People who are single or are in a less than desirable relationship may be prone to the newly coined term, “Valentine’s Day Blues”. Learn how the intimate nature of the massage profession may test the client/practitioner relationship during this unpredictable holiday.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Although traditionally associated with romance, love, cupid and candy, the weeks leading up to and following February 14th are often loaded with negative feelings. In fact, a European study concluded that one in ten people experience some level of depression on Valentine’s Day.

Some massage therapists may participate in the unique market surrounding Valentine’s Day by offering specialized packages that may include couple’s massage and special aromatherapy treatments. While all of the attention to love and romance conjures up good feelings for many, it can also cause feelings of exclusion, anxiety, loneliness and depression in others. Because this holiday can cause such polarized feelings in each individual, therapists are best prepared when aware of the range of potential emotions.

As professionals in the healthcare industry, bodyworkers are well aware of the benefit their services can give people experiencing depression. Decades of research indicate massage helps reduce stress, anxiety and depression by altering body chemistry. By increasing the release of endorphins, dopamine and serotonin, bodywork enhances mood and general health. Through reducing the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, massage assists the body in a quicker recovery from stress, depression and pain. Additionally, massage’s ability to increase relaxation, boost the immune system and stabilize blood sugar levels makes it a logical choice for a person suffering from depression.

Including essential oils in a massage therapy session is a valuable supplemental treatment for depression. Studies demonstrate that the smells of certain oils elicit positive emotions via the limbic system, the area of the brain responsible for memories and emotions. Essential oils used for depression vary but typically include one of the following:

• Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
• Orange (Citrus aurantium)
• Sandalwood (Santalum album)
• Lemon (Citrus limonis)
• Jasmine (Jasminum spp.)
• Sage (Salvia officinalis)
• Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
• Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

Properly paired with a client’s state of mind and personal preferences, aromatherapy can help relieve their depression and minimize any negativity around Valentine’s Day. Prior to using an essential oil with a client, always check for sensitivity and scent aversion.

People schedule massages for many different reasons; it feels good, helps relieve pain or stiffness, maintains health and vitality, enhances relaxation or because it helps a particular health condition. However, some people seek treatment primarily for the practitioner’s company. While that last motivation for bodywork appears innocent enough, it places the therapist in a challenging position. When a person with the Valentine’s Day Blues seeks a massage treatment to ease their loneliness, the therapist must be vigilant about his or her professional boundaries.

The elevated level of trust and intimacy involved in bodywork is typically a launching pad to developing a close rapport between client and practitioner. Although this connection is a natural part of healing, certain circumstances can transform it into an ethical dilemma. Elements of transference or counter-transference can easily emerge with a client vulnerable with the Valentine’s Day Blues considering there is a chance that the therapist is the only person in a client’s life who physically touches them. Being aware of this possibility allows massage therapists to develop a plan for maintaining the boundaries of the client/practitioner relationship. For example, a client feeling lonely and sad may try to prolong a session, behave inappropriately during the massage or attempt to move beyond client status. A therapist who is prepared for these ethical breeches can quickly and respectfully thwart their advancement.

Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a joyful holiday. While many people revel in the romance of the holiday, a sizable percentage of people have the opposite reaction. Awareness of the Valentine’s Day Blues can spur bodyworkers to develop their compassion towards the depressed, offer aromatherapy to help relieve client depression and brush up on their skills for maintaining a professional and ethical client/practitioner relationship.

Recommended Study:
Aromatherapy Essentials
Ethics: Therapeutic Relationships

References:

www.cmha.bc.ca, Valentine’s Day Blues, Canadian Mental Health Association, February 2006.

www.hbcprotocols.com, Tips for Dealing with Valentine’s Depression, Layla Chapman, HBC Protocols, February 2006.

www.mayoclinic.com, Valentine’s Day: Coping Tips for those who feel excluded, Daniel Hall-Flavin, MD, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2007.

www.medicalnewstoday.com, Feeling SAD this Valentine’s Day?, MediLexicon International Ltd., January 2005.

www.onlinedatingmagazine.com, Study Confirms Existence of Valentine’s Day Blues, Online Dating Magazine, April 2004.

www.psychcentral.com, Valentine’s Day: A Time to Celebrate Many Kinds of Love, Marie Hartwell-Walker, EdD, Psych Central, 2007.

www.stresshelp.tripod.com, Massage, its role in management of stress, anxiety and depression, S. Jackson, 2001.

www.umm.edu, Depression, A.D.A.M., Inc., 2007.

