Clinical Aromatherapy
Clinical Aromatherapy combines healing massage with essential oils. The practitioner firstly carries out an in-depth consultation to determine a client's medical history, their sources of stress and present health problems. A combination of essential oils and carrier oils is then prepared specifically for each individual client. These are massaged into the skin to promote healing and a feeling of wellbeing - physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Over fifty essential oils may be used by the practitioner during an in-depth treatment.
Essential oils have been around for millenia, used by many different cultures medicinally, as perfumes and in cosmetics. They are derived from flowers, leaves, bark, branches, rind or roots of plants. Essential oils are a complex combination of hundreds of constituents that work synergistically together. These provide its unique characteristics. When working in combination, these constituents are now known to be more effective than if used in isotation. Moreover, most essential oils are better tolerated than their isolated components, which seem to be much more aggressive in action, than the complete essential oil.
The oils may have a specific action on a disease process, but will also bring support to a person, strengthening them, and aiding recovery. They are readily absorbed through our skin. It has been found that certain oils affect our whole body and have great healing properties. Some act as a stimulant, others are antibiotic, analgesic, antidepressant, antiseptic, expectorant, diuretic, fungicidal, antiviral, carminative, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, hypertensive, hypotensive, sedative, deoderising, astringent, and so on.
The aroma alone can have a subtle, but mind changing effect, and via the mind can affect our body. As we inhale the aroma of the oils during a massage, some part of the oil will be absorbed through our lungs, and enter our bloodstream. A great benefit of using an essential oil will come from actually enjoying it's aroma, helping to enhance our feeling of well-being. Whereas a particular oil may be loved by one person, it might be heartily disliked by another! Therefore, your therapist will choose the oils carefully.