Lakefront Massage Monthly WellnessOct 2019

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Aromatherapy and Massage

Karrie Osborn

What essential oil is your favorite?

Be happy forthis moment.This moment isyour life.-Omar Khayyam

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In this Issue

Aromatherapy and MassageManaging ArthritisSecrets of Sleep

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

Stretching can slow degenerative arthritis.

Managing ArthritisExercise and Bodywork Keep Joint Pain at Bay

Secrets of SleepJed Heneberry

The word arthritis strikes fear in thehearts of older adults. It often signifiesaging, pain, inactivity, and disability.However, new research shows moderatephysical exercise can actually easearthritis symptoms by decreasing painand increasing a person's likelihood ofliving a normal life.

Understanding ArthritisThe most common form of arthritis--osteoarthritis, or also known asdegenerative arthritis--affects morethan twenty million Americans.Osteoarthritis (literally meaning"bone-joint inflammation") is caused bywear and tear on joint surfaces and mostfrequently involves the hips, knees,lower back, neck, and fingers. Morethan half of people over sixty-five havesome evidence of osteoarthritis onX-rays, although it doesn't alwaysmanifest as symptoms.

Many problems arise from a sedentarylifestyle. Joints lose flexibility andmuscles lose strength, feeding the cycle

of pain, inactivity, and more pain.

Exercise Offers Sweet ReliefVigorous walking, swimming, andbicycling boost the release of powerfulendorphins, the body's naturalpainkillers. When done four to five daysa week, these aerobic activities improvegeneral cardiovascular health and aid inweight management (obesity is the singlebiggest risk factor for osteoarthritis).

Strengthening and stretching exercisestargeted at maintaining joint flexibilityand muscle strength--especially forat-risk joints--slow the progression ofdegenerative arthritis. Yoga classes andmoderate weight lifting programs areexcellent ways to improve strength andflexibility. Bodywork can also providerelief.

If arthritis is slowing you down, getserious with your exercise plan. Consultyour physician; work with a professionaltrainer, physical therapist, yogainstructor, or bodyworker; and start a

gentle, progressive exercise program.Your joints will reward you for it, andyou'll free yourself from arthritic pain.

We've all heard it before: get your eighthours of sleep and watch your lifeimprove. But the reason we've all heardit is because it's true, and research keepsshowing the importance of sleep and itsvariety of health benefits.

The National Sleep Foundation saysthere is no "magic number" of hours foroptimum sleep benefits, but thatdifferent age groups, and even differentindividuals, need different amounts ofsleep. General recommendations are7-8 hours per night for adults, whilechildren often need 10-11 hours.Getting less than what you need has beenlinked to an increased risk of diabetes,heart problems, psychiatric conditions,and more.

Here's a quick look at some new findingsthat reveal the secrets of sleep, and also

how to get more of it.

- Sleep Suppresses Appetite: Just onenight of sleep loss can increase brainactivity in the region that containsappetite sensation in response to foodimages, increasing the long-termpossibility of becoming overweight."Lack of Sleep Makes Your BrainHungry," The Journal of ClinicalEndocrinology Metabolism.

- Naps for Your Noggin: The right sideof the brain, which is generallyassociated with creativity, is active duringso-called power naps, while the leftbrain remains mostly quiet. While it isnot clear what exactly is happeningduring these brief rest periods,researchers suspect the brain isconducting important memory tasks."'Power Naps' May Boost Right-Brain

Activity," Health.com.

- Cherry on Top: Drinking tart cherryjuice increased melatonin in studyparticipants, improving sleep efficiency,quality, and time. "Effect of Tart CherryJuice on Melatonin Levels andEnhanced Sleep Quality," EuropeanJournal of Nutrition.

Try to be arainbow insomeone's cloud.-Maya Angelou

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