Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatherapy, on its most basic,
involves the use of essential oils for treating all kinds of
unpleasant feelings and conditions. The essential oils are noted
to have a number of different effects on the body, mind, and spirit
that most of them can be stimulating and sedative, while others can
be antispasmodic and analgesic.
There are generally a number of ways
of using essential oils therapeutically. It could be used in baths,
compresses, creams and lotions, or inhalation, but perhaps one of
the most pleasant and relaxing methods of applying essential oils is
through an aromatherapy massage.
There is only one person we really
owe the introduction and development of aromatherapy massage, that
is, Marguerite Maury. Marguerite was trained as a nurse and
surgical assistant in Austria following the death of her young
child, her first husband, and her father. It was noted that her
interest in aromatherapy massage began with a book known by name of
Les Grandes Possibilites par les Matieres Odoriferantes. It
was her who pioneered the use of aromatherapy massage to administer
the essential oils, and it was done perhaps because she was not a
medical doctor, thus not qualified to prescribe internal use of the
oils.
Since its introduction, the
aromatherapy massage has long been considered as highly beneficial.
It has the power to affect the autonomic nervous system and calm and
the “fight or flight” response, thus alleviating the amount of
harmful stress hormones in the body. Several studies have also
found out that aromatherapy massage greatly aids to kindle the blood
circulation, therefore increasing the supply of essential nutrients
and oxygen to the cells. The aromatherapy massage even kindles the
lymphatic flow, enhancing the body’s immune system as well as the
tissue drainage.
The essential oils commonly used in
aromatherapy massage are generally believed by the skin during the
application. However, there are opposing opinions as to how much of
the elements of the essential oils can go through the skin, and what
their effect on the body might be if they do penetrate.
Nevertheless, several experts have settled to a certain point
claiming that a number of beneficial effects can take place at the
surface of the skin after an aromatherapy massage. It is even
believed that with the aromatherapy massage, many skin conditions
can be enhanced, and this is because of the anti-inflammatory as
well as anti-microbial properties of the essential oils.
Aromatherapy
massage is now practice in specific areas, like the athletic
training. A number of massage therapists, as you may know, are now
an integral part of the Olympic Games for many years as they are
continually assisting to improve athletic achievement and increase
recovery time after a certain performance.
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Aromatherapy
