Summer Issue 2013July 2013

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Aromatherapy and Massage

Karrie Osborn

What essential oil is your favorite?

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In this Issue

Aromatherapy and MassageLavenderThe Power of Tea Tree Oil

Aromatherapy, a process utilizing thepurest essence of a plant, is a4,000-year-old technique that hasenhanced the health of everyone frommodern-day pop divas to the scholars ofancient Greece. The art of massage hasits own deeply rich roots, with even Platoand Socrates touting the value ofhands-on bodywork for good health.

Separately, these two therapeutictraditions hold individual prowess in therealm of personal health and well-being.Together, however, they become aformidable health alliance that canaddress not only a person's physicalhealth, but the health of the mind andspirit as well.

A Natural ComplementOur senses were designed to work bestin conjunction with one another. Oursense of taste would not be as acutewithout our nose lending its support tothe process. Our auditory senses mightseem hollow if we weren't gifted withsight as well. Indeed, there exists a quietpartnership between all our five sensesthat's built on synergy.

Let's see how it works. Essential oils areextracted from herbs, flowers, andplants with the intent to improve aperson's health and well-being.Addressing everything from arthritis towhooping cough, effects of theapproximate 3,000 oils found globallycan range from sedative to stimulatingand antibacterial to antispasmodic. Thebenefits derived from aromatherapyduring a massage come in part from thecontact the essential oil has on our skin,but even more so how it affects us whenit's inhaled and absorbed through thesoft-tissue linings of our nose andmouth.

The scientific explanation suggests thatthe essential oil's molecules, when

inhaled, lock onto receptor cells at theback of the nose, sending anelectrochemical message to the brain'slimbic system. This message appears totrigger memory and emotionalresponses, causing messages to be sent toother parts of the brain and body. "Inthis way," says aromatherapist Danila

Aromatherapy has roots in ancient cultures.

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Mansfield, "the production of euphoric,relaxing, sedative, or stimulatingneurochemicals is stimulated."

Judith Fitzsimmons and PaulaBousquet, authors of AromatherapyThrough the Seasons, say the use ofessential oils creates a multifacetedeffect: "The real beauty of aromatherapyis that it works on a cellular and physicallevel and also in the emotional,intellectual, spiritual, and aesthetic areasof your life."

It's really quite amazing when you thinkabout it. Imagine an area the size of asmall apricot pit, a 1-inch square area,filled with millions of sensory neuronsthat can capture, process, and store10,000 odors. This is our olfactorysystem at work, and part of its job is tocreate a personal history for us based onscent, says clinical aromatherapistAva-Marie Lind-Shiveley. "None of ourother senses so well establishes a memorydatabase." She says our response to scentis both physiological and psychosomatic."Within an instant of smelling anaroma, we can be sent back to the firstmoment we were introduced to it."

By enabling us to recognize, revisit,and/or reclaim these various emotionsand memories, aromatherapy allowsanother avenue of access for healingduring a bodywork session. It creates apath through which the somaticexperience can find its full strength.

When the powerful effects ofaromatherapy are combined withmassage, it can take us to another level,say aromatherapy educators Shirley andLen Price. "When, during a massage,the touch of the therapist is combinedwith the mental and physical effects ofthe essential oils, the client is helped toachieve a temporary separation fromworldly worries, somewhat akin to ameditative state." Helping clients reachthis level of relaxation is a primary goalof massage therapists andaromatherapists alike, so it makes sensethat a partnership could beautifullyexist.

A Scent Journey"Scent is not simplistic," Lind-Shiveleysays. "It is voluminous." She illustratesthis point with a quote from HelenKeller: "Smell is a potent wizard thattransports us across thousands of miles

and all the years we have lived. Theodors of fruits waft me to my Southernhome, to my childhood frolics in thepeach orchard. Other odors,instantaneous and fleeting, cause myheart to dilate joyously or contract withremembered grief."

If you decide to do some personalexploration into the world of scenttherapy, proceed with due caution inboth the quality of the oils you buy andhow you dose and administer them.There is a dichotic nature inherent inaromatherapy. It is gentle, yet powerful;subtle, yet intense. There are essentialoils strong enough to cause miscarriage,but there also are many oils safe enoughto use on infants. The key is knowinghow to utilize nature's gifts to providethe best, most effective therapeuticcollaboration possible. Talk with yourmassage therapist about incorporatingthe science of aromatherapy into your

sessions or ask about a referral to anaromatherapist in your area.

