Aromatherapy

You may choose to enjoy the added luxury of essential oils when receiving a massage treatment.

I use carefully chosen oils for your maximum benefit and safety. These are extracted from aromatic plants, each with their own health-giving properties. A special blend is made for each person to suit their individual needs and preference.

What Is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is an holistic treatment using aromatic essential oils blended in a vegetable oil known as a 'carrier' oil, before being applied to the skin. The treatment promotes the vitality of the spirit, emotions and the physical body. These effects are achieved both by inhalation and smell (your sense of smell is the most powerful of all your senses and has a dramatic effect on the way you feel) and also by absorption through the skin into the bloodstream.

What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are highly aromatic natural extracts taken from plants in a concentrated form. These oils can come from flowers, leaves, stalks, seeds, roots, rinds and resins and each have their own unique therapeutic properties e.g. relaxing, uplifting, energising, soothing, antibacterial, digestive, pain relieving. They also work beautifully in skin care whatever your skin type.

There are a large number of essential oils available such as rose, lavender, frankincense, sandalwood, bergamot, and this enables me to choose the most appropriate ones for you which I hand blend to suit your needs and preference.

What Is A Carrier Oil?

A 'carrier' oil is of plant origin, is generally pale in colour and has very little smell. It acts as a lubricant to enable massage movements to be undertaken. There is a wide selection of carrier oils available, for example, sweet almond, jojoba, calendula, grapeseed, enabling me to choose the best one for you. The quality is equally as important as the quality of essential oils. I use cold pressed and unrefined oils which means their valuable vitamins and minerals are still present and adds to the overall benefit of your treatment.

Your First Treatment

Before your treatment commences, a consultation will be carried out to determine your medical history, lifestyle and purpose of the treatment e.g. stress relief, digestive problems, relaxation, etc. All details recorded are strictly confidential.

I will then choose a selection of oils appropriate for you and give you the opportunity to express your preferences regarding the aromas of each oil. There is more than one oil that can treat a particular condition so that if you dislike the aroma of one type there should be an alternative available.

Your treatment should be relaxing and enjoyable, but it is important to let me know if any part of your massage is not to your liking and I will make any adjustments if necessary.

Following Your Treatment

It is important not to bath or shower for 8 hours after your treatment to enable the essential oils sufficient time to be absorbed into your skin. You should also avoid using other bath products for 24 hours. As with all holistic treatments, try to drink plenty of water to speed elimination of any toxins.

To support and enhance your massage treatment, personally blended aromatherapy bodycare products may be purchased i.e. massage oil, moisturising bath base and vitamin moisturising cream.

What Benefits Will Aromatherapy Give?

There are numerous benefits to be gained, but a small selection might be:-

• Wonderful aid for de-stressing and tension release
• Promotes quality of sleep
• Antibacterial
• Ease of aches and pains
• Encourages good digestion