NURSES are treating themselves at an East Lancashire hospital after their own research proved aromatherapy massage really worked.

Senior sister Kathy Bonney and nurse Linda Haines decided to conduct their own trials into the effects of the alternative treatment.

They signed up 14 willing staff volunteers to be oiled and pummelled by Linda in the name of science, and they all filled in "lifestyle" questionnaires to analyse how healthy, happy and positive they felt at the start of treatment.

They were then given a series of ten weekly massages at Rakehead Rehabilitation Centre, Burnley General Hospital, before filling in the questionnaires again. She found most of the staff who had been treated to massages were feeling much better about their lives, while staff who hadn't been treated were more likely to be feeling worse.

Kathy presented her findings to the Burnley NHS Trust's research group last month and is now hoping to see her research paper published in one of the nursing journals.

Kathy, who works with victims of strokes, head injuries and multiple sclerosis, said: "Aromatherapy massage is very good for patients as it's relaxing and calming. We did some studies that showed it could bring blood pressure down. Introducing aromatherapy can help patients settle, even if it's just using oils in a footbath or a bath. We can also do short hand or neck and shoulder massages."