Want a ‘happy hormone’ and immunity boost?
It’s probably a good guess that you don’t need an excuse to get a little bit of massage therapy. After all, not many of us would pass up a chance to chill out and ease away the tensions of the day, week - and life...
But if you assume it’s all about relaxing, think again. It turns out that a massage gives you so much more. And when you throw in the powerful healing aromas of essential oils, the power of aromatherapy just magnifies all the do-good and feel-good benefits.
Yes - an essential oil massage does help you relax and ease away pain. But did you know it also sends a surge of ‘happy hormones’ through your body and can even boost your immune system? In fact, it has so many health benefits that some studies suggest that you should move an aromatherapy massage a notch up from a ‘nice-to-have’ to a ‘must-have’ weekly routine…
Here’s why you should book your next essential oil massage ASAP…
BENEFITS OF MASSAGE THERAPY - WHY ITÂ FEELS SO GOOD
You know how a baby always reaches out to snuggle up to their mom? That’s because, from the time we are born, we all instinctively crave the power of touch. It’s one of the most basic and powerful senses. One touch can connect us more powerfully than words ever can.
It turns out touch can not only improve our emotional well-being but also our physical health - from relieving pain, helping us sleep better and even boosting immunity. So while taking time out for a massage may sometimes seem like a luxury, the benefits are more far-reaching than you can imagine.
That’s because the brain instantaneously reacts to a therapist’s touch. As soon as some pressure is applied to your skin, the brain releases those wonderful feel-good ‘happy’ hormones - serotonin, dopamine and endorphins - which immediately boost your mood giving you a natural euphoric high. With higher endorphin levels, we also feel less pain and fewer negative side effects of stress.
Massage also stimulates the production of oxytocin - the ‘love’ or ‘cuddle’ hormone - which is released when people snuggle up or bond socially. In addition, research has found that a quick 15-minute rubdown can clear your mind and make you more alert - a bit like a runner’s high.
And that’s not all. One of the biggest benefits of a massage is that it reduces your levels of cortisol and other stress hormones. This lowers your heart rate and blood pressure, slows your breathing, and in doing so, relieves all your unwanted stress and those painful knots in your shoulders.
And when it comes to easing aches and pains, there are a bunch of studies which show why massage is the obvious go-to-choice after a vigorous workout or when your back is stiff and sore. Aside from reducing pain, a good rubdown halts the swelling and reduces muscle inflammation so helping your body heal faster. And by increasing blood flow to your muscles and tissues, it delivers a whole lot of much needed nutrients - including oxygen - to make your body stronger and healthier.
It’s no wonder a massage feels so good that you don’t want it to end - ever…
WHAT IS AN AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE?
Meet aromatherapy: the use of 100% pure essential oils that are either inhaled or absorbed through the skin - that also benefit both your mind and body - just like a massage. Clearly a marriage made in heaven…
Used by many therapists, an aromatherapy massage involves applying fragrant essential oils to the skin that are also naturally inhaled during the course of the treatment.
These oils stimulate the limbic system in your brain, and so influence your emotions and feelings. Their impact releases all those amazing feel-good brain chemicals like serotonin. Essential oils are known to not only influence the nervous system and even relieve pain - from headaches through to aching joints - but also help balance hormone production.
For instance, lavender essential oil is well known as the queen of calm (and sleep) by not only reducing the impact of the stress-induced hormone, cortisol, but also releasing feel-good endorphins. Clary sage can also influence cortisol levels and put anyone who smells it in a good mood.
Grapefruit oil encourages the production of neurotransmitters called enkephalins that act as natural painkillers, while the oil from marjoram can boost your levels of serotonin, making you feel calm and content.
And several compounds in eucalyptus oil have been shown to reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain, so it’s ideal for headaches as well as aching muscles and joints.
