Aromatherapy Massage makes scents for you!

Aromatherapy Massage is different to other types of massage, as it uses essential plant oils that have reputed health benefits.  The health benefits vary depending on the essential oil you select as the following examples will show. Aromatherapy essences are mixed with a base oil and soothingly rubbed into your skin during an Aromatherapy Massage. Your skin absorbs the nutrients of the essential oil into your blood stream. This works internal benefits as well as the scent itself, which can relax you or rejuvenate your mind depending on the oil’s qualities.

 

 

Those suffering a specific ailment may choose to have an Aromatherapy Massage. It is different from a straight-forward massage, such as a Swedish massage, due to the addition of healing qualities in the essential oils; qualities sourced from the plants they are extracted from.

 

 

Here are some common essential oils along with associated ailments:

 

 

Chamomile – for stress and soothing skin problems – used for stress relief, skin irritations such as sun burn, and credited with reducing inflammation and urinary tract problems.

 

 

Eucalyptus – congestion and respiratory problems – many people use this oil for steam baths to clear the nasal passages. Using this oil in a massage has the same effect but you also get the benefit of your skin absorbing the oil. It helps clear the lungs from congestion; very useful for a chesty cough.

 

 

Lavender – stress and anxiety – Lavender has been used for hundreds of years as a natural therapy to help you sleep at night, relieve stress and reduce anxiety. The scent is very calming and your skin feels soothed when your masseur applies this Aromatherapy oil.

 

 

Ylang-Ylang – headaches and low sex drive – The scent and feeling of Ylang Ylang is very stimulating and after a massage you may feel more sensual and stimulated. The stimulation of this oil can release painful headaches; essential for improving your wellbeing.

 

 

This above is only a few of the most popular aromatherapy oils you can choose as a complementary treatment with a massage. Be aware though, some aromatherapy oils are not recommended for some medical conditions or for those who are pregnant.  It is always wise to tell your therapist if you are pregnant or have a medical condition, in order to ensure you get the full wellness benefits from an aromatherapy massage and prevent any contra-indications.

 

 

Categories: aromatherapy, aromatherapy massage, aromatherapy oils, complementary, essential oil, Essential Oils, Health Benefits, massage, nbsp, nbsp nbsp, ylang ylang

Skin-Savers That Won’t Leave a Dent in Your Pocket

We all know the importance of keeping our skin smooth by exfoliating regularly, but it can be a costly routine. So why not use the ingredients found in your kitchen cupboard to make a skin-saving scrub that takes next to no time and won’t cost you a penny! Whether you’re baring skin in the summer or trying to fight drier skin in the winter months, regular exfoliation will ensure that your skin always looks its best. It will help moisturiser sink in more easily, helping you to maintain hydrated and soft skin all year round. And, best of all, they’re chemical free and won’t irritate your skin. Here are five recipes for sugar-based scrubs that will rid your skin of that dry, flaky texture to reveal silky smooth skin beneath.

Simple sugar scrub

The basic formula consists of half a cup of regular granulated sugar and enough olive oil to dampen the mixture. If you want you can add a few drops of an essential oil to scent the mixture, but the basics will remain the same. This is an inexpensive scrub that will soften your skin after just one use, using ingredients you can find at home. It is also easy to make up fresh batch whenever you need it, so the ingredients can work their magic on your skin with only a moments notice.

Homemade sugar scrub

Combine half measures of white cane sugar with half of vegetable glycerine to moisten the sugar. Avocado oil will work just as well if you don’t have vegetable glycerine. Add to this a small amount of aloe vera gel or vitamin C crystals. You can also add a couple of drops of essential oil, if you’d like. Combine these ingredients for a great and easy scrub that really offers results.

Banana body scrub

Bananas are great for your skin so make the most of those lingering in your fruit bowl with a nutritious scrub. Mix one ripe and mashed banana with three tablespoons of sugar and a quarter teaspoon of vanilla extract. Smooth onto your skin and then rinse off to reveal a smoother and brighter skin texture.

Brown sugar scrub

Whisk one cup of brown sugar with one cup of granulated sugar, ¾ cups of almond or hazelnut oil, two teaspoons of powdered cinnamon, two teaspoons of ground ginger and two teaspoons of ground nutmeg. Add in 40 drops of cadomom oil, mix thoroughly and use straight away. This is a great scented mixture and easy to mix up in a flash. You can vary this by adding in a different essential oil if you’d prefer, but the cardamom is great for adding a heady scent that complements the other ingredients perfectly.

Gentle scrub

If you have sensitive skin, this is the one for you. Mix a quarter cup of sugar with one chopped fresh tomato and two tablespoons of plain yoghurt or sour cream. The yoghurt has a cooling effect on the skin, whilst also being mildly acidic so it’s great for creating a smooth texture. This is gentle enough that you can use it on your face, as well as on your limbs. The ingredients here are readily available so you can make this easily throughout the year – it’s especially refreshing in the summer months when you’ll really want to show off the results of your efforts. A scrub is great if you’re hoping to get a tan, as it provides a smooth and even surface, so remember this recipe when the warmer months arrive.

