Sea shells have been thought for centuries to have a positive uplifting energy to them and have been utilized in many different ways.

They have been important in many cultures over the centuries for a number of reasons. But massage? Read on to see how.

For a long time in a number of Indian and Pacific Ocean islands they were the main form of currency, being traded for food and other items. The cowrie shell in particular was seen to be very valuable as currency.

The Dutch East India Company gained a large part of its fortune in trading shell money in exchange for spices and gemstones all of which were valuable in Europe at the time.

Sea shells have also been used as tools, with the large clam shells being used to shovel dirt, and also used as bowls and carrying instruments.

Some such as oyster shells, when ground down, have been used to condition and raise the PH in the soil.

Sea shells have also been used as part of cultures and religions for thousands of years.

Christians see the scallop shell as the symbol of St James the Great, whilst Hindus see the left handed chank shell as sacred to Vishnu.

Cowrie shells are often linked to female fertility with the idea that the dome of the shell resembles a pregnant belly. In Kerala, the home of Ayurvedic medicine, cowries are often used to make astrological predictions.

Ripple Massage uses sea shells in a totally unique way, incorporating them into a massage style.

Using a mix of reef shells, including speckled cowries, ginger scallops, lions paw fans and elegant sun dial shells, this style of massage taps into the energy of the shells whilst giving a deep and calming massage.

The shells are used in a mix of ways. Some like the cowries are heated, and aromatherapy oils are poured into the crevasse to warm before being trickled onto the body.

The smooth domed surface is also used with hands on massage to release muscles. The shells are used both to de stress and for deeper tissue work. The domes are used to work deep into the trapezius muscles and erector spinae muscles.

Other shells like the lions paws and scarlet coloured scallops are heated and placed on the body to warm the chakras and also the hands during the massage.

Smaller more delicate sun dial and cockles are used to release lines in the face, whilst cones and olives unlock tension in the neck and shoulders.

Further details on how sea shells are used in sea shell massage are at http://www.ripplemassage.com.au or by calling 0438 567 906.

Alison Shaw is a qualified mobile massage therapist in Queensland Australia and owns Ripple Massage.

sea shell massage cowrie shell

This is the first installment of our free online aromatherapy class at GiveBestMassageEver.

To start, let’s talk about what is aromatherapy and what are essential oils.

Aromatherapy is really a very misleading term. It leads one to believe that aromatherapy only works through the olfactory senses, in the brain, making us feel good, making us feel relaxed, or even energized. But science has proven that aromatherapy is much more than this. Aromatherapy is becoming a comprehensive holistic science of mind and body, which makes it a perfect compliment to massage therapy.

Aromatherapy definition: The inhalation and bodily application of essential oils from aromatic plants to relax, balance, rejuvenate, restore and enhance you mentally, emotionally, physically and physiologically.

So what are essential oils?

Essential oils are the very concentrated extracts of plants. They are the precious liquids that give plants their wonderful aroma. They reside in sacs and ducts in all parts of plants. They can come from any one, or a combination of the plant’s parts.

For example, jasmine, neroli and ylang ylang essential oils are extracted from flowers. Rosemary, lavender, rose and peppermint essential oils are distilled from the flowers and leaves. Geranium, patchouli and petitgrain are distilled from leaves and stems. Sandalwood and cedarwood from wood. Bergamot, orange and lemon from the rind of the fruit. Juniper from berries. Myrrh from resin. Vetivert from roots.

The special thing about essential oils is that all of them, to a greater or lesser extent, exhibit the following characteristics:

Antiseptic (prevents or combats infection locally)
Bactericide (kills bacteria)
Bacteriostatic (inhibits growth of bacteria)
Cytophylactic (promotes cell regeneration when applied to the skin)

But essential oils aren’t really magic potions. Although is fun to think that they are. Without knowing the science behind them, they truly do seem to work like magic. But their chemical makeup is what gives them their special transformative properties.

Below, read some of the major categories of chemicals found in essential oils:

Acids – kill bacteria
Alcohols – destroy bacterial and viral infections and are skin toners
Aldehydes – reduce inflammation and destroy bacterial infections
Coumarins – thin the blood and are calming and uplifting emotionally
Esters – soothe muscle spasms and irritated skin and kill fungal infections
Ester oxides – release lung congestion and mentally stimulating
Hydrocarbons – reduce bacterial infections, inflammation and intestinal gas
Ketones – promote wound healing and thin out bronchial and lung congestion
Phenols – stimulate blood flow, warm the skin and are powerful antibacterials

Now that we know what essential oils are capable of doing to help us with our health, in our next lesson we will learn some of the best essential oils to own and why. You will learn how to make your own essential oil first aid kit and how to determine a great quality oil.

Stay tuned. The next lesson will come by the end of this week.

As the staff aromatherapist here at GiveBestMassageEver, I thought I
would take today to talk about how you can incorporate aromatherapy essential oils into your life.

A lot of people have heard of essential oils and know that they’re supposed to make you feel good, relieve stress, and smell good, but don’t know much else, like how to use them or how to blend them. What are the best oils and how do I know I am getting a quality oil that will actually work for me.

So this month at least once or twice a week I will publish a little lesson of sorts, on the “art” of aromatherapy so you can see just how easy it is to benefit from these seemingly magical essences.

You’ll learn how to use essential oils in your bath, make your own aromatherapy massage oils, make your own aromatherapy bath salts, the best types of burners and diffusers to use, what oils are good for what, how much to blend and use in whatever you are making.

Using essential oils is like sampling the life of luxury. In the moment you are using them, you feel rich and pampered. When taking an aromatherapy bath or enjoying an aromatherapy massage, you come out feeling brand new, clean and smelling of roses, wood and some interesting and aromatic spices from all over the world.

Sampling and using essential oils is an adventure, sort of like going on a safari or a tropical vacation only you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars.

So stay tuned to this spot. The first aromatherapy lesson will come by the end of this week!

In this aromatherapy video tutorial you will learn 3 essential oils that are good for stress relief and how to use them.