Hand and Foot massage has been practiced in many cultures for centuries to promote health and well-being. Today, massage is considered a complementary and alternative medicine used by millions to relieve pain, reduce stress and anxiety, rehabilitate injuries and boost general health.

When essential oils are applied to these treatment, the client can benefit more both physically and mentally.

While there are several different methods, aromatherapy accesses and cultivates the unique qualities of different essential oils in order to help relax the mind, body, and soul.

The most effective place to put essential oils on your body are actually the soles of your feet! Add essential oils with a carrier oil to create the perfect massage medium!

The soles of our feet have much larger pores than the rest of our body. This means they act a little like oversized straws, sucking up the health-giving compounds in the oils and quickly feeding them into our bloodstream.

And when applied to the larger pores of your foot soles, these oils can pass through the epidermis into your body and begin working their magic faster and more efficiently.

Some benefits of foot massage are below -

Tranquility and Relaxation

Massaging the feet can alleviate anxiety and bring about a deep state of relaxation. One important point that is situated on both feet is the solar plexus reflex. The solar plexus is sort of a little warehouse where all your stress is stored. When the solar plexus point is pressed on, stress is released and the body is renewed.

Improved Circulation and Cleansing

The blood that circulates through the body is responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrition to the body’s cells. The blood also cleanses waste and toxins from the body. Because blood flow becomes limited when stress is present, foot massage can be beneficial as it decreases stress and allows the circulation of blood to flow unimpeded.

Balance and Harmony

Homeostasis is when all the body’s systems are working in harmony with one another to bring about a state of balance. A foot massage can encourage homeostasis so that good health can be obtained.

Energy and Rejuvenation

Foot massage is restorative in that it gives the receiver energy. When the foot is rubbed and palpated, all the elements of a foot massage come together to bring energy to the body. According to theories of reflexology, foot massage releases any blockages that can hold back energy that should be flowing through the body freely.

Enhancement of Immunity

Stimulation of reflexes in the feet through massage is an action performed to bring about relaxation and healing. Relaxing the body through foot massage may prevent the harmful effects of stress from taking a toll on the body. A regular foot massage can offer protection against the many diseases that are associated with stress.

Receiving a hand massage can provide you with significant health benefits.

Hand massage typically is quick, relaxing and provides you with immediate health benefits, such as improved finger and wrist range of motion, enhanced circulation and reduction of your trigger points—hyperirritable nodules—in your hand muscles.

According to Reflexology-Research.com, your hands and feet contain many acupressure and reflexology points, which are associated with your organs and certain parts of your body. Refer to reflexology of the hands and feet for more information.

Some benefits of hand massage are below -

Improved Circulation

Improved circulation is one of the most important health benefits of massage therapy. Stimulating circulation in your hands is important to keep tissues nourished and by bringing more nutrients to the area of injury and removing the harmful metabolic byproducts that tend to accumulate in your tissues following trauma.

Improved Range of Motion

Hand massage helps loosen tight hand muscles, reduces scar tissue and adhesions that cause decreased finger and wrist mobility, and improves your hand's various ranges of motion and flexibility.

Relaxation

Massaging the hands can alleviate anxiety and stress, calm and bring about a deep state of relaxation for clients.

Arthritis

For those with hand pain (including pain associated with arthritis), regular hand massage with essentiasl oils have been proven to decrease anxiety, improve strength and reduce pain with anti-inflammatory properties.