Aromatherapy is playing a greater role in the treatment of physical and mental issues, reports SpaFinder in its 2014 Spa and Wellness Trends. As a result, it’s not uncommon for massage therapists and other spa professionals to be asking clients not only “how do you feel?” but “how do want to feel.” Today, SpaFinder says that “aromatherapy is moving into new directions and playing an even greater role in the treatment of pain, as a mood enhancer, in sleep therapy and to improve cognitive function.” Not only that, but customization is becoming even more important to identify the most effective botanicals to meet the needs of clients for a wellness experience that, in addition to being pleasant, is highly personalized and transformative.
In order to make your aromatherapy treatments most effective, you’ll want to work with your clients to identify their therapeutic goals and from there determine what essential oils would best achieve those goals and in what application. From there you can decide the best oils to blend to achieve desired results.
There are more than 90 essential oils derived from a range of plant sources, each one having a different effect on a client’s physical and psychological wellbeing. While the preferences vary, here are some of the most popular essential oils that you’ll find in use in many spas and massage therapy practices aromatherapy treatments briefly described:
- Bergamot: Used to treat stress, depression, anxiety and a number of skin infections like psoriasis and eczema
- Chamomile: Widely known for its soothing characteristics (particularly in tea), is extracted as an essential oil from the leaves of the flowering plant of the same name
- Clary Sage: Helps boost clarity
- Ginger: Energizing and uplifting; helps to improve circulation
- Lavender: One of the most popular essential oils on the market. It smells great and is an effective stress-relieving oil
- Lemongrass: Refreshing, rejuvenating, stimulating, and balancing, it inspires and improves mental clarity.
- Litsea: Used for calming and as anti-inflammatory
- Mandarin: Most calming of all citrus oils; used for dull, dry skin
- Mint: Revitalizing, rejuvenating and cooling
- Rosemary: Mental stimulant
- Rosewood: An antidepressant
- Sweet orange: Uplifting aroma
- Ylang Ylang: Recognizable because of its strong fragrance. Its sweet aroma is excellent for reducing stress and as an aphrodisiac
You’ll find many of these essential oils in our Aromatherapy Massage Lotions, a blend of six 100 percent therapeutic grade essential oils whose natural aromas help alleviate client stress and promote a sense of well-being. The lotions include: Serenity, a blend of lavender, orange and clary sage essential oils to relax the body and revive the spirit; Renewal, featuring mint, rosemary and lemongrass to enhance clarity and renew the body; Calming, including chamomile, lavender and rosewood to help harmonize the body and comfort the senses; Bliss, a blend of bergamot, rosewood and sweet orange to promote joy and uplift the spirit; and Energy, a blend of mandarin, ginger and lemongrass to help energize the body and uplift the senses. Our just announced Aromatherapy Butters & Lotions provide a retail complement to our professional back bar products.
Contact us by phone or email with any questions about our Aromatherapy Massage Lotions for professional and home use and our wide range of essential oils both in single note and blends so that you can customize any treatment creme, oil, lotion or even mud to suit your client’s preference.
Sources:
Aromatherapy.comAromaweb.com