These days, due to the current economic crisis and obesity levels on the increase, it is not surprising that cardiovascular or heart-related health conditions are becoming more prevalent.
While improved nutrition and increased exercise certainly have a primary role to play in keeping the cardiovascular system healthy, aromatherapy massage with certain essential oils may also prove beneficial.
Aromatherapy Massage for Treating Cardiovascular Problems
Massage has long since been known to have many health benefits for treating a range of mental and physical conditions. When massage is used within the practice of aromatherapy in combination with essential oils, it is able to add a whole variety of healing properties.
In The Aromatherapy Bible, Farrer-Halls (2005) highlights key health benefits associated with aromatherapy massage for treating cardiovascular problems, to include the following:
- Relaxes the whole body;
- Reduces stress and tension that's linked to strokes, angina, heart attacks;
- Gently lowers hypertension (high blood pressure); and
- Gently increases hypotension (low blood pressure).
Aromatherapy Essential Oils for Cardiovascular Conditions
There are several different essential oils used within aromatherapy to help alleviate a range of cardiovascular symptoms and heart conditions. However, before purchasing essential oils for this purpose, it is important to seek advice from the family doctor, due to the fact that some oils can react when used in combination with various medications.
As recognised by Farrer-Halls (2005), essential oils used for helping those affected by heart-related conditions, include the following:
- Rosemary – cardiac tonic, gently increases low blood pressure;
- Lavender – helps gently lower high blood pressure;
- Rose – cardiac tonic;
- Peppermint – cardiac tonic;
- Marjoram – gently lowers high blood pressure;
- Ylang ylang – relaxing, calming; and
- Thyme – stimulating effect, helps increase low blood pressure.
In The Essential Oils Handbook, Harding (2008) recommends further essential oils, which may be used within aromatherapy to treat heart problems, to include the following:
- Geranium – helps open up the arteries, reduces high blood pressure;
- Melissa – reduces stress-related high blood pressure;
- Damian – soothes chronic stress, hypersensitivity, calms nerves, helps feel grounded;
- Coriander – boosts poor circulation, eases mental stress, reduces nervous tension; and
- Citronella – helps reduce anxiety, physical/mental exhaustion, lowers high stress levels.
As highlighted above, a whole range of cardiovascular conditions may be alleviated through using aromatherapy massage with certain essential oils. For a cardiac tonic, use rosemary, rose or peppermint oils, while ylang ylang has a relaxing calming effect and coriander eases mental stress. Those struggling to cope with high stress levels and high anxiety positions, will likely benefit from citronella and marjoram oils.
Sources:
Farrer-Halls, G. (2005) The Aromatherapy Bible London: Godsfield Press.
Harding, J. (2008) The Essential Oils Handbook London: Duncan Baird.
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
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