Aromatherapy massage is the fusion of aromatherapy and massage. Together these two ancient methods combine to treat the mind, body and soul.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of essential oils. It is the ancient science of healing, relaxing and energizing the body by the use of plants and their parts. The word aromatherapy is derived from two words aroma which means smell and therapy which stands for healing.

Essential oils are the basis of aromatherapy the roots, barks, flowers, fruits, seeds and nuts are used for the distillation of oils. Each essential oil is an aromatic essence, distilled from a single botanical source. Essential oils are highly concentrated and should not be used directly. These oils can be blended together and this blend is called synergy. The synergy is more potent than the individual oils. Since these oils are so potent in their concentrated form they are mixed with simple oils called carrier oils like sweet almond, apricot kernel, or grape seed oil.

Essential oils can have many different effects on the body, mind and spirit. They can be sedative or stimulating, analgesic and antispasmodic and antibacterial. They enter through our olfactory system and affect the nervous system, thus improving mood and relaxing or energizing us. This helps is alleviating stress and speeds up healing.

There are many different ways of using essential oils therapeutically – in baths, inhalations, compresses, creams or lotions, massage.

Massage

Massage therapy is also an ancient form of alternative medicine. It can affect the autonomic nervous system, and calms the mind, reducing the stress in the body. Massage stimulates the blood circulation, increasing the supply of nutrients and oxygen to cells. It also stimulates lymphatic flow, improving tissue drainage and in the immune system.

Hippocrates said: “The Physician must be experienced in many things, but assuredly in rubbing . . . for rubbing can bind a joint that is too loose, and loosen a joint that is too rigid.”

Depending on your need a synergy blend is created with the carrier oil. There are a lot of combinations that are specially made for specific diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, stress, sports injury, migraines, insomnia etc.

History of Aromatherapy Massage

Aromatherapy Massage is the brain child of Marguerite Maury, née König of Austria. Marguerite trained as a nurse and surgical assistant. Her interest in aromatherapy began with the book of Dr Chabenes, Les Grandes Possibilités par les Matières Odoriferantes. Marguerite met and married a French doctor in the early thirties, and continued her research into essential oils.

She developed her particular method of using the “Individual Prescription” blending several essential oils, for each patient, after an in-depth consultation and examination. She also pioneered the use of massage to administer the essential oils, partly perhaps because she was not a medical doctor, and therefore not qualified to prescribe internal use of the oils.

Maury wrote Le Capital Jeunesse in English, The Secret of Life and Youth based on aromatherapy. She opened clinics in France, Switzerland and England, and continued to teach and practice until her death.

Basic Oils

There are a variety of essential oils that can be blended to create a perfect one for your needs, a few of them are

Lavender

• most basic of oils

• relaxation, calming, balancing

• antibiotic, antiseptic, antidepressant, sedative, detoxifier

• use on burns

Rosemary

• stimulant for mental and physical body

• antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, adrenal stimulant

• muscular strains and sprains, headaches, fatigue, congestion, prevents scar tissue formation

Bergamot

• refreshing, uplifting,

• antiseptic, antidepressant, antispasmodic, analgesic, sedative, expectorant, deodorizer

• can be slightly irritating to skin

Peppermint

• digestive aid, headaches, fatigue

• anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, expectorant, stimulant, vasoconstrictor

• cooling

Tea Tree

• antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiseptic

• treatment of infections, ringworm, sunburn, acne, athlete’s foot, gum disease

• caution when applying full strength

Geranium

• eases stress

• antidepressant, adrenal and hormone balancer, detoxifier, sedative, antiseptic

• good for PMS and female disorders

Clary Sage

• antidepressant, antiseptic, astringent, aphrodisiac, sedative, tonic

• relieves PMS, soothing, relaxing

Eucalyptus

• antiviral, antiseptic, stimulant, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic

• cools the body in summer and warms in winter

• effective treatment for candida, diabetes, sunburn, congestion, cough, neuralgia

Geranium

• eases stress

• antidepressant, adrenal and hormone balancer, detoxifier, sedative, antiseptic

• good for PMS and female disorders

Aromatherapy is a potent alternative medical procedure. The perfect place to get an aromatherapy massage is in a spa from expertly trained masseuses.

