The best form of treatment for back pain is prevention. Regular massage with essential oils and baths will prevent pain by reducing stress, improving muscle tone, relaxing tight muscles and improving the general level of wellbeing.
Causes of back pain:
Dysfunction of the intervertebral joints of the spine due to injury.
Spondylitis (synonymous with osteoarthritis and degenerative back disease).
Poor posture and muscle tone.
Arthritis and osteoporosis.
Lack of exercise or overtraining.
Improper footwear and walking habits.
Improper lifting.
Obesity and sedentary lifestyle.
Straining.
Calcium deficiency.
Slouching when sitting.
Sleeping on the mattress that is too soft.
Back pain is the total suffering of a person in the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects. Aromatherapy addresses all of the above.
Aromatherapy Treatment for Back Pain.
Massage with Essential Oils – Massage can be a valuable way of re-educating tense muscles, relieving pain, swelling, reducing inflammation and stress levels.
Compresses – Cold/Hot. Cold compresses may be used to relieve tiredness due to overwork or stress, and to alleviate acute pain. Hot compresses are often used to reduce pain of a chronic nature.
Baths – This is a very effective method because the essential oils are absorbed into the skin. A soothing warm bath with essential oils is just the thing to relax tight, tense muscles in the shoulders and upper back.
Benefits of Aromatherapy in reducing Back Pain.
Aromatherapy can help alleviate the symptoms of back pain in a number of ways:
- Relax the muscles which in turn reduces the stimulation of pain centres.
- Reduce mental/emotional stress ( mood is lifted leading to a reduced perception of pain).
- Encourage blood flow around the body, providing the muscles with nutrients and oxygen.
- Aid in the maintenance of healthy muscles.
- Relieve local inflammation.
- Speed recovery from muscle injury.
Therapeutic Effect of Essential Oils.
Analgesic. It relieves or diminishes pain.
Rubefacient. It warms and increases blood flow.
Anti-inflammatory. It alleviates inflammation.
Antispasmodic. It prevents and eases spasms.
Detoxifying. It cleanse and purifies the bloodstream.
Essential oils for Back Pain.
Essential oils: Battaglia (2003) recommends Blacj pepper, Cajeput, Cinnamon bark, Clove bud, German Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Juniper berry, Lemon, Sweet marjoram, Nutmeg, Peppermint, Pine, Rosemary, Thyme. Others : Vetiver, Sweet orange, Frankincense, Benzoin.
Carrier oils : Arnica infused oil, St John’s Wort.
Aromatherapy Oil Blend for Back Pain
Lower Back Pain Blend
2 drops Spike Lavender
2 drops Sweet marjoram
2 drop Black pepper
in 10ml of carrier oil
(avoid if you have hypotension)
Backache Blend
2 drops Ginger
2 drops Cajeput
2 drops Lemon
in 10ml of carrier oil
If you live in Wellington, NZ and are looking for massage: Aromatherapy and Ayurveda – contact me on (+64) 0210778203 or hello@shamamatherapy.com
Head Massage offers a multidimensional approach to the management of conditions associated with the nervous system such as depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia.
Head is the most important organ of the body because all the sense organs like the eyes, ears, nose and tongue are located in it. Although the techniques used in Head Massage involve only the upper part of the body, the potential benefits are widespread.
Benefits of Head Massage
Increases blood flow to the head, neck and shoulders.
Improves circulation and nutrition to scalp, the skin and the hair.
Relaxes the muscle and nerve fibres of the head, neck and shoulders.
Reduces pain, spasms, restrictions and adhesions in the muscle fibres.
Reduces stress.
Drains any accumulated toxins.
Stimulates the release of endorphins from the brain.
Relaxes the mind and body.
Improves sleep patterns.
Increases the supply of oxygen to the brain.
Increases energy levels.
Promotes healthy hair growth.
Helps relieve mental fatigue and improves concentration.
Slows down the speed of ageing.
Head Massage with essential oils provides nourishment to all sense organs and promote their normal and natural functioning.
Essential oils for Head Massage
| Hair Loss: Roman chamomile, Rose, Rosewood, Peppermint, Coriander Oily Hair : Cedarwood, Lavender, Lemon, Sage, Lemon balm, Cypress. Greying Hair: Coriander, Sage, Lemon. Hair Growth: Rosemary, Coriander, Cedarwood. Dundruff: Lavender, Yarrow, Sandalwood , Lemon balm, Cypress, Cedarwood, Rosemary, Ylang Ylang. Eczema: Lavender, Sandalwood, Roman chamomile, Benzoin, Rose. Psorisis: Lavender, Sandalwood, Roman chamomile. Alopecia: Thyme, Rosemary, Lavender, Cedarwood. Headache and Migraines: Roman chamomile, Clary sage, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Spike lavender, Lemon, Sweet marjoram, Neroli, Peppermint, Rosemary, Thyme. Insomnia: Lavender, Roman chamomile, Sandalwood, Sweet orange, Ylang Ylang. Depression, Anxiety & Stress: Bergamot, Basil, Cedarwood, Roman chamomile, Cypress, Frankincense, Elemi, Jasmine Absolute, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Sweet marjoram, Neroli, Melissa, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Rose, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang, Sweet orange, Clary sage. |
| Carrier oils : Neem, Sesame, Jojoba. |
When using essential oils to treat nervous system it is important to identify the cause of a problem before selecting the essential oils.
Head Massage Blend for Insomnia
1 drop Ylang Ylang
2 drops Lavender
2 drops Sandalwood
2 drops Sweet orange
in 30ml Sesame oil
Head Massage Blend for Headache
2 drops Peppermint
2 drops Lavender
2 drops Sweet marjoram
1 drop Rosewood
in 30ml Sesame oil
Contraindications for Head Massage
Cold.
