What is Aromatherapy Massage?
Aromatherapy massage is massage therapy but with highly concentrated plant oils, called essential oils, added to the massage oil or lotion.  Aromatherapy massage is an alternative therapy. It combines with natural therapeutic properties of essential oils. Most of the time aromatherapy massage is applied as a blend of essential oils. Essential oil blends are absorbed through the skin. The subtle aroma of the essential oil blend fills the air around you during the massage.  Aromatherapy massage has powerful physical, emotional as well as mental affect and described as a relaxing and rejuvenating experience. Aromatherapy massage affects a wide range of health conditions, like nervous, lymphatic, immune system, muscular system, circulatory and more.  After the massage, the massage therapist may suggest a blend that you can use at home in between massage treatments.

What are essential oils?  Massage therapy with aroma oils has many healing benefits. These types of aroma oils or essential oils collected from various kinds of fruits, flowers, seeds and leaves of essential plants. There are more than 400 Essential Oils available, but only 40 common essential oils are widely used in aromatherapy. Many Aromatherapists believe aromatherapy can boost one’s well-being; relieve stress, reduce headaches and tension and help improve one’s body and mind. In aromatherapy, different types of essential oils are mixed with a carrier like sweet almond, grapeseed, and apricot kernel oil.

How does it work?
The nostrils are attached to a part of the brain called the limbic system. The limbic system controls emotions and influences the nervous system and hormones. When you inhale essential oil molecules, messages are transmitted to the limbic system and affect heart rate, stress level, blood pressure, breathing, memory, digestion, and the immune system.

Some Examples and Uses:  Each essential oil has different healing properties. For example, some calm while others energize. Here are some widely used essential oils and their purported properties:

calming – chamomile, lavender, geranium
uplifting – ylang-ylang, clary sage, rose, neroli
energizing – rosemary
cleansing – rosemary
decongesting – eucalyptus, pine, tea tree
Why do people get aromatherapy massage?
Aromatherapy massage is particularly suited to conditions involving stress or improving emotionally-related conditions.

Stress and stress-related conditions such as insomnia
Headache
Digestive disorders
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Back pain
Here are a few examples of the research that is being done on aromatherapy massage:

Self-massage significantly improved symptoms and wellbeing in people with lymphedema. It also slightly, but not significantly reduced limb volume. However, carefully chosen aromatherapy oils did not appear to be more effective than massage without aromatherapy oils.
Sixteen first-time mothers received a 30-minute aromatherapy massage two days after delivery, while 20 mothers received standard post-partum care. The aromatherapy massage group had significantly decreased ratings of post-partum blues and anxiety and had increased vigor and attachment to their babies.

Research suggests that patients with cancer, particularly in the palliative care setting, are increasingly using aromatherapy and massage.
What can I expect during an aromatherapy massage?
After the consultation, one or more essential oils are selected based on what you need and are mixed in with the massage oil or lotion.

Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstances or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.