What to Ask Your Massage Therapist About Essential Oils

Whether you’re a huge fan or just a curious bystander, there’s no doubt that aromatherapy and essential oils are becoming increasingly popular. Aromatherapy was a $4 billion market in 2016, and is projected to come close to doubling by 2024. What does all this mean? People seem to like their aromatherapy an awful lot. Massage therapists have long known that engaging multiple senses in their sessions can help clients to relax, which is why you’ll often see massage rooms include things like low lighting and soft music. Scent, when used appropriately, can be a natural addition to this multisensory experience.

Unfortunately, essential oils are not without their hazards. Incidents like the daycare that had to be evacuated due to the use of an essential oil diffuser and the young woman who ended up with serious chemical burns on her face, are potent reminders that essential oils are, well, potent. So if you’re considering adding aromatherapy to your massage session, it’s important to ask your massage therapist a few questions first.

Do you offer aromatherapy or allow it in your practice?

If it is already listed on their website as an option, you can skip this question. But if you have a favorite oil of your own that you’d like to have incorporated into your session, it’s important to ask ahead of time. Since most massages are given in a relatively small space, strong scents can linger for hours or even days after your massage is over. For this reason, many massage therapists prefer to keep their spaces scent-free. If you want essential oils to be a part of your massage, the first step is finding out whether they are welcome.

What kind of training do you have in aromatherapy?

Unlike massage therapy, there are no legal requirements to be met before you can call yourself an aromatherapists. This can make it tricky to determine whether or not a person has the training needed to use essential oils safely. For massage therapists who provide aromatherapy massage, it’s important that they are educated about both the benefits and the potential pitfalls of essential oils. This includes things like:

●       Appropriate dilution and application practices

●       Contraindications (health conditions that would make certain oils unsafe)

●       Drug interactions

●       Common allergens

●       Signs of reaction

●       First aid

This doesn’t mean that your massage therapist needs to know about every oil ever made before practicing! In fact, a better way for new aromatherapists to start is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the safe use of just a handful of oils, and then limit their practice to those few until their experience and training allow them to safely expand their range.

Where did you get your training?

Just as important as the “what” of training is the “where”. Who trained them? Was it a reputable school or third party organization with a certification process that includes an exam, or was their “certification” something that came with a one-hour webinar? Keep in mind that any training received from the same business or organization that is selling essential oils is suspect. The National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy has its educational standards posted on its website, which is an example of what a strong aromatherapy educational program should look like.

And to head off any feelings of social awkwardness: it’s not insulting to ask questions like this! Well-trained aromatherapists are proud of their qualifications and are happy to share them with you.

What specific ingredients will you be using on me?

Answers like “my special relaxation blend” are obviously not specific enough, but so are other answers that might seem fine on the surface. “Mint,” for example, doesn’t cut it. Someone might be fine with peppermint, but have a dermal reaction to wintergreen. Make note of carrier oils, as well. If you’re someone with sensitive skin or a history of allergic reactions, this is worth asking a massage therapist who uses any kind of cream, oil, or lotion on you, even unscented.

Why is all this important? If you have a reaction of some kind, you need to know exactly what it was that caused it. Telling your dermatologist “Oh, it smelled spicy, maybe a bit like ginger?” is not helpful to you or them. Even if you don’t have any known allergies, it’s worth knowing which oils are commonly known to be irritants, and asking specifically for those that are less likely to produce a reaction, at least to start.

What are the contraindications for this oil? Are you aware that I have [issue]?

Your massage therapist should have done a thorough intake and be aware of any health conditions, but it’s worth asking these questions specifically in the context of using essential oils. Do you have skin issues like acne, eczema, or razor burn? Respiratory problems like asthma or COPD? Do you go tanning regularly, or do you plan on spending a lot of time in the sun? These are things your massage therapist needs to be aware of before using any essential oils on you.

What the heck are you doing!?

This is the one we hope nobody ever has to ask, but it’s an important question anyhow. Any oil can become problematic if used inappropriately. If you feel that your aromatherapy massage is not proceeding according to what you previously discussed, you are well within your rights to shut that down immediately. If something feels like it is itching or burning, stop. If you feel like the smell is affecting your nose, throat, or lungs, stop. Any massage therapist that is asking you to ingest, breathe, or use an essential oil internally is acting outside of their scope of practice. That’s not to say that there are no circumstances in which using oils in these ways would be appropriate (which is a whole separate discussion), simply that it’s not appropriate as part of a massage.

