Benefits of Aromatherapy Massage

A massage is the most effective way of introducing essential oils to the body. The skin easily absorbs the essential oils and the oils are taken into the bloodstream providing you with their therapeutic effects. Massage is designed to relieve pain, ease tense muscles, increase circulation, promote tissue regeneration, lessen depression and anxiety, increase joint flexibility, or benefit the body in other physical ways. The oxygenation of massage combined with the detoxifying, stimulating, and healing properties of essential oils is extremely effective. After a massage you will usually experience a feeling of relaxation and mental wellbeing followed by a feeling of renewed energy and vigor.

Massage also helps us to become aware that we are tensing certain muscles unnecessarily. When we feel mentally tense we react by tensing certain muscles. This is one of the ways that mental stress can lead to real physical symptoms. Depression and sadness can affect the muscles surrounding the head, ankles, shoulders, and thighs; stress and anxiety can affect the muscles surrounding the head, forearms, calves, and back. Massage can alleviate those symptoms, especially when combined with essential oils.


I know some of you are probably thinking "but I don't have anyone around that can give me a massage." You can use my Aromas of Eden Massage Oils in a bath as well. Just add a teaspoon of oil to a full tub. You can also give yourself a massage. Here are some tips on self-massage that I found on wikihow:



For neck and shoulders: Gently, but firmly, work your fingers in small circles. Start at the back of your head (don't get lotion or oil in your hair!) and work down towards the shoulders. Continue down the shoulders and arms until you are massaging your hands. When you feel a knot, work it out in small circles with your fingers. Keep your fingers well lubricated and breathe slowly and evenly. After you have worked out all the knots, stretch out your shoulder blades by "hugging yourself." Be careful you do not "pop" your shoulders!


For the lower back: You can wear clothes for this. Roll up a large blanket or towel. This works best with a rolled up yoga mat. Place it on the floor and lay down face up on top of it. Position your lower back over the roll so that your shoulders and butt are touching the floor. With the roll, your body should form a lower-case "t." Extend the arms outwards from the shoulders and breathe into the stretch. If you need to, use your feet to roll your lower back over the roll. To target smaller areas of your back, use a rolling pin instead of a blanket. Come into the child's pose to stretch your back the other way: sit on your knees. Lean forward until your chest rests solidly over your thighs. Stretch your arms forwards or fold them and rest your head on your hands. Place a small, rolled-up hand towel behind your knees to make this position more comfortable.

For the feet: Dig your thumbs in a circular motion into the soles of your feet. Don't forget the bottoms of your toes too! On the other side, start at your ankle and rub your thumbs outwards across the top of your feet and down the toes. Roll your feet to stretch the ankles. Lie flat on your back on the floor and put your feet up a wall (not straight up). Stretch your arms overhead.


If you have any questions or special requests please feel free to contact me (virginia@aromasofeden.com). On a personal note, my 4 month old is teething already and one day when the crying was particularly bad, I made a special baby-strength lavender massage oil. I rubbed a little bit on his jawline and the crying subsided and he fell asleep.