Aromatherapy has become a real buzzword. But, you might well ask, what does it mean? Aromatherapy is the use of liquid plants material used for a beneficial effect on someone?s mood or health. Gentle heat is used to release natural essential oils? beneficial properties. In aromatherapy, the fragrance oils used from different plants are burned to release their active properties (like sandalwood), rubbed into the body (like sesame) so that the body?s heat helps release the oils, or used in other ways.
Aromatherapy is often used in conjunction with massage therapy. It?s natural, of course, given aromatherapy?s beneficial aspects as well as those of massage therapy, for a health professional or a masseuse to choose to combine the two.
What is massage therapy? It?s a system of kneading different parts of the body, or placing pressure on different parts of the body, in order to relieve tension. Different types of massage lotions or aromatic massage oils may be used during this process. While these lotions may have the pleasant side effect of helping soften the skin, they also provide the health professional or masseuse with lubrication that allows treatment of deeper-lying tissues.
Massage can be relaxing, or stimulating; it depends on the style of massage. Aromatherapy enhances the benefits of relaxing massage. Just as massage relieves stress and tension, relaxes, or even reassures, the essential oils used in aromatherapy can enhance or extend or even protract these effects. Many spas and salons offer aromatherapy treatments in conjunction with massage or other beneficial treatments.
So, too, does aromatherapy enhance the benefits of a stimulating massage? Because just as massage can improve blood circulation and breathing, aromatherapy enhances these beneficial effect. Spas and biomedical treatment centers will offer patients the option of stimulating massage for circulatory and respiratory problems.
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