YOUR HEALING KNEADSDEC 2014

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Aromatherapy and Massage

Karrie Osborn

What essential oil is your favorite?

Any kid willrun any errandfor you, if youask at bedtime.-Red Skelton

Office Hours and Contact

Knead For Healing Therapeutic MassageBarbara Khan, LMT602-326-0422 Sunday-Thursday by appointmentwww.kneadforhealing.massagetherapy.com

In this Issue

Aromatherapy and MassageSoothe Your Skin's Winter AilmentsFoods to Boost Your Mood

Aromatherapy, a process utilizing thepurest essence of a plant, is a4,000-year-old technique that hasenhanced the health of everyone frommodern-day pop divas to the scholars ofancient Greece. The art of massage hasits own deeply rich roots, with even Platoand Socrates touting the value ofhands-on bodywork for good health.

Separately, these two therapeutictraditions hold individual prowess in therealm of personal health and well-being.Together, however, they become aformidable health alliance that canaddress not only a person's physicalhealth, but the health of the mind andspirit as well.

A Natural ComplementOur senses were designed to work bestin conjunction with one another. Oursense of taste would not be as acutewithout our nose lending its support tothe process. Our auditory senses mightseem hollow if we weren't gifted withsight as well. Indeed, there exists a quietpartnership between all our five sensesthat's built on synergy.

Let's see how it works. Essential oils areextracted from herbs, flowers, andplants with the intent to improve aperson's health and well-being.Addressing everything from arthritis towhooping cough, effects of theapproximate 3,000 oils found globallycan range from sedative to stimulatingand antibacterial to antispasmodic. Thebenefits derived from aromatherapyduring a massage come in part from thecontact the essential oil has on our skin,but even more so how it affects us whenit's inhaled and absorbed through thesoft-tissue linings of our nose andmouth.

The scientific explanation suggests thatthe essential oil's molecules, when

inhaled, lock onto receptor cells at theback of the nose, sending anelectrochemical message to the brain'slimbic system. This message appears totrigger memory and emotionalresponses, causing messages to be sent toother parts of the brain and body. "Inthis way," says aromatherapist Danila

Aromatherapy has roots in ancient cultures.

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Mansfield, "the production of euphoric,relaxing, sedative, or stimulatingneurochemicals is stimulated."

Judith Fitzsimmons and PaulaBousquet, authors of AromatherapyThrough the Seasons, say the use ofessential oils creates a multifacetedeffect: "The real beauty of aromatherapyis that it works on a cellular and physicallevel and also in the emotional,intellectual, spiritual, and aesthetic areasof your life."

It's really quite amazing when you thinkabout it. Imagine an area the size of asmall apricot pit, a 1-inch square area,filled with millions of sensory neuronsthat can capture, process, and store10,000 odors. This is our olfactorysystem at work, and part of its job is tocreate a personal history for us based onscent, says clinical aromatherapistAva-Marie Lind-Shiveley. "None of ourother senses so well establishes a memorydatabase." She says our response to scentis both physiological and psychosomatic."Within an instant of smelling anaroma, we can be sent back to the firstmoment we were introduced to it."

By enabling us to recognize, revisit,and/or reclaim these various emotionsand memories, aromatherapy allowsanother avenue of access for healingduring a bodywork session. It creates apath through which the somaticexperience can find its full strength.

When the powerful effects ofaromatherapy are combined withmassage, it can take us to another level,say aromatherapy educators Shirley andLen Price. "When, during a massage,the touch of the therapist is combinedwith the mental and physical effects ofthe essential oils, the client is helped toachieve a temporary separation fromworldly worries, somewhat akin to ameditative state." Helping clients reachthis level of relaxation is a primary goalof massage therapists andaromatherapists alike, so it makes sensethat a partnership could beautifullyexist.

A Scent Journey"Scent is not simplistic," Lind-Shiveleysays. "It is voluminous." She illustratesthis point with a quote from HelenKeller: "Smell is a potent wizard thattransports us across thousands of miles

and all the years we have lived. Theodors of fruits waft me to my Southernhome, to my childhood frolics in thepeach orchard. Other odors,instantaneous and fleeting, cause myheart to dilate joyously or contract withremembered grief."

