Aromatherapy and Meridian Massage
Andrea Butje of Aromahead Institute and I have collaborated to create an online class, Aromatherapy for Massage Therapists. As with all of our classes, Aromatherapy for Massage Therapists is comprehensive, cutting edge and fun!
Aromatherapy, massage therapy, and Meridian Massage are all effective forms of medicine on their own. Combining the three creates a treatment method that is even greater than its parts.
You know how smelling fresh squeezed grapefruit juice makes you feel more cheerful? Feelings change in response to smell due to a cascade of events within our brain.
Our sense of smell has a quick and direct impact on the limbic system, which is part of our very complex brain. The limbic system plays a role in learning, memory, perception, motivation, and emotions.
Massage therapy stimulates millions of sensory nerves in the skin. These sensory nerves send their information to the limbic system of the brain.
Qi (“chee”) is our energy, sometimes referred to as our “Vital Force.” This energy moves through the body along meridians. The meridians form a complex web throughout the body. Qi, or Vital Force, is at the core of Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine is the basis for Meridian Massage.
The class is designed specifically for massage therapists and bodyworkers, qualifying for 36 CEU’s in Florida and New York. Learn more
Hi Jerilyn,
I appreciated your thoughtful comment and it sounds like your interested in the research based evidence for essential oils. I wanted to share some of the excellent researchI have come across on tea tree and terpinen-4-ol, one of the significant components in tea tree. Of course, there is a lot more research to be done clinically as so much of the research is on animals, but this work strongly supports the clinical use of tea tree for antibacterial,anti viral and antifungal effects.
Antibacterial effect:
Kotan R, Kordali S, Cakir A. (2007) Screening of antibacterial activities of twenty-one oxygenated monoterpenes. Z Naturforsch C. 62(7-8):507-1513.
Raman A, Weir U, Bloomfield SF (1995) Antimicrobial effects of tea-tree oil and its major components on Staphylococcus aureus, Staph. epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes. Letters in Applied Microbiology 21(4):242-245
Papadopoulos CJ, Carson CF, Hammer KA et al (2006) Susceptibility of pseudomonads to Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and components. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 58(2):449-451
Ferrini AM, Mannoni V, Aureli P (2006) Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil possesses potent anti-staphylococcal activity extended to strains resistant to antibiotics. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology 19(3):539-544.
AntiViral:
Garozzo A, Timpanaro R, Bisignano B (2009) In vitro antiviral activity of Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil. Letters in Applied Microbiology 49:806-808
Astani A, Reichling J, Schnitzler P (2010) Comparative study on the antiviral activity of selected monoterpenes derived from essential oils. Phytotherapy Research 24:673-679.
Antifungal:
Barra A, Coroneo V, Dessi S et al (2007) Characterization of the volatile constituents in the essential oil of Pistacia lentiscus L. from different origins and its antifungal and antioxidant activity. Journal & Agricultural & Food Chemistry 55:7093-7098
Hammer KA, Carson C, Riley TV (2003) Antifungal activity of the components of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil. Journal of Applied Microbiology 95:853-860
Straede A, Corran A, Bundy et al (2007) The effect of tea tree oil and antifungal agents on a reporter for yeast cell integrity signalling. Yeast 24(4):321-334
Andrea,
Thanks for offering so much research!
🙂
Some essential oils such as tea tree have demonstrated anti-microbial effects, but there is still a lack of clinical evidence demonstrating efficacy against bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. Evidence for the efficacy of aromatherapy in treating medical conditions remains poor, with a particular lack of studies employing rigorous methodology,””-;
Hi Jerilyn,
There is extensive clinical research and evidence regarding the therapeutic actions of essential oils, including anti-microbial effects. Here are some helpful links:
1. For current research and clinical case studies see the International Journal of Clinical Aromatherapy: http://www.ijca.net/
2. Robert Tisserand is a leader in the field, here is a link to some of his articles on his website: http://roberttisserand.com/publications/article-archive/
3. Andrea Butje has created a database of research related to the activity of essential oil components: https://components.aromahead.com/tour/
These links will provide with you plenty of great researched information.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.