According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, anxiety is the most common mental illness in America, with nearly 20% of the adult population affected. Woman are twice as likely to experience life disrupting general anxiety disorder, GAD, and specific phobias than men are, however the numbers for those suffering with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are equal for the sexes.

It is interesting to note that approximately 1/3 of all adult sufferers of anxiety disorders had experienced some symptoms when they were children. Women also hold the dubious honor of being far more likely to experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and twice as likely to suffer with Panic Disorders. In these studies it is noted that childhood sexual abuse is often a precursor for PTSD, and regardless of the age of the attack, rape will trigger PTSD in 65% of the men and almost 46% of the woman who experienced it.

We all face anxiety producing events in our daily lives, beginning when we were an infant and we realized our mother had left the room. From that day on the stress in our lives continues to be experienced, overcome, and the knowledge of our successes helps us move on to the next challenge.

The child goes to school for the first day and both the parents and the child are anxious. The first sleepover, away camp, learning to drive, and going away to college are all important milestones that can cause normal anxiety in the parties involved, even though there may well be an undercurrent of excitement, also.

For adults, the list for potentially stressful situations is virtually endless. Losing a job, serious debt, awaiting medical test results, the imminent death of a loved one are just a few. All of these and more are legitimate causes for anxiety. It is only when the anxiety becomes the defining factor in a person’s life, dictating their every move in some cases, that it is time to seek professional help. If the fears are no longer based in logic, if the affected person’s daily life is seriously diminished, and if no amount of reassurance will ease their fears, it is time to obtain an evaluation from a mental health professional.

There should be no stigma associated with seeking help with for mental health concerns. It is no different than hypertension or diabetes, in that, left untreated will severely impact the suffering person’s ability to interact with their family, friends and co workers, and possibly escalate to where the affected person is unable to even leave their home.

When basic daily functioning is impacted by the anxiety disorder, and the ability to enjoy life is disrupted, a family member may need to seek advice on how to best encourage their loved one to obtain necessary help. The need for this intervention is a vital one. An anxiety disorder left untreated can easily escalate to include other mental health concerns, including depression and suicidal thoughts.

As dismal as this may all sound, help is readily available, and cost or lack of insurance does not need to be a factor. Resources for help are as close as the phone book or the computer, and many state and county mental health clinics accept sliding payments based on ability to pay.

The term anxiety, or anxiety disorder is really a catch-all term for many anxiety related mental conditions. To simply say someone has anxiety is to suggest that they are experiencing a feeling of fear, apprehension, worry, or other vague and unpleasant feelings. An anxiety disorder is often accompanied by physical symptoms and sensations.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there are five general categories of mental anxiety disorders. In those five, there are additional subcategories that make it even more complex and challenging for a mental health professional to develop an accurate diagnosis.

The first of these five categories is called GAD, or generalized anxiety disorder. This is probably one of the most common types of anxiety. Ongoing or continual excess of worried or concerned about every day life and situations is symptomatic of GAD. People with generalized anxiety disorder can continue to function in society depending on the severity of the symptoms. Physical symptoms may also become apparent and include sleeplessness, fatigue, headaches and muscle tension. General anxiety disorder is considered chronic but can be successfully treated in controlled with medications and counseling.

Second, and one of the most common anxiety disorders is known as social anxiety. Societal anxiety is characterized by an over concern about how people may perceive you in a public place. Social anxiety is demonstrated by people who are unable or uncomfortable speaking in public. Many very popular celebrities have been known to suffer from social anxiety. You may want to check the website below for more information on social anxiety and those who suffer with it.