Posted by Editors at 04:17 PM

© 2009 Institute for Integrative HealthCare Studies. This work is reproduced with the permission of the Institute. www.Integrative-Healthcare.org <http://www.integrative-healthcare.org/>

09th September 2008Author: Nick Mutt
Views: 14
Aromatherapy is one of the popular alternative therapies used in treating number of health problems. Aromatherapy oils are natural plant oils and because of their gentle way of healing, they can be used in many different ways. You can choose to use them in your bath, for massage or in preparing a number of home remedies. Below are few home remedies for common health problems.

Aromatherapy oils in various home remedies –

1. For cellulite – Make a blend a four drops of juniper, four drops of fennel and four drops of lemon oils in 4 fl oz (100 ml) of a carrier oil. Massage this into the cellulite affected areas daily after your bath, when the skin is warm and receptive.

2. For sunstroke – Add four drops of juniper, four drops of fennel and four drops of peppermint oil to a cool bath. Soak for 15 minutes. Then, rub a little neat lavender oil into your temples at regular intervals. The bath will help to reduce your temperature and the lavender oil helps your headache.

3. Dry or cracked lips – Make up a carrier oil of 2 fl oz (50 ml) apricot kernel oil and 2 fl oz (50 ml) of avocado oil. Add six drops of sandalwood and six drops of rose oil. Rub this to the lips, repeating the application regularly.

4. For sunburn – f the sunburned area is small, apply the lavender oil and repeat as necessary. If the area is large, add twenty drops of lavender oil to a cool bath and soak for 10-20 minutes. You can make a soothing spray by adding 10 drops of lavender oil to 1 pint (300 ml) of cool, clean water.

5. Small cuts – Apply lavender or tea tree oil to the cut. These are both antiseptic and don’t sting.

Read more about aromatherapy, ayurveda, yoga and massage therapy at Natural cures website – a health guide to make you and your family live better, fit and healthy. Also read the benefits of anti-aging herb Shilajit and stress relieving herb Ashwagandha.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Tags: many different ways, tea tree oil, fennel, home remedies, health advice, massage therapy, carrier oil, lavender oil, alternative therapies, aromatherapy oils, avocado oil, natural cures, oil massage, common health problems, health guide
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_629417_23.html

09th September 2008Author: Nick Mutt
Views: 15
Essential oils have natural healing power and are mixed with carrier oil when used. This article will tell you the basic differences between an essential oil and perfumed oil. Also know about the types of essential oils and their health benefits. Just keep reading and you will find some useful information about essential oils and carrier oils.

While buying an essential oil, be careful to choose essential oils, not perfumed oils. Although perfumed oils may smell delicious they are not beneficial for aromatherapy. An essential oil is thin and watery rather than oily and swift to evaporate and won’t leave a grease mark on paper. Perfumed oils will always smell pleasant whereas essential oils often have more of the effect of smelling salts.

All essential oils fall into three basic categories:

1. Top notes - These oils evaporate very quickly. They are generally uplifting and stimulating, with a greenish, fresh aroma.

2. Middle notes - These are used to help with most bodily functions and the body’s metabolism.

3. Base notes - These are extremely relaxing, sometimes sedative and generally have a lovely, warm aroma.

Essential oils are always sold in tinted glass bottles. This is because they are special oils that need a little care. They are damaged by light and should always be stored in a dark, cool place. Be careful to keep the lids tightly screwed on your bottles; otherwise you will be disappointed to discover your oils have evaporated into thin air.

Pure essential oils are hardly ever used neat but instead are blended into carrier oil. Carrier oil acts as a base for the essential oil and is a lubricant, so making massage easier and more effective.

Read more about aromatherapy, ayurveda, yoga and massage therapy at Natural cures website – a health guide to make you and your family live better, fit and healthy. Also read the benefits of anti-aging herb Shilajit and stress relieving herb Ashwagandha.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Tags: cool place, bodily functions, lubricant, health benefits, massage therapy, thin air, sedative, carrier oil, natural healing, natural cures, healing power, pure essential oils, glass bottles, carrier oils
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Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_629413_23.html

Name: Ylang Ylang Essential Oil.

