Aromatherapy Massage, Male therapist

What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of essential oils in holistic treatments to improve
physical and emotional well-being. Essential oils, extracted from plants, possess distinctive
therapeutic properties, which can be utilised to improve health and prevent disease. These
natural plant oils are applied in a variety of ways:

A French chemist called René-Maurice Gattefossé coined the term aromatherapy to describe
the process of using plant oils therapeutically. The story goes that, while working in a perfume
factory in the early 20th century, he burnt his hand and instinctively grabbed some lavender
oil and poured it onto the burn. He was so impressed by how quickly and cleanly the burn
healed, he began studying the healing powers of plant oils.

However, people have been treated with plant oils for thousands of years - records go back to
the times of ancient Egypt, China and India.

How can aromatherapy help?

Aromatherapy is now used to treat a whole range of conditions and is believed to work on
people both physically and psychologically. The first part of the theory is that when you smell
an essential oil, it triggers your limbic system - the part of the brain that controls emotions
and stores and retrieves learned memories - and relaxes you. The other part of the theory is
that the essential oils are absorbed through the skin, and have medicinal properties which act
on the cause of the problem.


Just some of the conditions aromatherapy is used to treat are:


Anxiety, stress or insomnia

Muscular aches and pains

Headaches

Asthma

Eczema

Digestive problems

Menstrual or menopausal problems



What is an Essential Oils?

An essential oil is an aromatic, volatile substance extracted from a single botanical source by
distillation or expression. Essential oils have been utilised in fragrances, flavours and
medicines for thousands of years. There are some 400 essential oils extracted from plants all
over the world. Some of the popular oils used in aromatherapy today include chamomile,
lavender, rosemary and tea tree.

Is there any evidence?

Research has shown that when they are applied to the skin or inhaled, essential oils are
absorbed into the bloodstream and metabolised in the body, similar to other substances.
Many essential oils possess significant anti-microbial properties, in both liquid and vapour
form. Clinical trials have shown that tea tree oil is highly effective in treating thrush. Another
study has shown that aromatherapy massage with lavender oil was significantly more effective
than both plain oil massage and a control group, in reducing heart rate, respiration, blood
pressure, and pain in patients in a hospital intensive care unit. There are many studies that
demonstrate how essential oils can positively affect mood and the sense of well-being.
(Woolfson, A & Hewitt, D (1992) Intensive Aromacare, International Journal of Aromatherapy 4
(2) pp.12-13).

What happens in a typical aromatherapy session?

The aromatherapist will ask questions about your medical history, general health and
lifestyle. This will help him or her decide which essential oils are most appropriate for you as
an individual. The aromatherapist may wish to contact your GP, with your permission, to
inform him or her that you are receiving aromatherapy Treatments After selecting and
blending appropriate essential oils, the aromatherapist will usually apply the oils in
combination with massage.

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