A Guide To Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is an alternative medicine technique that makes use of essential oils, and other plant compounds that are aromatic. These oils are believed to affect the health and mood of a person. These oils are cold-pressed or steam distilled from fruits, flowers, roots and bark. Aromatherapy is the art of using non-oily and volatile essence of plants for healing the mind and body. Essential oils have been used to heal the body, soothe the psyche and revive the skin tone for many years.

Aromatherapy Massage Types

Aromatherapy massage can be extremely relaxing when one is down with stress. Massage is a technique to apply the essential oils to right places on the body. This massage is quite easy and can be done by anyone.

The aromatherapy massage is carried out toward the heart, which is the natural flow of the body. If this massage is being given to children, use comforting and gentle movements. Most beneficial movement during aromatherapy massage is effleurage, which is a series of soothing, gentle strokes that enable essential oils to penetrate the pores of the skin. To spread the aromatherapy oil, make use of whole hand and not only the tips of the fingers. The strokes should vary between firm or gentle, and long or short. This will help in muscle relaxation, and nerve ending will be soothed. Right massage also help increase the blood circulation and relive stress.

Petrissage is the massage that imitates the movements of kneading dough gently. When using this technique for aromatherapy massage with essential oils, movement should be careful and slow. These movements are especially helpful in body parts with fat accumulation, and on backs. It helps increase the blood circulation, relax the muscles and release the toxins that get trapped in the body. Applying slight pressure with the thumb also helps.

Aromatherapy with essential oils can also be used for head massage. After putting oil on the scalp with the help of fingertips, use the finger to work all over the scalp. Massaging around base of the neck and moving upwards to the base of scalp is quite beneficial for people suffering from headaches and migraine.

It is possible to make the aromatherapy essential oils as per your own choice. This can be done by blending eucalyptus, rosemary, neroli, lavender, peppermint or nutmeg to the base oil. These aromatherapy oils can be added to the water while taking bath or diffusers can be used to dispense the oils into the air.

If aromatherapy massage is done properly, it can give great benefits by calming the stressed mind, and healing the physical discomfort.