Here I provide links to some basic information about some of the essential
oils commonly used in aromatherapy, as well as links to various aromatherapy
sites, and some aromatherapy books that I've
found helpful.
I've often found that including aromatherapy in a massage session can
bring a special depth and focus to the process. The essential oils trigger
and reinforce specific healing energies, and the process of finding the
right oils for each client can be part of the dialog that makes each massage
experience unique.
The essential oils used in aromatherapy are derived by extraction from
aromatic plants such as lavendar, eucalyptus, or jasmine. These aromatic
elements represent the essential life quality of the plant, and function
by serving as a catalyst to activate specific healing forces in the individual.
Olfactory messages to the brain directly impact emotion, triggering biochemical
processes without interference from higher brain functions.
By blending the aromatic oils with the creme or oils used in massage,
the volatile vapors of the oil are diffused during the massage, and these
essences are absorbed into the body. Because smell memory is so powerful,
I usally leave my aromatherapy clients with the remaining blend, so that
the aroma can also trigger a re-activaiton of the therapeutic massage
experience long afterwards.
Essential Oils
These are some of the oils I use frequently in my practice; select one
and you'll be transferred to a descriptive page describing the qualities,
characteristics, and uses of each essential oil.
Disclaimer: The information included on this site was researched from
many sources (including class notes from Twin
Lakes College of the Healing Arts ) and is provided for information
purposes only. Use of aromatherapy as part of a total wellness regimen
is not a substitute for treatment of specific medical conditions. As always,
consult your doctor or health practicioner for any medical complaint.
Resources:
There is a wealth of information available on aromatherapy, here are
some sites on the web and some of the books I use if you want to explore
further.
Sites about aromatherapy
Some of these sites are informational, other are vendor sites where you
can order aromtherapy products.
Books
These are some of the books on aromatherapy that my
teacher Amber White from Twin
Lakes College of the Healing Arts recommended to me; I think
you'll like them too. You may click through to amazon.com to order.
