River Rock Aromastone Massage
By Kristine Shultis, MM, CTN, LMT (NCTMB), RM
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils for healing. This healing technique is used by itself or in combination with other healing modalities such as massage. There are over 3,000 types of essential oils which are made by steam distillation, pressing or extraction of plant material. Essential oils work by being absorbed by the skin into the body and by the inhalation of the scent acting on the brain.
Massage therapy is a great way to introduce your clients to the healing benefits of aromatherapy. Topical applications for essential oil use include stress reduction, injury rehabilitation, detoxification and the reduction of chronic symptoms associated with underlying soft tissue pathology. River Rock Aromastone Massage is a simple way to add essential oils to your heated stone massage by combining essential oils with a carrier oil and applying the oil to the stones and client and/or by adding essential oils to the water in the stone heater.
The following essential oils are used for River Rock Aromastone Massage: lavender, rose, eucalyptus, sweet orange, vanilla, sandalwood, peppermint, rosemary, frankincense, geranium, bergamot, lemon and tea tree. Purchase them by clicking here.
How Essential Oils Work
Essential oils are able to work their way deeply into the body. They are moved through the body via blood circulation and are absorbed by lymphatic fluid, cells, nerve pathways, fatty tissue and muscles before being excreted by the lungs and kidneys. When inhaled, essential oils reach the olfactory nerves which transfer the information into electrochemical signals in the brain. Essential oils can affect the production of hormones and the immune system.
Contraindications
Contraindications for essential oil use include pregnancy, cancer patients and persons with epilepsy or seizures. Persons who have used topical applications of essential oils should avoid sun exposure after use as many are phototoxic.
The following essential oils may raise blood pressure and should be used with caution: pine, hyssop, rosemary, common sage, and thyme.
Essential oils may be toxic if ingested. Ingestion of essential oils is beyond the scope of practice for massage therapy.
Properties of Essential Oils
Essential oils have many excellent healing properties. Below is a list of the healing properties of the oils:
Alterative – An agent that corrects disordered body functions and supports balance in the body.
Oils – lavender, Melissa, geranium
Analgesic – An agent that reduces the sensation of pain.
Oils – bergamot, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon grass, peppermint, rosemary, rosewood
Anti-depressant – An agent that helps to alleviate depression.
Oils – bergamot, geranium, lavender, lemon grass, sweet orange, rose, rosewood, sandalwood, vanilla
Anti-inflammatory – An agent that decreases inflammation.
Oils – frankincense, geranium, peppermint, sweet orange, tea tree
Anti-neuralgic – An agent that relieves or decreases nerve pain.
Oils – Eucalyptus
Antipruritic – An agent that relieves or prevents itching.
Oils – peppermint, birch
Anti-rheumatic – An agent that decreases or relieves rheumatism.
Oils – birch, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary
Antiviral – An agent that destroys or disrupts the life of a viral pathogen.
Oils – eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree
Astringent – An agent that firms or tightens skin.
Oils – birch, frankincense, geranium, lemon, lemon grass, peppermint, rose, rosemary, sandalwood, tea tree
Cicatrisant – An agent that promotes healing through the formation of scar tissue.
Oils – eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, lemon, rose, rosemary, sandalwood
Cytophylactic – An agent that increases the activity of leukocytes in the body, therefore boosting immunity.
Oils – frankincense, lavender, rosemary, tea tree
Depurative – An agent that combats impurities in the blood and organs and aids detoxification.
Oils – birch, eucalyptus, lemon, rose
Diaphoretic – an agent that promotes or increases perspiration.
Oils – Rosemary, tea tree
Diuretic – an agent that promotes the production of urine and aids the body in removing fluid.
Oils – bergamot, birch, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, lavender, lemon, rosemary, sandalwood
Expectorant – An agent that promotes the removal of mucus from the respiratory system.
Oils – eucalyptus, frankincense, peppermint, tea tree
Hypotensive – An agent that lowers blood pressure.
Oils – lavender, lemon, lemon grass, peppermint, rosemary
Relaxant – An agent that soothes and relieves tension.
Oils – lavender, sandalwood, vanilla
Restorative – An agent that revitalizes and strengthens the body.
Oils – lavender, lemon, rosemary, tea tree
Rubefacient – an agent that increases local circulation to the skin and is warming.
Oils – birch, eucalyptus, rosemary
Sedative – an agent that sedates or calms the central nervous system, a body system or the body in general.
