The Healing Art of Aromatherapy for Stress related conditions by Elea

Elea creating a blend

“Aromatherapy is a very subtle form of healing and just a little goes a very long way. “

The Dictactory of Essential Oils – Wanda Sellar

Aromatherapy means the use of essential oils to help treat certain conditions. Stress is a very common condition nowadays for multiple reasons. Essential oils can be very efficient to find relief from anxiety, depression, insomnia etc

The therapist will pick 2 to 3 essential oils which are blended with a carrier oil then massaged onto the skin.

But...

…HOW DOES IT WORK?

Most of the time when people think of the word “aromatherapy” they think of “sense of smell”.
Indeed, aromatherapy can affect your mood positively thanks to it smell and help you to relax.

We all have strong olfactory memories. If you spent summer holidays in Mediterranean countries surrounded by lavender fields, you might find that Lavender essential oil will take you back to a wholesome memory and therefore will relax you. Or if your lovely grandmother was using rose scents cosmetics and her bathroom always smelled of rose fields then perhaps rose essential oil might be the one for you. Or if you travelled to India (or have been to any Indian-incense shops) then maybe Sandalwood oil is for you.

There will always an aroma, somewhere, which brings you back to a blissful memory. Well, you probably had a massage before? If so, you must know how relaxing it can be. In fact, getting massaged regularly can really help to lower stress and fight depression in the long term.

The other way the aromatherapy will affect you positively is thanks to its chemical composition.

In fact we all have our own chemical composition. When the essential oil penetrates through your skin thanks to the massage, it will enter your bloodstream and interact with your own chemical constitution. When you think about it, it is just how taking a pill would work.

Every chemical constituent have certain properties and effects on the mind, body and skin. For example, for stress related conditions, you will be looking for Anti Depressant oils, Hypotensive and Sedative Oils. The oil will remain in your bloodstream for about 24H, it is recommended to wait at least 24 to 48 h before being exposed to essential oils again.

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OFFER

In order to continue the treatment at home, I offer my client to blend for them either a massage oil, a roller ball oil or an aromatherapy spray for an extra fee.

See the last chapter of the blog for more information about this offer.

So now...

Which are the best oils to help with Stress Related Conditions?

MY FAVOURITE OILS AND THEIR PROPERTIES:

What I would want for a stress relieving blend is oils with HYPOTENSIVE properties.
Hypotensive means lowering blood pressure.

Your body produces a surge of hormones when you're in a stressful situation. These hormones temporarily increase your blood pressure by causing your heart to beat faster and your blood vessels to narrow.

My favourite Hypotensive oils are Chamomile, Clary Sage, Ylang-Ylang, Rose and Lavender oil.

Other properties that I like to add into a stress relieving essential oil blend are “Anti-Depressant” properties.

Long term stress can often lead to depression. Anti depressant oils are uplifting and counteracting melancholies.

My favourite oils to help lifting depression are Bergamot, Clary sage, Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Patchouli, Neroli, Petitgrain, Rose and Ylang-ylang.

All Those oils listed above in the Hypotensive and Anti depressant Categories are considered SEDATIVE, which means they have a calming effect on the mind. Some other oils are also sedative, like Benzoin, Cerdarwood, Mandarin, Marjoram, Sandalwood and Vetiver.

“Healing comes through the therapist own intuition in pairing the oils with the client”

BLEND RECIPES TO HELP WITH STRESS...

A blend is usually a 2% dilution of 3 different oils, which means around 8 drops of essential oil into 20ml of carrier oil.

These are 3 blends examples that you can make at home to create a relaxing massage oil.

(For each blends, you need 8 drops diluted into 20ml carrier oil.)

• Orange Blossom:
 Bergamot – Neroli – Petitgrain

• The Earthy blend: Patchouli – Clari sage – Frankinsense

• The Flowery blend: Jasmine – Rose – Bergamot

CONTRA INDICATIONS ( + Recommendations post treatment )

• You must not use essential oils if you are pregnant are breast feeding or of young age. You must not use Hypotensive oils if you have heart diseases, a pace maker or low blood tension.

• You should wait 48H before getting being exposed to essential oils again, as the oils will remain active in your system for 24H, it is then good to allow your body to detox fully the oils.

• It is recommended to drink a lot of water after the treatment to flush out some toxins that certain oils might contain.

• For stress conditions, it is highly recommended to get a treatment every week or every other week.

