Autumn 2015

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Aromatherapy and Massage

Karrie Osborn

What essential oil is your favorite?

Wise peopleare not sick.They are sick ofbeing sick, sothey are well.-Tao Te Ching

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In this Issue

Aromatherapy and MassageThe Health Benefits of GingerFlotation Tanks

Aromatherapy, a process utilizing thepurest essence of a plant, is a4,000-year-old technique that hasenhanced the health of everyone frommodern-day pop divas to the scholars ofancient Greece. The art of massage hasits own deeply rich roots, with even Platoand Socrates touting the value ofhands-on bodywork for good health.

Separately, these two therapeutictraditions hold individual prowess in therealm of personal health and well-being.Together, however, they become aformidable health alliance that canaddress not only a person's physicalhealth, but the health of the mind andspirit as well.

A Natural ComplementOur senses were designed to work bestin conjunction with one another. Oursense of taste would not be as acutewithout our nose lending its support tothe process. Our auditory senses mightseem hollow if we weren't gifted withsight as well. Indeed, there exists a quietpartnership between all our five sensesthat's built on synergy.

Let's see how it works. Essential oils areextracted from herbs, flowers, andplants with the intent to improve aperson's health and well-being.Addressing everything from arthritis towhooping cough, effects of theapproximate 3,000 oils found globallycan range from sedative to stimulatingand antibacterial to antispasmodic. Thebenefits derived from aromatherapyduring a massage come in part from thecontact the essential oil has on our skin,but even more so how it affects us whenit's inhaled and absorbed through thesoft-tissue linings of our nose andmouth.

The scientific explanation suggests thatthe essential oil's molecules, when

inhaled, lock onto receptor cells at theback of the nose, sending anelectrochemical message to the brain'slimbic system. This message appears totrigger memory and emotionalresponses, causing messages to be sent toother parts of the brain and body. "Inthis way," says aromatherapist Danila

Aromatherapy has roots in ancient cultures.

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Mansfield, "the production of euphoric,relaxing, sedative, or stimulatingneurochemicals is stimulated."

Judith Fitzsimmons and PaulaBousquet, authors of AromatherapyThrough the Seasons, say the use ofessential oils creates a multifacetedeffect: "The real beauty of aromatherapyis that it works on a cellular and physicallevel and also in the emotional,intellectual, spiritual, and aesthetic areasof your life."

It's really quite amazing when you thinkabout it. Imagine an area the size of asmall apricot pit, a 1-inch square area,filled with millions of sensory neuronsthat can capture, process, and store10,000 odors. This is our olfactorysystem at work, and part of its job is tocreate a personal history for us based onscent, says clinical aromatherapistAva-Marie Lind-Shiveley. "None of ourother senses so well establishes a memorydatabase." She says our response to scentis both physiological and psychosomatic."Within an instant of smelling anaroma, we can be sent back to the firstmoment we were introduced to it."

By enabling us to recognize, revisit,and/or reclaim these various emotionsand memories, aromatherapy allowsanother avenue of access for healingduring a bodywork session. It creates apath through which the somaticexperience can find its full strength.

When the powerful effects ofaromatherapy are combined withmassage, it can take us to another level,say aromatherapy educators Shirley andLen Price. "When, during a massage,the touch of the therapist is combinedwith the mental and physical effects ofthe essential oils, the client is helped toachieve a temporary separation fromworldly worries, somewhat akin to ameditative state." Helping clients reachthis level of relaxation is a primary goalof massage therapists andaromatherapists alike, so it makes sensethat a partnership could beautifullyexist.

A Scent Journey"Scent is not simplistic," Lind-Shiveleysays. "It is voluminous." She illustratesthis point with a quote from HelenKeller: "Smell is a potent wizard thattransports us across thousands of miles

and all the years we have lived. Theodors of fruits waft me to my Southernhome, to my childhood frolics in thepeach orchard. Other odors,instantaneous and fleeting, cause myheart to dilate joyously or contract withremembered grief."

If you decide to do some personalexploration into the world of scenttherapy, proceed with due caution inboth the quality of the oils you buy andhow you dose and administer them.There is a dichotic nature inherent inaromatherapy. It is gentle, yet powerful;subtle, yet intense. There are essentialoils strong enough to cause miscarriage,but there also are many oils safe enoughto use on infants. The key is knowinghow to utilize nature's gifts to providethe best, most effective therapeuticcollaboration possible. Talk with yourmassage therapist about incorporatingthe science of aromatherapy into your

sessions or ask about a referral to anaromatherapist in your area.

Karrie Osborn is contributing editor to Body Sense.

