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Massage Therapy
Aromatherapy and Massage
Aromatherapy and Massage: A Healthy Combination
Aromatherapy is considered as a form of healing that makes use of various aromas
from pure extracts of flowers, leaves, herbs, and other plants. These extracts
are converted to oil which is said to be therapeutic as it is inhaled and as it
is applied on the skin.
Essential oils cannot be applied purely as they may cause redness, burning, or
irritation. Carrier oils like jojoba, grape seed, and almond oil are usually
mixed. Moreover, using a specific type of oil for straight 12 weeks or more may
not be that effective anymore as the skin may be resistant to it already.
Such aromatherapy oils must be stored in a cool, dry place to preserve their
effectiveness. A dark bottle is most advisable since light does not penetrate
easily. Plastic bottles will only hasten their deterioration. Proper storage
will make the oils last for about a year.
Massage complements aromatherapy very well. Massage has been known to be
effective in loosening muscle contractions, releasing toxins in the body, and
improving blood and oxygen circulation. The use of aromatherapy oils for
massage is, no doubt, doubly beneficial.
Aromatherapy and massage can easily affect the autonomic nervous system. It can
cause the fight and flight response to calm down thus reducing the amount of
hazardous stress hormones in the body. A person who has significantly low
levels of stress become less prone to diseases or recover easily from any
sickness or health problems.
This kind of complementary therapy is widely used in many healthcare
institutions around the world. It has been proven to greatly improve the
quality of life of patients. Thus, it is being recommended to cancer patients
as a form of supportive therapy.
A research on this was conducted at the Marie Curie Cancer Care in London where
103 cancer patients either received massage or aromatherapy massage. Results
show that those who received aromatherapy massage had significantly reduced
anxiety levels as compared to those who only got basic massage. Some
improvements in the patients’ disposition, physical comfort, and quality of life
in general have also been noted.
The research concludes that aromatherapy oils add up to the physical and
psychological well being that patients feel in addition to the physical comfort
that massage actually provides. These results are in conjunction to the
benefits of touch therapy, which are further enhanced by the power of
aromatherapy.
Not only are aromatherapy and massage proven to be helpful to cancer patients,
it has also been found out that they may help people with learning
disabilities. The senses of smell and touch play a major role on this.
The olfactory system has direct connections to the limbic system, which is the
part of the brain that has to do with emotions. The senses of touch and smell
appear to be less complicated as compared to the senses of hearing and sight.
With this, a form of communication maximizing touch and smell is easier,
especially for people with learning disabilities.
People with such disabilities are often characterized by stereotypical
behaviors, monotonous actions that are purposeless, and impairment in their
senses. These characteristics appear reduced with aromatherapy and massage.
This form of therapy works by causing the person to avoid self-stimulation.
This happens because they start to become more aware of their own body and build
tolerance to touch. As such, they are able to divert their focus to something
else and not just to themselves. This is initially manifested by the capacity
to interact with the therapist.
Moreover, even athletes benefit from aromatherapy massage. For quite a while
already, it has been part of athletic training. It boosts performance and makes
recovery thereafter easier. Serious athletes, like those who participate in
Olympic games, have regular sessions before and after every game.
Indeed, aromatherapy and massage can do a lot of wonders. This is specially the
case if it is done properly and carefully.
Since the pairing of aromatherapy and message has been proven to be really
effective in intervening with some medical conditions, practitioners are usually
required to undergo some years of training first. The use of such powerful oils
is endless and must not be underestimated.
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