Essential oils can be enjoyable.

They should also be safe. Asking a few questions can help ensure that your experience with aromatherapy massage is both.

Stress, Anxiety, and Massage

Why get a massage? According to a survey conducted by the American Massage Therapy Association, 28% of Americans who get a massage do so for relaxation and stress reduction. That’s a lot of people in the US who feel strongly enough about their own experiences with massage for stress reduction to put their money on it. But aside from individual feelings, what exactly do we know about massage and how it relates to stress and anxiety? And what does the research have to say about that?

What is stress? What is anxiety?

Stress is your body’s response to demanding circumstances. Working late hours? You’ll experience stress. Prepping for a big competition? Definitely stressful. Toddler throwing a tantrum? That’s no doubt stressful for both of you. When you’re stressed, your blood pressure goes up, your breathing and heart rate quicken, and you feel jittery and distracted. All this is useful if your stress is a result the big race you’re running, when you can put that energy to good use. It’s less helpful if your stressor is a friend in need of patience and comfort.

People who regularly put themselves into stressful circumstances on purpose (public speakers, for example) often learn how to channel that stress response for their own benefit, but it takes practice over time. When stress goes from being an occasional experience to a chronic condition, health problems result.

Anxiety, on the other hand, isn’t necessarily a reaction to circumstances. Most often, it’s related to anticipated future or potential stress. As with stress, anxiety isn’t necessarily an immediate health problem, although it’s unpleasant. Feeling a bit anxious about an upcoming exam, the imminent birth of a baby, or the quality of a presentation can give you a push to prepare as best you can. But anxiety becomes unhelpful when it is overwhelming, requiring you to focus all your energy on surviving your immediate feelings rather than addressing their roots. Pacing, nail biting, trembling, and vomiting are signs that anxiety is veering into unhelpful territory. Test anxiety, social anxiety, and decision anxiety are all common forms of anxiety.

Anxiety disorder is the general name given to chronic, excessive anxiety in response to everyday situations. Anxiety disorders include

●     Generalized anxiety disorder: excessive anxiety in general.

●     Social anxiety disorder: anxiety disorder related to interacting with others.

●     Separation anxiety disorder: anxiety disorder related to separation from specific people, often parents or caregivers.

●     Phobias: subset of anxiety disorders characterized by persistent fear of a specific thing.

●     Panic disorder: anxiety disorder characterized by reoccurring panic attacks.

Many people discover that they have more than one type of anxiety disorder, or deal with anxiety combined with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, alcoholism, or substance abuse. While stress and anxiety are more general terms that you can probably identify in yourself, anxiety disorders can only be diagnosed by a physician.

What kinds of studies have been done on massage for anxiety and stress?

Stress:

While stress levels are largely subjective, studies focused on pain, sleep, and other outcomes often find that patients report decreased stress levels as one of the major benefits they receive from massage therapy treatments. In one study on pain in acute care settings, more than half of the patients mentioned relaxation in their survey responses. One described the experience of receiving massage as “very helpful, soothing, comforting, and relaxing,” which is notable considering how stressful being hospitalized is. Improved emotional well-being and sleep were also mentioned by many patients and nurses, both of which are good indicators of stress reduction.

Anxiety:

Most studies done on massage and anxiety have focused on specific populations. One study found significant improvement in both state (long term) and trait (immediate) anxiety in children with cancer and blood diseases who received Swedish massage. Another measured the physiological responses to stress (blood pressure and pulse) in hospitalized children and found similar results. Cardiac care patients were the focus of another study. Again, massage was shown to be helpful at reducing anxiety. Still, larger and broader studies on the matter still need to be done.

Anxiety disorders:

There have been relatively few studies on massage therapy for anxiety disorders specifically, and those that have been done have been small and generally lacking good control groups. One randomized controlled trial found that massage therapy was significantly helpful for people with generalized anxiety disorder, but no more so than thermotherapy (relaxing with hot towels placed in different locations on the body) or being in a special relaxation room with no additional treatment. This study only measured improvement over multiple weeks, and not feelings of anxiety in the short term, before and after treatments. Because this study didn’t have a no-treatment control group, they weren’t able to state whether all three were equally effective or equally ineffective.