PROMOTION
I am offering 4 treatments to use before the end of the year for £260 instead of £300 !!


Plus:

The sample to take home... (each Item = £10)

Massage Oil 50ml – Roller ball 10 ml - Spray 100ml

The Roller Ball and the Massage Oil contain rapeseed oil as a carrier oil + the selected essential oils.

The spray contains purified water and Witch Hazel ( Emulsifier) + The selected essential oils

The massage oil can be used for a massage or can be added to your skin care routine as a moisturizing and relaxing oi. It can also simply be used to be smelled at.

The roller ball oil can be used on wrists and/or neck as the aroma will support you through the day.

The spray can be used on pillows and any fabrics (depending on the essential oils chosen,) and as a room spray.

Using this sample at home will also allow you to reconnect with the relax state you experienced during your treatment.

For each unique blend I will create for you, I will explain how to use it.

Treating TMJ Dysfunction and Facial Tension

Treatment includes intra-oral techniques to loosen muscle inside the jaw

Since I became a Massage Therapist, I have always been drawn to and enjoyed giving Face and Head Massage. Three years ago, I found myself in a role which specialised in Gym workouts for the face. Through sculpting and toning different faces all day, every day, I was introduced to facial tension, and became passionate about easing the discomfort that people were carrying round with them on a daily basis.

84% of the population suffer with a form of facial tension known as TMJ Dysfunction. TMJ stands for Temporal-Mandibular Joint; the two joints which connect the jaw to the skull. It is the most complex joint in the body, and misalignment can affect how we chew, swallow and yawn. The most common cause of TMJ Dysfunction is Myofascial Pain, which affects the fascia, muscles and nerves surrounding the jaw. Inflammation and discomfort can occur through teeth grinding, jaw clenching and stiffening of muscles in response to factors such as trauma, stress, bad posture and often, suppressed emotions.

The majority of TMJ sufferers are women between the ages of 20-40, but since the Covid Pandemic, more people have been affected by facial pain. A recent study showed 51.4% of subjects reported worsening TMJ Symptoms during the Lockdown, caused by stress related to that period. Through facial massage, stress symptoms such as facial tension, headaches, neckache, and tinnitus can be diminished, and muscle relaxation restored.

I take a whole body approach in treating TMJ Dysfunction, as the jaw and hips are connected by fascia; the web of connective tissue which surrounds our bodies, holding all of our systems in place. If the jaw is suffering, it is possible that our hips are too, therefore both areas should be worked on for longer lasting results. The jaw and hips are known as the garbage points of the body, in that they hold all the stress and emotions we battle to deal with, and sooner or later this manifests physically. To be able to successfully relieve TMJ Symptoms for good, it is important to understand why symptoms have occurred in the first place.

During the initial treatment for TMJ Dysfunction, I work on the majority of the body, which allows me to assess any other areas of tightness which may be contributing to discomfort. My focus then turns to the neck, head and face and I use intra-oral techniques to release the pterygoid muscles located inside of the jaw. This can be a tender yet gratifying experience for those with tight jaws, and accompanied by a fascial release, it can sometimes be an emotional one.

Through Client Consultation, and Jaw assessment, I am able to provide aftercare advice to clients which usually include home exercises and recommendations, depending on the individual needs. A follow up treatment focusing solely on the neck, head and face is usually advised, and depending on the individual, it may take a few sessions to achieve desired results. This is why it is important to practice the homecare between treatments, as it will help to relax the jaw and surrounding areas.

Locating the TMJ

For those suffering with only a mild form of facial tension or who are looking for sublime relaxation, I offer a separate treatment: Facial Rejuvenation. This is a natural face lift which sculpts the muscles and enhances contours. Regular treatments guarantee firmer muscle tone which helps tighten the skin, ironing out lines and lessening wrinkles. It is a natural alternative to anti-ageing treatments, making you look and feel fantastic. I use techniques taken from Japanese and Indian Massage, including Acupressure to create stimulation and relaxation throughout the whole body.

Both treatments end with lymphatic drainage using a Gua’sha stone to aid the gentle removal of any toxins lying under the skin.

While there is still a lot of research to be conducted into the TMJ, the hands-on experience and positive feedback I have received from treating TMJ Dysfunction and facial tension, has proven the physical and emotional benefits of facial massage. For me, it is an enjoyable treatment to give and one which can make a difference to overall health and wellbeing.

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