If massage appears to be a pampered kind of recovery, that is because it is. Massage therapy is still one of the best ways to keep your muscle tone and to release muscle tension, improve blood and lymph flow, remove toxins such as lactic acid and other cellular waste and normally induces relaxation and emotional well-being. The benefits of massage can actually strengthen your resistance to common illnesses, as well as the massage lotions and oils used in this sort of therapy, only improve the benefits. There are lots of frequent massage oils used during massage therapy.
Common Massage Therapy Carrier Oils
There are two main types of oil: a carrier oil and an essential oil. The carrier oil is the oil which makes up the majority of the massage blend and does not have a scent of its own. Its principal objective is to deliver the oil in a diluted manner, so the concentrated essential oil does not cause skin irritation. Many carrier oils have their own therapeutic qualities.
Most carrier oils are made from vegetables, nuts or seeds. Some are actually created from herbs. The five most common carrier oils and their benefits include:
- Sweet almond oil – This carrier oil is exploding with protein, helping to relieve dryness and skin irritation.
- Apricot kernel – A very light carrier oil that’s a fantastic skin healer.
- Avocado oil – Rich in vitamins A, C and B, the benefits of this oil are actually absorbed through the skin in your body.
- Grapeseed oil – Another light carrier oil and friendly with all skin types.
- Wheat germ oil – Often utilized in anti-aging goods, this oil acts as a preservative because of the high vitamin E content.
As a safety precaution, bear in mind it is never safe to apply essential oil directly to skin. Carrier oils, such as these, are vital in maintaining your massage healthy and irritation free.
Common Massage Therapy Essential Oils
Among those most popular secrets about massage therapy, as well as the oils it uses, is the tissues in our bodies, particularly the ones that ache when you’ve got a sore back, benefit just as much from the vital oils as they do in the massage itself. Naturally, it always feels nicer to use the massage oils since they’re intended – with somebody else’s warm hands doing the rubbing – but applying a little bit of massage oil to your aching muscles may also help.
Most of the time, professional massage oil blends utilize many different essential oils in the combination. If you’re ready to smell 1 scent above any other (like increased ), you can assume that the majority of the essential oil blend is that odor. There’s never any guarantee if you don’t read the ingredients.
Common essential oils used in massage therapy and their advantages
Rosemary
Essential oil of rosemary acts as a physical and a mental stimulant, which makes it ideal for use in massage therapy. It helps treat an assortment of muscular ailments, working out aches and pains from the push and strain of everyday life in addition to the debilitating symptoms of arthritis and rheumatism. As an aromatherapy massage oil, it’s also thought to assist depression, fatigue, memory loss and migraines. For skin, rosemary oil acts as an astringent that helps clear up acne and treats cellulite.
Lavender
Not only is lavender a steadfast favorite due to its lovely scent, it’s also quite successful as a massage body oil because of its curative properties. Lavender oil really stimulates wounds, helping them to heal faster and prevent scarring. While you’re relaxing in the soft scent of lavender, your head is also being treated to the oil’s antidepressant qualities.
Eucalyptus
The essential oil of chamomile is an extraordinary thing. In the summertime, it will help cool the body, while it protects the body from chill and windburn through the winter. As a massage oil component, it is prized because it helps reduce the redness of muscle strain, functions as a skin antiseptic and is even deodorizing. You’ll be far less attractive to mosquitoes when you have lavender oil because it is a natural insect repellent.
Peppermint
Peppermint’s health-promoting qualities have made it popular among an assortment of cultures such as the ancient Egyptians, Chinese and American Indians. Peppermint oil helps circulation and acts as an anti-inflammatory, in addition to an antiseptic that alleviates skin problems like acne and psoriasis.
Roman Chamomile
There are various kinds of chamomile, but it’s roman chamomile that usually finds its way to massage therapy because it’s such a calming ingredient. Chamomile treats nervous ailments and insomnia, and it is a potent antiseptic and disinfectant. Looking at the skin , this oil helps in the healing of sunburns, psoriasis, eczema and relieves sprains and strains.
Remember you will generally find a mix of essential oils which make up the mix used for your massage therapy. If unsure, just ask a respectable massage therapist that will answer any questions you may have concerning the components and their properties.
