Aromatherapy massage - essential oils for health and wellbeing

Aromatherapy massage, if carried out correctly, can benefit the mind and body in all kinds of different ways. These benefits can be enhanced even further if the right essential oil is used to treat the person’s specific injury or ailment.

There are hundreds of essential oils that you can use for an aromatherapy massage. Oils can either be combined with other oils or used on their own, but they are almost always diluted in a base oil, often referred to as a carrier oil. Good carrier oils include coconut oil, sweet almond oil and grape seed oil. The best quality oils are those that are ‘cold-pressed’, as these will always absorb much more easily into the skin than other varieties.

One of the things that massage is most commonly used to combat is stress. There are a number of aromatherapy oils that are known for their stress-relieving properties, and some of these are listed below. Remember, when the right oil is used it can benefit the patient enormously so it is well worth doing your research before you start.

Bergamot – often described by aromatherapists as ‘uplifting’, but in brings about a wonderful feeling of calm at the same time.

Camomile – there are several different varieties of camomile, but each one is considered to be relaxing and soothing.

Jasmine – often referred to as the ‘king of oils’, this is a warming and relaxing anti-depressant oil.

Lavender – this has a regulating effect on the nervous system and is really versatile, therefore probably the most popular essential oil for stress relief.

Ylang ylang – literally meaning ‘flower of flowers’, this is a calming and relaxing oil.

Here is a basic formula for a good aromatherapy massage oil. Try using different oils from the above list until you find one that suits your, or your patient’s, needs best. Where stress relief and relaxation are concerned, sometimes the best oil is simply the one that smells the most pleasant to the person having the massage, as this will instantly put them at ease and will therefore make them more responsive to the massage process. The oil can be mixed up to three months in advance, as long as it is stored in a dark glass bottle and away from direct light.

Coconut oil cream

50 g coconut oil
20 g almond oil
20 drops essential oil (either one type or a combination of more than one)
25 g rosewater (please feel free to substitute this with any other type of flower water, for example, orange-flower water).

Discover more about Aromatherapy.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Aromatherapy Massage

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