Practical Aromatherapy Options for VA Hospitals, Clinics and Veteran Long-Term Care
VA healthcare teams use aromatherapy in a variety of settings—from hospitals and outpatient clinics to Community Living Centers and other long-term care environments. For more than a decade, Quella Essential Oils has provided ready-to-use aromatherapy products, staff education and implementation support for healthcare organizations, including VA facilities across the United States.
Because the needs of Veterans vary widely, aromatherapy for Veterans may require more than one delivery method. Aromatherapy Patches, Aroma Sticks, roll-ons and massage oils provide options that can be incorporated into programs supporting comfort, pain, stress and anxiety, nausea, rest and overall well-being. Our goal is simple: make aromatherapy practical for the healthcare team and easy for the Veteran to use.
Explore Quella Products for Veteran Care
Learn About Aromatherapy Program Implementation
Aromatherapy Across Veteran Care Settings
Aromatherapy can be incorporated as a complementary, non-drug comfort option within a broader plan of care. The way it is used often depends upon the setting, Veteran population and goals of the program.
Quella products are currently used in VA healthcare environments including:
• Hospitals and outpatient clinics
• Surgical and recovery areas
• Pain and rehabilitation programs
• Community Living Centers and Veteran long-term care
• Supportive and palliative care
• Whole Health Staff Wellness programs
Common areas of use include support for:
• Pain and physical comfort
• Stress and anxiety
• Nausea and post-operative nausea
• Rest and sleep routines
• Agitation and emotional comfort
• Relaxation and general well-being
Use within VA healthcare settings should follow facility policy, established protocols and individual Veteran needs.
Learn About Quella's Support for Healthcare Programs
What Has the VA Found About Aromatherapy?
The Veterans Health Administration has formally reviewed the research on aromatherapy and essential oils to help inform decision-making within VA healthcare. The VA Evidence Synthesis Program reviewed systematic reviews covering inhaled and topical essential-oil interventions to help guide decision-making within VHA. The evidence varied by condition and application, with areas of potential benefit identified for several concerns relevant to healthcare—including stress, perioperative anxiety, sleep and some types of pain.
Aromatherapy continues to be used and studied within VA healthcare environments, including personal inhalation approaches. Quella's approach combines current aromatherapy research with more than a decade of real-world healthcare implementation experience.
View Current VA Aromatherapy Research & Program Examples
Explore Quella Research, Case Studies, & Patient Experience
Developed Through Real-World VA Healthcare Experience
Quella's work with VA healthcare extends beyond supplying a product.
We have trained staff, supported implementation and provided aromatherapy products to VA hospitals, outpatient programs and Veteran long-term care environments. That experience has reinforced an important lesson: there is no single aromatherapy delivery method or program that fits every VA setting.
- An acute-care nurse may need a ready-to-use inhalation patch that can be introduced quickly.
- A Veteran managing ongoing discomfort at home may benefit from a portable Aroma Stick, roll-on or topical massage oil.
- A Community Living Center may use several delivery methods to support pain, anxiety, agitation, rest and quality of life.
Quella helps teams choose the products, education and implementation approach that fit their actual care environment.
Aromatherapy Designed for VA Healthcare Environments
Quella's approach is built around four core principles.
Supports a Healing Environment
Aromatherapy offers Veterans a simple, non-drug comfort option that can complement the care experience. Personal delivery methods such as patches and Aroma Sticks allow the aroma to remain with the individual rather than altering the shared environment.
Aligns With Healthcare Safety & Compliance Practices
Ready-to-use products allow aromatherapy to be offered in a more consistent and controlled manner. Quella also supports healthcare teams with product-specific education, safety guidance and implementation resources.
Evidence-Informed Aromatherapy for Patient Comfort
Our approach combines current aromatherapy research, clinical aromatherapy expertise and more than a decade of healthcare implementation experience. Product selection and delivery methods are matched to the intended use rather than assuming one essential oil or one product is appropriate for every situation.
Supports Infection Control & Storage Best Practices
Individually packaged, single-patient-use Aromatherapy Patches and Aroma Sticks help avoid shared-product concerns associated with some delivery methods. Products are designed to be easy to store, distribute and use according to facility protocols.
VA Program Experience | Columbus, Ohio
One of Quella's VA program relationships has provided us with a useful example of how aromatherapy can be incorporated into Veteran care.
The Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center in Columbus, Ohio has incorporated aromatherapy across a broad range of Veteran needs. The program coordinator reported seeing approximately 300 Veterans per month for aromatherapy support related to concerns including pain, anxiety, stress, PTSD, nausea, insomnia and depression. He reported:
“We see about 300 veterans a month using aromatherapy. Veterans come back for refills.
Families tell us how helpful it’s been. It’s simple, but powerful.”
The program uses multiple aromatherapy delivery methods rather than relying upon a single product. For example, Anxiety Rescue blend has been used for stress and anxiety on patches or aromasticks. Q-Easy Aromatherapy Patches have been used in surgical settings for nausea support.
What Their Program Has Observed
The program coordinator has reported approximately:
• 83% overall positive response among Veterans participating in the aromatherapy program
• 20% reduction in pain-medication use among some Veterans participating in their pain program
• 50% reduction in requests for nausea medication after surgery among Veterans using Q-Easy in their program
These figures reflect observations and data reported by this individual VA program and should not be interpreted as results that will occur in every patient or facility. What may be just as meaningful is continued Veteran participation. Veterans return for refills, family members provide feedback, and staff have another supportive option to offer within their program.
Read our BLOG About the Columbus VA Aromatherapy Story
Supporting Everyday Comfort
Veterans may encounter very different needs across acute care, rehabilitation, outpatient treatment and long-term care.
Physical Comfort
Topical aromatherapy and massage products may be incorporated into programs providing non-pharmacologic comfort options for Veterans experiencing muscular discomfort, tension or chronic physical stress. Deep Relief, Tension Relief and Comfort Massage Oils provide ready-to-use topical options for programs where massage or supportive touch is appropriate.
Focus on Stress Reduction
Anxiety Rescue, Calming and Grounded products provide personal aromatherapy options for environments where stress, nervousness or emotional tension are common concerns. Patches, Aroma Sticks and roll-ons allow the delivery method to be selected according to the setting and individual Veteran.
Nausea and Post-Operative Comfort
Q-Easy is Quella's primary aromatherapy blend for nausea support. The Q-Easy formulation features CO₂-extracted ginger combined with spearmint and sweet orange to create a balanced aroma profile designed specifically for nausea support. In healthcare settings, the Q-Easy Aromatherapy Patch provides a ready-to-use inhalation option that can be incorporated into surgical recovery and other environments where nausea is a concern.
Rest, Agitation and Long-Term Care
Community Living Centers and other Veteran long-term-care environments often have needs extending well beyond a single symptom. Aromatherapy may be incorporated into routines supporting rest, relaxation, emotional comfort, agitation and quality of life. These programs may use a combination of patches, Aroma Sticks, roll-ons and massage oils rather than relying upon one delivery method.
Employee Whole Health | Aromatherapy for VA Staff
Veteran care is only one area where VA facilities are incorporating aromatherapy. Quella Aromatherapy Patches are also being purchased by VA sites for use within Employee Whole Health initiatives. VA Employee Whole Health is specifically focused on the health and well-being of VA employees, with resources designed to help staff manage stress, build resilience and prioritize their own well-being.
The Aromatherapy Patch can provide employees with a simple personal wellness option during the workday. The Aromatherapy Patch is especially practical because it requires no diffuser, preparation or shared equipment and can be worn discreetly while working.
Employee Whole Health initiatives support:
• Stress management / Relaxation
• Personal self-care / Resilience and employee well-being
• Creating intentional moments to reset during the workday
Aromatherapy is also appearing within VA innovation and employee-wellness initiatives as facilities explore practical approaches to staff stress and burnout.
Contact Quella About Employee Whole Health Programs
Continuing Care at Home
Veterans do not leave their comfort needs behind when they leave the hospital, clinic or Community Living Center. Many people are first introduced to Quella aromatherapy products through a healthcare experience and later want to continue using the same familiar products independently.
Continuing a Familiar Comfort Routine
A Veteran who responds positively to an aromatherapy product during care may choose to continue using the same product independently at home. All Quella products can be purchased online for home use. Click the 'SHOP' link in this website's menu.
