Something as simple – and luxurious – as a massage seems to do it all. Massage therapy remains one of the best ways to maintain your muscle tone and to release muscle tension, increase blood and lymph circulation, remove toxins like lactic acid and other cellular waste and it generally induces relaxation and emotional well-being.
If massage sounds like a pampered form of healing, that’s because it is. The benefits of massage can actually strengthen your resistance to common illnesses, and the oils used in massage therapy only enhance the benefits. Ever wonder what, exactly, is in the silky concoction that revives your senses and relaxes your body? Common oils used in massage therapy are no mystery.
Common Massage Therapy Carrier Oils
In any massage oil are two basic types of oil: a carrier oil and an essential oil. The carrier oil is what makes up most of the massage blend and doesn’t have a scent of its own. Its main purpose is to deliver the essential oil in a diluted way, so that the concentrated essential oil doesn’t cause skin irritation. Many carrier oils have their own therapeutic qualities, as well.
Most carrier oils are created from vegetables, nuts or seeds. Some are actually created from herbs. Here’s a quick breakdown of the five most common carrier oils and what they offer to massage therapy.
Sweet Almond Oil – this carrier oil is bursting with protein, helping to relieve dryness and skin irritation.
Apricot Kernel – a very light carrier oil, this one is a good all-around healer of skin problems.
Avocado Oil – rich in vitamins A, B and C, the benefits of this oil are actually absorbed through the skin into your body.
Grapeseed Oil – another light carrier oil, grapeseed oil is used quite commonly because it is friendly with all skin types.
Wheat Germ Oil – often used in anti-aging products, this oil acts as a preservative due to its high vitamin E content.
As a safety precaution, keep in mind that it is never safe to apply essential oil directly to the skin. Carrier oils, such as these, are vital in keeping your massage healthy and irritation free.
Common Massage Therapy Essential Oils
One of the little-known secrets about massage therapy (and the oils it uses) is that the tissues in your body, especially those that ache when you have a sore back, benefit just as much from the essential oils as they do from the massage itself. Of course, it always feels nicer to apply the massage oils as they’re intended – with someone else’s warm hands doing the rubbing – but applying a small amount of massage oil to your own aching muscles can also help.
Most of the time, professional massage oil blends use a variety of essential oils in the mix. If you’re able to sense one scent above any other (rose, for instance), you can assume that most of the essential oil blend is that scent – but there’s never any guarantees unless you read the ingredients. Here are some of the most common essential oils used in massage therapy, and the ways that they do great things for your body.
Rosemary
Essential oil of rosemary acts as a physical and a mental stimulant, making it perfect for use in massage therapy. It helps treat a variety of muscular conditions, working away aches and pains from the push and pull of daily life as well as the more painful symptoms of arthritis and rheumatism. As an aromatherapy oil, it is also said to aid depression, fatigue, memory loss and migraines. For the skin, rosemary oil acts as an astringent that helps clear up acne and treats cellulite.
Lavender
Not only is lavender a steadfast favorite because of its lovely scent, it is also very effective in massage therapy for its healing properties. Lavender oil actually stimulates wounds, helping them to heal more quickly and prevent scarring. While you’re lying there relaxing in the soft scent of lavender, your mind is also being treated to the oil’s antidepressant qualities.
Eucalyptus
The essential oil of eucalyptus is an extraordinary thing; in the summer, it helps cool the body while it protects it from chill and windburn during the winter. As a massage oil ingredient, it’s prized because it helps reduce the inflammation of muscle strain, it acts as a skin antiseptic and it is even deodorizing. On a side note, you’ll be far less attractive to mosquitoes when you have eucalyptus oil on – it’s a natural insect repellent.
Peppermint
Peppermint’s health-promoting qualities have made it popular amongst a variety of cultures including the ancient Egyptians, the Chinese and the American Indians. On the skin, peppermint oil aids circulation and acts as an anti-inflammatory, as well as an antiseptic that eases skin problems like acne and eczema.
Roman Chamomile
There are a variety of types of chamomile, but it is roman chamomile that usually finds its way into massage therapy because it is such a calming ingredient. Chamomile treats nervous conditions and insomnia, and it’s a powerful antiseptic and disinfectant. Looking at the skin alone, this oil aids in the healing of sunburns, psoriasis, eczema and relieves sprains and strains. Make no doubt about it, though, it’s the calming properties that make chamomile such a desirable oil in massage therapy blends.
Remember that you’ll generally find a combination of essential oils making up the blend used for your massage therapy. If in doubt, just ask – a reputable massage therapist should be able to readily answer any questions you might have about the ingredients and their properties.
