United States Sports Academy
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The Sport Digest - ISSN: 1558-6448

Aromatherapy Massage

Submitted by: Dr. Zen P. Lin, Mingdao University, Taiwan, Jen-Jeng Hsu, Mingdao University, Taiwan, Dr. Ric Esposito, Chair of Sports Medicine, USSA

Aromatherapy massage is the combination of massage therapy and the utilization of essential fragrant oils. This kind of massage therapy has been utilized within the body sciences for some time. Aromatherapy massage has been shown to benefit those experiencing pain and stress. Aromatherapy acts upon the central nervous system, relieving depression and anxiety, reducing stress, relaxing, sedating, stimulating, and restoring physical and emotional well-being (Motomura, Sakurai, & Yotsuya, 2001).

Price & Price (1999) showed that aromatherapy is the use of essential fragrant oils (the pure volatile portion of aromatic plant products normally extracted by distillation) for therapeutic or medical purposes. Essential fragrant oils encompass over 60 kinds of herbal oils. Aromatherapy massage can help to ease aches, pains, and injuries (Smith, Collins, Cyna , & Crowther, 2003; Gedney, Glover, & Fillingim, 2004; Leach, 2004). It has also been utilized by athletic trainers and sports hysiotherapists to improve an athlete’s fitness and recovery time during competition (Leach, 2004).

Spurling (2000) pointed out that there is evidence that stress reduction can be beneficial in improving and strengthening the immune system. This evidence appears to support the inclusion of aromatherapy in areas of nursing such as wound healing and infection control. There have been reports on the influence of massage on the immune functions of human immune deficiency (HIV)-positive patients (Birk, McGrady, MacArthu, & Khuder, 2000).

Aromatherapy is popularly applied to reduce anxiety, promote relaxation and increase well-being in patients (Edge, 2003). Cooke & Ernst (2000) did six randomized clinical trials to study the results of aromatherapy massage and concluded that aromatherapy appears to have at least a transient ability to reduce anxiety.

Aromatherapy massage can bring on the physiological benefits not only through the therapist’s hands, which physically manipulate human tissue, but also by bringing about a psychological component of relaxation by utilizing the sense of smell to strengthen the whole curative effect.

Glover & Fillingim (2004) have identified eleven advantages of Aromatherapy Massage:

  1. Promote deep relaxation and relieve the physical and psychological weariness.
  2. Improve the function of the inherent internal organs indirectly or directly.
  3. Release tense muscular pressure and decrease muscle pain.
  4. Promote the blood circulation of the musculature and relieve the symptoms of inflammation and pain.
  5. Increase body elasticity and energy.
  6. Decrease the symptoms of the arthritis and rheumatism.
  7. Restore and speed up tissue healing of sprains and fractures.
  8. Promote the function of the digestive system.
  9. Promote the kidney and lymphatic systems to accelerate the suppression of the toxins and wastes.
  10. Relieve various kinds of headache symptoms.
  11. Promote relaxation to increase mood and decrease psychological stress.

References

Birk, T.J., McGrady, A., MacArthu,r R.D., & Khuder, S. (2000). The effects of massage therapy alone and in combination with other complementary therapies on immune system measures and quality of life in human immunodeficiency virus. Journal Altern Complement Medicine.6, 405-14.

Cooke, B, & Ernst, E. (2000). Aromatherapy: a systematic review. British Journal Gen Practice. 50, 493-6.

Edge, J. (2003). A pilot study addressing the effect of aromatherapy massage on mood, anxiety and relaxation in adult mental health. Complement Theory Nursing Midwifery. 9, 90-7.

Gedney, J.J., Glover, T.L.,& Fillingim, R.B. (2004). Sensory and affective pain discrimination after inhalation of essential oils. Psychosom Medicine. 66, 599-606.

Leach, M.J. (2004). A critical review of natural therapies in wound management. Ostomy Wound Manage. 50, 36-40.

Motomura, N., Sakurai, A., & Yotsuya, Y. (2001). Reduction of mental stress with lavender odorant. Percept Motor Skills. 93, 713-8.

Price, S.,& Price, L. (1999). Aromatherapy for Health Professionals. London: Churchill Livingston.

Smith, C.A., Collins, C.T., Cyna, A.M., & Crowther, C.A. (2003). Complementary and alternative therapies for pain management in labour. Cochrane Database System Review.

Spurling, S. (2000). Alternative practice and complementary therapies in community children’s nursing. Textbook of Community Children’s Nursing. London: Ballière Tindall.