The amazing synergy between massage and aromatherapy is obvious. A massage on its own is very relaxing, but when you add the powers of aromatherapy, it can help noticeably improve the results…
THE BENEFITS OF AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE
So just how can an aromatherapy massage help you? Turns out it can have a positive impact on pretty much everything to do with your body, mind - and soul…
Want less stress in your life? How about always feeling good about yourself? With fewer health worries? And a clearer mind? If you said yes to all (or even some) of these, here’s how it can make an enormous difference to your life…
AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE FOR RELAXATION AND BETTER SLEEP
If you’re a wound-up stress ball and finding it difficult to get a good night’s sleep, an aromatherapy massage is just what you need. It’s so relaxing that some people even fall asleep during a massage - and here’s why…
Massage helps trigger the ‘relaxation response’ which slows heart and breathing rates, lowers blood pressure and decreases the production of cortisol, the stress hormone, by up to a massive 53%. This takes you out of the ‘fight and flight mode’ that keeps your body awake. Many studies have found massage also increases delta brain waves which are linked to that regenerating deep sleep we all need to feel fully refreshed the next morning.
Inhaling essential oils at the same time calms the mind and emotions, so encouraging you to chill out and relax even more. You'll be drifting off into your dreams in no time…
Essential oils to try:
Lavender: Inner peace, calming and deep sleep
Frankincense: Soothing, tranquillity and contentment
Chamomile: Comforting, calms nerves and relieves stress
Vetiver: Grounding, calming and stabilizing
Other aromatherapy remedies that can help:
Add soothing lavender bath salts to a comforting and warming bath before bed to guarantee you a good night’s sleep.
Rope in your significant other to give you a super-relaxing foot massage with lavender massage oil at the end of a hectic day (and give them one too).
Proof: Lavender CAN Help You Sleep Better (Without Any Pills) – Read More
AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE FORÂ POSITIVE EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING
Not only does an aromatherapy massage help you sleep better, but it also eases away all that stress and reduces your anxiety levels. It even helps when you’re feeling down and depressed…
Using massage to move the body into a more relaxed state helps you calm down in stressful situations. By reducing the levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, your heart beat slows, blood pressure falls and you’ll feel all your concerns start slipping away.
At the same time, massage also increases the level of the feel-good mood-enhancing hormones - dopamine and serotonin - in your brain, which help relieve depression. And just the fact that many of us find comfort in human touch and connection, a massage can also lift your spirits when you’re feeling down.
Pairing your massage with essential oils known to calm and soothe the soul will improve your overall feeling of emotional well-being even further. Time to feel good about yourself…
Essential oils to try:
Lavender: Relieves stress, calms agitation and improves concentration
Sandalwood: Increases focus, peace and clarity
Bergamot: Anti-depressant, invigorates the senses and clears the mind
Chamomile: Reduces stress, promotes relaxation and a sense of calm
Clary sage: Anti-depressant, balances hormones, boosts confidence and self-esteem
Other aromatherapy remedies that can help:
Surround yourself with a never-ending sense of calm in your home or your office.
Try a unique and distinctive room diffuser, or display some pretty lavender sachets on a stylish silver platter. Scatter luxurious decorative candles around the room or arrange a pretty bunch of lavender in an elegant glass vase. Or do all four…
Did You Know Lavender Is Proven to Reduce Anxiety - Quickly and Safely? – Read More
AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE TO REDUCE PAIN AND INFLAMMATION
Debilitating migraines, back pain, sore muscles, tension headaches, osteoarthritis, sports injuries, neck pain and more. Just name your pain - an aromatherapy massage can help. Studies show that massage can even relieve chronic long-term pain to give sufferers the reprieve they so desperately need.
Massage has long been used by athletes to relieve tense and sore muscles after physical exercise. In fact, just 10 minutes of massage can reduce inflammation and help your body recover more quickly. It’s actually been found to help muscles recover their strength by up to 60%.
Massage also improves circulation, which in turn distributes more oxygen and nutrient rich blood to help repair the body. Plus, it triggers the release of endorphins, natural pain-relieving chemicals in the brain, so reducing the severity of discomfort. And when it comes to headaches, studies have found that massage therapy can be effective up to as much as 80% of the time.
As the therapeutic properties of essential oils are quickly absorbed into the skin, using aromatherapy together with massage can significantly increase the likelihood of relieving pain, reducing swelling and speed healing after injuries. Sweet relief…
Essential oils to try:
Marjoram: Relieves muscle spasms and soothes sore muscles
Eucalyptus: Cooling, reduces inflammation, swelling and pain, provides arthritis relief
Rosemary: Stimulates blood circulation, relieves headaches, arthritis, muscle and joint pains
Lavender: For tension headaches and migraine relief, eases back and muscle pain
Other aromatherapy remedies that can help:
Relax for 10 minutes with a warming neck pillow and eye mask for ultra-soothing relief from tension headaches and migraines.