If you decide to do some personalexploration into the world of scenttherapy, proceed with due caution inboth the quality of the oils you buy andhow you dose and administer them.There is a dichotic nature inherent inaromatherapy. It is gentle, yet powerful;subtle, yet intense. There are essentialoils strong enough to cause miscarriage,but there also are many oils safe enoughto use on infants. The key is knowinghow to utilize nature's gifts to providethe best, most effective therapeuticcollaboration possible. Talk with yourmassage therapist about incorporatingthe science of aromatherapy into your

sessions or ask about a referral to anaromatherapist in your area.

Karrie Osborn is contributing editor to Body Sense.

BalancingBay Laurel, Cedarwood, GeraniumClarifyingJuniper, Lemon, PeppermintComfortingBergamot, Frankincense, RoseEnergizingEucalyptus, Grapefruit, RosemaryFocusingAngelica, Sweet Basil, LimeSedatingChamomile, Clary Sage,PatchouliUpliftingLavender, Orange/Mandarin, Pine, TeaTree

Soothe Your Skin's Winter AilmentsKayla Fioravanti

Foods to Boost Your Mood

The drying effects of winter are uponus. Here are some at-home ideas to helpsoothe your skin through thischallenging season.

CleansePut away your foaming gels and soapsand stock up on creamy products.Cleansing creams, lotions, and milks aregreat winter choices, because they don'tcontain the harsh, oil-strippingdetergents found in most cleansing gels.

ToneShelve your astringents and switch to atoner. In the cold months, your skinneeds to be soothed and balanced, notdried out further.

MoisturizeChoose heavier creams than you wouldin summer months. You can even useyour heavy eye cream on your lips andface. If your skin itches, the dry air iscausing the moisture in the top layer ofyour skin to evaporate quickly. Slatherthose areas with extra moisture until you

feel relief, and never be afraid of usingpure oils on your skin--a bottle ofjojoba or olive oil is great to have onhand.

ExfoliateExfoliate twice a week to remove deadskin cells and help your skin absorb theextra moisture you are using. Becausecentral heating systems reduce theamount of sebum our skin secretes,contributing to dryness, exfoliation willfree this natural regulating agent. Use acream-based exfoliant with jojoba beads,so your body can soak up the rich oils.

HydrateFor a simple in-home hydrotherapytreatment, start your day with a steamyshower. Just as you are finishing, switchthe water to cold for about 15 secondsand then back to warm for 15 seconds.Repeat the process for two minutes.

Shower and Bathe with OilsDid you know you can apply body oil,lotion, or cream during your shower or

bath? The heat and steam help your skinto thoroughly absorb the moisture.

Don't let your diet get you down. Ifyou're looking for a quick pick-me-upthat will boost your mood but go easy onyour calorie count, consider these"superfoods" recommended by MehmetOz, MD, vice-chair and professor ofsurgery at Columbia University andcontributor to Oprah.com.

Kefir MilkTry it if: you're looking to calm down.Made by fermenting more traditionalmilk with kefir grains, this drink is highin the amino acid tryptophan, whichproduces a relaxing effect on thenervous system. As a bonus, the drinkalso contains a healthy amount of Bvitamins.

AsparagusTry it if: you're feeling low.This vegetable is loaded with folic acid,

which is good news for your mood, aslow levels of the vitamin have been tiedto depression. In fact, one 5.3-ounceserving contains 60 percent of yourrecommended daily folic acid allowance.Plus, asparagus is low in calories andcontains no fat or cholesterol, so itwon't ruin your diet.

OrangesTry it if: you're stressed out.Why? Vitamin C. This powerhousenutrient can help support your immunesystem, skin, and more, but itsstress-fighting powers come from itseffect on your blood pressure. Studieshave shown that consuming 500milligrams of vitamin C daily candramatically lower cardiovascular andstroke risk. One orange contains about80 milligrams.

If I had to livemy life again,I'd make thesame mistakes,only sooner.-Tallulah Bankhead

KNEAD FOR HEALING THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE2740 N 21st Drive Phoenix, AZ 85009Encanto Park Area

Directions: 19th Avenue & Thomas, West on Thomas to 21stDrive, South to 2740 (2nd house on right).

Hours on Sunday-ThursdayBy appointment-call 602-326-0422 Email: barb.khan@cox.net Website: www.kneadforhealing.massagetherapy.com

BARBARA KHAN, LMT Licensed in the State of Arizona

60 Minute Session $60 90 Minute Session $85

Aromatherapy or any add-on service included. See websitefor details.

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