When you visit spas, you will see on their menu that aromatherapy is listed. It is actually one of the most popular services offered in spas and other wellness clinics, together with other massage therapies. This type of treatment uses fragrant therapeutic essential oils to activate healing properties in the body. Therefore, when you need to relax, ease muscle tension, or clear out the remnants of a cold, you can opt to have an aromatherapy massage.
If you always see aromatherapy massage offers in spas, but you haven’t tried it yet and want to know more about it first, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we are going to give you more information about what aromatherapy massage is.
How Aromatherapy Massage is Done
When you undergo a simple Swedish massage or deep tissue massage, your skin is massaged by a therapist using oil or cream that has no scent. But in aromatherapy massage, the oil used is mixed with essential oil or a blend of essential oils derived from plants. These essential oils will penetrate the body through the skin, creating multiple benefits aside from the nice smell. They can affect your mood, ease pain, ramp up your immune system, and as well as detoxify your body, depending on the essential oil used.
In an aromatherapy massage, carrier oils are used to mix essential oils. Carrier oils can be jojoba, sweet almond, or grapeseed. About a couple drops of popular essential oils are mixed to them by therapists, including bergamot, rose, lavender, peppermint, geranium, and more, and the mixture will be used in your massage session.
You can also find other spas, usually more sophisticated ones, that have their own custom blends. Some use up to five essential oils in a mixture, and they name it based on their various effects. For example, aromatherapy for relaxation can include oil infused with bergamot or lavender. Peppermint and eucalyptus, on the other hand, are used to soothe sore muscles. After your massage, you will also have the choice to purchase the oil blend they used if you liked it.
Benefits of Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatherapy massage, aside from giving you a good full body massage, it is also known to provide both healing and relaxation. Aside from that, they also come in different benefits, including stress reduction, anxiety relief, increased calmness and relaxation, muscle tension decrease, pain relief, and as well as reduction of symptoms of depression.
The benefits that aromatherapy can give are fruitful. Also, there are many different essential oils you can choose from, and each of them correlates to different healing paths. This means that it’s up to you to communicate with your therapist and decide what oils are perfect for you. In addition to the benefits we mentioned above, here are the other benefits you can get from aromatherapy massage depending on the types of essential oils.
- Relief of Joint Pain: Joint pain and strain are common with active people who usually engage in lots of physical activity, and as well as to older people. That’s why a lot of people are always looking for relief with joint pain, and aromatherapy massage is one of the best options you can go for. One of the essential oils that can help with joint pain is wintergreen. Birch also has the same effect, but it is a more expensive option. Cajeput oil, on the other hand, can aide in stiffness, while Spruce and Roman Chamomile can help with aching and inflammation.
- Easing Neuromuscular Issues and Neuralgia: Neuromuscular issues are about nerve and muscle relations, while neuralgia is a pain related to nerve inflammation or damage. Some of the essential oils that can be used to ease neuromuscular issues and neuralgia are Roman Chamomile, Tarragon, Cypress, Cedarwood, Juniper, Pine, Eucalyptus, Helichrysum, and Geranium.
- Can Aid Muscle Tone: There are also lots of clients that are looking for assistance in muscle tone and bodywork. An aromatherapy massage can also be beneficial to them, and some of the essential oils they can choose to use are Marjoram, Balsam Fir, lemongrass, and white fir. These essential oils can reduce inflammation and can aid muscle tone. You can also choose Helichrysum if you are looking for one that can reduce scar tissue and which work well in reducing acute bone and muscle pain.
- Relief from Connective Tissue Problems: Our connective tissues are what binds the body parts together. There are times when people may have issues with their connective tissues, either from a chronic condition or from a sudden onset of symptoms. When you experience this, you need to make sure that you are taking the time to let them heal. Aromatherapy massage can also help in rebuilding connective tissues. One of the best essential oils you can choose for connective tissue problems is German Chamomile.
Precautions on Aromatherapy Massage
Before you head to the spa to get an aromatherapy massage, the are some precautions that you need to know and take. First, when getting an aromatherapy massage, a licensed massage therapist should ask you about your health history first. This will enable them to tell if an aromatherapy massage can be done to you.
Also, remember that essential oils can cause allergic reactions. Some essential oils are highly potent and can be absorbed through the skin. Therefore, it’s important to avoid too much use of aromatherapy oils. Make sure that the oils to be used have been diluted properly by a carrier oil. And if you are sensitive to scents, maybe aromatherapy is not good for you.
For women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s better to check with your doctor first if it’s safe for you to undergo an aromatherapy massage. If it is, then you may also ask your doctor to recommend a licensed therapist who has a certification in pregnancy massage to be safe.
Remember that an aromatherapy massage should not be done directly over unhealed wounds, bruises, skin rashes, inflamed skin, tumors, and fractures. If the massage is painful, let your therapist know immediately. If you have a health condition, make sure that you consult your doctor first before getting an aromatherapy massage.
Aromatherapy massage comes with few precautions, but other than these, it is a holistic method of healing that does not involve the use of any sort of drugs. We hope the information we shared helped you in learning more about aromatherapy massage.