Fever.
Indigestion.
Inflammation of the scalp.
Frequency of Head Massage
In India, head massage is often part of a daily schedule. In the western world, as part of a stress management programme, head massage should ideally be carried out once or even twice a week for maximum benefit.
Head Massage balances the body, relieves pressure and soothes away tension, so we can breathe, stand and move more freely. A head massage is a soothing and relaxing treatment, allowing you to escape the stresses and strains of daily living.
If you live in Wellington, NZ and are looking for massage: Aromatherapy and Ayurveda – contact me on (+64) 0210778203 or hello@shamamatherapy.com
Healthy skin is an indicator of your overall health. It means healthy body and mind. It is all connected. Taking care of your skin has just as much to do with how you treat your body and mind. What a beautiful relief: there are very simple steps to follow to achieve glowing skin.
Use essential oils in your skincare.
Essential oils and aromatherapy are particularly valuable for skin conditions because they can address the problem on a variety of levels.
Chemical complexity. They are so complex that it is very difficult for pathogenic bacteria to develop 
resistance.
Synergy and multifaceted actions. The plant has created several compounds whose purpose is to alleviate exactly the side effects that the isolated constituent produces in living organism. Bacteria, unlike pharmaceuticals, do not develop resistance to plant medicines. Plant medicines, contain thousands of complex compounds that work synergistically.
Reduced side effects (internally and externally). Virtually no whole plants are used in modern medicine. It produces a number of unpleasant side effects during treatment. Only when the whole plant is used, the side effects do not exist.
Healthy skin loves natural ingredients.
“While normal cosmetics treatment is symptom-oriented and attempts to change the skin in one way or another, the goal of essential oils treatment is always the restoration of balance. Treatment with essential oils attempts to bring the metabolic functions back into balance.”
Your skin is your biggest organ, and everything you put on it absorbs directly into your bloodstream. Limit the exposure to soaps, detergents, solvents, and water. Reduce the frequency of bathing, showering, and cleansing. Apply the oil regularly.
Choose appropriate skincare products for your skin type.
Dry skin won’t like it if you use on it a skincare products formulated for oily skin.
| Essential oils for dry skin: Battaglia (2003) recommends German and Roman chamomile, Geranium, Jasmine absolute, Lavender, Neroli, Palmarosa, Rose absolute or Otto, Rosewood, Sandalwood and Ylang Ylang. Others : Vetiver, Sweet orange, Frankincense, Benzoin. |
| Essential oils for oily skin : Battaglia (2003) recommends Bergamot, Cedarwood, Clary sage, Cypress, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Juniper berry, Mandarin, Palmarosa, Spike lavender, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Tea tree, Thyme ct. linalool, Ylang Ylang. |
| Essential oils for normal skin: Battaglia (2003) recommends German chamomile, Neroli, Rose, Geranium, Palmarosa, Lavender, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang. |
As you can see above, appropriate essential oils vary from skin to skin. Those that are good for oily skin have astringent, antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-infectious therapeutic properties. Essential oils good for dry skin have hydrating, vulnerary
Healthy skin likes routine.
Beautiful skin requires commitment. If you wish to improve appearance and heath of your skin, you must care 
for it every day, from the inside and outside out. Improvement is rarely dramatic and treatment needs to be continued for several months. But it is worth it!
Improper skin care, such as insufficient lubrication, and lack of protection against moisture loss further exacerbate dryness in already dry skin. Sun protection is extremely important.
Oily skin benefits from regular use of clay masks and steam treatments to unblock pores and prevent blackhead forming.
When treating a combination skin, each area is treated for its particular condition.
Normal skin requires proper cleansing, morning and evening. It also likes protective moisturisers and hydrating creams at night.
Limit the sun exposure.
Your skin will be thankful to you if you limit the sun exposure to minimum. Don’t avoid it completely as it helps your body produce vitamin D naturally. But if you are planning on being in the sun for longer, wear protective clothes and lubricate your skin well.
Healthy skin loves water. 
It keeps the skin well hydrated and glistening, thereby, enhancing the complexion. When skin is hydrated, it looks plumper, and the signs of ageing are minimised. Drinking enough water combats skin conditions such as eczema, psorisis. It also improves skin elasticity. Alcohol and coffee on the other hand has a strong dehydrating effect, so should be limited to minimum.
Healthy skin loves minerals and vitamins.
Vitamin A Reduces wrinkles, fades brown spots, and smoothes roughness.
Vitamin C Fights free radicals that trigger sagging,wrinkling and other ageing changes.
Vitamin B3 Increases production of ceramides and fatty acids, two key components of your skin’s outer protective barrier.
Vitamin B5 Prevents skin water loss and improves skin barrier functioning.
Vitamin E Prevents dryness by helping skin retain its natural moisture.
Vitamin K Essential for healing wounds and bruises.
Relieve mental and emotional stress.
Stress causes a chemical response in our body that can affect the health of our skin. The skin can become more sensitive, inflamed, grey and depleted. The wounds heal slower. that is why it is so important to take care of our well-being.
Healthy skin loves oil.
Use oils according to your skin type and needs. Moisturise it regularly.
Avoid excessive drinking of coffee and alcohol.
Instead go for delicious herbal teas.
Healthy skin loves good sleep.
When I was in my 20’s my skin forgave me everything. Staying up at night, drinking alcohol and smoking. But it won’t now. The body’s processes slow down and cells are not replaced as rapidly as they once were. So I make sure I get enough sleep.
Quit smoking!