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 Aromatherapy massage is a massage therapy with highly concentrated plant oils, called essential oils, added to the massage oil or lotion. The essential oils, derived from leaves, bark, roots, seeds resins and flowers, are mixed with a carrier oil like sweet almond, apricot kernel, or grapeseed oil. The massage therapist use up to five oils in a mixture, and chooses the oils based on what you need. A relaxing aromatherapy massage, for instance, might have lavender or bergamot, while a massage for sore muscles might include peppermint and eucalyptus.
The essential oils are massaged into the skin, inhaled directly or diffused to scent an entire room. Aromatherapy is used for the relief of pain, care for the skin, alleviate tension and fatigue and invigorate the entire body. Essential oils can affect the mood, alleviate fatigue, reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. Each essential oil has different healing properties. For example, some calm while others energize. When inhaled, they work on the brain and nervous system through stimulation of the olfactory nerves and affect heart rate, stress level, blood pressure, breathing, memory, digestion, and the immune system. Essential oils are also believed to be absorbed through the skin. |
