Take a deep breath. Smell that? In recent years, aromatherapy has taken off in Western culture. Chances are that you have inhaled an aroma purported to calm, soothe, energize or balance. True to our capitalistic roots, this ancient healing art has become big business. Aromatherapy is now used to market everything from room deodorizers to laundry detergent. What’s behind this sensational trend and why the booming popularity?

Aromatherapy is commonly used in alternative medicine. While many forms of natural medicine can be traced to our neighbors in the East, aromatherapy is a product of the French. The modern term aromatherapy is often traced to French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse. It is said that Gattefosse burned his hand in the lab and thrust it into the nearest liquid which happened to be lavender oil. His hand healed without scars and he began to investigate the healing and psychotherapeutic benefits of essential oils. During World War II, another Frenchman, Dr. Jean Valmet, used essential oils as an antiseptic, and aromatherapy later achieved status as a holistic therapy due to the efforts of Madame Marguerite Maury. We can also thank Madame Maury for the use of essential oils in massage therapy.

There is no denying that scent plays a significant role in our lives. Our sense of smell can help us to detect danger, signal us to eat, and affect our mood. In 2004, the Nobel Prize was awarded to U.S. researchers Linda Buck and Richard Axel for their discovery of 1,000 genes and receptors for the sense of smell. In awarding the coveted prize, the jury noted, “A unique odor can trigger distinct memories from our childhood or from emotional moments—positive or negative—later in life.”

Aromatherapy practitioners use essential oils to treat digestive disorders, aches and pains, and psychological disorders. In many countries, essential oils are regulated and can be prescribed by physicians. Japan, Germany, Russia and the United States do not recognize aromatherapy as a valid branch of medicine. Detractors, while not minimizing the role of smell in the human life, refute the healing powers of oil. Yet, both the scientific and the nonscientific communities agree that aroma does have an impact. For most of us, it does not take scientific evidence to validate the connection between aroma and our brains. The fragrant aroma of certain foods makes us salivate in seconds, the smell of baked goodies can evoke feelings of comfort, and peppermint has the amazing power to refresh and reenergize.

In the West, scent therapy has less to do with healing disease and more with healing mood, thus the popularity of adding scent to household items. Lavender oil has a calming effect and is linked to male sexual response. The sweet, spicy smell of basil improves concentration and lifts depression. Tea tree oils noted for their antimicrobial properties are frequently found in hair and skin care products. Even skeptics accept that mint and eucalyptus relieve stuffy noses caused by colds and flu. The perfume industry has always marketed the mood-invoking power of scent. Scents are marketed as sensual, sexy, calming, refreshing, natural, and romantic. Shopping malls use scent to create a mood. During the holiday season, the lighting and aromas are all designed to put you in a holly, jolly shopping mood. And, of course, there is no denying the difference that scented oils make during a massage.

If you are interested in true aromatherapy, it is best to visit a trained professional, such as a holistic physician. Oils can be very potent and when used inappropriately they can irritate the skin or cause more serious reactions such as liver damage or seizures. If you simply enjoy certain fragrances and the way they make you feel by all means indulge your passion. Even detractors cannot refute that if a particular scent or smell makes you feel better, by all means burn it, spray it, or lather up in it. Whether scientifically validated or not, feeling good is a worthwhile benefit.

Karen D. Swim is the President and CEO of Words For Hire, a Content Creation and Marketing Firm. Karen helps clients develop articles, whitepapers, resumes, bios and other content that increases their visibility and credibility within their target market. She brings a passion and commitment to every project and clients frequently comment on her ability to “get it right.” You can email Karen at mailto:karen@wordsforhirellc.com karen@wordsforhirellc.com.

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Tags: Hair, massage, massage therapy, scars

A person who has a healthy face will often find that their mind and body is healthy as well. Though little attention is given to our faces, a massage therapist feels that this is one of the most neglected areas of a persons body and certainly we only seem to given attention to the surface of it, but there are 15 muscles in the face which accumulate tension caused by the natural fixed expressions we have on them as well as pollution and air conditioning also worsening the problem.

A common symptom of a person who is suffering with tight and achy muscles to their face and head is a headache and a way to help relieve the aches and pains someone is feeling in the face and head area is for them to undergo a session of head and face massage.

There are many different types of face massage, those that include aromatherapy, those use herbs and there are a variety of facials that are carried out at beauty clinics or spas and those carried out by a professional massage therapist. As with head massages there are a number of different kinds being practiced one being the Indian Head Massage or the Thai Massage. However all of these can be customized to suit the persons particular requirements and may involve the use of oils such as aromatherapy, relaxation blends or oils that can be used to stop hair falling out.

There are many benefits to a person having a face or head massage and mainly it is used to help relax the muscles that have become in the face and head of the person being treated. The use of stroking, pressure and massage on the face or head helps to not only break down and remove toxins that have accumulated in the body, but it helps improve the circulation of blood around the body resulting in vital nutrients being taken to the head and brain which results in that person finding that their mind is much clearer and their concentration levels have improved. Face and head massages are known to be particularly good for helping relieve stress, tension, fatigue, insomnia, headaches, migraines and sinusitis. Often some people find that other added benefits from a head or face massage is that their hair grows better and the condition of their hair and skin has also improved.

Certainly by having a face and head massage the masseuse or health professional is aiming to increase the clients joint mobility and flexibility to their neck and shoulders whilst improving the circulation of blood and the lymphatic flow around the body, which helps to release the knots resulting from muscular tension as well as relaxing the connective tissue.