Karrie Osborn is contributing editor to Body Sense.

BalancingBay Laurel, Cedarwood, GeraniumClarifyingJuniper, Lemon, PeppermintComfortingBergamot, Frankincense, RoseEnergizingEucalyptus, Grapefruit, RosemaryFocusingAngelica, Sweet Basil, LimeSedatingChamomile, Clary Sage,PatchouliUpliftingLavender, Orange/Mandarin, Pine, TeaTree

Lavender is loaded with wellness properties.

LavenderAn Essential Oil for Fundamental HealthLaurie Chance Smith

The Power of Tea Tree Oil

Lavender essential oil is a one-stopmedicine chest, helping to reduceanxiety, fatigue, and stress and balancehormones, increase the immuneresponse, lower blood pressure, andrelieve pain. To utilize lavender'shealing benefits at home, mix five to 10drops of lavender essential oil in oneounce of jojoba oil or unscented lotion.(Essential oils shouldn't be applieddirectly to the skin; it's best to partnerthem with a carrier oil, liquid, orlotion.)

EarachesFor earaches, dab one drop of lavendermassage oil behind the ear and rubgently. Alternatively, place one drop oflavender oil on a cotton ball andcarefully place inside the outer ear.

HeadachesInhaling lavender is also effective forheadache relief. Add a few drops to abowl of warm water and breathe. Gentlyrub lavender massage lotion on thetemples, forehead, and base of the neck.

ColdsLavender oil can also help break upcoughs and clear sinuses.Colorado-based holistic aromatherapistNicola McGill suggests the regularhome-use of antiseptic essential oilssuch as lavender to help avoid colds andother infectious diseases. Add a fewdrops to a vaporizer to help clear coldsand infuse the home with lavender'sscent.

StressAt night, six to eight drops of lavenderadded to a warm bath helps melt awaystress and relieve fatigue. Blend afootbath by adding three drops oflavender to a bowl of warm water, sinkyour feet in, and relax. For helpinducing sleep, add two or three dropsof lavender essential oil to the undersidecorner of your pillow.

Tranquil AromaA human takes 23,040 breaths a day,and each inhale floods the system withscent. Rely on lavender's tranquil aroma

to clear the way toward peaceful days.

Is your medicine cabinet full ofointments, oils, and creams that eachtreats one specific ailment? Maybe youcan cut down on some of the clutter byadding nature's own wonder drug, teatree oil, instead.

What is Tea Tree OilProduced in Australia from the tree M.alternifolia, tea tree oil acts as anantiseptic, fungicide, insect deterrent,and more. It has been used in Australiaby aborigines for generations and, sincethe country's colonization, has spread tothe rest of the world.

Tea tree oil, which can be found as anessential oil as well as in creams,ointments, shampoo, and eventoothpaste, can be used to treat astaggering variety of conditions,including: acne, arthritis, athlete's foot,

burns, cuts, dandruff, eczema,gingivitis, infection, insect bites andstings, lice, muscle sprains, psoriasis,and rashes. And that's just a partial list!

Potential BenefitsThe exact cause of tea tree oil'seffectiveness is difficult to ascertain, andresearchers are still looking into justhow much the natural remedy can do forus. Newer studies have looked at itsability to stop the spread ofsometimes-deadly methicillin-resistantstaphylococcus aureus in hospitals.

Use SafelyWhile there are plenty of benefits tousing tea tree oil, its strength can also beproblematic, even dangerous. The MayoClinic advises that it's not safe to ingestor take tea tree oil internally, and it isconsidered particularly harmful if

ingested by pets.

Also, like most natural remedies, the USFood and Drug Administration does notregulate tea tree oil as it does othermedicines, leaving no standard qualityof tea tree oil products. And, whilemany people enthusiastically support teatree oil, it is no substitute forprofessional medical care.

Yet, many people agree that, if nothingelse, tea tree oil should be a part of yourfirst aid kid in case of bites, burns, orscrapes. But who knows? You might findyourself using it for much more thanthat.

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Healing Touch Massage Therapy, LLC

8100 Ralston Rd, G-10Arvada, CO 80002