Ideal Aromatherapy Massage Oils

Aromatherapy massage is a branch of aromatherapy that involves kneading and rubbing of the skin to complement all other benefits provided by the aromatic essences of the essential oil used. The effects of using proper massage techniques and essences from the oil offer a wide range of benefits.

Its most basic effect is relaxation through the physical stimulation of the muscles and the absorption of essential oils into the system. As soon as the healing properties of the oil has been absorbed into your body's central nervous system, it affects the body functions to produce the desired result.

If you've tried getting a massage before, then you might realize just how relaxing this experience is. You can take that a step further by adding a 100% natural essential oil into the solution.

The most basic thing you need to do when performing a massage is setting the mood. You can do this by rearranging the room to create the right type of mood, depending on what the person wants to achieve with performing a massage.

As for the actual massage, you have to give enough pressure but not too much as to hurt the person you are massaging in the process. The key here is giving sensual but potent touch that reinvigorates every targeted muscle in the body. The most ideal position for someone receiving a massage is facing down at the bed, preferably topless to give the oils an opportunity to spread and take effect on the body. Watch the right intensity of the strokes to avoid inflicting pain. When you reach the shoulders and neck, it is best to use your fingertips.

Massage is the most common application for essential oils in aromatherapy due to its non-invasive nature. Plus, the different strokes to various areas of the body and its muscles are very relaxing as well. However, you cannot simply assume that this is a safe method and you can simply grab any essential oil that is readily available at home.

Here are some factors you need to consider when choosing the type of essential oil to use during your aromatherapy massage:

*Purity of oil – This is one quality that you need to inspect when buying essential oils to use in massages. There are several that can be bought in health stores or pharmacies. But make sure that it is labeled pure as any additives can cause irritation or infection when rubbed against your skin.
*Condition treated – Different type of essential oils produce different effects on the body. Hence, you can do a little research on the recommended type of essential oils for your condition.

Carrier oils perform a significant role in aromatherapy massage. Simply put, they work by diluting high level of essential oil concentration to make it safe enough to be applied on the skin without causing irritation. Carrier oils are also considered as “fixed” because they do not evaporate. When choosing the type of carrier oil to use, you will have to basically use the same considerations when choosing essential oils to use during massage.

Below are some examples of vegetable oils that are widely used in aromatherapy as a carrier oil:

•    Sweet Almond Oil
•    Avocado Oil
•    Hazelnut Oil
•    Grapeseed Oil
•    Kukui Nut Oil
•    Peanut Oil
•    Olive Oil
•    Rose Hip Oil
•    Sesame Oil
•    Sunflower Oil
•    Cranberry Seed Oil
•    Evening Primrose Oil
•    Hemp Seed Oil
•    Camella Seed Oil
•    Apricot Kernel Oil
•    Pecan Oil
•    Macadamia Nut Oil, etc

Aromatherapy massage enables the body to quickly absorb the essential oils to produce the desired effect on the body. You can use a single essential oil or combine two to three oils for optimal benefits.

The essential oils discussed below are the considered as popular choices aromatherapy massage oils for their effectiveness and ease at use during massage.

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is extracted from the wax produced by the seeds of jojoba plant. This particular oil contains anti-bacterial properties, therefore it is often used in treating people with back acne through aromatherapy massage.

Like most aromatherapy oils in this list, it quickly penetrates your skin to target the sources of acne and other skin problems for immediate results. Sadly though, it might dry up to quickly that reapplying the oil on the skin can habitually intervene with the massage process.

Apricot Kernel Oil

This type of essential oil is similar in appearance to almond oil but is more costly than the latter. Apricot kernel oil does contain vitamin E though, which prevents the oil from turning rancid quickly and prolonging its shelf life.

When applied during massage, it is light enough to be quickly absorbed by your skin and leaves no greasy feeling whatsoever. Also, it does not cause allergies like other types of oil.

Sweet Almond Oil

If the name sounds familiar, its because sweet almond oil is one of the most common oils used in aromatherapy. It comes from the almond plant and is a bit oily in texture, just ideal for massaging. This particular kind of texture facilitates in the quick absorption of the healing elements on the skin.

The benefits of using sweet almond oil in aromatherapy massage over other types of oils include affordable price and lack of side effects.

Sunflower Oil

The sunflower seeds are the main source for this type of essential oil, which contains several useful acids such as linoleic acid, essential fatty acids, among others. These type of acids are useful in developing healthy skin and repairing damaged skin, which typically happens through aging.

There are a few disadvantages to choosing this type of oil in an aromatherapy massage though, such as the following:

•    relatively short shelf life
•    not ideal for individuals that are allergic to sunflower
•    must be kept away from the sun: ideal storing condition is in a dark and cool area

Fractionated Coconut Oil

Several people confuse coconut oil with fractionated coconut oil. However, these two are not one and the same. Fractionated coconut oil is only produced by a fraction of the entire coconut oil produce. Then, all the long-chain triglycerides are removed to keep the medium-chain triglycerides.

One major advantage of using this type of essential oil during massage is that it never causes stain on the sheet even if you dropped a few amounts into the sheet.