Aromatherapy is the use of pure, essential plant oils to promote health and well-being. Essential oils can be used for inhalation, compresses, bathing and massage. Aromatherapy works at a physical and emotional level. In massage, oils are taken through the skin to reach the blood stream to act on your muscles and other body systems. At the same time, the smell of the oils has an effect on the part of the brain called the limbic system. The limbic system controls emotions and influences the nervous system and hormones.
When you inhale essential oil molecules, messages are transmitted to the limbic system and affect heart rate, stress level, blood pressure, breathing, memory, digestion, and the immune system.
Each essential oil has different healing properties. For example, some calm while others energize. Here are the properties of some widely used essential oils:
Eucalyptus and wintergreen oils for relieving congestion.
Jasmine oil for easing depression.
Lavender oil for reducing anxiety and improving sleep.
Lemon, orange, and other citrus oils for improving mood and increasing mental alertness.
Peppermint oil for relieving nausea and aiding digestion.
Rosemary oil for pain relief and muscle relaxation.
Natural Clinics only sources Essential and Carrier Oils through Photobotanica, a highly reputable company based in the UK. Unlike a lot of therapists that use pre blended oils, Natural clinics believe that it is vital that the essential and carrier oils being used should be of the highest quality available, to promote their particular therapeutic value.
At the first visit a thorough consultation will cover your full medical history, general health and the stresses and strains of your life. From this we will then blend, using only specific, top quality pure essential oils, tailored to you requirements. The choice of oils will change from visit to visit as your well-being changes.
The massage technique used with the oils forms a major part of the treatment. You will be given the remainder of the blend to take home (free of charge). You will be given advice on how to use it correctly. This first visit will take up to 1 1/2 hours, subsequent treatments are approximately 1hr.
Aromatherapy aims to balance your body systems and feelings. Within Natural Clinics we have found that aromatherapy has been successfully used to help many different types of conditions including stress-related problems, muscular, circulatory, respiratory, and digestive and skin conditions. It benefits all age groups. Aromatherapy massage is not recommended for certain people:
Those with infectious skin disease, rash, or open wounds
Immediately after surgery
Immediately after chemotherapy or radiation, unless recommended by your doctor
Those prone to blood clots. There is a risk of blood clots being dislodged. If you have heart disease, check with your doctor before having a massage