| A good rubdown is both physically and psychologically | | | | menstrual troubles, menopausal symptoms, digestive |
| valuable for the body. Trained massage therapists | | | | problems, hypertension, muscle spasm, joint stiffness, |
| usually get hundreds of hours of instruction prior to | | | | low energy and tiredness are all chronic conditions |
| working on people. These therapists work with | | | | that respond well to aromatherapy. |
| essential oils, usually diluted and blended in the | | | | Aromatherapy massage is a specific type of healing |
| following proportions: | | | | whereby massage therapists merge essential oils with |
| - 1 ounce carrier oil such as sweet almond | | | | massage. It has been clinically confirmed to decrease |
| - 15-30 drops essential oils. | | | | stress-related problems, arthritis, back and neck |
| The foundations of aromatherapy date back | | | | problems, musculoskeletal pains, headaches, sinus and |
| thousands of years, although the term was not used | | | | other upper respiratory problems, and skin disorders, |
| until the 20th century. The Chinese may have been | | | | and it is a complement to conventional medicine. |
| one of the earliest civilizations to use fragrant plants | | | | Stress is the response that your body has to all the |
| for well-being. The Egyptians later invented a simple | | | | demands placed on it daily. Research shows that |
| refining machine that permitted the basic removal of | | | | massage is effective care for a wide variety of |
| cedar wood oil. Clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, myrrh, and | | | | illnesses, injuries and conditions, particularly for stress. |
| cedar-wood oils were used by the Egyptians to | | | | Self-massage can supply lots of benefits if a |
| preserve the dead. | | | | massage therapist is not available. Below are some |
| The word "aromatherapy" was first used in the | | | | safety measures concerning massage: |
| 1920s by French chemist René Maurice | | | | - Do not have a massage directly following a meal or |
| Gattefossé, who dedicated his life to studying the | | | | if you are feeling ill or exhausted |
| curative properties of essential oils following a | | | | - Massage should not be done over any areas of skin |
| fortunate mishap in his perfume laboratory. The | | | | infection, rashes, cuts, sores, burns or varicose veins |
| major branches of aromatherapy include: | | | | Massage is derived from a primal instinct. It is innate |
| - Home aromatherapy | | | | in human nature to use touch to heal. Essential oils |
| - Clinical aromatherapy | | | | used in aromatherapy treatment complete the holistic |
| - Aromachology | | | | approach by affecting the mind. The skin soaks up |
| Essential oils, when used for massage, can have | | | | the oils about two hours after the massage as the |
| many different effects on the body, mind and spirit, | | | | body's tissue/cells take delivery of the majority of |
| because of the infinite number of natural | | | | the physical benefit. With their different strokes, |
| phytochemicals created by the plants. They can be | | | | touches, and formal training, therapists can administer |
| calming or invigorating. Anxiety, sleeplessness, | | | | healing in unique ways. |