Botanical Name: Cananga odorata.

Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled.

Color: Clear with a Yellow Tinge.

Consistency: Medium.

Perfumery Note: Middle/Base.

Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium - Strong.

Aromatic Description: Fresh, floral, sweet, slightly fruity, fragrant yet delicate.

Possible Uses: Anxiety, depression, frigidity, hypertension, palpitations, stress. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 61-67.].

Constituents: Linalol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Geranial, Benzyl Acetate, Geranyl Acetate, Eugenol, Methyl Chavicol, Pinene*Beta-Caryophyllene, Farnasene [Shirley Price, The Aromatherapy Workbook (Hammersmith, London: Thorsons, 1993), 54-5.].

Safety Information: Possible sensitization. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 211.]. Can cause headaches and nausea if used in excess.

All Essential oils or highly concentrated, do not ingests or add directly to the skin. Always ask your trained massage aroma therapist on how to use any essential oils. These oils are used as a guide only.

09th September 2008Author: Nick Mutt
Views: 14
Aromatherapy can be used in a number of ways for your baby. The healing power of aromatherapy oils helps you baby to be healthy and free from harmful germs and bacteria. Just be careful to keep the amount of aromatherapy oil very low as this is enough for a baby or young child.

The most suitable aromatherapy oils for your baby are camomile, lavender, rose, neroli, sandalwood and tangerine. The best carrier oil for babies is sweet almond oil as it has a softening, lubricating effect on the skin and is much kinder than the mineral oil that most commercial baby products are based on.

This article will now discuss some of the simple yet effective ways to keep your baby healthy by using aromatherapy.

1. Baby bath - You can add soothing aromatherapy oils to your baby baths to create a lovely smell and soothe his sensitive skins. Camomile, rose or lavender oils are best for this purpose.

2. Germ free - Try using any of these oils - lavender, frankincense, sandalwood, neroli, camomile, eucalyptus or geranium, in a vaporizer in your baby’s room. They help to purify the air and keep germs at bay as well as being pleasant and soothing.

3. Teething - When your baby is teething, camomile oil helps to calm and soothe inflamed gums. Dilute two drops in a little warm water and rub over the affected area three times a day.

4. Cradle cap - This flaky, red, itchy condition often affects small babies. Mix up a blend of one drop of camomile oil and one drop of rose oil in 4 fl oz (100 ml) of sweet almond oil. Gently rub over the cradle cap three times a day.

5. Colds and blocked noses - When your baby has a stuffy nose or a cold, use any of these oils - lavender, eucalyptus, thyme, lemon, pine or rosemary, in a vaporizer. They eliminate germs and help to ease breathing.

Read more about aromatherapy, ayurveda, yoga and massage therapy at Natural cures website – a health guide to make you and your family live better, fit and healthy. Also read the benefits of anti-aging herb Shilajit and stress relieving herb Ashwagandha.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Tags: mineral oil, massage therapy, sandalwood, carrier oil, stuffy nose, aromatherapy oils, natural cures, healing power, germs and bacteria, cradle cap, health guide, vaporizer
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_629412_23.html

Name: Sweet Orange Essential Oil.

Botanical Name: Citrus sinensis.

Common Method of Extraction: Cold Pressed/Expressed.

Color: Greenish Orange.

Consistency: Thin.

Perfumery Note: Top.

Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium - Strong.

Aromatic Description: Citrusy, sweet, reminiscent of orange peels, but more concentrated.

Possible Uses: Colds, constipation, dull skin, flatulence, flatulence, flu, gums, mouth, slow digestion, stress. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 57-67.].

Constituents: Limonene [Shirley Price, The Aromatherapy Workbook (Hammersmith, London: Thorsons, 1993), 54-5.].

Safety Information: Lawless reports that a few people have experienced dermatitis from the limonene content of Sweet Orange. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 122.]. Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand does not indicate any special precautions when using this oil. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 209.]

All Essential oils or highly concentrated, do not ingests or add directly to the skin. Always ask your trained massage aroma therapist on how to use any essential oils. These oils are used as a guide only.

Name: Thyme Essential Oil.

