When we think of massages, we immediately imagine great relaxation, with a relaxed smile on our face. Indeed, receiving a massage (and even giving one) activates the body's parasympathetic system, the one that slows down the heart rate and allows relaxation. Touching and being touched is essential for human beings because it releases the well-being and attachment hormone, oxytocin, also called "love hormone".
Massage can also be an act of care, especially in the form of self-massage, which relieves pain and allows the connection with one's own body. To accompany massages, essential oils can be used, alone or in synergy, diluted in vegetable oils, for their scents alone or for other virtues, depending on the desired effect.
We remind the usual precautions of use: not of oral use in the children before 7 years, not of use in the pregnant woman during the 1st quarter of pregnancy, nor in the breast-feeding woman, in order to prepare oils of massage and to use them in full safety!
Essential oils of massage for the sportsmen
Athletes can experience many physical discomforts after a too intense sports session or a bad movement. Sports massage (kneading or deep massage) mobilizes the muscles in depth and helps to expel lactic acid and toxins from the muscles. Thus, it helps to avoid aches and pains and to recover better after the effort.
These benefits are accentuated by the use of essential oil of wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) which is anti-inflammatory and painkiller. It should preferably be diluted in calophylla vegetable oil, which is highly recommended as it helps to prevent contractures, or in a oily macerate of arnicaa powerful anti-inflammatory.
Recipe of oils against the pains after the muscular effort
In a glass dropper bottle, mix :
- 35 drops of essential oil of wintergreen,
- 15 drops ofestragon et
- 20 drops of rosemary cineole in
- 8 ml ofvegetable oil of your choice.
Apply about fifteen drops of the mixture in soft massage on the painful muscles.
The essential oil of tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) is powerfully antispasmodic and rosemary cineole (Rosmarinus officinalis CT cineole) is a muscle tonic and circulatory.
Particular precautions These essential oils must always be diluted before cutaneous application. This mixture is not suitable for pregnant and breast-feeding women, children under 7 years old, people allergic to aspirin or salicylates, or following an anticoagulant treatment, or epileptics.
Sensual massage with essential oils
Who says massage, says touch, and sometimes sensuality. The massage can be used as a preliminary between two partners because it relaxes, and plunges into a state conducive to intimacy for two. The sensual caresses encourage the release of endorphins (known as the molecules of well-being) and gradually stimulate the rise of desire.
The essential oil best known to accompany this moment of complicity is ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata totum), which is said to have aphrodisiac properties. Its fragrance with exotic connotations participates, in a massage oil, to the release of tension before the pleasure.
Recipe for aphrodisiac essential oils
Mix:
- 15 drops of'ylang-ylang with
- 1 drop of essential oil of cinnamon bark and
- 20 drops ofessential oil of ginger in
- 50 ml ofvegetable oil of desert date palm.
Massage a few drops along the spine and feel the heat rise...
The essential oil of cinnamon bark (Cinnamommum zeylanicum) is a sexual tonic, helps to develop human heat and is used against male or female sexual fatigue.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) helps to remove inhibitions.
Particular precautions: this oil of massage does not apply to the genitals, and is disadvised to the pregnant women, the nursing mothers, to the children, as well as to the persons under treatment anticoagulant.
Relaxing and calming massage oils
The massage relaxes the body and the mind by chasing away all tensions, and leads us into an intense and gentle relaxation, favoring the coming of restful sleep. To accompany you in the arms of Morpheus, you can count on theTrue lavender essential oil (Lavandula officinalis), pleasantly scented but especially relaxing, calming and sedative. This one marries wonderfully with the essential oil of Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), to create a relaxing massage oil.
Relaxing oil recipes
Mix:
- 15 drops of essential oil of Roman chamomile with
- 15 drops ofTrue lavender essential oil in
- 60 drops ofborage vegetable oil et
- 30 ml of apricot kernel vegetable oil.
Massage (or have someone massage you) the entire back to gently disconnect from reality and enter the world of dreams.
Special precautions: this massage oil is not recommended for pregnant women under 3 months, nursing mothers, and children under 3 years.
Massage oils to use for heavy legs
As we mentioned above, massage can be a moment of sharing, but some treatments can be practiced as self-massage, especially for heavy legs. One of the most used essential oils in this case is the sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum), because the high quantity of terpenic compounds that it contains makes it diuretic and allows to reduce the water retention by eliminating the surplus by the urine.
The marine criste also supports the elimination of greases, and thus helps with the improvement of the cellulite aspect of the legs. L'lemon essential oil (Citrus limonum) is detoxifying, draining and promotes lipolysis. L'essential oil of juniper (Juniperus communis ssp. communis) is a renal, intestinal and lymphatic drainer.
The recipe
In a glass dropper bottle, mix :
- 20 drops of essential oil of sea fennel,
- 20 drops oflemon essential oil et
- 10 drops ofessential oil of juniper with
- 20ml of vegetable oil of calophylla,
- 10ml ofmacadamia vegetable oil et
- 10ml dargan vegetable oil.
Shake to mix and apply a few drops to massage your legs, from the ankle to the top of the thigh, kneading lightly, and not insisting if you have varicosities or varicose veins. If someone gives you a massage, he or she can use the palpate-roll technique on the front and back of the legs.
Special precautions This massage oil is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and for children under 6 years old. Do not use in case of kidney disease, nor in case of anticoagulant treatment. Dilute these oils well before applying them to the skin. L'lemon oil being very photosensitizing, avoid any exposure to the sun in the 8 hours following this massage.
Massage with essential oils against fatigue
The massage, with the adapted essential oils, can also have invigorating and defatigating virtues. To do this, you can turn to essential oils with tonic virtues (psychological and muscular) and which drive out tiredness. For example, the essential oils of peppermint, d'ylang-ylangnutmeg, ororigan green will prove to be very effective.
The essential oil of black spruce (Picea mariana) is known for its stimulating properties, especially on exhausted adrenal glands, and on the immune system. Peppermint essential oil (Mentha x piperita) is invigorating and has refreshing and tonic effects on the body, and on the mind!
Recipe for invigorating massage oils
In a glass dropper bottle, mix :
- 15 drops ofblack spruce essential oil with
- 45 drops ofpeppermint essential oil with
- 17ml ofavocado vegetable oiland
- 30ml ofmacadamia vegetable oil (which improves blood circulation and thus tones the body).
Shake to mix and massage a few drops along the person's spine, focusing on the lower and middle back, where the adrenal glands are located. You can administer this massage oil to yourself, focusing on your lower back as well.
Particular precautions This massage oil is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under 6 years old, epileptics and the elderly. This oil of massage should not be used near the eyes. Always dilute these essential oils well before application on the skin. Due to the "cortison-like" action of black spruce, this essential oil should be used with caution in case of pathologies related to the thyroid and pituitary glands.
Massages and self-massages are an integral part of a healthy and physiological lifestyle. They should be mandatory! Associated with essential and vegetable oils judiciously dosed, they are transformed into real care, allowing to relieve a good number of evils. The action by the touch is certainly important, but just as much as the olfactory environment that essential oils provide us. However, always drink enough water after a massage to facilitate the elimination of toxins.