Aromatic Massage

19 Jan

“Warming the body, warming the soul through the gentle touch of tender hands and opening the heart with the help of beautifully fragrant messengers of vegetable intelligence”

— Dr. Malte Hozzel

A deeper experience

Aromatic massage, is a great way to relax and rejuvenate your body and mind. It provides a deeper experience by using essential oils that are known to have calming, soothing, and uplifting effects. It can help to reduce stress, tension, and anxiety, while also improving circulation and enhancing wellbeing.

Massage has been scientifically proven to have amazing therapeutic results on the circulatory system, lymphatic system, muscles, organs, and glands - these effects are even further enhanced when combined with essential oils! It's no wonder massage has become so popular - the restorative benefits are undeniable.

Essential oils provide a form of aromatic therapy which helps to promote a sense of wellbeing, while the massage itself helps to ease muscle tension and improve joint mobility. The combination of these two treatments can be incredibly beneficial for overall health.

Aroma + Massage: a long standing relationship

The relationship between massage and aromatherapy has been intertwined throughout history. The word “anoint” means to rub or massage. Whether for rituals and ceremonies or healing, sore joints, the first aromatherapists were shamans and priests of ancient times. Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines were strong advocates of aromatic massage. Egyptian physicians had a thorough knowledge of plant aromatics such as Cypress, Myrrh and Frankincense.Their knowledge spread to the Greeks. Avicenna, a famous Persian polymath, the father of early modern medicine, also recommended massage with oils, perfumed ointments, and warming medicines for a variety of purposes.

In Ayurveda, aromatic massage is considered just as essential to wellbeing as healthy diet and lifestyle choices, becoming part of daily routines of self care by increasing resilience and shedding the stress of everyday life.

In the 1950s in the U.K., Marguerite Maury initiated a more personalised, holistic vision of aromatherapy that re-emphasised the external use of essential oils in massage. She introduced the concept of an "individualised prescription" - a blend of essential oils that would work to harmonise the physical, psychological, and spiritual nature of the patient. This blend would help to balance and normalise the client as a whole, creating a holistic approach to healing and wellbeing.

Robert Tisserand is a British Aromatherapist, author and researcher who wrote one of the first books on the therapeutic properties of essential oils and Aromatherapy in 1977. This book sparked a huge amount of interest around the world and is largely responsible for the popularity of Aromatherapy that we see today.

In his book Robert Tisserand states that the aim of aromatherapy massage is :

to aid oil penetration
to stimulate generally and to relax
to treat locally
to treat via nerve supply, reflexes and meridians
to guide essences to the areas where they are needed

Formulating for aromatic massage

Blending essential oils is an important part of aromatic massage. Besides creating a new fragrance, it's a method of combining essential oils with either similar or complementary properties to optimise a desired therapeutic effect. Essential oils are carefully blended with intent for their final purpose. They can be chosen generally to uplift, relax, rejuvenate or for more precise treatments such as detoxifying and relieving strained muscles. In order to guide essences to where they are needed, essential oils are blended into a vegetable oil, also known as a ‘carrier oil”. The carrier oil acts as a vehicle for the essential oils, which are then applied through massage to large parts of the body. It is the warmth generated from the hand rubbing movements on the body during massage that assists the penetration of essential oils which then can pass through the stratum corneum into the lower layers of the epidermis to eventually be absorbed into the systemic bloodstream.

It's important for any aromatherapist to prioritize safety during the formulation process. Thankfully, most essential oil users don't experience any adverse reactions. However, there is still a possibility of adverse effects on the skin. Proper dilution is key when it comes to preventing these potential effects, and aromatherapists will take every step necessary to ensure safety.

“Massage incorporates elements of touch, pressure and vibration. These are stimuli that affect sensory receptors, which in turn results in a shift in homeostasis.”

— Jennifer Peace Rhind

How aromatic massage works

The combination of touch and smell directly effects the central nervous system, where rapidly absorbed essential oil molecules activate neuronal connections in the brain to release neuro-transmitters (messengers) throughout the body in order to relax and release muscular and mental stress and tension.