Botanical Name: Thymus vulgaris.

Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled.

Color: Reddish Brown.

Consistency: Medium and Slightly Oily.

Perfumery Note: Middle.

Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium - Strong.

Aromatic Description: Fresh, medicinal, herbaceous.

Possible Uses: Arthritis, colds, cuts, dermatitis, flu, insect bites, laryngitis, lice, muscle aches, oily skin, poor circulation, scabies, sore throat. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 57-67.].

Constituents: a-thujene, a-pinene, camphene, B-pinene, p-cymene, a-terpinene, linalool, borneol, B-caryophyllene, thymol, carvacrol. [J. Soulier, "The Thymus Genus," Aromatherapy Records, September 1985, 38-49, cited in Salvatore Battaglia, The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy (Australia: The Perfect Potion, 1997), 204.].

Safety Information: Avoid in cases of hypertension. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 228.]. Moderate dermal irritant and strong mucous membrane irritant. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 176.].

All Essential oils or highly concentrated, do not ingests or add directly to the skin. Always ask your trained massage aroma therapist on how to use any essential oils. These oils are used as a guide only.

Name: Yarrow Essential Oil.

Botanical Name: Achillea millefolium.

Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled.

Color: Dark Blue.

Consistency: Medium.

Perfumery Note: Middle.

Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium - Strong.

Aromatic Description: Sharp, woody, herbaceous.

Possible Uses: Fever, hair care, hemorrhoids, hypertension, indigestion, insomnia, migraine, scars, stretch marks, varicose veins, wounds. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 56-67.].

Constituents: Tricyclene, a-pinene, camphene, B-pinene, sabinene, borneol acetate, 1,8-cineole, y-terpinene, limonene, isoartemisia ketone, borneol, camphor, chamazulene. [B. Lawrence, "Yarrow Oil," Perfumer & Flavorist, August/September 1984, 37, cited in Salvatore Battaglia, The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy (Australia: The Perfect Potion, 1997), 206].

Safety Information: Neurotoxic (toxic to the nerves). Avoid in pregnancy. Avoid orally in pregnancy, epilepsy, fever (no essential oil should be taken internally without the guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner). [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 180.].

All Essential oils or highly concentrated, do not ingests or add directly to the skin. Always ask your trained massage aroma therapist on how to use any essential oils. These oils are used as a guide only.

Name: Star Anise Essential Oil.

Botanical Name: Illicium verum.

Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled.

Color: Pale Yellow.

Consistency: Thin.

Perfumery Note: Middle.

Strength of Initial Aroma: Strong.

Aromatic Description: Sharp, anise and licorice-like aroma.

Possible Uses: Rheumatism, bronchitis, coughing, colic, indigestion/cramping, colds, flu. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 61-66.].

Constituents: (E)-anethole, foeniculin, methyl vhavicol, limonene, linalool, nerolidol and cinnamyl acetate. [E. Joy Bowles, The Chemistry of Aromatherapeutic Oils (NSW, Australia: Allen & Unwin, 2003), 190.].

Safety Information: Lawless indicates that this oil is not a dermal irritant. Narcotic and slows circulation when used in large doses. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 152.]. Tisserand cautions to avoid star anise in cases of alcoholism, liver disease, paracetamol use, breast-feeding, pregnancy, endometriosis, certain cancers, hyperplasia, damaged skin and with young children. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 171.].

All Essential oils or highly concentrated, do not ingests or add directly to the skin. Always ask your trained massage aroma therapist on how to use any essential oils. These oils are used as a guide only.

Combining therapeutic approaches is the cornerstone of integrative medicine. Learn how to combine two popular massage techniques to improve client sessions, and help stand out from others in your field.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Two leading massage modalities cover an even broader range of applicability when fused together. At its very essence, integrative medicine consists of combining therapeutic approaches to yield a more effective outcome. Integrating hot stone massage with the meridian principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) exemplifies how the sum can be greater than its parts.

Massage therapists are becoming increasingly adept at fusing different bodywork styles. Using different techniques from various schools is how therapists can create a signature massage. While there seems to be no end to the combinations, some provide more benefits than others. Even while working simultaneously with stones and meridians, massage professionals can imprint their own unique flair. However, a comprehensive grasp of both modalities is required before uniting stone massage with meridian work.

