Oils have been used in massage treatments throughout history. Homer wrote about an " oily medium" used for massage as early as 1000 B.C.  Plato and Socrates wrote of " anointing with oil and rubbing to ease pain".

Today there are many types of oils with many uses.  The purpose of using oil in a massage is to facilitate the gliding over the client's skin.  The various oils contain ingredients for nourishing the skin and promoting health.  Essential oils (fragrant oils distilled from plants, trees, roots, seeds) can be added for further enhancing the treatment. I always use oils that have been cold pressed so they retain all the nutrients and vitamins which will be of beneficial to your skin and underlying muscle tissues.

Sweet Almond oil

I generally use Sweet Almond Oil as it works well for most clients. It is rich in nutrients such as unsaturated fatty acids, protein and vitamins A, B, D and E.

Benefits of Sweet Almond Oil -

• Helps muscular tension, pain and stiffness.
• Excellent moisturiser for the skin.
• Helps to soothe and reduce inflammation.
• Beneficial for relieving itchiness associated with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
• Safe to use as long as you haven’t a nut allergy.

Other oils can also be used instead :-

Olive oil

This oil is rich in Vitamin E and is useful for dehydrated skin and inflamed skin. Extra virgin oil is used. Great to use as an alternative if you have a nut allergy.

Benefits of Olive Oil -

• Helps to moisturise the skin.
• Helps to relieve muscular stiffness and pain.
• Olive oil is a safe oil to use on the skin and rarely causes irritation, therefore ideal to use on children.

Sunflower oil

The flower head produces the seeds where the oil is extracted. The oil contains vitamin A, D and E and minerals including calcium and iron.

Benefits of Sunflower Oil -

• Beneficial for skin complaints and bruises.
• Helpful for leg ulcers.
• Often used in preparations for acne and skin disorders in which there is dryness and inflammation as it is softening and moisturising to the skin.

Grapeseed

The plant is a climbing vine that produces grapes, the seed yielding a high volume of high quality oil that is almost colourless. If you do not like greasy oils this would be an ideal choice.

Benefits of Grapeseed Oil -

• Moisturising for the skin.
• Not too greasy.