Why do I use rosemary essential oil most? (Copy)

Essential oils are powerful concentrations of oils from flowers and herbs.  Often they are used in aromatherapy and massage.  I use essential oils for the aroma, but do not apply directly to the skin commonly.  I use rosemary most because it helps my clients achieve stress and pain reduction – two common goals of massage therapy.  I use several essential oils, but rosemary is the most consistent to open my sessions of bodywork.  Why? Because it benefits have been demonstrated in some decent studies. 

The benefits that concern me and my clients are:

1)      Stress Relief:  Five minutes of inhalation of rosemary oil reduces the level of cortisol (your stress hormone) in your saliva.  My clients smell a few drops for about 20 minutes at the beginning of the massage, while face down.  This is the main benefit that I whole heartedly embrace.

2)      Pain Relief: Rosemary reduces inflammation, which is associated with lower pain.  On request, I will apply rosemary directly to sore hands, allowing it to absorb through the skin rather than the olfactory system.  This is a minor benefit, but anything helps - and when combined with the dopamine and seratonin effect of massage (see: http://bit.ly/stressmassage), pain reduction is tangible. 

3)      Immune System Boost:  That same study that identified lower cortisol levels resulting from inhalation of rosemary essential oil also found that the free radical-scavenging activity in the subjects’ bodies also significantly increased.  Free-radicals contribute to inflammation and aging, generally called oxidative stress.  I beleive this because of the study.  It is pretty hard to feel an immune system boost.  

I also use lavender, lemongrass, and mint. Lemon grass and mint are especially helpful to end a massage, so the client comes back to reality from ‘lala land’.  However, I find rosemary the most useful for my clients.  This is part of my effort to give my clients the best massage therapy experience possible.   If you are interested in the stress effects of massage even without the use of essential oils, see: http://bit.ly/stressmassage.

Jesse Atkinson, MA

Reference:

http://www.psy-journal.com/article/S0165-1781(06)00011-4/abstract

Reduce Stress & Improve Your Health with Massage (Copy)

We all have stress.  Unfortunately, chronic stress is can seriously impair your health. Stress is a leading contributing cause to illness and doctor visits.  As noted in the photo, 66% of general doctor visits are from stress symptoms and 50% of patients’ self-report moderate or severe stress in their lives. 

There are many ways to reduce stress including meditation, exercise, healthy relationships, and massage.  Massage is a popular form of stress reduction because it works and the effects are deep, immediate, and proven.

Studies have shown that the stress hormones are decreased and happiness hormones increased. Cortisol - the stress hormone - is decreased by 31% in massage. Serotonin and dopamine - the happiness hormones- are increased by 28% and 31%.   

Massage makes you feel good quickly in a healthy way.  If you want to get out of stress and feel good, get a massage. 

I personally became a regular client over 7 years ago when I was traveling for consulting work in Guatemala, far from my supportive relationships and comfortable culture.  I went weekly to get through those hard months.   Now I seek out other therapists about every two weeks to maintain both my emotional and physical health.  I treat my family and friends better, and I treat myself better after I receive massage therapy.  

In my studio, I have therapies, that emphasize emotional and others that emphasize physical.  Of course they are closely related and we can find one that works for you.   

Reference:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16162447