Oils – frankincense, lavender, lemon grass, sweet orange, rose, sandalwood, vanilla
Stimulant – An agent that increases the function of a body system or the body in general.
Oils – bergamot, eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, lemon, peppermint, sweet orange, rosemary, rosewood
Vulnerary – an agent that is healing for the skin.
Oils – bergamot, eucalyptus, geranium, rosemary, rosewood
Blending Essential Oils
The oils are blended because they are synergistic and work well together. Blending the oils makes them even more effective than single oils alone.
Essential oils should be used diluted and are added to a carrier oil Your favorite natural massage oil will work well as the carrier oil provided that it is unscented. Do not use mineral oil, petroleum, lanolin, coconut oil or cocoa butter as these inhibit the ability of the essential oil to be absorbed by the body.
The oils are divided into three categories according to how they evaporate. Top notes evaporate more quickly and give you your first impression of the scent of the oil. Middle notes evaporate more slowly and make up the main scents of the oil. Base notes evaporate the slowest and bind the other scents of the blend together. The following shows how the oils are divided into Top, Middle and Base notes. Some oils can be used in more than one way.
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Top
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Middle
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Base
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Bergamot
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Geranium
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Frankincense
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Birch
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Lavender
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Sandalwood
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Cedarwood
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Lemon grass
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Vanilla
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Lavender
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Rose
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Lemon
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Orange
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Peppermint
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Rosemary
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Blending Your Oils
Concentration means the amount of essential oil that has been added to the carrier oil. Because the heat used in stone massage intensifies the essential oils’ affect, a concentration of 1% to 2.5% should be used. Essential oil can also be added to the water in the stone heater. Measure your oil in a bottle measured in ounces and add drops of the essential oil. Gently shake to blend.
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Carrier Oil
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Concentration in Drops
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Ounces (oz)
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1%
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2%
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2.5%
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½
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3
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6
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7.5
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1
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6
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12
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15
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2
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12
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24
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30
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4
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24
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48
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60
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8
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48
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96
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120
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Less is more – start with ½ the recommended amount
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When blending essential oils generally, oils with similar scents blend well together. There are also a number of combinations of different scents that blend well together such as floral and citrus, and mint and citrus. Blend according to the properties of the oils, the top, middle and bottom notes, and/or the scents. There are no bad blends and each is subjective and right for the person it is created for. Experimentation is a must with blending. Remember that less is more; always start out with just a few drops and add more as needed. Rosemary, citrus, sandalwood, bergamot and lavender are oils that enhance and smooth out the scent of blends.
Scents of Essential Oils Chart 1
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Refreshing
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Light/Fresh
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Powdery
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Sweet
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Medicinal
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Floral
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Bergamot
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Rosewood
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Cedarwood
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Birch
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Eucalyptus
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Geranium
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Eucalyptus
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Sweet orange
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Frankincense
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Lavender
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Birch
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Lavender
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Geranium
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Bergamot
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Sandalwood
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Rose
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Tea tree
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Rose
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Lemon grass
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Lavender
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Vanilla
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Rose-wood
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Rosemary
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Lemon
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Vanilla
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Scents of Essential Oils Chart 2
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Green/Herbaceous
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Exotic
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Warm
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Lemon
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Citrus
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Minty
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Rosemary
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Sandalwood
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Lavender
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Lemon
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Bergamot
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Peppermint
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Vanilla
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Lemon grass
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Lemon
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Rose
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Sweet orange
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Below are some blends used at River Rock Massage. Experiment with these blends and then create your own. Always wash your stones and change the water in the heater between clients when using essential oil. At River Rock Massage I use two stone heaters with rocks if I have two clients back to back that will have River Rock Aromastone Therapy. Beginning with hot water in your stone heater will cut the time it takes to heat the water and be ready for your next client.
Relaxing Blend 1 Relaxing Blend 2 Uplifting Blend
Lavender Rosemary Orange
Geranium Sandalwood Lavender
Sandalwood Sandalwood
Calming Blend 1 Calming Blend 2 Rejuvenating Blend
Lavender Lavender Bergamot
Frankincense Rosemary Frankincense
Sandalwood Rose
Therapeutic Blend 1 Therapeutic Blend 2 Comforting Blend 1
Eucalyptus Tea Tree Rose
Lavender Lavender Lavender
Lemon Lemon Orange
Stimulating or Foot Blend Comforting Blend 2
Peppermint Orange
Geranium Rose
Lavender Vanilla
These oils and blends will get you started on a wonderful healing journey. Purchase them and other stone massage supplies by clicking here.
