Aroma therapy massage combines relaxing, therapeutic massage with essential oils. Essential oils are highly concentrated plant oils that can be used on their own, in a diffuser or added to massage oil or lotion.
Using essential oils with aroma therapy massage can greatly improve your mood, health and massage experience. Your limbic system is the control center for your nervous system, emotions and hormones. Inhaling various essential oils during aroma therapy massage can produce different effects depending on what oil is being used. Your heart rate, stress level, breathing, blood pressure, immune system, digestion, and even memory can be improved.
Essential oils are also absorbed through the skin, so in addition to inhaling them during your aroma therapy massage, they are being worked into your skin while you are pampered. Each essential oil has unique qualities that can impact you in different ways. Some oils are used for calming while others are used to uplift and energize.
During your aroma therapy massage, your massage therapist may use oils with cleansing or decongesting properties to help you feel better if you are ailing. Your massage therapist may suggest a relaxing oil if you seem especially tense.
Aroma therapy massage is commonly used to assist with issues such as depression, insomnia, headaches, digestive issues, back pain and even PMS. Some oils can even be combined to treat more than one symptom, or your massage therapist may use certain oils in specific places to optimize their influence during your massage.
You and your massage therapist will first have a discussion about your ailments and what your expectations are for your massage. Your massage therapist will then select the oils that they believe will best help with your requests and needs. During the massage your will relax while the massage therapists works their magic and the essential oils fill the air.
Your massage therapist may even be able to suggest an essential oil blend for you to use between aroma therapy massages to help ease symptoms between appointments.