Supporting Veterans and Their Caregivers
The impact of a comfort strategy can sometimes extend beyond the Veteran. At the Columbus VA program, one daughter caring for her father with dementia described years of interrupted sleep because he frequently awakened with shoulder discomfort related to an old shrapnel injury. After aromatherapy products for physical comfort and his nighttime routine were introduced, she reported that he began sleeping through much more of the night. She told the VA program coordinator:
“This has been lifechanging for him and me. I have not had a full night's sleep for four years.”
This is an individual family experience rather than a clinical outcome, but it illustrates an important part of Veteran care . . . supporting comfort may also affect the family members and caregivers who support Veterans every day.
Featured Quella Products for Veteran Care
Aromatherapy is easier to sustain when the delivery method fits naturally into patient care. Quella offers several ready-to-use formats so healthcare teams save time and selected oils and delivery methods are appropriate for the Veteran and the care environment.
Quella Aromatherapy Patches
Ready-to-use personal Aromatherapy Inhalation Patches designed for easy use in healthcare environments and at home. The Quella Aromatherapy Patch provides personal inhalation aromatherapy without diffusers, spills or preparation.
• Lasts up to 8 hours
• Minimal preparation for staff
• Easy to stock, store, distribute and discard
• Aroma remains close to the individual rather than filling the room
• Can be incorporated according to facility policy and workflow
Frequently selected blends include:
• Q-Easy for nausea support
• Anxiety Rescue
• Calming
• Rest
• Grounded
• Lucid Mind
Aroma Sticks
Portable personal inhalers allow Veterans to intentionally inhale the aroma when desired and are particularly useful for outpatient, home and personal wellness use. Quella Aroma Sticks helps Veterans focus on the aroma as part of their own comfort routine.
Massage Oils
Quella massage oils provide ready-to-use topical aromatherapy for settings where massage, supportive touch or personal application is appropriate.
Popular options for Veteran programs include:
• Deep Relief
• Tension Release
• Comfort
Roll-Ons
Portable diluted aromatherapy blends in a Roll-On form offer another convenient option for personal use. Anxiety Rescue is especially relevant for programs supporting stress and emotional comfort.
The goal is not to make aromatherapy more complicated. It is to provide an appropriate delivery method for the Veteran, the setting and the intended use.
Purchasing Quella Products for VA Healthcare
Quella already works with VA healthcare facilities and understands federal purchasing requirements.
Jodi Baglien Aromatherapy LLC, DBA Quella Essential Oils:
• Is actively registered in SAM.gov with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
• Is an SBA-certified Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
• Currently supplies VA healthcare facilities
• Can provide formal quotes for purchasing departments
• Can provide vendor, product, safety and procurement documentation as needed
VA Healthcare Purchasing Information
VA hospitals, clinics, Community Living Centers and other VA programs can contact Quella for product information, pricing, quotes and assistance selecting appropriate products for their setting. Learn About Healthcare Purchasing Options
Contact For Product Inquiries:
Email: Orders@Quella.Store
Website: QUELLA ONLINE STORE
We Offer Aromatherapy Program Implementation Services
Implement an Aromatherapy Program
Successfully implementing aromatherapy requires more than choosing essential oils; it requires education, policy, thoughtful planning, practical delivery methods, staff education, and ongoing support from a clinically trained aromatherapist.
Aromatherapy Patch Clinical Education
Focused education for healthcare teams using Quella Aromatherapy Patches.
Aromatherapy Comprehensive CORE Program
Broader education for programs using multiple aromatherapy delivery methods, particularly long-term care and Community Living Center environments.
Contact For Implementation Solutions:
Phone: 612-802-9483
Email: jodi@jodibaglien.online
Website: JODIBAGLIEN ONLINE
Questions?
A brief conversation often answers purchasing questions, identifies the right products, and helps organizations get started successfully.
Call us at 612-802-9483
Learn More About Quella Aromatherapy
Explore our Aromatherapy Patch FAQ, Safety FAQ, healthcare resources, and research on aromatherapy for nausea and patient comfort.
Aromatherapy Patch FAQ | Safety FAQ | Research and Patient Satisfaction | Program Implementation
Quella Essential Oils products are intended to support comfort and wellness through aromatherapy. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individuals who are pregnant, undergoing medical treatment, or recovering from surgery should consult their healthcare professional before use.
Quella Essential Oils is an independent supplier and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.