Massage Add-on Services and Spa Therapies, Why and What They Do #1: Essential Oils

Massage Add-on Services and Spa Therapies, Why and What They Do #1: Essential Oils


Wherever you go to get a massage, talk about add-on services will come up at some point. But what do they do for you and are they worth the extra money? 


Some of the most common add-on and spa therapies that we are going to cover in this new series are: essential oils, hot stones, reflexology, paraffin wax treatments, facial/scalp massages, body wraps, body scrubs, dry brushing, and CBD massages. We are going to explain their therapeutic benefits and when you should consider paying the extra to enjoy them. 



Essential Oils


Essential Oils are commonly used for a variety of ailments and to achieve many different effects. Often called aromatherapy, essential oils are touted to cure muscle soreness, headaches, mood disorders and even kill bacteria. While they have been proven to affect mood based on the way scents enter the olfactory  system and reach the amygdala in the brain (the center of moods and emotions) the way that smells influence peoples moods are very individual and ones that calm one person may energize another so it’s hard to say which ones should be used based on the desired mood change. As for the claims about headaches, muscle soreness and killing bacteria there have been studies supporting their ability to do these things but only under certain circumstances for instance if you have a tension headache using an oil that calms you may just help ease your headache but if your headache is caused by a medical condition or injury oils are not likely to help much if at all. 


Where oils are helpful in certain situations and mostly as a way smells affect people individually there is very little research that supports claims that these oils can cure or even change systems in the body. While there is ancient knowledge about plants healing and helping many different issues and health problems the knowledge has gotten mostly lost and often doesn’t apply to the oils being used for nearly all of the supposed ways they help. Additionally, the effectiveness of the oil being used is only as good as the therapeutic grade and purity of that oil. Most commercial oils have very little actual plant extract and more scent and chemicals in them which negates the positive effects they are supposed to have. 


Old world knowledge tells us plants are medicinal and beneficial for a wide variety of ailments and conditions. When used correctly they can help a variety of conditions. One example of how essential oils are able to help: evening primrose oil for Women’s health issues such as PMS and menopause as well as for ripening the cervix and starting labor during pregnancy. If you do your research and make sure you are using your oils properly they can in fact be very beneficial to your health and wellness, just be sure about which oils to use and how to use them to get the desired effect and remember oils are not a replacement for medical care.


That being said, they are helpful and wonderful for things like clearing out sinuses, relieving tension, elevating mood and promoting overall well-being. With that in mind they are worth using if you are seeking to affect those things. I wouldn’t use them in lieu of medical treatment or a healthy diet but using them alongside those things most likely won’t hurt your chances as long as it’s within reason and in a knowledgeable way. Using them during massage treatments can make them more effective if you find the right blend for your goals and is worth the money if you are aiming to have pleasant, calming or uplifting smells during your session.


Read this John's Hopkins article for more information about what they are and what they are used for: Essential Oils 

Read this Massage Today article for more information about absorption and proper use 

Read this Healthline article for more information on whether or not oils really work. 

Read this PubMed peer reviewed article for more about the psychological effect of oils.

Read this PubMed article for information about treating COVID-19 with essential oils. 


That’s it for week one of this new series. Join us next week for: Massage add-on and spa therapies, why and what they do #2 Hot Stones!


Stay strong. Stay healthy. Keep fighting for yourself, you’re worth it.

From: Ame Hinman at Hinman Healing




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