Complementary Therapy
Supporting local patients with life-limiting illnesses.
Who is Complementary therapy for?
Complementary therapies are offered to both patients and carers in Blythe House hub, in the community, and H@H. All our complementary therapists are qualified, skilled, and experienced in the therapies they offer.
How will I know which Complementary Therapy is suitable for me?
For patients you will be assessed once referred to our services and during your assessment you will advised on the most suitable therapies for your presenting symptoms and concerns. For carers you will also be able to discuss your concerns to a member of the community hub team who can refer you to our complementary services.
How will Complementary Therapy benefit me?
Complementary therapies have a variety of benefits depending upon which therapy is being offered. The following will give you some information about the different therapies and the approaches used.
Patient Feedback:
‘It was so calming and relaxing- having that time to switch off and be fully present. I didn’t think that complementary therapy would help me whilst going through my treatment, but I certainly felt more settled after having my first session.’
1. Aromatherapy interventions
All aromatherapy interventions use essential oils which come from plant materials. Each essential oil has its individual therapeutic properties and the aromatherapist can match the essential oils to the person’s symptoms/needs.
There are three main approaches to using the aromatherapy offered at Blythe House. They include aromatherapy massage, aromasticks, and skin creams/gels. The latter are formulated to help with specific concerns. The interventions can be offered as a single therapeutic approach, or, in some situations, they can be offered combined with another therapy – e.g., offering an aromastick with reflexology.
a) Aromatherapy massage
This approach is gentle, relaxing, and helps to reduce tension in the body, promote sleep and help with anxiety. The benefits come from both the massage and the therapeutic effects of the essential oils.
b) Aromasticks
These are aromatic inhalers and contain a blend of undiluted essential oils, which the person will have helped to choose. Research has demonstrated that the aroma sticks may help with a variety of symptoms such as anxiety, nausea, and insomnia.
c) Creams and gels
Research has shown that several essential oils, base oils, creams, and gels when specially formulated, can help with a variety of symptoms. These can include problems relating to the skin, such as dryness, itching, peripheral neuropathy, and inflammation.
Carer’s Feedback:
‘One of the services I accessed as a carer was Blythe House’s Complementary Therapy service. I think it’s natural that your sleep can feel a little unsettled when you are dealing with such a life changing diagnosis of your loved one, but I hadn’t thought that there would be anything to help this. The biggest difference it made to me having complementary therapy was it helped me sleep. It gave me a sense of calm and really gave me a good night’s sleep- as a carer this was an incredible support.’
2.Therapeutic Massage
This form of massage is very helpful for muscular aches and pains and restricted movement. A lubricant is required to enable the therapist’s hands to move over the skin and to work with the underlying tissues.
3.Reflexology
Reflexology is an ancient therapy. The underlying belief is that the whole of the body is reflected on the feet, hands, face and ears. The therapy has been found to be helpful with anxiety, low mood, and digestive processes including constipation.
4.Reiki
Reiki is a quiet and gentle therapy that relaxes and calms and gives the person some time to rebalance, away from the everyday pressures of life. During the treatment, the individual will be fully clothed and will either relax on a couch or seated on a comfy chair. They will be covered throughout the Reiki treatment.
Download our leaflet for further information on our therapies.
5)The HEARTS Process (for easy relaxation/calm)
HEARTS is an abbreviation for a group of therapeutic skills which aim to promote relaxation and calm. The letters stand for Hands-on, Empathy, Aromas, Relaxation, Textures, and Sound. HEARTS always includes physical contact – the ‘Hands-on’ approach – and is always given through a fabric (a Texture) of some kind. HEARTS is offered in a variety of combinations to enable Relaxation an easy process for the patient to access.
6)Acupuncture
Research studies have found Acupuncture to be effective for peripheral neuropathy, but up to ten sessions may be required to acquire maximum effectiveness. Very fine needles are inserted at specific points on the meridian to unblock the restrictions. People can hardly feel the insertion of the needles as they are inserted just below the skin. Acupuncture can be a very relaxing treatment.
7) Hypnotherapy and Neuro Linguistic Programming techniques
Hypnotherapy is practised by a wide range of health care professionals, as well as complementary therapists. It can be used as a single therapeutic approach or combined the with another therapy, such as counselling, acupuncture or aromatherapy. If the therapist thinks there would be an advantage to combine hypnotherapy with another treatment, the patient will need to understand the chosen technique and consent for its use (in writing).
Still have questions? Ring our care navigators to answer any queries.
FAQ’S
Who is Complementary therapy for?
Complementary therapies are offered to both patients and carers in Blythe House hub, in the community, and H@H. All our complementary therapists are qualified, skilled, and experienced in the therapies they offer.
How will I know which Complementary Therapy is suitable for me?
For patients you will be assessed once referred to our services and during your assessment you will advised on the most suitable therapies for your presenting symptoms and concerns. For carers you will also be able to discuss your concerns to a member of the community hub team who can refer you to our complementary services.
How will Complementary Therapy benefit me?
Complementary therapies have a variety of benefits depending upon which therapy is being offered. The following will give you some information about the different therapies and the approaches used.
How do I get referred?
You can refer yourself or a family member/friend can do it for you. You can also be referred by a health or social care professional. Whatever the route, you can telephone our Care Navigators and do it over the phone or via our website.