More Than Massage

A healthy diet, plenty of fresh air and exercise are all vital components to enabling our bodies to function at their best but what about alternative therapies and massage treatments?
Too often these are overlooked or dismissed as 'pampering' but alternative therapies also play a role in keeping our bodies in balance and maintaining a state of wellbeing and optimal performance.


Massage Therapies
At some point in our lives we’ve all come across the term or experienced some form of massage therapy. Maybe it was at your local gym after a workout or in a spa on a pamper day or perhaps you purchased a Groupon for a treatment at your nearest salon. However, you’ve encountered it; we all know something about it whether through hearsay or personal experience.
There are many types of massage: sports massage, physiotherapy, functional, Holistic, Swedish, Aromatherapy – the options are almost endless but they are all founded on a basic belief in the power of touch. Just as you instinctively rub your shoulder when it hurts or offer comfort to your best friend or a child by stroking their back when they’re upset – massage therapies connect to something deep within us to promote wellbeing and healing.


Aromatherapy
The term ‘Aromatherapy’ conjures up images of exotic aromas wafting up to greet, soothe and relax the recipient who is lying swathed in robes and slathered in oils thoroughly enjoying a decadent experience – but aromatherapy is more than this.
Aromatherapy builds upon the principle of holistic massage by incorporating powerful essences (essential oils) extracted from herbaceous plants, fruits and flowers and even gums and resins. These essential oils are so potent that only a few drops are needed to be effective – this potency is also why it is recommended that essential oils be used under supervision of trained professionals as misuse can cause toxicity or sensitivity or even cause a full blown allergic reaction such as hives or swelling.

Each essential oil has a chemical profile, when creating a bespoke blend for a client, an Aromatherapist will first use the profile (not necessarily the actual aroma) to select oils based on the effect the chemical constituents will have on the client.
Take two of our favourite oils: peppermint and rosemary. These are two oils popular in hair care products - the first for soothing an itchy irritated scalp and the latter for stimulating hair growth. However, we could use either of these oils for pain relief.

Peppermint is an excellent analgesic – particularly for tension headaches and migraines.

Rosemary also has analgesic properties and is good for arthritis, tired, stiff and overworked muscles.

Lavender, the housewives’ favourite is also analgesic and works wonders on headaches although the chemical constituents of each oil are different – they reduce pain in different ways, so a combination of all three would be most effective in addressing particular complaints.

Aromatherapy in Action
After conducting a thorough consultation, your Aromatherapist will create a blend of essential oils and base oils designed for you. These blends can invigorate, enliven and stimulate your nervous system, soothe, tired aching muscles, cool irritated, itchy scalps or calm anxious or aggravated emotions.

Today's society is filled with stress triggers from work-life balance struggles, traffic trouble (road rage, tube trauma), childcare, to work deadlines, performance pressure, marital conflicts, and a myriad of frustrations and struggles all of which can induce responses in our bodies which can accumulate over time (if left unchecked) and disturb our balance, manifesting as pain, depression, anxiety or even illness.

The NHS has clinical studies documenting the effectiveness of aromatherapy in clinical settings, for example controlled studies with
• patients undergoing treatment for cancer;
• recently bereaved relatives and
• NHS nursing staff with high levels of stress and anxiety.

So we know that Aromatherapy can help with physical ailments, stress and illness – but what about something slightly more abstract such as ‘confidence’ and ‘self esteem’?

"One's self-image is very important because if that's in good shape, then you can do anything, or practically anything." ~Sir John Gielgud

A lack of confidence in one's abilities or self-worth can have a detrimental impact on mental health and emotional well-being, particularly in high-stress or high-anxiety situations, such as job interviews and End-of-Year performance reviews.

The results of a Korean study into the effects of aromatherapy massage reported in the International Journal of Neuroscience (Dec, 2006) found that aromatherapy massage exerts positive effects on anxiety and self-esteem.

The study used aromatherapy blends including Lavender, Chamomile, Rosemary and Lemon. The therapeutic properties of Lavender and Chamomile including significant reduction in anxiety, and promotion of calm and a sense of wellbeing; while Rosemary would have had a stimulating and toning effect on the nervous system creating a sense of empowerment and renewed ability to focus.

The most popular essential oil for boosting confidence and self-esteem is Jasmine. This sweet floral fragrance is widely used prior to exams and interviews to shore up the client’s courage as it is said to ‘diminish fear, release inhibitions, and liberate the imagination ’. (Worwood V, The fragrant Mind, 1995).

Basil essential oil is what we call ‘cephalic’; it clears the head bringing clarity and strength of mind and relieves mental fatigue.
Rosemary helps improve concentration and mental alertness and as such is another remedy for mental fatigue.

The combination of aromatic oils and physical massage can do wonders for self-esteem as the touch of a therapist can impart a sense of worth and value while the chemical constituents of the essential oils are absorbed into your body via your olfactory system.

However, physical massage is not the only way of enjoying the benefits of a confidence boosting aromatherapy treatment. A few drops of Jasmine or Basil (2-4) added to the water reservoir of your oil burner at home and left to disperse for an hour or so will give you a confidence boost in the comfort of your own home.

An aromatherapy shampoo or shower gel with Jasmine and Neroli or Basil and Rosemary will give your self esteem a boost in the morning before you step out the door.
For busy clients, I also create roller ball blends that can be applied to their wrists and sniffed at intervals throughout the day.

If you’d like to know more about aromatherapy and self-confidence or aromatherapy in general please get in touch - my details are below.

As a therapist I firmly believe in the holistic approach to well being: ('everything affects everything' and 'balance is best') - therefore I don't just treat symptoms (e.g. pain or stiffness), I look at causes (imbalances) and work with you to help you get better and stay better.
More than being interested in making you look or feel better today - I am genuinely concerned in your long term wellbeing and am invested in working with you to help you discover what treatment(s) works best for you.

NB: neither Jasmine nor Rosemary should be used during pregnancy. If you suffer from hypertension you should seek medical advice before using Rosemary or avoid it altogether. The information contained within this article does not constitute or replace medical advice.

Annette Clark Headley is a CNHC and NHS registered Holistic Therapist specialising in aromatherapy, reflexology, therapeutic and hot stone massage.

"Feel Better. Be WELL"
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Annette Clark Headley M.A. Cantab CNHC

Holistic Therapies
Email: almocado@gmail.com
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