Infused Herbal Oil Massages (with Quiz)

The use of whole herb infused oils came about from my desire to blend my love of herbal medicine into my massage practice. Herbs provide so many healing properties which I longed to introduce to my massage clients. And so I developed a small range of herbal infused oils for my massage clients to select from based on what their needs at the time are, as well as choosing what is most constitutionally indicated for them. Whole herb infused oils can enhance the already impressive effects of massage, from providing a deeper level of relaxation and muscle release, to deeper emotional and constitutional healing.

Herbs are broad and generous in their gifts, the different constituents contained within the plants provide a complex action, one of the reasons why the list of actions of a herb is often a paragraph long, and also why if one particular constituent could in isolation cause a side effect it is often found alongside another constituent which negates that harm. When herbs are extracted in their whole form I belief their true power is most received.

In modern herbal medicine herbs are traditionally used as an ‘herbal extract’, which is a blend of a water and alcohol extraction base at varying percentages. This is used as it has been found to extract the biggest variety of compounds within the plant (such as the phenols, polyphenols such as flavonoids, saponins, fixed and volatile oils, resins and alkaloids) to achieve the biggest benefit. Some plants actions are attributed to different components and such require a different ratio of water:alcohol in order to extract it. In the end it provides a complex but and somewhat whole reflection of the plant.

Compare this to an essential oil which takes a specific compound within a plant (the volatile oil) and focuses on this. In order to extract a volatile oil in sufficient quantity an enormous amount of plant matter must be utilised to prepare this extraction.

A whole herb infused oil is prepared different, and it infused a whole herb into a base oil to extract mostly the oil, but also some water soluble properties of the plant. The result is a cross between a herbal extract and an essential oil.

Unlike essential oils which require vast quantities of plant matter to create, whole plant oils use less herbs while conveying a broader range of healing components into the oil. This results in a subtler fragrance and produces more diversity of benefits when applied to the skin.

Body Oiling is a practice that has been around for many many years, it is most well known from it’s roots in Ayurvedic medicine as a practice termed Abhyanga

Benefits of regular body oiling.

• It stimulates the lymphatic system which benefits your immune health assists your body in removing waste matter and reduces fluid retention.
• Moving stagnation in lymphatic system is important for people who have sedentary lifestyles
• Through both the massage and some of the properties of the oil it helps to tonify muscles and ease tension
• Calms the nerves
• Balances the constitution/dosha when the correct oil is chosen by providing opposing elements
• Oil is heavy and has a grounding character, making it helpful for those who need this act of grounding emotionally and energetically
• Grounding is helpful for those who have more air elemental characteristics i.e Vata
• Body oiling can help to ground someone who has tension and anxiety, and the oil soothes the nervous system
• When applied through massage or the act of self body oiling Oil helps to provide a layer around you, it creates boundaries, which is helps for those who are highly sensitive to the world around them

“Oil massage should be used daily, to ward off old age, 
exhaustion and diseases of vata. It bestows good vision, 
nourishment of the body, long life, good sleep, and healthy skin.”

Astañga Hrdaya Sutrasthana 2:8-9a

In addition to the benefits from the herbs used, the base oil can be therapeutic. We use organic cold pressed sesame oil rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients, making it nourishing and healing to the skin. It is light in nature so absorbs well, and contains many beneficial fats to improve your skin’s integrity.

Your skin absorbs much of what is applied to it, so you need to choose carefully what you use on your body. The act of body oiling not only benefits the skin, but allows beneficial oils to be absorbed, bypassing your digestion and going directly to where they’re needed. Your nerves are coated in myelin sheath which is made from proteins and fatty substances, and oiling helps to nourish these, helping to healing and regenerate your nervous system.

Body oiling helps soothe the nervous system and energetically is considered to provide protection.

Benefits of Massage

Massage helps to improve blood flow to muscles, reducing pain and stiffness and improving the body’s healing ability. Tight muscle fibres and adhesions can be softened and released. It also assists in relaxation, reducing stress and tension, whilst helping to ground you.

Choose the herb oil that is most suited to you and add it onto your massage for $7.

If you would like to book a massage with a herbal infused oil, please contact the clinic to organise an appointment.

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Complete this quiz to find what oil is best suited to you, or click here to read through the whole list of options.

Which Herbal Oil is Right for you?

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