Aromatherapy has its origins in ancient civilisations. While aromatherapy gained popularity in the 20th century, its origins can be traced back to ancient civilisations like Egypt, China, and India, where aromatic plants were used for medicinal and spiritual purposes.
There are multiple extraction methods. Essential oils can be extracted through various methods, such as steam distillation, cold pressing, and solvent extraction, each with its unique benefits and drawbacks.
Synergy in blends. Combining essential oils can create a synergistic effect, enhancing their therapeutic properties. This is why aromatherapists create custom blends for individual clients based on their specific needs.
Dilution is crucial. Essential oils are highly concentrated and can cause skin irritation if applied undiluted. It's important to dilute them with carrier oils, such as jojoba, almond, or coconut oil, before applying to the skin.
Olfactory adaptation. Our sense of smell can adapt to scents over time, making it difficult to detect the aroma of an essential oil after extended exposure. This is called olfactory adaptation or olfactory fatigue.
Not all oils are created equal. The quality of essential oils can vary significantly depending on factors such as the plant's growing conditions, extraction methods, and storage. To ensure therapeutic benefits, it's essential to use high-quality, pure essential oils.
Olfactory memory. Our sense of smell is strongly linked to memory and emotions. Aromatherapy can tap into this connection by using specific scents to trigger positive memories or create a calming atmosphere.
Animal aromatherapy. While research is limited, some studies have suggested that aromatherapy may also be beneficial for animals, such as reducing anxiety in dogs or improving the well-being of horses!
Aromatherapy and color therapy. Combining aromatherapy with color therapy, may enhance the effects of certain essential oils. At Clia...with Love, we combine aromatherapy with colour. For example, pairing a calming lavender essential oil with the color purple can increase its effect.
Psychological effects of scent. Research has shown that certain scents can influence our mood and behavior. For instance, citrus scents like lemon and orange are known to be uplifting and energising, while lavender and chamomile promote relaxation and sleep.
An aromatherapy massage is a relaxing way to spend an afternoon for many people – but it could also have a lot of additional benefits you weren’t aware of.
If you consider an aromatherapy massage to be little more than an occasional luxury or beauty treatment, you could be missing out on far-reaching health and fitness advantages.
After all, massage is one of the oldest-known forms of human health service. Just like we’ve been using herbs and nutrition to help heal our bodies since records began, human beings have been using massage with aromatic oils as a way to aid with circulation, recovery, muscle development and psychological balance.
We’re going to cover some of the benefits of aromatherapy massage you might not know to help you justify spending a little extra time for yourself in getting this luxury treatment.
1. It Tackles the Issues of a Desk Job
Lately, research has begun to reveal the dangers of spending more time sitting down. Hours spent in front of a desk, tapping away at a keyboard, simply isn’t good for our bodies. Pair that time at work with hours relaxing on the sofa, and you’ve got all the ingredients of a dangerous sedentary lifestyle.
Fortunately, massage can help.Massage helps to improve circulation, and even helps with posture, which can be damaged by spending too much time sitting down.
Aromatherapy Massage is also one of the best ways to improve your energy levels, combining an energising essential oil with bodywork, so you can increase the amount of time you spend working out or exercising when you’re not sitting at your desk.
2. Aromatherapy Massage Makes You Happy & Reduces Stress
The idea that a relaxing massage might bring a smile to your face probably isn’t the most shockingconcept you’ve heard of. However, the happiness-boosting benefits of massage especially with the use of organic essential oils, are more far-reaching than you’d think.
Massage therapy with essential oils is regularly offered as part of therapeutic and rehabilitation sessions because it’s good at improving emotional health, as well as physical fitness.
Studies are gradually beginning to reveal more benefits from using aromatherapy massage for conditions like depression, anxiety, and general low mood. Massage can improve the number of endorphins rushing through your body, and it’s great for leveraging the benefits of human touch, too. And the longer terms effects of regular massage can prevent chronic pain brought about by stress.
3. Aromatherapy Massage Reduces Blood Pressure
Studies also show that massage significantly improves your blood pressure, reducing the amount of pressure on your heart. If you’re suffering from hypertension, at a higher risk of stroke, or you’re concerned about your cardiac health in general, massage could be a good idea with the right selection of essential oils.
Massage works by manipulating the flow of blood throughout the body, helping to keep your circulation working exactly as it should.
Some studies have even found that a massage can continue to reduce your blood pressure, and positively affect the central nervous system, even days after you’ve had your treatment.
4. It Helps Stop You From Getting Sick
Although additional research into the impact of aromatherapy massage on immunity is still needed, initial studies indicate that having regular massage therapy with essential oils could reduce our chances of getting sick.
Why? Because aromatherapy massage doesn’t just improve the flow of bloodin your body, but it can also significantly enhance the development of white blood cells too – which help to fight disease.
Massage also has a detoxifying effect. It can clear out the lymph nodes and get rid of toxins you might have had building in your body for some time.
This means that if disease does come your way, you’re more likely to be able tofight back.
5. Aromatherapy Massage Improves Sleep
We could all do with a better night’s sleep, right? If you’ve ever wondered why you feel like you could just doze off on a massage table, there’s a good reason. Getting a relaxing massage with organic essential oils helps to eliminate stress and pain throughout the body, putting you in a position where you’re ready for sleep.Think of it like taking a muscle relaxant – one of the main kinds of medication used to tackle insomnia.
Massage reduces the presence of factors that would otherwise keep you awake, like stress and general discomfort, so you can drift off more rapidly.
6. Aromatherapy Massage Makes You Beautiful!
While you might not feel like you’re the most attractive at the end of an aromatherapy massage treatment, with your flushed cheeks and your oil-covered body, massage can help you to become more beautiful in a multitude of ways.
Aromatherapy Massage helps to improve circulation and the turnover of cells. This supports the growth of new skin cells, for fresher and younger looking skin.
You can even use massage with specific essential oils to encourage the growth of new hair. Studies have proven that massaging the scalp improves the flow of nutrients and oxygen into the hair follicles, allowing for thicker and healthier hair.
With all these benefits, who wouldn’t want an aromatherapy massage more often?
