There are many reasons for mixing essential oils into your massage therapy creams.
Your clients may expect, or simply enjoy, the fragrances, or you may want to utilize the therapeutic benefits of essential oils.
However, because essential oils can be irritants in even quite low concentrations, the use of a carrier oil or cream is important. Your decision to use a cream, rather than a lotion or gel, as a lubricant and carrier, will be based on personal preference and your bodywork style’s glide-and-drag needs.
That said, there are additional considerations when selecting the best carrier creams for use with essential oils.
Allergy Concerns
When choosing a carrier cream, you should consider any allergies your client may have to specific ingredients. An example is nut allergies. This allergy is becoming increasingly common, and using a nut-free carrier cream may be critically important for the health of your clients.
A thorough intake process will help you determine which of your clients have allergies, but you may find that using hypoallergenic massage products provides peace of mind for you and your clients.
Specific Ingredients for Specific Results
If you choose to use a cream as a carrier for essential oils, you may want to look for particular ingredients that provide specific benefits. For example, according to Jean Shea, BIOTONE’S founder and formulator, ingredients such as jojoba can help dissolve sebum, which may help with acne breakouts, and apricot kernel oil has skin-softening properties. Additionally, many creams provide hydration to the skin.
Choosing Your Essential Oil
Once you have chosen a carrier, you have many options regarding which essential oils to use. Although there are plenty of sources of information on essential oils, not all are reliable.
The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy established two levels for their standards for professional aromatherapy education. At level one, students learn common contraindications of some essential oils, safety issues and being aware of endangered plants used for. These standards ensure the therapist is able to work with their clients safely and responsibly.
More advanced levels cover business development, human body systems, and botany.
Choosing popular essential oils can help ensure your selections are safer, but taking the time to learn aromatherapy basics will give you a better understanding of the benefits and dangers of using essential oils in your practice.
Learn and Grow
Choosing to use essential oils in your practice can be beneficial to your clients and your overall business. Many creams serve as excellent carriers for creams, and there are options that are nut-free, hypoallergenic, and that have specific benefits for the skin.
Learning about the properties of various essential oils, as well as the basic principles for preparing them will protect both you and your clients, and may be done through continuing education.