Massage is a fantastic way to loosen up muscles and to help rid yourself of pain from a variety of different health conditions, and in particular anything that is related to stress. For a new twist on a tried and true holistic therapy try an aromatherapy massage. An aromatherapy massage is a type of massage that is similar to a regular Swedish massage in how it is conducted however it is accompanied by essential oils applied to the skin which are basically highly concentrated plant oils. These essential oils are added to the massage lotion or massage oil for an extra addition to the healing process. Combining massage with aromatherapy is believed to intensify the positive aspects of reducing pain in the body.
The nostrils are closely connected to a portion of the brain that is referred to as the limbic system. It is the limbic system that is responsible for controlling the emotions an individual feels as well as controlling what influences play on the central nervous system and the hormones. When a person inhales molecules of essential oils into their system, messages about those molecules are then transmitted to the limbic system and this immediately affects many aspects of the body including the heart rate, blood pressure, memory, breathing, digestion, the immune system and stress levels of the body. According to research essential oils can very easily be absorbed through the layers of the skin.
It is important to be aware of the fact that all of the essential oils are healing in a variety of ways. Some have the ability to relax while others have with congestion and still others help a person feel invigorated. For example the essential oils chamomile, geranium and lavender are calming while ylang, ylang, clary sage, rose and neroli are uplifting. On the other hand rosemary is both cleansing and energizing while the decongesting herbs include pine, eucalyptus and tea tree.
Aromatherapy massages are particularly suited to a number of different health conditions but in particular are excellent for those who are dealing with extremely difficult emotional problems or who find themselves under an inordinate amount of stress. For that reason aromatherapy massages are good fro any type of anxiety, stress or stress related disorder such as for example, insomnia; they are excellent for headaches as well as digestive disorders, not to mention back pain and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
After your initial consultation with the massage therapist, one or perhaps even more than one essential oil will be chosen for use and these oil(s) are then carefully mixed into the massage oil or lotion that is to be used for the massage. The intoxicating concoction of essential oils and massage oils should fill the room and make it smell fantastic. Once the massage is finished you should feel good and feel relaxed, calm and centered. Some massage therapists will recommend that you come in for another aromatherapy massage in a specified period of time. It might even be that the massage therapist will mix up a concoction for you to take home and use on yourself when you are feeling stressed in between sessions.
