Health considerations
Please do not have a massage if you are suffering from diarrhoea, vomiting, any form of communicable disease, infection, fever and/or under the influence of recreational drugs or alcohol. As massage helps to releases toxins from the tissues, having a massage when you feel like you are coming down with something may make you feel much worse, since your immune system is already working hard to fight off illness.
I do not recommend any massage in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy due to the tremendous physical and hormonal changes that occur during this time.
For safety reasons you should inform the therapist of health conditions that may affect or be affected by the treatment – all information will be kept strictly confidential. All clients are required to sign a health form prior to treatment.
Conditions which require medical consent
For those with the following conditions, it is expected that you are already under medical care and should bring any information from your doctor regarding complementary approaches to your condition:
- Recent or scheduled operations
- Nervous/psychotic conditions
- Cardiovascular conditions (e.g. thrombosis, phlebitis, hypertension, hypotension, heart conditions)
- Any dysfunction of the nervous system (muscular sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease)
- Acute rheumatism
- Bells Palsy
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Haemophilia
- Kidney infections
- Slipped disc
- Spastic conditions
Please inform the therapist of any of the following conditions:
- Arthritis
- Recent fractures
- Skin diseases
- Pregnancy
- Undiagnosed lumps and bumps, undiagnosed areas of pain
- Cuts, bruises, abrasions
- Gastric ulcers
- Hernia
- Haematoma
- Localised swelling, inflammation
- Scar tissues
- Varicose veins
- If you are in the first days of your menstrual cycle
- If you have just had a heavy meal
- Hormonal implants
- Sunburn
Conditions for massage with essential oil blends
Those with the following conditions/situations are not suited for massage with essential oil blends:
- Allergic skin rashes, contact dermatitis, broken skin, and other skin conditions
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Breastfeeding
- Cancer
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Heart disease
- High or low blood pressure
- Injury to back or joints
- Kidney problems
- Menstruation
- Migraines
- Photosensitivity
- Pregnancy, confirmed or suspected
- Sensitive skin
- Stroke
- Taking prescribed or self-prescribed medication
- Varicose Veins
- any condition being treated by a doctor or a homeopath
- likely to be operating heavy machinery, driving long distances, drinking alcohol, using a sun bed, or exposing skin to ultraviolet light within 12 hours of your massage
No aroma blends are intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Essential oils are highly concentrated essences, which are on average 70 times more powerful than the plants from which the oil has been extracted. I use essential oils diluted in a carrier oil base, blended by a professional aromatherapist, and licensed for distribution by the Aromatherapy Trade Council (ATC - the UK regulatory body for the essential oil trade). Nevertheless, individual sensitivity can vary greatly.
Great care has been taken in the choice of safe and effective essential oil blends, but some oils may cause skin sensitivity or irritation in a few individuals, especially those with sensitive skin. It is impossible to avoid this slight risk completely without avoiding many otherwise safe and effective essential oils. Moreover, any symptoms that do occur will usually clear up without the need for further treatment. If you have sensitive skin or are at all concerned about dermal irritation, you are advised to do a patch test prior to your appointment.
