Combat Stress with the Proven Benefits of Aromatherapy Massage
In today’s fast-paced, nonstop world, high personal stress levels have become a common problem that many of us face daily. It might be work pressure, challenges in your personal life, or simply overwhelming everyday demands of modern living. Too much stress can take a great toll on our mental and physical wellbeing. Fortunately, we offer you many ways to combat stress here. One of the most effective methods available offers proven benefits is aromatherapy massage. Aromatherapy massage benefits not only include stress relief and relaxation but also provide a range of additional advantages that can enhance your overall wellness. Not only that but, the uplift to your overall wellbeing can be extended with those relaxing aromas you take home with you. Read on to find out more.
What is Aromatherapy Massage?
Aromatherapy massage is a wonderful combination of the ancient practice of using natural plant extracts, known as essential oils, along with the healing touch of massage. The art of bringing together the many proven benefits of massage with these potent aromatic oils can increase therapeutic benefits and has been refined for you over centuries. This duel policy of 2 holistic treatments in 1 session can enhance the body’s natural healing processes and lengthen the time you feel the many benefits for afterwards.
The specific essential oils used in your aromatherapy massage treatment here are selected for their specific beneficial properties. Some of these aromatics can help you to relax more deeply and more easily, while others can help to energise you, relieve muscle tension or sooth away pains. These oils are very potent, so they are diluted with a neutral carrier oil (grapeseed oil) and then gently applied to the skin during gentle soothing effleurage massage strokes.
The Science Behind the Scent: How Aromatherapy Works
The principles that aromatherapy massage are based on is both fascinating and deeply rooted in the science of our sense of smell. It all starts when the deeply scented molecules of the essential oils used during your treatment are inhaled. These molecules travel into your nose and are detected by the olfactory receptors (specific nerves) in your nasal passages. This complex interaction sends nerve signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain. Here these electrochemical nerve impulses are further processed by our emotional (limbic) nervous system.
This means smells can simulate emotions, memories, or relaxation levels automatically. This direct pathway from the nose to the brain’s emotional hub highlights the intense impact that scent can have on our psychological state and thus your wellbeing. As an example, when you pass by a restaurant and your mouth starts to water, this is an unconscious response based around your memory of that aroma. So now, imagine you are getting a soothing, relaxing massage and you smell the scent of lavender essential oils. Moss M Et al (2009) tells us not only is there good evidence that lavender is a good relaxant but, the more often you are in that relaxed state emotionally, the easier an unconscious response to relax whenever you smell lavender can happen in the future. In neurology this is called neuroplasticity. It is like your mind is a grass lawn and the more often you walk along a given route the easier that route is to find next time.
So, the strategic use of the correct types and or combination of essential oils, when combined with the skilled touch of your massage therapist here, leverages the body’s natural unconscious response to relax. This then is offering you a truly insightful and holistic approach to relaxation, stress relief and emotional balance without you having to lift a finger. Call or text 07979 814388 to book your appointment today!
Tailored Essential Oils for Stress Relief
A major benefit of aromatherapy massage lies in its capacity for personalisation, particularly when its used to address stress-related concerns. The selection of specific essential oils proven to help with stress, according to Hwang J Associate Professor (2009), is a critical component. Each oil has it own scent and special properties that can target various aspects of stress problems. Lavender, for example, is renowned for its sedative qualities, making it a prime choice for inducing relaxation and relieving psychological stress responses.
Bergamot, on the other hand, offers a slightly different approach to stress relief. Gibson J (2017) tells us that its uplifting scent has a positive effect on wellbeing, providing a boost to positive feelings. This diversity of the proven effects essential oils allows us to offer you a customised treatment for you as an individual. This can be changed as your needs change. When you are feeling low you can get an uplift and when you are feeling stressed relaxation is the key. By offering you a careful selection of aromatics for your personalised massage treatment, your skilled therapist here will create you a bespoke blend of therapies that can help lighten your stress and boost your emotional wellbeing.
This uniquely tailored approach during your aromatherapy massage ensures each treatment is exclusively matched to your individual needs. This offers you a wonderful holistic remedy to your stress and low moods bringing peace and harmony to your mind and body. Call or text 07979 814388 today to book your appointment.
References:
Wikipedia (no year) Limbic system {online} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limbic_system last accessed 14/07/2024
Wikipedia (no year) Olfactory bulb {online} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olfactory_bulb last accessed 13/07/2024
Moss M et al (2009) AROMAS OF ROSEMARY AND LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OILS DIFFERENTIALLY AFFECT COGNITION AND MOOD IN HEALTHY ADULTS {online} https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00207450390161903 last accessed 16/07/2024
Hwang J Associate Professor (2009) The Effects of the Inhalation Method Using Essential Oils on Blood Pressure and Stress Responses of Clients with Essential Hypertension https://synapse.koreamed.org/articles/1063448
Gibson J (2017) Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) Essential Oil Inhalation Improves Positive Feelings in the Waiting Room of a Mental Health Treatment Center: A Pilot Study {online} https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ptr.5806 last accessed 10/07.2024