Use Aromatherapy to cure your hangover

More than once I have had clients come in for a massage after going a little over board the night before, the good news is there are oils that can help relieve your hangover.

Lavender Oil – for instance is known as a soothing oil and is known to relieve pain, perfect for that splitting headache.

Peppermint Oil – is great for the digestive system, it can help regulate and calm your stomach.

and Lemon grass – is another favourite. This oil has properties known to aid with tension, anxiety and depression.

However one oil that works well on one person may not work as well on the next, it all comes down to finding the right oils to work for you.

There are different ways to administer these oils as well, they can be combined into a massage, a gentle and soothing Aromatherapy massage will help drain these toxins from your body.

Adding a few drops to a bath can help (be sparring with Peppermint oil as it can become overpowering).
Relax and take deep breaths inhaling these aromas that with fill your bathroom.

If either of these treatments just seem like too much work try inhaling these oils scents from the bottle, quick, easy, helpful.

Remember when administering oils your self you must be safe and take precautions, an essential oil must never come in direct contact with your skin, they are concentrated and for too strong this way, always add a drop or two to a carrier oil, jojoba oil or Apricot Oil are great carriers, everybody has Olive Oil in their cupboard, use this, it will work fine.

Never go overboard with these oils, a few drops (1 or 2) is all you need and all your body is able to process through your system at any one time.

When Massaging my baby, what oils should I use?

One topic often asked about in regards to massage is ‘What oils should I use?’

It is recommended in regards to massaging your child, parents and caregivers use a pure cold pressed fruit, nut, vegetable or seed oil which is free from pesticides and is organic.

Remember both you and your child’s skin will be absorbing these oils, why not treat both your self and your child to the benefits of organic oils.

You will notice with a cold pressed oil that the skin will absorb it unlike a mineral based oil which tends to just sit on top of the skin and clog the pores.

It is important to make sure the oils you purchase are free of pesticides.

Remember even during a massage your children will most likely be putting their hands and feet into their mouths so it is important to use something that you are comfortable with your child in jesting.

When I studied for my certificates as an infant massage instructor we were taught an oil rule:  WHATEVER MEDIUM A PARENT USES FOR MASSAGE WITH THEIR BABY, THEY MUST BE HAPPY FOR THEIR BABY TO IN JEST!
Please take not however that the opposite does not apply, for example, just because an oil is edible doesn’t mean it is suitable for massage.

WHAT IS COLD PRESSED?
Cold pressed re furs to the way the oils are extracted, cold pressed means that no heat has been used in the extraction process of the oil from the source.  The oil is released by pressure alone.

MINERAL OIL

Mineral oil is extracted from Paraffin oil, paraffin oil is a white odorless and waxy substance which is distilled from petroleum,  Refined paraffin is often found in skin care products.
Paraffin oil has yet to be proved safe for use on infants.  Some physicians believe it can block a babies pores which can cause rashes among other problems.

ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential oils are not recommended for use for infant massage,the main reason is due to the strength and potency of the oils.
One of the most important benefits of infant massage is the enhanced bonding, smell plays an important part in the bonding ritual between parent and the child and the use of an essential oil would cloud that.
Another reason not to use an essential oil brings us back to the rule of edibility, essential oils are generally not recommended for ingestion.
While most cases where a child has ingested an essential oil a child’s symptoms have resolved themselves without the need of medical intervention, there have been however numerous cases reported and taken into regard as serious (non fatal) and fatal outcomes of essential oil ingestion in both children and adults.

ALWAYS TEST FOR SKIN SENSITIVITY
Always test a small patch of skin with the oil first to test for sensitivity, should an allergic reaction occur the are should be washed with warm and soapy water to remove the oil and always seek medical attention if complications are noted.

ALWAYS BE CAUTIOUS OF NUT ALLERGIES and peanut oil is never recommended as an appropriate massage oil.

I hope this is useful to anyone out there who had any questions regarding oils for infant massage, I am always open to answer any questions to the best of my ability.
I am now located in the West Hollywood area and offer classes in Infant Massage both privately and in group situation, I am also contactable either through this blog or through my email jclee101@hotmail.com , my websight www.jcleemassagetherapy.com or through twitter at jclee101.