You will soon discover that massage therapists use a number of different movements in the session from deep kneading and compression movements around the neck, shoulder and scalp areas. Whilst a massage therapist will use gentle stimulation and stroke pressure on particular parts of the face when doing a face massage. The length of a face and head massage session can last anything from 20 minutes up to 45 minutes and normally after a session the massage therapist will make the client remain relaxed for a further 10 to 20 minutes. Often people find that a good face and head massage leads to better sleep at night.

The best part of a head and face massage is that it is flexible and can be performed on the client in either a seated or sleeping position and it can either be done on its own or whilst the client is having a full body massage (this will certainly complete a persons massage experience). Also this kind of massage can be carried out whilst the client is fully clothed so no need to get embarrassed.

Kerris Samson a work from home mum who has carried out extensive research in all forms of alternative medicines, treatments and therapies over the last year. She has now set up a site dealing with all aspects of massage and massage therapy and if you would like to learn more please visit massage.letsgetpampered.com massage.letsgetpampered.com

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Tags: Hair, massage, massage therapist, massage therapy, sleep

Foot massage is a great treatment for relaxation. The therapy can provide you excellent relaxation and stress relief. Have you ever imagined the amount of relief and comfort our feet require? No. The reason lies in the fact that feet are the most neglected part of our body. We walk for hours, stand most of the time and carry weight. All these strenuous activities have adverse impact on our feet. The reason is that feet play an important role in all the activities mentioned above.

Foot massage is a therapy that provides you ultimate relaxation via application of structured or unstructured pressure, tension or vibration. The therapy offers a lot of benefits to feet. It can relieve you of many tensions and make you feel rejuvenated. It helps relaxing the tense muscles in your feet, thereby providing you a feeling of wellbeing and relaxation.

There are several other benefits of a foot massage. It is the best way to tell a loved one that you care. If you are involved in a high stress job or work on your feet for most of the time, then you require a foot massage. It will work as a tension reliever and make your feet feel better after a long tiring day. The therapy is capable of relaxing your mind and soul. A foot massage early in the morning will make your day and the same therapy at nigh will relieve you of all the tensions you have suffered from during the day.

A foot massage can help you relax emotionally and mentally. It also makes you feel pampered. No wonder most massage parlors are filled with customers these days.

Foot massage at home:

A foot massage at home will relieve you of all the tensions and make your body muscles feel relaxed and stress free. You can massage your own feet at home. You can purchase a foot massager for yourself and avail the benefits a foot massage can provide you. This massage will provide you all the benefits that you can experience via getting a foot massage from a professional massage therapist.

You can also opt for a heat and massage therapy. A typical massaging foot warmer bootie will provide you maximum comfort and relieve you from stress and aching feet. Another method is to immerse your feet in to lukewarm water and massage your feet with a quality topical cream.

Here are some of the most famous and beneficial foot massage techniques.

a) Stroking:

This is a technique that stimulates the blood. Vessels in to feet and promotes gentle heat.

b) Ankle rotation:

Here, the foot is rotated clockwise and anticlockwise to relax the foot from the ankle joint.

c) Pivoting:

The technique involves relaxing especially via varying the amount of pressure that is applied to the ball of the foot.

d) Kneading:

The technique uses the knuckles at the second joints.

e) Finger walking:

This technique involves walking fingers horizontally to your feet.

Foot massage is a great therapy for enjoying ultimate relaxation.

AboutMassages.com AboutMassages.com brings you the latest on massage. Massages are gaining in popularity, and we want to bring you up to date information! Be sure to check out our latest information page on AboutMassages.com/footmassage.html foot massage.

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Tags: massage, massage therapist, massage therapy

With so many massage chairs available on the market, where does one begin to choose the best massage chair? Several online sources are available that give consumer massage chair reviews. Perhaps a good way to begin your search is to use Google for the query “massage chair reviews”. This is a good tool to begin your search to finding the best massage chair.

Sanyo manufactures one of the most popular massage chairs available. Some of their products offer innovative and advanced technology not found in other models. A couple of their models offer stiffness sensors, fitness sensors and massage memory. Stiffness sensors locate areas that need to be worked and target those specific areas. The fitness sensor determines your body shape and contour and assists the chair in fitting your needs.

Another leading manufacturer of massage chairs is iJoy. iJoy owns the patented “Human Touch” massage chair technology. These chairs move three-dimensionally and have four different mode settings. The American College of Chiropractic Orthopedists recommend iJoy’s products above all others.

Premier massage chairs have high rankings among message chair reviews. Consumers praise the chairs’ massaging techniques and say that they work wonders on back and neck pain. These chairs are also among the least expensive on the market. Consumers can buy a Premier message chair for up to $400 less than other brands.

Human Touch massage chairs are among the most popular and most expensive. These chairs are, by far, the most technologically advanced chairs of our time. The mechanisms inside the chair serve to closely resemble the firm and precise handling of a massage therapist. They are wonderful devices for people with neck, back and shoulder pain and have also been reported to aid in the relief of headaches and other ailments.

e-massagechair.com Massage Chairs Info provides detailed information on shiatsu massage chairs, portable massage chairs, massage therapy chairs, massage recliner chairs, vending massage chairs, massage chair reviews and manufacturers, and chair massages. Massage Chairs Info is the sister site of e-adjustablebeds.com Adjustable Beds Web.

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Tags: Hair, massage, massage therapist, massage therapy