Third on the list of the top five anxiety categories is the obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD. A person suffering with obsessive-compulsive disorders is usually identified as being locked into ritualistic behavior. That is, someone who is overly worried about germs may wash their hands hundreds of times a day. People with OCD may have been unhealthy focus on certain aspects of their life which results in an ongoing behavior to try to limit the effects of the problem. Another example may be somewhat worried about being secure in their home may consistently check doors and windows to verify they are locked.

Fourth is panic disorder. Panic disorder is very similar to the feelings one would get while watching a horror or suspenseful movie. Symptoms include rapid breathing, fast and hard heart pumping, dizziness, lightheadedness and tangling in your hands and feet are all part of a panic attack. The difference between watching the horror or suspense movie, and someone suffering a panic attack is one of control. If that edge of your seat feeling becomes to intense at the movies you can simply close your eyes and regain control. Someone who suffers from panic attacks cannot control when or how long they happen.

Fifth is posttraumatic stress disorder and is usually associated with returning war veterans. PTSD however, can happen to anyone that experiences, a physical are particularly traumatic situation. Traumatic stress disorder has been known to affect people close to someone who has directly experienced a particularly trying our traumatic episode.

This is a very quick thumbnail of the major types of anxiety disorders that have so far been identified. For more information on these and other general mental health information, see the website below.

Pregnancy and childbirth is the most wondrous experience of a woman’s life. To describe it, one must use a list of contradictions. What other event can be so universal, yet so personal? At what other time does a woman feel more in tune with her feminine side, while yet tapping into her strongest reserve of raw power? What other rite of passage takes her to the very doors of death, only to open them and find new life? There is no other time when a woman can feel so sick while being in perfectly good health. There is no other event quite like it.

After a century of highly medicalized prenatal care and childbirth, the trend in recent decades has swung back toward natural, gentle birthing techniques. Midwives and doulas, once frowned upon by the medical establishment, are now being welcomed into hospitals, oftentimes replacing doctors at the pregnant woman’s bedside. Much has been written about the benefits of water, hypnotism, and naturopathy in prenatal care and childbirth. This article will focus on the use of aromatherapy to ease the discomforts, relieve emotional stress, and maintain good health of mother and baby throughout pregnancy.

Each pregnancy comes with its own set of discomforts, arising from ordinary fluctuations in hormones and bodily changes. While diet and lifestyle changes are sometimes necessary for best results, many irritations, included those noted below, can be alleviated by the use of essential oils. When selecting oils, purchase only those of high-quality, which have been distilled for therapeutic use, and are free of additives. Due to the heightened sense of smell during pregnancy, limit blends to one or two oils at a time; you needn’t purchase every oil on this list. Try a couple and see which ones you like best. You will see that many oils have overlapping qualities.

Nausea, headache, and morning sickness, which are often the earliest complaints in pregnancy, can be treated by diffusing essential oils into your breathing space. Not only can doing this counteract diagreeable odors, but using oils with antiseptic properties, such as lavender or tea tree, will cleanse the environment of harmful airborne bacteria—protecting against colds and flu. To diffuse, simply mix 3 drops lavender with 1 drop peppermint and 1 drop eucalyptus in a bowl of water. Or if you prefer, specialized diffusers on the market heat and vaporize the oil molecules, which spreads the scent faster and farther into the room. If you are going out, keep a cotton handkerchief and a vial of lavender or peppermint with you. Place 1 drop of lavender or peppermint on the cloth and hold it over your nose, inhaling deeply, to prevent headache or nausea.

Cool or warm compresses can do wonders to restore a feeling of balance and wellness. Fill a bowl with warm or cool water (whichever appeals to you.) Add 3-4 drops of lavender, and drape a flannel across the top of the water to pick up the film of oil. Wring out the flannel and place it on the forehead or front of the ribcage. For warm compresses, cover the flannel with plastic and add a towel.

Citrus oils, such as orange, lemon, grapefruit, and bergamot, are safe to use in early pregnancy and have uplifting qualities. They are particularly effective in alleviating vomiting. Add 7 drops of any citrus oil to 1 ounce olive oil (or another carrier oil) and massage over the abdomen for best results.

