Massage with essential oils
One and one make three …
The power of essential oils never ceases to amaze me. After completing my training in holistic massage at the Academy for Massage and Movement, I began to explore essential oils in greater depth, and time and again I experience just how wonderfully they complement massage. I have now been working as a massage therapist for almost 10 years and, in (almost) every massage, I use essential oils alongside a lovely base oil.
Adding an essential oil enhances the beneficial effects of a massage… So one plus one is three.
It is important to familiarise yourself thoroughly with the contraindications for using essential oils; in some cases, it is better to use a carrier oil on its own.
There is a great deal to learn about how essential oils work, and there are many wonderful oils that you can use in a massage. I have been working with great pleasure at De Groene Linde for over four years now, where I can also inform others about this subject and pass on my knowledge. As I am closely involved with the quality of our oils, regulations and legislation, and product development at De Groene Linde, I am undertaking part of the excellent naturopathic aromatherapist training course at Fytarom. Here, I am constantly reminded of just how remarkably special the human body is. I also see every day how much external influences affect us; the world is moving ever faster, with more and more stimuli. We don’t take enough time for relaxation and recovery, and we often unwind in ways that actually put a strain on our nervous system – scrolling through social media and watching Netflix. So it’s hardly surprising that our bodies start to complain and send out signals.
In this blog, our colleague Suzanne explores the power of essential oils in massage. She also highlights specific products that you can buy from us.
The power of scents
Essential oils is extracted from, for example, the leaves, stems, roots and flowers of plants and is, in fact, the essence (the very nature) of the plant. It is indispensable to the plant because it regulates various functions that are vital to the plant’s survival. We use these therapeutic properties of plants to support our health and wellbeing. Oils are also aromatic; think of the recognisable scent of a rose, lavender, fresh mint, or the juice from the peel of a ripe orange or mandarin.
It has been known for centuries that plants possess powerful properties, but for a long time we made little use of them. Fortunately, this is now becoming increasingly well known again. Thanks to the sensory experience of the scent, the very rapid absorption of essential oils through the skin and the relaxation provided by a massage, this is a highly effective combination.
Some of the benefits of an aromatherapy massage:
– relaxation of the muscle tissue
– stress reduction
– promoting general well-being
– support for recovery at system level
– pain relief
– improving blood circulation
Scent experience
Smell is the only sense that is directly connected to the limbic nervous system, or the ‘reptilian brain’ of our brain. It enables us to feel, recall moments, desire things and feel motivated. Our sense of smell is also our most emotional and intuitive sense. Thanks to a clever combination of receptors, our brains receive these scent signals at lightning speed.
A smell is detected and processed by the brain within a matter of seconds.
The active ingredients in essential oils can – depending on the application and the oil used – be absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin or by inhalation. When applied to the skin, diluted in a carrier oil, this can happen relatively quickly. When inhaled, absorption takes place via the alveoli and may take longer. The ultimate absorption into the body and the cells varies depending on the oil and the individual.
As humans, we can recognise and remember an average of 10,000 scents! Scent therefore has an incredibly rapid and subconscious effect on our nervous system. The way we experience a scent and the effect of an oil vary from person to person, so it’s important to test a scent before giving someone a massage. Lavender can be very relaxing, except for someone who has a negative association with it. For example, if it reminds them of the tension they felt whilst staying with a grandmother who had musty lavender sachets in the house. In that case, you might actually experience that uncomfortable, tense feeling when you smell it. However, the reverse – a positive “scent anchor” – can be used to great effect and will further enhance the effect of an essential oil.
Absorption through the skin
The most effective way to use an essential oil is through the skin. You should always dilute an essential oil in a carrier oil, and you can use it as a roll-on, rub-in oil or massage oil. The oils must not be used undiluted on the skin as they are far too concentrated. The active ingredients can then cause allergic reactions; sometimes you notice this straight away, but usually only in the longer term.
A massage improves blood circulation in the skin, muscles and connective tissue. The use of an essential oil further enhances the effects of a massage. Essential oils also stimulate blood flow to the skin, which is evident from the fact that the skin often changes colour. By stimulating blood circulation, you enable better oxygen uptake and, consequently, more effective elimination of waste products. Every organ, including the brain, functions more effectively thanks to healthy blood circulation.
Relaxing is a challenge
Many people are looking for relaxation and a deeper connection with their bodies. That’s a major challenge these days. We’re all busy with all sorts of things – work, the shopping, housework, the children, clearing out the loft. And we’re busy with lovely dinners out, parties with friends, keeping fit and watching just one more episode of that gripping series. We’ve become completely accustomed to a jam-packed life, and even our moments of relaxation are often filled with external distractions.
That’s precisely why it’s important to do absolutely NOTHING from time to time. Take a few moments during your day – just five minutes – to sit in silence, let go of everything and relax. I know from my own experience that putting this into practice in your daily life isn’t that easy. Fortunately, essential oils can help you with this too. We have a wide range of oils to help you relax, which you can use in your diffuser, carry in a roll-on in your bag when you’re out and about, or use to plan a short moment of meditation.
Massage with essential oils
At De Groene Linde, we have created a range of wonderful massage oils based on various themes. The massage oils available from us are made by us. We use a base of almond oil, jojoba oil and avocado oil, to which we add essential oils. You can choose a ready-made massage oil or mix your own blend using your chosen base oil and pure essential oils. Please take care to observe the correct proportions and the maximum number of drops of essential oil.
