Oils and Lotions.

posted on 8 August 2011 | posted in General

What do I use?

A massage medium is a substance that can lubricate and glide over the skin allowing the practioner to manipulate the tissue. This can be anything from oils, lotions, gels, creams and talcum powder.

Lotions are a mixture of oils and creams and are a great all round product masseurs commonly use.

Mineral oils are a manufactured oil, like baby oil are not very easy to use as these do not get absorbed into the skin and sit on the surface making it greasy and slippery. These do not allow you to get to the deeper tissues when working on the deeper muscles.

Vegetable oils are a good medium to use especially in their pure form. These are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. There are many to choose from, olive, sunflower, wheat germ, sweet almond, jojoba, grape seed, coconut and sesame are to name but a few. All have different qualities and can be used for different purposes. Vegetable oils are used as a base oil and mixed with essential oils and used for massage. Even though these are pure, care must be taken to ensure the client does not have any nut allergies when working with some of the oils.
I always suggest you seek advice from a qualified aromatherapist before using any essential oils for practice.

Creams are a common lubricant used for massaging. These are absorbed easily into the skin and are good to use for various massage techniques. They may also contain fragrances, minerals and other ingredients that could cause a skin reaction or allergy.

Talcum powder. Very rarely used as a medium as it can cause irritation when breathed in. If its used on sweaty skin, it can go lumpy so its best avoided and another substance should be used.

I always vary what substance I use for each individual client. Some may have allergies, some may not tolerate particular creams or lotions. A particular oil may not be the best substance to use for the technique I would like to perform. Pregnant ladies have to be very careful what they use as many essential oils can be harmful to the baby. Again care must be taken with various mediums when breast feeding too.

 
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