A good rubdown is both physically and psychologically valuable for the body. Trained massage therapists usually get hundreds of hours of instruction prior to working on people. These therapists work with essential oils, usually diluted and blended in the following proportions:

- 1 ounce carrier oil such as sweet almond

- 15-30 drops essential oils.

The foundations of aromatherapy date back thousands of years, although the term was not used until the 20th century. The Chinese may have been one of the earliest civilizations to use fragrant plants for well-being. The Egyptians later invented a simple refining machine that permitted the basic removal of cedar wood oil. Clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, myrrh, and cedar-wood oils were used by the Egyptians to preserve the dead.

The word aromatherapy was first used in the 1920s by French chemist Ren Maurice Gattefoss, who dedicated his life to studying the curative properties of essential oils following a fortunate mishap in his perfume laboratory. The major branches of aromatherapy include:

- Home aromatherapy

- Clinical aromatherapy

- Aromachology

Essential oils, when used for massage, can have many different effects on the body, mind and spirit, because of the infinite number of natural phytochemicals created by the plants. They can be calming or invigorating. Anxiety, sleeplessness, menstrual troubles, menopausal symptoms, digestive problems, hypertension, muscle spasm, joint stiffness, low energy and tiredness are all chronic conditions that respond well to aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy massage is a specific type of healing whereby massage therapists merge essential oils with massage. It has been clinically confirmed to decrease stress-related problems, arthritis, back and neck problems, musculoskeletal pains, headaches, sinus and other upper respiratory problems, and skin disorders, and it is a complement to conventional medicine.

Stress is the response that your body has to all the demands placed on it daily. Research shows that massage is effective care for a wide variety of illnesses, injuries and conditions, particularly for stress. Self-massage can supply lots of benefits if a massage therapist is not available. Below are some safety measures concerning massage:

- Do not have a massage directly following a meal or if you are feeling ill or exhausted

- Massage should not be done over any areas of skin infection, rashes, cuts, sores, burns or varicose veins

Massage is derived from a primal instinct. It is innate in human nature to use touch to heal. Essential oils used in aromatherapy treatment complete the holistic approach by affecting the mind. The skin soaks up the oils about two hours after the massage as the body's tissue/cells take delivery of the majority of the physical benefit. With their different strokes, touches, and formal training, therapists can administer healing in unique ways.