Aromatherapy massage involves the use of highly concentrated plant oils, called essential oils, which are selected based on a person’s individual therapeutic needs.
Benefits of aromatherapy massage?
The nostrils are attached to a part of the brain called the limbic system. The limbic system controls emotions and influences the nervous system and hormones. Therefore, aromatherapy massage is particularly suited to conditions involving stress or improving emotionally related health conditions.
When you inhale essential oils, messages are transmitted to the limbic system which affect heart rate, stress level, blood pressure, breathing, memory, digestion, and the immune system to name a few. Consequently, aromatherapy massage has tremendous therapeutic benefits which are known to reduce the effects of stress on the entire nervous system.
Essential oils are also believed to be absorbed through the skin, allowing the therapeutic benefits to continue long after your massage has ended.
Each essential oil has different therapeutic properties. For example, some oils have a very calming effect while others energize. Some oils can also reduce pain by reducing inflammation and promoting circulation.
Here are just a few popular essential oils with some of their therapeutic properties:
- ·calming – chamomile, lavender, geranium
- ·uplifting – ylang ylang, clary sage, rose, neroli
- ·energizing – rosemary, peppermint
- ·cleansing – rosemary, sage, cedar
- ·decongesting – eucalyptus, pine, tea tree