induce sleep, prepare the mind for long journeys and assist in inducing trances during corroborees (Turnock, 2005, p57).

Research has also shown Santalum spicatum to be most helpful with lifting depression, calming the mind and the central nervous system, having good anti-inflammatory effects (muscles, arthritis), having strong antimicrobial effects towards Staphylococcus aureus (Golden staph) and Candida albicans.

To use sandalwood oil effectively in any of the above conditions would depend on its application. The essential oil can be vaporised using an electric vaporiser on a regular basis (for calming, relaxation, inducing sleep, managing depression), be added to a cream/oil carrier or compress to alleviate muscle or arthritic pain.

The eucalyptus tree is another native to Australia and has some 800 to 1000 species (depending

on the source) most of which are native to Australia. (Turnock, 2005, p.87). It is a tree rich with cineole and other botanical compounds that are beneficial for respiratory conditions. Australian aboriginals used to crush the leaves and add it boiling water. The aroma was then inhaled to help with nose, throat and chest ailments. This is very much how it can still be used today although the essential oil is added to water rather than the leaves. The essential oil can be inhaled via direct or steam inhalation, added to a cream and rubbed into the chest and upper back for respiratory ease.

Eucalyptus is also a useful febrifuge. Place a flannel and a few drops into tepid water. Wring out the flannel and bathe the feverish person. Continue to do this until the body has cooled down.

Regular application is the key to efficacy along with using QUALITY essential oils and other

Transforming Traditional Bush Medicine

aromatherapy related products. This is imperative for therapeutic effect to take place.

The development of western medicine shifted the focus off plant-based medicines for a long time although there is now a resurgence of interest in plants as important plant healing properties are being discovered. Flower essences were pioneered by Englishman Edward Bach in the 1930s. The development of other essences followed from the 1970s from countries such as Scotland, Australia and Alaska as well as the Himalayas. With Australia being abundant in plant species there are a couple of well renowned bush flower essence founders utilising Australian natives to create essences.

Usually the flower is selected to create an essence, however leaves and seeds can also be used.

A flower essence is the vibration

Helping Australians with dementia, and their carers

Traditional medicine continued..

of the plant infused in water. It is usually placed in the sun and/or moonlight for a few hours. Over the course of these hours the flower’s memory and vibration become imbued with the water. This becomes a mother tincture. Further dilutions are made before a person takes it as a remedy. As a remedy, plants can assist people (and animals) in various ways whether it be physical, emotional, mental or spiritual. In matters of health and health care settings the remedies are beneficial for calming, sexual misconduct, skin problems, cleansing/detoxification, working in areas of grief, emotional behaviours in general, as well as anxiety issues, relationship matters, dementia related issues and muscular aches and pains. The essences can be taken internally or mixed with creams, in water and blended together with essential oils.

Recently I had the opportunity to

develop my own essence from a West Australian native called the Grey Cottonhead (Conestylis Candicans – eneabba form). So far it has proven to be physically energising (excellent in fact!), great for mental alertness and awareness of the ‘bigger picture’ and useful in communicating clearly. From traditional bush medicine methods where by the plant was picked directly from the earth and its various parts used for healing purposes or to the modern day where plants are bottled, the purpose is still the same. It is nature offering humanity a healing gift. It is nature simply at its best.

Sana Turnock (BA Comm Stud, MATMS, MIAAMA)

Clinical aromatherapist/AB Flower essence consultantJoyful Living Consultancy

0419 041 783www.aromacasa.com

The DBMAS WA and DBMAS NT teams wish all their colleagues a very happy and peaceful Christmas season. Thank you all so much for your support and interest.