Our massage oil blend
Relaxation – is a lovely blend of different types of lavender, perfect after a busy day. This lovely massage oil is always a good choice.
Muscle Release – to soothe tense and overworked muscles. It’s also a great massage oil to use after exercise. Tip! You can also use this yourself as a massage oil after exercise; you can, of course, easily massage your own legs, arms or shoulders.
Grounding – We make this massage oil using the Mother Earth blend; it is a soothing and grounding oil. It helps you connect more with your body when you’re spending too much time in your head.
Neck & Shoulder – helps to relieve tension in the neck and shoulder area. Neck and shoulder problems are often caused by an imbalance in the throat chakra; it also has a positive effect on the throat chakra.
Warming – This massage oil is lovely for warming up muscles and is also a really lovely massage oil if you suffer from cold spots, for example in your lower back.
Freedom of Movement – A lovely blend to use for stiff muscles and joints. Particularly during the winter months, when the cold causes more muscle cramps.
If you can’t decide and would like to try them all, we also have a taster pack with 30 ml bottles so you can choose your favourite. Comes in a handy pouch for storing or carrying your oils, and includes an extra bottle of our lovely basic massage oil.
Monounsaturated oils
There are also various single-ingredient oils that you can use in a massage; here are a few of my favourites.
Lavender – Has a calming effect on the body and mind. Helps to relieve nervousness and tension. Acts on the crown chakra and induces a deeper state of meditation. Promotes harmony and a sense of kinship.
Cedar wood – This oil has a grounding effect and gives you a sense of calm and security. It can also help you sleep (melatonin). It acts on the heart chakra.
Orange – This oil brings a sense of calm, but is also invigorating and clears the mind. It’s a lovely oil for giving your brain a moment’s rest and sorting out the chaos in your head.
Peppermint – This oil is wonderfully refreshing at the end of a massage, helping you to wind down and relax. Please do ensure you use it very sparingly and blend it well with a carrier oil on the skin. The peppermint creates a tingling sensation on the skin.
Grapefruit – A fantastic oil for improving the skin. It also has a positive effect on your state of mind, helping you to make healthier choices and get into a positive flow.
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Babies and children
Touch is one of the most fundamental needs and is particularly important for your newborn baby. Giving your baby or little one a massage is the perfect way to help them relax. Massage aids muscle development and blood circulation in the skin, stimulates the senses and strengthens the bond between you and your child. A baby massage is very special because babies communicate mainly through body language. Giving a massage also always has a positive effect on your own nervous system.
A massage is suitable for babies from around 6 weeks old. You can only start using essential oils in your massage from 6 months onwards. Even as children get a little older, a quick massage before bedtime is a lovely way to help them transition from day to night. Take a moment to massage your child’s feet, for example. When doing so, use the products from our baby and children's range that are age-appropriate. Make sure you read up on this, for example, using our information leaflet especially for kids.
How do you choose the right oil?
As well as our special massage blends, you can also use oils from our various fragrance ranges. To choose the right oil, you can rely not only on the information about the oil on our website but also on your own intuition, by assessing what you or your client needs. Trust your intuition; there’s usually a bottle or scent that you’re instinctively drawn to. When you then look up what that oil does, you’ll often find it matches exactly what you need at that moment. Our intuition is a wonderful quality that we should make use of more often! During the massage, you can tune into your client yourself, or let your client choose one of the bottles based on their own intuition.
Safe use
If you are going to work with essential oils (in your practice), it is important to research the various oils you intend to use thoroughly and to know which ones are safe to use. When applying citrus oils to the skin, it is important to avoid sunlight for a few hours. These oils are phototoxic and can cause skin discolouration on contact with sunlight or UV rays. We are also very cautious with wintergreen oil and advise against using it on the skin. Wintergreen contains high levels of the toxic substance methyl salicylate. I would also advise you to take extra care with the essential oils camphor, nutmeg, pepper and oregano. During pregnancy, we also advise against using essential oils, as the oil is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin and the active ingredients therefore also reach the unborn baby. There are also contraindications to be aware of for the elderly and in healthcare settings. If in doubt about the use of an essential oil, always consult a qualified aromatherapist.
Mixing ratios
Would you like to make your own massage oil using an essential oil? For one full-body massage, you’ll need around 20 to 30 ml of carrier oil, such as our basic massage oil or Almond oil. Add a maximum of 5 drops of essential oil to this. Would you like to make your own massage oil to use several times? Then mix 100 ml of base oil with approx. 20 drops of essential oil. It’s better to add a few drops less at first so you can smell the scent first. You can always add a few more drops later if you wish.
You can create your own massage blend using a wide variety of oils from De Groene Linde. For example, an oil from the HSP range, the 5D line or, for children, a favourite from the baby or children’s range. Prepare a small bottle of around 30 ml of oil in advance, or put a drop in your hands and then add a pump of massage oil. For adults, use a maximum of 4 drops of essential oil for the massage. Essential oils are very pure and potent – less is more!
A lovely, refreshing spray!
After a massage, you’ll want to freshen up your space and clear the energy. A lovely way to do this is by Clean Energy spray use.
Would you like to find out more about using our essential oils in your practice? You’re always welcome to send us an email, give us a call or visit our beautiful showroom in Heiloo visit. If you run a massage practice, you can book a business account Apply and get a discount on the retail prices in our online shop.
My top tip: get started yourself, find out more about the products, trust your intuition and learn something new every day. Try out which products work best for you and discover the power of essential oils for yourself.
Enjoy the lovely massage products from De Groene Linde!
Kind regards,
Suzanne