Use a cold compress to numb pain, reduce swelling and tissue damage within 48 hours of injury. Good for inflamed, swollen joints and muscles.
Use a hot compress to promote blood flow and relax muscles. Best for persistent muscle pain or sore joints caused by arthritis.
5 Powerful Essential Oils to Help Ease Headaches (And When to Use Them) – Read More
AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE TO BOOST IMMUNITY AND HEALING POWER
If you often find yourself getting sick more often than you think you should, then this is what might be happening…
Our bodies all have a natural inborn ability to heal themselves via the immune system. But because of the way it works, it can sometimes get sluggish and clogged up so weakening your defences. You then become a prime target for rogue bacteria, viruses and toxins to take hold.
Studies have revealed that massage helps boost our immune system and flush out toxins by more efficiently circulating blood and lymph throughout the body. Lymph plays a vital immune-boosting role in helping to kill off pathogens and getting rid of unwanted waste, debris and toxins. And increased blood circulation means more efficient transport of those white blood cells that fight off disease.
By adding essential oils into an aromatherapy massage, you can further boost your immunity by eliminating toxins, helping fight off infections like colds and flu, and preventing the development of further illnesses. Let your body heal itself…
Essential oils to try:
Tea Tree: Eliminates toxins, stimulates immune system, fights off infections
Lemon: Protects liver health, stimulates immune system, removes toxins
Eucalyptus: Fights off colds and flu, increases white blood cells
Cinnamon: Fights off infections, increases blood flow, lowers levels of triglycerides and cholesterol
Oregano: Natures antibiotic, strengthens immune system, fights off colds and flu, eases coughs
Other aromatherapy remedies that can help:
Help speed up sluggish circulation by draping a warmed eucalyptus blanket over your body after your massage (or whenever you need it).
Soothe your child’s cold and flu symptoms by rubbing their chest with eucalyptus oil and then layering on a warmed wrap.
This All-Natural Remedy Is the Only Thing You Need to Treat Colds and Flu – Read More
AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE TO IMPROVE YOUR MOOD
You’ve probably realized by now that a therapeutic massage can also substantially improve your mood. What with reduced stress and anxiety, increased oxygen circulating through your veins as well as all the ‘happy hormones’ that start cursing through your body, it’s no wonder that you feel more emotionally buoyant.
The areas in the brain responsible for scent, emotion, and memory are closely related. Essential oils have been used for generations to calm, uplift, revitalize and energize to enhance a positive frame of mind. Certain scents can even trigger positive memories and feelings which can contribute to warm and fuzzy emotions.
That’s why combining aromatherapy with a massage just serves to enhance your emotional well-being even further. You can never have too many blissful moments…
Essential oils to try:
Rose: Promotes feelings of hope and joy, boosts self-esteem
Ylang Ylang: Euphoric effect, reduces anger and frustration
Eucalyptus: Stimulates the brain, boosts energy, improves mental focus and clarity
Lavender: Promotes peacefulness and calm, reduces depressing thoughts
Jasmine: Relieves stress, stimulates the mind, optimism and confidence
Rosemary: Positivity and focus, improves brain function, sharpens thinking
Other aromatherapy remedies that can help:
Try layering on eucalyptus body lotion after your morning shower to give your body and your brain a refreshing wakeup call.
For a quick afternoon pick-me-up after a stressful day, lie back and relax with a soothing lavender eye mask.
Feeling Depressed? Lavender Essential Oil Improves Your Mood in Minutes - Read More
The benefits of an aromatherapy massage go way beyond the more well-known ones of relaxation, promoting better sleep, reducing stress and pain relief. By boosting your ‘happy hormones’ and immune system, it also substantially enhances your overall mind and body health.
Time to set aside some well-deserved me-time…
IMPORTANT NOTE:
There's a difference between an ‘essential oil’ and simply an oil, which is basically a perfume. If a label does not clearly state that it is '100% essential oil', then it is not a pure oil and should not be used as suggested.