YOUR HEALING KNEADSMAY 2018

Continued on page 2

Aromatherapy and Massage

Karrie Osborn

What essential oil is your favorite?

There are nostrangers here;Only friendsyou haven't yetmet.-William B Yeats

Office Hours and Contact

Knead For Healing Therapeutic MassageBarbara Khan, LMT602-326-0422 Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat by appointmentwww.kneadforhealing.massagetherapy.com

In this Issue

Aromatherapy and MassageThe Wonders of WaterThe Sunshine Vitamin

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.

Continued from page 1

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

Water helps keep the body at optimum health.

The Wonders of WaterFor Skin Health and MoreShelley Burns, N.D.

The Sunshine VitaminShelley Burns

Creams, nutritional supplements,treatments, lotions, and potions. We arealways looking for the next miracleproduct to keep skin looking healthy andyoung. However, there is one essential,inexpensive, and often overlookednutrient right at your fingertips: water.

Just as a car cannot function without oil,our bodies cannot function withoutwater. After oxygen, H2O is the mostimportant component of the body,responsible for 65-70 percent of itscomposition. And of this, 80 percent isdedicated to the skin.

Water is the medium for variousenzymatic and chemical reactions in thebody. It moves nutrients, hormones,antibodies, and oxygen through theblood and lymphatic systems, and it alsohelps form the matrix of the skin.Devoid of water, the skin becomesdehydrated, resulting in a dry, dulltone.

It's likely that the moment a person feels

thirsty, mild dehydration has already setin. To keep the complexion lookingsmooth and blemish-free, drink waterupon waking and continue drinking itthroughout the day at one- to two-hourintervals. At least six 8-oz. glasses ofwater should be consumed daily andmore if you are exercising, perspiring,and/or in hot weather. Ideally, intakeshould be between ten and twelve 8-oz.glasses of water a day. One note: Don'tincrease water intake all at once, as thekidneys and digestive system need timeto adjust. Add one 8-oz. glass every dayor every second day.

What counts toward your daily waterintake? Just the basics: water and herbaltea. Caffeinated beverages and alcoholicdrinks are diuretics that can contributeto dehydration, requiring even morehydration after drinking.

Not only is water important for skinhealth, it can also play a key role in theprevention of disease. Drinking eightglasses of water a day can decrease the

risk of colon cancer, bladder cancer,and potentially even breast cancer.

In the world of skin health, we focus onways to improve skin quality. We work toprevent acne, cellular damage, dryness,and wrinkles. It is less common todiscuss how a skin-care strategy mayincrease risk of developing other healthconditions.

Skin cancer is one example. To preventskin cancer, we protect ourselves withsunscreen--especially during thesummer months. But by using sunscreenwe are blocking the absorption ofvitamin D, the "sunshine" vitamin.

Vitamin D is fat soluble and containspowerful antioxidant andanticarcinogenic properties that canprevent premature aging and cellulardamage. Solid research indicates thatvitamin D plays a role in reducing therisk of cancer, specifically breast, colon,

and prostate cancers. Vitamin D hasbeen associated with preventing diabetesby reducing insulin sensitivity. It alsoimproves heart health, reduces the riskof multiple sclerosis, strengthens bones,and decreases the effects of seasonalaffective disorder.

Vitamin D can help resolve skinconditions like psoriasis, as it plays arole in skin cell regulation, includingcell turnover and growth. Vitamin D canbe effective in reducing the itching andflaking associated with this disorder.Ultraviolet B (UVB) treatments havelong been used successfully in treatingpsoriasis because UVB produces vitaminD in the body.

Getting between 5-10 minutes of directsun exposure daily on the arms, face,hands, and back (without sunscreen) can

provide enough vitamin D to meet yourdaily requirements, though sunexposure does present a risk. Because itis difficult to obtain enough vitamin Dthrough food, many prefer to usesupplements. Research on the healthbenefits of ingesting vitamin D ledexperts to advise an intake of 25-50micrograms daily.

Shelley Burns is a doctor of naturopathic medicineand campleted studies at the Canadian College ofNaturopathic Medicine. She has certification incomplementary and integrative medicine fromHarvard University.

I don't knowwhere I'm goingfrom here, but Ipromise it won'tbe boring.-David Bowie

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).

Available Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat.By appointment-call/text 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.

Cash/Visa/MasterCard/Amex/Discover

Knead For Healing Therapeutic Massage

2740 N 21st DrivePhoenix, AZ 85009