What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy, also known as essential oil therapy, is a form of holistic healing that uses plant oils to enhance well-being.

Aromatherapy...an add-on not just for a lovely smell...

• Essential Oils Defined: Concentrated plant extracts capturing the plant's scent and essence. They're obtained via distillation or cold pressing, making them potent (as in 30 pound of lavender in one bottle) with just a little required for a significant effect.

• Characteristics: Not oily in texture, hydrophobic (water-hating), lipophilic (fat-loving), and volatile (evaporate easily).
  

How It Works:

• Emotional and Mental Well-being: Inhaling these aromatic wonders can directly stimulate the limbic system, the brain's control center for emotions and memory. It's a natural and powerful way to manage stress and enhance mood

• Physical Health: Applied topically, essential oils penetrate the skin, offering their healing benefits directly to the body. This makes them a perfect ally in massage therapy, combining touch with the therapeutic properties of oils.
  

Aromatherapy Massage

Combines essential oils with massage oil, offering benefits through both inhalation and skin absorption. Oils are typically diluted to 2-4%.

Benefits by Oil Type:

• Stress Relief: Lavender, chamomile, orange, rose, spruce, cedarwood

• Energy Boost: Rosemary, lemongrass, eucalyptus, grapefruit

• Pain Relief and Sports: Peppermint, wintergreen, thyme, oregano, lemongrass
  

Key Takeaways:

• Aromatherapy enhances physical and psychological well-being.

• The right blend of oils can significantly enhance the massage experience, tailored to personal preference and therapeutic needs.

Sources:

1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2917081/

2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25557808

3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22849536

4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21309711

5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25612776