Use of Carrier Oils in Aromatherapy
Who doesn’t love a relaxing smell when they are getting massaged? The use of different types of carrier oils in aromatherapy was designed to help people receiving the treatment(s) receive a better experience from the treatment and benefit more. So you may have a few questions about aromatherapy, with the first one probably being “What is Aromatherapy?” followed by “What are carrier oils and how are they used in Aromatherapy?” Have no fear! The answers are here.
What is Aromatherapy?
First, it is necessary to know that aromatherapy is more than just getting relaxing scented oils rubbed on you. Aromatherapy is a holistic treatment that uses natural extracts from plants to enhance one’s health and well-being. It is said by many (including ancient cultures) that aromatherapy has psychological and physical benefits. Some of the benefits of aromatherapy treatment include: Pain Management, reduction of stress, improved sleep quality and it has even been said that it can ease labour pain (which most mothers will say is no walk in the park.)
What are carrier oils and how are they used?
Now it is time to look into carrier oils. So carrier oils are oils that are used to dilute essential oils to change their potency and sometimes their scents. There are approximately 50 different types of carrier oils that can have many different benefits ranging from giving you more youthful-looking skin to anti-inflammatory properties. Who doesn’t want to look younger and not be in pain? There are also some important things to consider when deciding which carrier oils to use.
- What is the scent of the carrier oil? Some may have stronger smells than others and can sometimes change the smell of the essential oil.
- What oils are generally absorbed better by the skin?
- What is the person’s skin type? It is beneficial to understand the different skin types to help determine which oils will work the best.
- Understanding the shelf life of the different carrier oils will also help you to maximize the freshness of each one.
With all of this being said, it is also a good idea to have a basic understanding of some of the more common carrier oils and what they do. Three common ones are listed below:
Jojoba Oil: Jojoba Oil is sometimes used when treating people with more acne-prone skin because it will basically trick your skin into thinking that sufficient oil has been produced. How sneaky is this?
Apricot Kernel Oil: Apricot Kernel Oil is another oil that is easily absorbed by most skin types (It smells amazing too!). It is used to help calm irritated and itchy skin.
Sunflower Oil: So while you think this oil may smell like its origin, it has no odour (this can be good for people with allergies). This oil is generally used as a barrier between the skin and toxins that may cause infections.
Using carrier oils in aromatherapy treatments will make it easier to use a range of essential oils on a client so they will benefit more from the therapy. When you register for our Massage Therapy program you will gain a better understanding of how to use aromatherapy to help your clients gain the most benefit from treatments! Help others relax by registering for our Massage Therapy program today!
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