Clinical studies reveal that, through aromatic massage, the benefits of essential oils, plant extracts and oils increase their positive effect on cortisol levels and alleviate many of the detrimental effects of physical and mental fatigue to our wellbeing as well as strengthening the immune system and improving resistance to infection.

On a deeper level, by relaxing the body and calming the mind, the fragrant messengers of essential oils can release blocked emotions, decrease negative feelings of self worth, open the heart to greater self-compassion to uplift and exalt the spirit.

“The essential oils assist the massage effects that liberate toxins from muscles, open congested nerves, and increase blood and lymph flow.”

— Jennifer Peace Rhind

What are the benefits of aromatic massage?

Beyond feeling good and relaxed, aromatic massage, as opposed to non aromatic , can offer longer lasting benefits on the physical level to :

Strengthen the immune system
Increase resistance to infections
Flush out toxins throughout the body
Increase flow of oxygen to the body tissues
Release muscular tension,
Relieve cramps and spasms
Reduce stiffness in the spine and joints,
Improve posture and movement
Soothe muscular and arthritic aches and pain
Stimulate sluggish circulation, lymphatic and endocrine system
Nourish, increase lustre, protect and preserve youthfulness of the skin and body tissues
Alleviate hormonal problems such as PMS and menopause
Decrease nervous tension, increase stamina and libido
Substantially Improve the quality of sleep

Other benefits - balancing emotions

Aromatic massage decreases nervous tension and unblocks negative energy. Worries, problems, preoccupations and even angry emotions are literally stroked away.

The more profound relaxation of aromatic massage can foster greater mindfulness and awareness of the body and its needs, allowing to cope with stress and let go of difficult emotions.

Aromatic massage also helps to improve quality of sleep, leaving one feeling refreshed and energised.

All in all, it is a great way to take care of emotional wellbeing by

Eliciting lasting relief from stress and anxiety,
Balancing emotions and enhancing mood
Building self confidence through increasing self and body awareness
Improving concentration, memory and reducing brain fog

Abhyangha - a daily ritual for self care

drawing of a hand holding a pair of hearts

In Sanskrit, the ancient language from India, abhy means to rub and anga means limb, so together they make up the word massage.

It is an anointing of the body, from head to toe, with warm oil often infused with healing herbs and balancing essential oils.

If offered as a treatment in a wellness clinic or spa, it is also regularly prescribed as a daily ritual for personal self care and in Ayurvedic tradition, Abhyanga is considered one of the ten life habits recommended to ensure good health.

The above text states that Abhyanga should be practiced daily, preferably in the morning and mentions the following benefits:

“It delays ageing, relieves tiredness and excess of Vata (aches and pains). It improves vision, nourishes body tissues, prolongs age, induces good sleep and improves skin tone and complexion.”

Isn’t it amazing that these benefits, identified thousands of years ago by Ayurvedic physicians are the same that are revealed by modern clinical studies!

Abhyanga, how to self massage

First you need an aromatic massage oil, either a ready blended massage oil which you purchase, ideally prepared by an aromatherapist who can create a blend tailored specially for your needs.

Of course you can also prepare your own. Generally a safe proportion is 20-25 drops of essential oil to 50ML of carrier oil.

For your massage pour 2 tablespoons of your oil in a small dish. If you wish, you can warm the oil by placing the dish in a bowl of hot water.

Then take some oil in the palms of both hands and begin to massage the oil into your entire body. Begin at the extremities and work toward the middle of the body using long strokes on the limbs and circular strokes on the joints. If you are able, take your time with this process, massaging the muscles and working the oil deep into the skin.

When you are done, step into a warm bath or shower. Minimise the use of soap, and use only where needed. Afterwards, dry yourself with gentle taps so as to preserve a light coat of oil on your skin.

Like this you will enjoy the benefits of Abhyanga throughout the day!

To Summarise

My husband and I both enjoy getting regular aromatic massages, and I absolutely love my morning Abhyanga ritual before I shower! It's such a great way to start the day and I always feel so relaxed and energised afterward.

I highly suggest you give it a try - I guarantee you'll feel revitalised, youthful, and absolutely radiant!

So go ahead and treat yourself - you deserve it!

Aromatic Massage

A deeper experience