Hot Stone Massage therapy in your home is a specialty massage where the therapist uses smooth, heated stones, either as an extension of their own. The stones are usually made of basalt, a type of volcanic rock that retains heat. hands, or by placing them on the body while they massage other parts of the body.
The heat can be both deeply relaxing and help warm up tight muscles so the therapist can work more deeply, more quickly.
Hot stone massage may relieve painful conditions such as fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread, chronic pain. According to a 2002 study people with fibromyalgia who received a 30-minute massage slept longer, had fewer trigger points, and had decreased levels of substance P (a substance involved in transmitting pain signals) than people with the condition who received relaxation therapy. More research is needed, however, before massage becomes a standard fibromyalgia treatment.
Hot Stone massage is not appropriate if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or are on medication that thins your blood. You shouldn’t get a hot stone massage if you are pregnant or have sunburn. You also may want to reconsider if you are menopausal, as it may trigger a hot flash.
Aromatherapy – essential oils
Aromatherapy uses highly concentrated plant oils, called essential oils, added to the massage oil or lotion.
How does aromatherapy massage work?
The nostrils are attached to a part of the brain called the limbic system. When you inhale essential oil molecules, messages are transmitted to the limbic system and affect heart rate, stress level, blood pressure, breathing, memory, digestion, and the immune system. Essential oils are also believed to be absorbed through the skin. Each essential oil has different healing properties. For example, some calm while others energize. Here are some widely used essential oils and their properties:
Benefits of Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatherapy massage is particularly suited to conditions involving stress or improving emotionally-related conditions.
Stress and stress-related conditions such as insomnia
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)– aniseed, clary sage, fenel