Thanks and happy massaging : )

Thank you Hether Berkowitz

Thank you Heather Berkowitz
http://www.modernmom.com/blogs/heather-berkowitz/hands-on-parenting

Not

long ago I was lucky enough to meet with Heather Berkowitz, not only a loving mother but also a blogger a former nanny herself and as well as running classic nannies with Karenjo Goodwin you have the recipe for one busy yet successful woman.
Heather was very intrigued by infant massage and we soon found our self in conversation over the benefits of Infant Massage for both Parent/Caregiver and Child.
Not long after I received an email from Heather with this link attached and I was delighted to find this article inside.
Being a former Nanny myself I have met with more than my fair share of Nanny agencies over the years and like most nannies and parents alike could agree that it is often hard to find the right ‘fit’ agency, when I met Heather I not only found her to be warm and polite woman she was up front and too the point.
These are all qualities I hold in high regard and after meeting only one of Heathers clients I already hear such high things about her.
I think the California area is very lucky to have classic nannies in place and I am sure that anyone needing help with not only there children but there housekeeping as well would not be disappointed by the services of classic nannies.

A Breif History of Aromatherapy

When I first began studying Aromatherapy and learning about not only the massage techniques but the Essential oils themselves, I instantly fell in love with the history of these oils and there uses. I remember the first person I learnt about was Dr Rene Maurice Gattefosse – a French chemist who learned of the healing properties of Lavender Oil after an accident in his lab left him with serious burn injuries, by plunging his injured arm into a large tub of Lavender Oil, it not only relieved the burning he was left with no burn scars what so ever.

It is believed that Egyptians are the first true Aroma therapists, they were known to burn Frankincense at dawn for the sun and Myrrh at dusk as an offering to the moon. Essential oils were a big part of everyday life for Egyptians and were used in Massage, make up, added to there everyday bath as well as being used to fumigate sick rooms.

Essential oils also played a huge part in regards to embalming and mummification.

Queen Cleopatra herself used Aromatherapy and Essential oils in almost every aspect of her life, the sails of her ship were soaked in rose water so her lover Mark Anthony would know of her pending arrival when he could smell the rosewater on the ocean breeze.

The Greeks, Persian’s, Assyrians, Babylonians and Hebrews all borrowed the knowledge of Aromatic medicine from the Egyptians and as the Egyptian Empire crumbled into decline near 300BC it was Europe that became the heart of medicine and new methods steadily became evolved into a more scientific approach to healing.

But the properties of these oils and herbs are not lost, Lavender oil is still an amazing oil to aid burns and its anti bacterial properties make it a great oil to add to a diffuser or an oil burner,

Peppermint to date is my favourite study aid and works wonders on a clients digestion or migraine symptoms not to mention a powerful aid when it comes to dissolving kidney stones. Frankincense is still known as a very spiritual oil and Juniper is still my favourite when it comes to clearing your mind, Ylang Ylang is still as calming as ever and is a great for high blood pressure.

Combining these oils into an Aromatherapy massage quite simply gives you a massage like no other, after a brief consultation an Aromatic massage blend is created specifically for you, these oils not only absorb through your skin but there aromas fill the air affecting your mind, body and soul, and the massage itself is a combination of smooth and gentle flowing techniques.

Wether for pleasure or health, massage should be considered one of life’s necessities.

Infant Massage: The Permission sequence

One of the first things I teach during an Infant Massage lesson is a permission sequence, using a combination of words and sign language your asking your child if they are ready to have a massage.
This often at first seems silly and feels even sillier when asking these questions – ‘How is a baby going to understand what I’m saying?’, the answer is because this is a learnt response.
Initially your child will respond – then over time they will learn what this permission sequence means and begin to show yes or no ques!!
Yes ques can be signs such as giggling, reaching for your hands or cooing, No ques can be signed like avoiding eye contact, pulling there ears or the most obvious – crying.
A permission sequence gives your child control over there own body, and lets them know that its OK to say no.
Always make sure when you ask permission to massage to leave the question open ended for example: Would you like a massage now? is much better than ‘Waould you like a massage now?  Yes you would wouldn’t you!’,
also remember after posing this question give your child a moment to respond, let there answer be clear before going ahead with your massage.Hope this helps.
Happy Massaging!

Hello and Welcome

Welcome to my new blog which I will eventually add to the web sight http://www.jcleemassagetherapy.com, Im a New Zealand born Massage Therapist and Infant Massage Instructor, I am currently based in Hollywood California and am one of those fortunate people who loves doing what I do.

I also work alot with essential oils and create blends to help with many ailments from stress, anxiety, muscle and joint pain, sleep issues, weight loss issues and the list goes on, the purpose of this blog is to put information out there in regards to these topics and health and well being in general, I hope readers find it both enjoyable to read as well as informative.

Enjoy ; )