What does all this mean?

People regularly feel that massage helps reduce their stress and anxiety. There are also other techniques that seem to be helpful to varying degrees, depending on the situation and the person. This is helpful to know, because not everyone enjoys massage. For some, touch itself can be a source of stress and anxiety, so it’s helpful to know that there are other complementary therapies available that also create positive results.

Stress and anxiety are closely tied to pain, sleep, and other factors. Reducing pain reduces stress levels. Reducing stress levels can also reduce pain. Improving sleep can impact both pain and stress, and vice versa. Does massage therapy work primarily through either pain or stress reduction, or does it impact both equally? This is an area for further study.

Massage therapy is a fairly safe way to manage stress and anxiety. With relatively few drug interactions and a very low chance for injury, massage therapy can be helpful to a wide variety of people dealing with stress and anxiety in different situations. From the smallest infants to athletes to people in hospice, there are few who could not benefit from massage therapy.

There is a lot more to learn. While there is a lot of research on massage for pain, massage for anxiety (and especially massage for anxiety disorders) has less research to back it up. It will take time and money before a large body of knowledge has been built up.

If you’re feeling stressed or anxious, massage therapy is worth trying. The evidence is still rolling in, but what we have is promising. Are you ready to give it a try? Book your next massage today.

What is Warren Buffett doing in a massage website?  This multibillionare octogenarian has some sage thoughts on the value of good self care.

Dealing with the health hype around the new year

“New year, new you!”

Is there any time of year more obsessed with health habits than the new year? Even the “beach body” craze of late May doesn’t reach the same level of hype. Every time you turn the corner, somebody else is trying to get you to try a class, a supplement, a shake, a piece of equipment, a diet, a lifestyle … and it can be exhausting trying to figure out what’s bona fide and what’s bogus. It’s perfectly normal to look forward to a fresh start in January (or not!), but here’s a little guidance on whether to put money down on that hot new habit after the holidays.

Does it promise quick fixes?

If whatever you’re thinking of trying swears you’ll get the desired result in no time at all, you can be pretty sure you’re entering into scam territory. The human body is based on homeostasis. It can change, and it does, but most of those changes occur over time. There’s a reason why most things that cause fast changes in the body (like surgery and drugs) require a physician to administer them; they can be dangerous if not used carefully. If you’ve been out of shape for five years, don’t expect to get back in shape in five weeks. That’s just not how the body works.

Does it promise a panacea?

There are diets that can help you lose weight. There are exercise routines that can help you gain muscle and strength. There are massages that can help you relax and manage your stress levels. (Might want to get on that one soon.) But if someone is selling One Amazing Thing that will evaporate your fat, increase your happiness, straighten your posture, whiten your teeth, cure your cancer, and send your sex drive through the roof? You can be pretty sure it’s not worth your money. No, that essential oil will not prevent ebola, but it does smell nice and could help improve your mood if you like it. Don’t pay a Magical Thinking Tax for exaggerated claims.

Does it rely on conspiracy theories for marketing?

Conspiracies can be fun to read about, but if the main selling point is that “doctors hate it” or “Big Pharma doesn’t want you to know about this,” it’s probably not the best addition to your life. Why? Because you and your physician (and your dentist, your massage therapist, your counselor, your personal trainer, your nutritionist ...) are part of your health and wellness team. If any one of them refuses to be a team player, they’re not doing what’s best for you. Casting aspersions on some of your VIPs? Not cool. If you haven’t heard much about a particular tool, it’s probably not because your health team is trying desperately to get you to stick to being sick. It’s much more likely that the thing just doesn’t work at all.

Does it fit your life, your budget, your goals, and your understanding of reality?

If yes, then this is something worth looking into, whether it’s a gym membership, a cookbook of heart-healthy meals, or a habit tracking app. Ultimately, we try things out and see how they work for us over the long haul. Not everything will be a perfect fit, but at least we can weed out some of the resolutionist marketing malarkey and move forward with our best efforts into the new year.