Massage Therapy Equipment: Aromatherapy

Massage Therapy Equipment, Adjunct therapies: Aromatherapy and more!

Aromatherapy is part of the extensive lineup of massage therapy equipment. I believe, however, that this art must be done skillfully in a massage setting. Essential oils are very powerful, whether they are used on the body or in the air. I am a firm believer in first testing an oil in your massage therapy equipment to see what the reaction is before proceeding. I ASK PERMISSION FIRST. This is important. Don't you agree?

Also, before embarking on on a regular aromatherapy program, I suggest doing more research on oils, and again, testing them on yourself in small amounts to make sure you are not allergic or hypersensitive. Consulting with your physician is always a good idea. A great introduction text is "Complete Aromatherapy Handbook" by Susanne Fischer-Rizzi. ISBN: 0-8069-8222-5 Sterling Press, 16.95.

I have been to a lot of spaces that seem to use a profusion of every type of scent in their massage therapy equipment, and this can be overwhelming to the client. I try to keep this as simple as possible. I will be expanding on this page in months to come, however,because there is so much to explore! My favorite oil blends are quite basic, safe, and get good results. I think a lot of the commercial blends try to do too much, and the "notes" of the oils end up cancelling each other out. In my opinion, it is better to have two or three ingredients in your massage therapy equipment, so that each can shine through!

Rosemary: Very spicy scent, very "Yang", ancient muscle pain remedy used by the Greeks, Romans. Napoleon swore by it before battle, but he didn't carry a lot of Massage Therapy equipment around. Many folk songs have been written about it. One of my favorites is by Bob Dylan, who was too busy playing to think about any Massage Therapy equipment. But if you guess this song, I'll give you an extra half hour free, even after the first session! It is very inexpensive, great when used in the bath or shower. It will wake you right up, like smelling salts. Do not use before bedtime, however, hence the "yang" energy. Great for concentration. Plato used it while writing his memoirs. Absolutely amazing for muscle aches, arthritis, colds, etc. Not good for pregnant women, though. Be careful not to get it in your eyes.

Peppermint: A great, inexpensive oil to balance with Rosemary! I use a 2 to 10 ratio with Rosemary in my massge therapy equipment for bodywork, and the result is fabulous! Use sparingly, however,this is energetically, a very cold, Yin type of oil. Great for digestion, if taken in small amounts internally. Other great alternatives: Wintergreen, or Spearmint. Not as strong, slightly different essence. Be careful not to get it in your eyes.

Chamomile: (Roman) : Must be high grade. 5% absolute is OK, as the pure oil is very expensive. I can show you how to use this at home in the bath or diffuser, or with a diffuser, an essential element of your massage therapy equipment. Absolutely fabulous for the skin! Astringent properties, Mixes well with Passionflower in the bath to create a sleepy effect, relieves anxiety, cramps, muscle aches, etc.

German Chamomile: has a much more intense fragrance, the oil is a bluish color. It's not as popular in stores because of this characteristic. It does have some of the same properties as Roman Chamomile, however. Note: If you buy this oil, or herb in bulk, make sure the source is a good one, I've heard that some sources in Europe use Agent Orange (!) to harvest the flowers, so buy only from high quality organic dealers, based in the USA.

"Wild Chamomile" is entirely different. While this is ok, it's a little more earthy in its essence, less gentle. In general, Just make sure the oil you are sampling is golden yellow in color, anything dark will be too strong, you'll know this instantly. A must in any Therapists' massage Therapy equipment diffuser supply.

Arnica: a natural, Aspirin-like substance. The Biotone lotion I use and swear by contains it. A very mild naturopathic pain releiver. Does not really have much of a scent.

Sage: Works great for clearing old energy, balances/mixes well with Rosemary and Peppermint. The American Indians burned "smudge sticks" to purge out negative energy. They never heard of massage therapy equipment, though! Well, maybe hot stone, but that's a whole different topic! Try this instead of incense in your home to get rid of bad/toxic vibes. It works great! Some of the better sticks blend in some Pine or Cedar, which is awesome.

Clary Sage: An interesting oil with a light, crisp effect. Great for depression. The flower grows wild in southern France. I do not use it in massage, but it's good in the air, mixes well with Chamomile. Great in the winter to stave off the "winter blues". Mixes very well with the Citric oils like lemongrass, Neroli, Orange, Lemon Balm etc. Yang Oil in its essence, but more toward the gentle side.