Varicose veins respond well to cypress, geranium, lemon, and lavender oils. Use any mixture of these oils in a warm bath (total 6 drops), with alternating warm and cool compresses(total 4 drops) on the affected areas, or in a massage oil (total 7 drops essential oil per ounce olive oil). When massaging, use gentle strokes from the foot upward, being careful not to apply too strong of pressure where the varicosity begins or ends.

Women who complain of hemorrhoids and swollen anal tissue may find relief in taking a cool sitz bath with 6 drops lemon oil. To prepare the bath set a large plastic tub in the bathtub and fill with water. Add the oils and stir to spread. Keeping legs and feet outside the plastic tub, lower yourself into the water and soak for 20 minutes. Follow up with an aromatic massage of 7 drops cypress and 7 drops lemon oil in 2 ounces olive oil.

Another ailment common in pregnancy is edema, or water retention. Lavender, geranium and rosemary oils combat this condition by stimulating the lymphatic system to drain excess fluids from the body. Gently massage the feet and ankles, using upward strokes, with a combination of these oils in olive oil; or try a cool footbath with 3 drops geranium or lemon oil and 3 drops lavender.

Almost every woman earns at least a couple stretch marks by the end of her pregnancy. These can be prevented or reduced by topically applying a blend of 1 ounce each of wheat germ oil and hazelnut oil with 4 drops neroli, 2 drops carrot seed, and 2 drops geranium. Massaging the blend into thighs, hips, breasts and belly every night and morning will nourish the skin and help maintain elasticity.

Please note that there are some essential oils which should not be used during pregnancy as they are known abortifacients. These include basil, fennel, myrrh, parsley, sage, and thyme. Other oils which are emenogogues are listed in some texts as unsafe during pregnancy, while promoted in others. Cedarwood, chamomile, clary sage, cypress, jasmine, juniper, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, rose, and rosemary should therefore be used with care.

Most people who are affected by depression become very flat, lifeless, stressed out and easily agitated. Some individuals even have trouble getting out of the bed. This makes it very difficult to recover or bounce back. The essential oils used in aromatherapy, may help to reverse this by positively affecting the brain. Essential oils can provide an emotional lift and help to alleviate some of the tension and anxiety associated with depression.

Some common essential oils that are believed to help chase away the blues include: Geranium, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Rose, Peppermint and Ylang Ylang.

Although counseling and medication have been the mainstays in the fight against depression, there are many side effects associated with pharmaceutical meds and many people stay in counseling for years without any significant progress. Others do experience relief using these methods and that is great. However, there are groups of individuals who would rather not use pharmaceutical drugs to cure their depression, or may be simply looking to supplement their drug regimen. They may be interested in experimenting with natural remedies. Aromatherapy gives them that option. It can be added as an additional tool in the fight against depression. To increase the effectiveness of this approach, changes in diet, physical activity, and supplementation can really help to multiply the effects of aromatherapy.

A 17th century herbalist by the name of John Gerard, believed that clary sage was good to use when individuals were suffering from mental tiredness, depression and other mental disorders. Today, many aromatherapists tend to agree. According to research conducted at the International Flavors and Fragrances in New Jersey, fragrances of orange are also believed to be helpful in reducing anxiety

Aromatherapy is generally more effective in people who are only having mild bouts of depression, and that either do not require medication or who are being weaned off of it. . This is because there is no threat of dangerous drug interactions. Now while aromatherapy can be very helpful, it is important that one doesn’t suddenly stop using their medications. This could potentially be quite dangerous. It is vital that one works closely with their doctor, psychiatrist or psychologist, so that they can safely create an effective game plan to be weaned off prescribed medications as a health professional sees fit.

Probably the most effective forms of aromatherapy to treat depression are bath and massage oils. These allow you take advantage of both your sense of touch and smell. Aromatherapy is a fantastic way for individuals to treat mild depression. Lavender, geranium, rose and peppermint are some of the very best essential oils to use when one has the prolonged blues.