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 Aromatherapy is an age old form of alternative care.  When combined with the art of massage, you can enjoyably experience the tantalizing scents from aromatherapy oils that fill the air.  The aromatherapy oils are massaged deep into your muscles to help the body heal itself from a wide variety of sicknesses.

How Aromatherapy Works

The science behind aroma therapy is that the body can better achieve a state of harmony and balance with the use of plants, flowers, herbs and other natural substances.  The process by which aromatherapy is employed is by applying the extracts from various plants, herbs and flowers to the body in the form of a therapeutic oil.

Inhaling the scents of aroma therapeutic oils can help you to ease uncomfortable symptoms.  That brings me to the next level of aromatherapy … holistic aromatherapy massage.

Benefits of An Aromatherapy Massage

When aromatherapy is used during massage it's meant to help alleviate symptoms from common conditions such as muscle aches, headaches, digestive problems and sinus decongestion.  However, it’s not meant to replace a doctor’s care for more serious conditions.

How It Works

A Holistic Aromatherapy Massage combines the healing touch of massage with the healing powers of the extracts from natural plants and herbs.  When the extracts from the plants and herbs are massaged into the skin, there is a positive effect on the body.

In order for the plant extracts to be delivered into the skin, they need a carrier oil.  There are no chemicals in the carrier oil but they are required to safely and effective administer essential oils.  Some common oils used as carrier oils because of their gentleness are:

• Almond oil
• Calendula oil
• Jojoba oil
• Sunflower oil

Seeing a Professional Aromatherapist

While you can learn how to practice a aromatherapy massage at home, visiting an aromatherapist can be very beneficial.  The aromatherapist would complete a health history and profile to determine the choice of oil for your massage needs.  For example, peppermint essential oil is commonly used to treat headaches.  I’ve actually had quite a bit of success treating sinus headaches alternatively with therapeutic grade peppermint essential oil.

Some additional essential oils and their uses are:

• Eucalyptus Essential Oil for tired, aching muscles
• Lavender Essential Oil to promote relaxation and facilitate sleep
• Ylang Ylang Essential to keep energy levels up
• Tea Tree Essential Oil to decongestant clogged sinuses

Before Your Massage

A few points you need to heed and be aware of before undergoing a holistic aromatherapy massage session:

• If you have any allergies to medicine, plants or food, let the massage therapist know before undergoing treatment.
• If you are pregnant, consult a doctor before engaging in aromatherapy massage.
• If you have a blood clotting issue, you should not participate in any type of massage because the pressure from the massage could cause a forming clot to dislodge.  This could lead to complications and even death.
   

What To Expect

Finally, here’s what you can expect to experience during an aromatherapy massage treatment performed by a professional massage therapist:

• Based on your condition, a carrier oil is blended with the appropriate essential oil extracts.
• The aroma from the essential oils fill the room so that you begin to relax
• During massage, the oils and all the benefits they carry with them penetrates your skin
• If you are under stress, the aromatherapy massage will help provide stress relief

Everyone can benefit from getting an aromatherapy massage.  That is assuming you don’t have any of the pre-existing conditions mentioned.