Other interesting oils: Of the oils below, Rose is really the only one I'll use in a massage oil blend. The others, however, work great in a room diffuser.

Geranium: great for lifting mood. I'm at loss for words trying to describe this scent. Maybe I'll say it's tangy. Just go to a flower shop and see for yourself, then imagine that scent compounded many times.

Bergamot: Mixes well with Geranium. The two mixed properly in a diffuser create an interesting "grounding" effect, that hovers around the baseboards and corners of the room, if done correctly, this effect is very subtle. Another hard one to describe.

Jasmine: very powerful, rich, sweet, sensual "purple" scent, but incredibly expensive! Just buy the 5% absolute. This oil is a bit more sensual in nature. Used extensively in perfumes. Best toned down anyway, (with jojoba oil, the all-purpose base-carrier oil). The pure stuff is just too much on the senses anyway at over 100.00 an ounce! It takes a truckload of jasmine blossoms to make just one ounce of this oil, over which wars have been fought! Mixes well with:

Rose: Also, very expensive in pure form, but not too bad in the 5% absolute, which is, again, plenty powerful anyway. Great for lifting depression. Sometimes I may add a drop or two to the massage oil, depending on the clients' mood. Great in wintertime. Great for the skin/hair also, Astringent. Yin energy all the way. Rose oil is a wonderful ayurvedic facial regime. For general room scenting, it mixes well with Patchouli,if you go EASY on the Patchouli, which creates a musky, earthy effect. (patchouli is an old folk remedy for moth-proofing. It smells better too!) Jasmine added to this also works well, just be careful in the proportions, better to have more Rose, with undertones of Jasmine and Patchouli, with Jasmine being dominant. Just trust your nose, that's all. A staple in the Massage Therapy equipment toolbox.

Ylang-Ylang: When buying this oil, again, let your nose be the judge! I've seen bad samples that smelled like wet cardboard, but good ones that smelled like Heaven. Use this very sparingly, please! Mixes well with Rose and Jasmine. (These are Yin Oils)

"Keep it simple" Oil Blend recipes: 2 drops Peppermint (or spearmint, wintergreen,) to 10 drops Rosemary. Blend with 8 oz Jojoba oil for massage oil. You can also leave out the Peppermint, or substitute 4 drops Sage.

2 drops Passionflower ("flower essence tincture" works ok, or make a tea form the herb form. this oil can be hard to find) and 10 drops Chamomile. Soothing, sleepy blend.

5 drops Geranium, 2 drops Bergamot. This blend is really better for room diffusion, for that "grounding" effect previuosly mentioned.

5 drops 5% Rose absolute, 1 drop 5% Jasmine, 1 drop Ylang Ylang. If you omit any of these, omit the Ylang Ylang. Mix with 8 oz Jojoba oil for massage oil. Can also be added to bath, or mixed with Coconut oil.

Try Tossing a few Tablespoons Organic Coconut Oil into the bath, with a whole can of Sea salt or even Morten's table salt. Add 2-3 cups Epsom salt if you are feeling achy. If it's morning, add the Rosemary blend. For evening, try the Chamomile Blend. Don't do the Rosemary in the evening, as it's activating. Kick this blend up one more notch with just ONE teaspoon Dead Sea Salt. Powerful. Use sparingly, but a great addition to your Massage therapy equipment toolbox. You can also use 5 Chamomile Tea bags, steeped well in a pot beforehand, then add the Passionflower. The salt has a very purging ionic electrical effect, great for getting rid of other people's negativity. You can balance your moods with the above blends. The salt, combined with the Coconut oil, is amazing, and is great for your skin, esp. with the Chamomile combo.

These are the main oils I use in my Massage Therapy equipment selection. Again, the last four I mentioned are more geared towards diffusion in the room itself. Aromatherapy is a lost art. It's really nothing new, It's been around thousands of years, but it is being rediscovered!

For more self-care help, visit this wonderfully gifted, fun website, a true inspiration to me, and she keeps it simple, and natural. We are on the same path to healing here!

Biljana, (Biki, for short) lives down in GA. She also has more information on massage therapy, self care, home remedies, and many other modalities that you can do right at home to nurture and heal yourself without wearing out your wallet! It's just great. I love this site! She'll happily chat with you to answer questions, and she has years of practical experience!

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NURTURE YOURSELF AT HOME WITH EASY HOME SKIN CARE BY: Biljana!