Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of essential oils. An essential oil is an aromatic essence, distilled from a single botanical source. True essential oils have nothing added to them, and nothing taken away. Essential oils can have many different effects on the body, mind and spirit. They can be sedative or stimulating, some have an analgesic and antispasmodic effect, most are antibacterial. Essential oils can aid in skin care and wound healing.

Aromatherapy massage is unique as it makes use of two close range senses, those of touch and smell. It is a very pleasant massage, with powerful medicinal applications. Some essential oils have powerful ant-bacterial properties, rivaling antibiotic drugs in their effectiveness. Other essential oils have psychotherapeutic applications, relieving stress, depression, insomnia and pre-menstrual syndrome.

The massage itself is a very soft relaxing massage, very little pressure is used throughout the massage. The essential oils are then absorbed into the body via the skin as the oil is spread over the body. The client will also gain benefit from smelling the aromas released while the oil is applied.

During initial consultation the therapist will discuss with you the reasons for your need for an Aromatherapy massage. This will aid the therapist in choosing the selection of essential oils to be used during your aromatherapy massage. There are hundreds of essential oils that can be used for various treatments. Your therapist will select the best mix of essential oils to use based on your requirements. If required your therapist can make up a mix of essential oils for you to use at work or home, either in an oil burner or to be applied directly to your pulse points between treatments to further enhance your well-being.

The effect of touch has a profound psychological and physical impact. Massage is possibly the only situation in which we can be touched in a caring way by someone who is not close to us, and not feel uncomfortable. The physical benefits of massage are also comprehensive. It stimulates the circulation of blood and lymph, reduces high blood pressure, stimulates the immune system, reduces muscular tension, and relieves pain in muscles and joints.

The effect of smell alone has a powerful influence on the central nervous system. Fragrance researchers are discovering that odours can and do influence the mood, evoke emotions, counteract stress and reduce high blood pressure. Smell is the only sense in which the receptor nerve endings are in direct contact with the outside world.

There are many different ways of using essential oils therapeutically - in baths, inhalations, compresses, creams or lotions, but perhaps one of the most pleasant, relaxing and therapeutic ways, is through aromatherapy massage. *Shirley Price says: "Nevertheless, where stress and depression are a major cause of a health imbalance, then, in my opinion, a full aromatherapy body massage is the best complementary therapy treatment available. It is also an excellent prophylactic treatment to ensure continuation of good health."

*Price, S., Aromatherapy Workbook, Thorsons, 1993 - Price, S. & Price, L., Aromatherapy for Health Professionals, Churchill Livingstone, 1995

History of Aromatherapy

Touch has been used since time immemorial to assist in healing, and general well-being. Hypocrites said: "The Physician must be experienced in many things, but assuredly in rubbing . . . for rubbing can bind a joint that is too loose, and loosen a joint that is too rigid."

Per Henrick Ling, born in Sweden in 1776, is widely credited as the originator of modern "Swedish massage". Ling was a fencing master and was fascinated by the human body in movement. He developed a series of exercises, and eventually his system of massage that he called "movement cure". Massage therapy and somatic practices have developed in many different directions since then, including the Esalen style and many intuitive methods, largely originating in California in the 1960's, which are often used in Aromatherapy massage.

The person to whom we really owe the development of Aromatherapy Massage, is Marguerite Maury, née König(1895-1968) who was born in Austria. Following the death of her young child, her first husband and her father, Marguerite trained as a nurse and surgical assistant, and moved to France. Her interest in aromatherapy began with a book by Dr Chabenes, published in 1838, called Les Grandes Possibilités par les Matières Odoriferantes. Dr habenes later taught René-Maurice Gattefossé. Marguerite met and married a French doctor in the early thirties, and continued her research into essential oils. She developed her particular method of using the "Individual Prescription" blending several essential oils, for each patient, after an in-depth consultation and examination. She also pioneered the use of massage to administer the essential oils, partly perhaps because she was not a medical doctor, and therefore not qualified to prescribe internal use of the oils. In 1961 Mme Maury wrote Le Capital Jeunesse (in English, The Secret of Life and Youth). She opened clinics in France, Switzerland and England, and continued to teach and practice until her death.