BalancingBay Laurel, Cedarwood, GeraniumClarifyingJuniper, Lemon, PeppermintComfortingBergamot, Frankincense, RoseEnergizingEucalyptus, Grapefruit, RosemaryFocusingAngelica, Sweet Basil, LimeSedatingChamomile, Clary Sage,PatchouliUpliftingLavender, Orange/Mandarin, Pine, TeaTree

The ginger plant has many medicinal uses.

The Health Benefits of GingerEasing Nausea, Joint Pain, and Allergies

Flotation TanksBrandon Twyford

This pungent spice is found in cuisinearound the globe, but ginger has alsobeen used for more than 2,500 yearsfor its medicinal properties. Theancient Chinese knew that it aided inthe absorption of many herbalpreparations and they prescribed itextensively as a digestive tonic.

A native root of southeast Asia, ginger isa potent ally in the treatment of nausea,motion sickness, and joint pain.Current research confirms ginger'sefficacy as an anti-inflammatory, GIcalmative, and antihistamine. The activeingredients found in ginger -- gingerolsand shagoals -- lower levels ofprostaglandins, the chemicalsresponsible for pain and inflammationin joints and muscles. By reducingprostaglandins, ginger can even have apositive effect on heart health andcirculation because chronic, systemicinflammation increases the risk of heartattack and blood vessel compromise.

Ginger comes in several forms. Fresh

and dried ginger is available insupermarkets for use in cooking. It'salso available in capsules, an extract pillform, prepackaged tea bags, crystallized,and as a topical oil.

Recommended UsesMotion Sickness and NauseaMost medications for nausea andmotion sickness work to calm thenervous system and can cause drowsinessand dry mouth. On the other hand,ginger calms the digestive tract directlyand has been shown to reduce nauseaafter surgery and chemotherapy. Formotion sickness, take 100 mg two hoursbefore departure and every four hoursafterwards or as needed.

Arthritis and Muscle AchesMassage ginger oil into affected areasand/or take up to 1 g of powdered gingerdaily to reduce inflammation.

Colds and AllergiesDrink up to 4 cups of ginger tea daily orenjoy authentic ginger ale (made from

real ginger).

While ginger has no known side effects,it's always a good idea to consult yourhealth care practitioner to make sure it'sright for you.

If you want to take the concept ofcompletely stopping even further, trytotally unplugging from the noise ofeveryday life in a flotation tank.Developed in 1954 to test the effects ofsensory deprivation, the flotation tank isnow used in a range of restorative andhealing practices, including recoveryfrom exercise or injury. It is also aneffective tool for visualizationtechniques.The tank contains water heated to theexact temperature of the skin--therebyremoving the sense of touch--and800-1,000 pounds of Epsom salt forbuoyancy. The result is a uniquesensation that's completely unlikefloating in a pool. It's more like floatingin space. When we float in a normalpool, or even when we are asleep in bed,tiny muscles throughout our body areconstantly working to adjust and support

us. The flotation tank, however, allowsyou to completely let go.I first experienced floating in 2006 onthe recommendation of a friend. Theidea sounded intriguing to me, so Idecided to try it out by booking a sessionat my local yoga studio. I disrobed, putmy earplugs in, and climbed into thetank. I laid back, stretched out, andclosed my eyes.Total isolation. The thoughts in myhead, previously a subconsciouspresence of constant background noise,were suddenly deafening. I opened myeyes into pitch-black darkness. I wasmomentarily disoriented, and it tookseveral minutes before I was able toconsciously allow my body and mind torelax. As I did, I felt the dense watersupport every inch of my body.At the end of the one-hour session, Iwas still discovering parts of my body

where I had unconsciously been holdingtension. The nape of my neck. Myankles. My ears. My hips. Places I hadn'teven known I was using when my bodywas at rest. As I consciously let go ofeach of these body parts, I slippedfurther into a state of total physicalrelaxation. By the time I left the tank,my body felt more relaxed than it had inyears.Flotation tanks can be found in mostcities, often as an auxiliary service at ayoga studio or wellness center, and anhour-long session runs about $40-$60.Until the average person can hitch a rideinto space, this is as close as we'll get toexperiencing total removal from theconstant barrage of external stimuli onour overworked senses.Lie back, close your eyes, and unplug.Brandon Twyford is assistant editor for AssociatedBodywork Massage Professionals.

MINDFUL -The act of beingmindful opensyou to theexperience of themoment.-unknown

Introducing 21 drops essential oils blends! Improve physicaland mental wellness through the power of essential oiltherapy. 21 natural solutions from headache relief, toimproving digestion, boosting immunity, calming the nerves,decongest, and more! Plus, they smell AMAZING! Theseblends are now being infused to enhance healing sessions.Try all 21 balancing blends during your next visit and leavehere feeling uplifted. Love and light,

Shannon EllisLMT, Licensed AestheticianShannon@DeepRootsMassage.com

Deep Roots Massage

2241 S Kinnickinnic AveBay View, WI 53207-1932