Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy massage is massage therapy with essential oils added to the massage lotion. Aromatherapy essential oils are naturally occurring substances found in different parts of plants – the blossom, fruit, leaf, stem, bark, wood or resin. The nostrils are attached to a part of the brain called the limbic system. The limbic system controls emotions and influences the nervous system and hormones. When you inhale essential oil molecules, messages are transmitted to the limbic system and affect heart rate, stress level, blood pressure, breathing, memory, digestion, and the immune system. Each essential oil has different healing properties. For example, some calm while others energize. Here are some widely used essential oils and their purported properties:
- calming – chamomile, lavender, geranium
- uplifting – ylang-ylang, clary sage, rose, neroli
- energizing – rosemary
- cleansing – rosemary
- decongesting – eucalyptus, pine, tea tree
Why aromatherapy massage?
Essential oils can penetrate the body through the skin, and have multiple benefits beyond a nice smell. They affect your mood, alleviate pain, help the body detoxify, and a variety of other effects, depending on the essential oil. You can choose something that is relaxing, balancing, or invigorating, based on how you want to feel when the massage is finished. Your therapist will help guide you when choosing the right aroma for you. Aromatherapy massage is particularly suited to conditions involving stress or improving emotionally-related conditions.
- Stress and stress-related conditions such as insomnia
- Headache
- Digestive disorders
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Back pain