Categories: anti-ageing, brown sugar, essential oil, granulated sugar, ingredients, scrub, scrubs, skin, skincare, Sugar, sugar scrub, vegetable glycerine

How Do I Make Aromatherapy Bath Salts?

Aromatherapy bath salts rely on the therapeutic effect of essential oils combined with salt and water to enhance a person’s bathing experience. The salt added to the water helps in the healing of dry skin by easing up the opening of the pores where the sweat, dirt and toxins are supposed to pass through to get outside the body.

 

Bath salts can also be used to reduce itching and skin irritation that occurs as a result of insect bites and minor rashes. Those suffering from skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema can benefit from it too. Aromatherapy bath salts‘ pleasant scents are derived from the essential oils used in their preparation. One can choose to use only one aromatherapy oil or combine more than one in a blend. This helps to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and recover from fatigue and other conditions. Here is an article to help you make your own aromatherapy bath salt at home.

 

Things you will need

Of course there are certain kitchen tools you will need to prepare the bath salt. Here they are:

 

• A bowl


• The salt to be used


• Cups (preferably of 920 ml)


• Essential oils and a career oil


• A jar with a lid that can be closed tightly


• 1 tablespoon

 

Steps to follow

There are many different salts you can use for the recipe, it can be Sea Salt, Epsom salt, Icelandic brin salt or black see pink salt. You can pick the one you prefer based on the results you expect. Once you make your choice of salt, you can place it in the bowl. You can blend two different types of salt in the bowl if you want.

 

You should now add carrier oil (example coconut oil) to the salt that you poured in the bowl. A tablespoon should be enough. You then need to mix the whole thing for a while.

The next step would be to add the essential oil. It could be just a single oil or a blend of 2 or 3. In the case of essential oils do not exceed 24 drops. Even 15 drops is enough. You should then mix it thoroughly again.

 

Basically you are done. After mixing with the essential oil, the bath salt is almost ready. You just have to pour the mixture into a jar with a lid that can tightly close it. The following day you should mix the whole mixture again.

 

How to use

The aromatherapy bath salt is used by adding half or one cup of the salt mixture to running bath water. Fill the bath tub and allow the salt to dissolve in it. Helping the salt spread around the water with your hand is a good idea. Keep in mind that the coarser the grains of the salt the more time it needs to dissolve completely.

 

About storage

To store your bath salt you can buy fancy glass bottle or cellophane and ziploc bags. Because of the presence of essential oils in the mixture, you should avoid plastic bottles. They can be melted by the oils. Jelly jars are very much recommended for storage purposes.

 

But remember to always label the different mixtures you come up with and keep your bottle away from children’s reach.

 

Other bath salt recipes

 

Different aromatherapy bath salts can be used for different purposes. Here are some suggestions to try at home

 

- Soothing Oatmeal Bath Salt Recipe

This one is to help you relax after a difficult day of hard work

 

Ingredients

’2 cups of epsom salt

1 cup of sea salt

1.5 cups of finely pulverized oatmeal

1/2 ounce of lavender essential oil

 

You can follow the same procedure describe above to do this one except you will need to grind the oatmeal this time before adding it.

 

- Stuffy Nose Bath Salts Recipe

The bath salt is made with blends of essentials oils that are known to help fight cold.

 

Ingredients

2 cups of sea salt

2 cups of baking soda

1/4 ounce of eucalyptus essential oil

1/8 ounce of lavender essential oil

1/16 ounce of tea tree essential oil

1/16 ounce of pine or cedar essential oil

10 drops of peppermint essential oil

 

You don’t have to get all the essential oils mentioned in the ingredient list. The eucalyptus is the most important of them all

 

- Invigorating Foot Soak

For those suffering from athlete’s foot, this is a wonderful treat for. Just keep your feet immersed in a tub filled with water where this bath salt was dissolved. The blend of essential oils used in this mixture are known to have medicinal power and anti-fungal qualities.

 

Ingredients:

2 cups of epsom salt

2 cups of sea salt

1 cup of baking soda

1/4 ounce of lavender essential oil

1/4 ounce of tea tree essential oil

40 drops of peppermint essential oil.

 

As you can see it is not that complicated to make your own aromatherapy bath salt at home. The ingredients might change depending on what you are looking for but the procedure is the same in most cases. Enjoy yourself as you experiment with those different blends.

 

Neil Maycock works in the health and wellness sector and recommends Aromatherapy Gold for essential oil and natural skincare products.

Categories: aromatherapy bath, bath salt, bath salts, epsom salt, essential oil, Essential Oils, how to use, nbsp ingredients, recipies, sea salt, soak, storage