Essential Oils and Massage

Massage has been proven to be an effective tool for better health and well-being. It helps with relaxation, ridding the body of toxins, and healing. When coupled with the use of essential oils, massage can have many added benefits.

Essential oils are commonly used for massage because they have aromatherapy benefits that help enhance the benefits of the massage. Oils such as eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender and sandalwood are among the most popular. They can be overpowering if used in their pure form so they are usually diluted in carrier oil such as avocado, almond, sunflower, or olive. These essential oil combinations are rich in vitamin E and other skin nourishing nutrients so they improve the health of the skin as well as the rest of the body.

A professional massage is always nice, but may be impractical on a day-to-day basis. Essential oils can be used as part of a self-massage to relax and relieve tension. Below are some ideas of how to use essential oils in massages (from YoungLiving.com).

  • Head massage: Rub essential oils in a circular motion into the base of the skull, the crown of the head, or on the temples.
  • Face massage: Place a few drops of essential oils onto your hands and rub them together. Lightly cup your face in your hands; the warmth of your hands and aroma of the oils will aid in relaxation.
  • Jaw massage: Rub 12 drops of oil into the soft spot just below your ear lobe to release tension.
  • Torso massage: For a quick energy boost rub oils into the area above the kidneys.
  • Foot massage: There are many pressure points in the feet that correspond to other body systems. Rubbing the soles of the feet with essential oils is a great way to release tension.

Keeping these essential oils on hand and practicing using them on yourself can help you to improve your health through holistic methods every day.

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