General Methods
1. Gentle strokes: This is the most useful technique in aromatherapy massage, which involves a series of gentle and soothing movements that allow the essential oils to penetrate the body and promote relaxation. Use the entire palm of your hand, not just your fingers, and keep your hands relaxed. The pressure can be strong or gentle, and the movements can be large or small. This will help relax the muscles and increase blood circulation, relieving tension and stress.
2. Kneading: This technique is similar to kneading dough, using the thumb with a slight pressure. It is particularly helpful for areas with thick fat and the back. This helps relax the muscles, promote blood and lymphatic circulation, and assist in the elimination of toxins.
By using these two basic techniques, massage can be applied to different parts of the body. It is important to massage in the direction towards the heart. For infants, children, and the elderly, use gentle strokes.
1. Head: Use your fingertips with massage oil to massage the entire scalp. When experiencing headaches, massage the area around the base of the neck and move upwards to the base of the scalp. Use sliding massage movements with strong pressure to allow the essential oils to penetrate into the body.
2. Neck: Use small circular motions, dividing the neck into two sides, and massage from the base of the neck to the base of the scalp. Use circular massage movements for each side of the neck.
3. Shoulders: Use gentle strokes and kneading techniques with the thumbs and palms, massage from the shoulders to the neck, applying pressure in a back and forth motion.
4. Back: Use gentle strokes and kneading techniques with varying pressure, but avoid massaging on the spine. Start from the inner side of the lower back, and smoothly move upwards to the shoulders, then massage the outer side of the back. Repeat this massage motion several times, and the longer the time, the more relaxed the body will feel.
5. Abdomen: Use fingertips with massage oil and use gentle strokes. When massaging yourself, use clockwise circular motions, and when massaging others, use counterclockwise motions. The essential oils can nourish the skin of the abdomen.
Aromatherapy Massage Techniques
Example: Foot Massage Techniques
1. Place the palms and fingers completely on the feet and use circular motions for the massage.
2. Start by massaging the top of the foot, then the sole, the inner and outer ankles, the calves, and the knee hollows. Massage in an upward direction to help venous return to the heart and enhance the massage effect.
3. Use massage oil to knead the Sanyinjiao acupoint, which can nourish the liver, spleen, and kidney meridians, relieve lower limb paralysis, and reduce swelling in the feet.
4. Use massage oil to knead the Yinlingquan acupoint, which can protect the knee joint and reduce edema.
Sanyinjiao acupoint: On the inner side of the calf, three finger-widths above the inner ankle.
Yinlingquan acupoint: On the inner side of the calf, below the knee, in a depression.