Hot Stone Massage
Hot stone massage is a form of thermal hydro-therapy. Using smooth, warmed, heat-retaining stones as extensions of the hands, clients receiving a well-administered hot stone massage will seek it again and again. For some, stone therapy brings unrivaled deep tissue release and alignment. For others, the heat of the stones gently softens muscular tension and melts away emotional stress. On a spiritual plane, the stones are from the earth and have an extremely grounding quality adored by many. Grounding can be very helpful to individuals struggling with issues related to sleep, headaches, dizziness, anxiety or feeling overwhelmed or scattered.

The heat of the stones, combined with the soothing gliding massage movements, warms and relaxes the muscles to a much greater extent than what can be achieved by massage alone. Proponents claim the following benefits of warmed stone bodywork:

· Increased circulation, lymph and vitality
· Release of excessive toxins
· Relief from tight muscles
· The weight and material of the stones function to ground the body
· Reduced ticklishness for many vulnerable clients
· Relaxed central nervous system (when stones are laid upon the spinal column)
· Added energetic quality to massage when incorporated with vibration (clicking or tapping of stones)

From active placement to active stone massage, there are many different ways to manipulate the stones on a person’s body. Using the heated stones to apply pressure to acupressure points, trace or rub meridians is one way to amplify the therapeutic efficacy of a treatment.

Meridian Bodywork
A part of TCM, massage along the body’s energy-containing meridians can have many therapeutic uses. According to the 3,000 year-old practice of TCM, energy that is deficient, excessive or stagnant within the body’s meridians results in imbalance and eventually, disease. By breaking up blockages and promoting energy’s free and easy flow, acupuncture and acupressure are common modalities used to influence the health of energy flow throughout these meridians. Because meridians connect every part of the body to every other part, bodyworkers are able to address all types of pain and illness at easily accessible body locations. Once the affected meridian is properly assessed, bodywork on that meridian can have seemingly miraculous results – including restoring vitality, stopping pain and restoring blood sugar levels.

TCM understands the human body as a microcosm of its surrounding environment. As such, factors affecting the environment also affect the body. Forces such as heat, cold, dryness, dampness and wind have specific implications to a person’s health. A host of common TCM pathologies evolve when excessive amounts of cold influence the urinary bladder, lung and kidney meridians. These are the meridians most easily affected by cold temperatures. A practitioner can recognize whether cold is cause of an imbalance when the following symptomatic patterns emerge:

· a preference for warm beverages
· frequent sensations of cold or being chilled
· a worsening of painful symptoms in cold conditions
· pale facial complexion
· profuse and watery urination

Once it is understood that cold is a culprit, using heat becomes a logical therapeutic choice. A common TCM technique, moxibustion is the burning of an herb over an acupressure point or meridian to impart warmth. While admittedly beyond the scope of practice of most massage therapists, there are other methods of warming a chilled meridian. Using hot stone massage is an alternate technique to warm and invigorate the energy within a meridian.

The Union
Continued education fuels creativity. Knowing how to give a skilled hot stone massage and combining it with meridian massage will enhance your sessions. Once you are aware that a client could use some energetic warming, the treatment you can capably provide will rival any of the most respected therapies available.

Recommended Study:
Stone Massage
Shiatsu Anma Therapy

References:

Alexandra, Sonia, LMT, Stone Massage Therapy: A Catalyst for Health, Massage Today, November 2003.

Baltz, Bruce, Deep Tissue Healing: The Art of Stone Massage, Massage Today, January 2005.

www.ezinearticles.com, Hot Stone Massage Guide eBook, Kareen Fellows, Ezinearticles.com, 2006.

www.hb.syl.com, A Stone Massage Description - Useful Knowledge for Self-Maintenance, www.syl.com, March 2006.

www.neholistic.com, The Breath in the Stone, Karyn Chabot, D.Ay., LMT, The North East Directory of Holistic Resources, 2006.

www.nhi.edu, Hot Stone Massage: An Ancient Tradition That Still Rocks! Upasana Titterington, National Holistic Institute, 2006.

Posted by Editors at 11:24 AM

© 2009 Institute for Integrative HealthCare Studies. This work is reproduced with the permission of the Institute. www.Integrative-Healthcare.org