Our Need For Touch

Massage is popular among people of all ages. The highest number of massage recipients ranges between the ages of 25-34. Older clients (55-64) increased their visits by 20 percent in the year 2001. In all, massage therapists receive approximately 114 million visits per year, indicating the public's strong need for touch.

In a recent article in Massage Journal, Monica Roseberry revealed several ingredients employed by highly successful massage therapists. The number one ingredient for success was the desire to serve, to create change in a person's life through the healing art of touch. After the commitment to succeed and a strong emphasis on professionalism, dedication to excellent customer service was another key component to a therapist's success. Ms. Roseberry reported that clients seldom spoke of the modality or type of massage, but noticed little things such as temperature, music, essential oils, flowers, conversation and the number of minutes the session lasted. Roseberry's research indicates that massage is more than kneading muscles; it is providing acts of kindness that show how much the therapist cares.

In addition to the strength provided by the caring attitude of the therapist, scientific research shows that touching the body does in fact heal-emotionally and physically. Healing modalities that do not take into account the importance of touch miss a great deal in terms of the connection between body and mind. Many alternative therapists believe that emotions are often released through touch (such as what is experienced when using the Feelings Kit), and that releasing emotions actually clears internal pathways and is experienced by the patient as a type of unblocked energy flow.

One inherent beauty of massage is that a person does not have to be a trained therapist to share the "art" of touch. Therapeutic massage to relieve pain or to heal requires a license; but rubbing essential oils on another person's neck, shoulders and back can produce profound effects outside of the context of therapy. It goes without saying that boundaries must be respected and that the people applying and receiving the oils must have the purest intent.

In addition to the Raindrop Technique and the Feelings Kits, individual massage oils may be created to suit the personalities of specific individuals. Several drops of a favorite essential oil placed in a high-quality carrier oil base makes a much-appreciated gift, particularly when the offer is accompanied by one's caring touch.

Reprinted with permission of Young Living, Lehi, UT 84043
Essential Edge magazine

Testimonial

I just had baby #3 last week, and she was my first oily baby. I have to say the pregnancy was more comfortable in a lot of ways, thanks to the oils. Here is what worked for me:

I used Valor on my lower back. I rubbed 1-2 drops on every night, and sometimes in the morning if I expected to be doing something more strenuous. I had virtually ZERO back pain! What a difference for me. I also used it in the delivery room. When the labor got intense, my husband rubbed it on my temples and I felt like I could keep going. The nurse even commented on what smelled so good.

I rubbed my tummy with different oils every morning and night. It depended on my mood and what I felt like I wanted or needed. I used Gentle Baby, Lavender and Elemi the most, I think. After rubbing a few drops on, I slathered my tummy with Animal Scents Ointment. I never had an itchy belly, and it always felt smooth and soft. I don't know if it would have prevented stretch marks, since I already have them from the first 2. I know my skin felt wonderful though. Also, since baby #2 was a C-section, I was sure to rub everything all over my scar. It was nice and soft and I never had any problems with it. I heard other moms complain of discomfort and itching and stretching in their scar areas, but I had no problems at all. And I was able to successfully have a VBAC (Yay!).

I started getting heartburn towards the end, but I challenged Bill's advice that I needed more water, and it was true! As long as I drank at least 80 oz of water daily, I was heartburn free. Again, what a difference from my first 2 babies, when I had non-stop heartburn!

So, those were the things that helped me have a more comfortable pregnancy and it made life so much nicer!

This information is intended for educational purposes only. It is not provided in order to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any illness or disease of the human body.