BABYMASSAGE BASE OILS ESSENTIAL OILS AND AROMATHERAPY

Aromatherapy when used correctly is the safe and controlled use of plant essential oils to promote and maintain physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual well-being of the baby and its mother.

BABY MASSAGE BASE OILS

Vegetable/Fruit Base Oils

Base oils, are unperfumed oils derived from nuts, seeds, pulp etc, which as well as facilitating babymassage and the dilution of essential oils, some base oils also have therapeutic properties of their own with an ability to treat certain skin conditions, like Olive Oil (dry skin).

The following base oils are recommended for babymassage:

Sunflower Seed / Grapeseed / Olive Oil / Fractionated Coconut (coconut oil without an aroma)

Different oils are also used for baby massage in different cultures with different skin types, for example olive oil is used more in Mediterranean countries, coconut oil is used more in the Caribbean , while Indian mothers massage their babies with mustard oil.
Your baby’s skin is highly sensitive and only pure organic odourless vegetable/fruit oils are recommended for baby massage. These need not be expensive, organic ‘sunflower’ oil is available at most large supermarkets.

SAFETY

Before applying anything to your baby’s skin complete a skin test to check your baby’s reaction.

This can be done on the inside of the upper arm and about 30 - 40 minutes observation time should be allowed to test for an allergic reaction. This most often takes on the appearance of large reddish blotches, similar to a heat rash, which subsides after two or three hours. In this event, change the oil. Also be aware that babies respond differently and quickly to aromas. They can react badly to cheap perfumes and after shaves, tobacco, bleach, furniture polish etc.

During the first ten to twelve weeks the oils you use for babymassage should be odourless as they should not interfere with the smell of the mother or the smell of the baby.

Always check the ingredients of your oil and if the oil you have purchased for baby massage contains additives that you do not know, a quick internet search can reveal much. (See talcum powder)

WHAT IS AROMATHERAPY

Aromatherapy is the use of plant essential oils to promote and maintain well-being.

Essential oils are organic compounds derived from various parts of flowers, resins, leaves, barks, fruit and roots.
They contain natural chemical constituents , with each essential oil having unique therapeutic properties which can be used to help promote and maintain health and well-being.

The most common methods of application of essential oils include :

BABYMASSAGE / VAPOURISATION

ABSORPTION

Essential oils should be used with caution when it comes to babies and children, as up to the age of 12, a child’s liver has not properly matured. And as the baby’s sense of smell is very sensitive their emotional responses to particular aroma’s should also be observed.

Essential oils are absorbed through the skin and into the blood circulatory system via the hair follicles and sweat glands.
If you doubt this, crush some garlic and rub it into the soles of your feet.
It will be on your breath within 40 minutes. To do this it has travelled through your blood stream, heart, lungs etc, the most deepest recesses of your body.

SAFE DILUTIONS FOR BABYMASSAGE

8 weeks - 2 yrs (no more than 2 drops essential oil to 3 tablespoons vegetable base oil)

Note: The use of essential oils in baby massage before the baby is 8 weeks old is not recommended.

Herbal Oils

Herbal oils differ from essential and vegetable carrier oils in that they are produced through infusing fresh or dried herbs. By soaking the herbal plant material in a vegetable oil, say sunflower oil, for 4-6 weeks, the aromatic and therapeutic constituents of the herbal plant will infuse into the vegetable oil. This is then drained and filtered off.

The most common herbal oils include :

Arnica (Arnica montana) and Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Common herbal oils used to benefit both mother and baby, are; calendula- a very healing and soothing oil which is particularly gentle on skin and can help sooth nappy rash and can be used on dry skin as a moisturiser, arnica- helps to heal bruising.

Note: You should only purchase herbal oils from a recommended or reliable source.

Hydrolats (Flower Waters)

The process of distilling essential oils from plants, usually through steam distillation, also produces hydrolat or flower water from the remaining pure water at the final stage of distillation of the essential oil.

Retaining most of the more gentle therapeutic properties of the oil, hydrolats can be used to treat some skin conditions and as a cooling and refreshing skin toner.

Organic hydrolats offer the best healing properties and in most cases the distillation process will also have used fresh mountain spring water at source.

Hydrolats can be mixed with water based creams or easily diluted in the babies bath.
The most common hydrolats include: lavender (lavandula angustifolia), chamomile (anthemis nobilis), myrtle (myrtus communis) and orange flower (citrus aurantium).

Note: You should only purchase hydrolats from a recommended or reliable source, as many of these supplied are little more than perfumed water. These can induce extreme skin reactions in babies.

Buying and Storing Essential Oils

Essential oils where possible, should be organic pure and natural, so as to reduce chemical interference and undefined risks from genetically modified constituents.

Always store both individual and blended essential oils in a cool, dark, dry environment to lessen the effects of oxidisation.

Always buy essential oils from a reputable supplier who should be able to supply with your oil and information data sheets.

In the UK, contact the ATC (Aromatherapy Trades Council) for a list of reputable suppliers.

SAFETY FIRST see (SKIN TEST)

Please remember before applying anything to your baby’s skin complete a skin test to check your baby’s reaction.

Also check your baby’s response to different aromas.

CONTRA-INDICATIONS TO BABYMASSAGE AND/OR THE USE OF ESSENTIAL OILS ON BABIES AND CHILDREN

DO NOT MASSAGE IF YOUR BABY HAS;

• WEEPING, DISEASED OR DAMAGED SKIN
  (The use of oils can exacerbate and spread the condition)
• BRUISING
• RIGID, IMMOBILE OR SWOLLEN JOINTS
• ILLNESS FEVER INFECTIOUS DISEASE
• MOST MAJOR DISEASES / DISORDERS

A thorough medical history is necessary if massage and/or essential oils are to be used for a particular problem and under these conditions the consent of the baby’s main medical consultant and a consultation with a qualified Aroma Therapist is necessary.
Some essential oils, can also be used with other complementary therapies like Homeopathy, Acupuncture and Cranial Sacral Therapy.

THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS MAY BE HELPED WITH THE CORRECT USE OF ESSENTIAL OILS :

• SLEEP PROBLEMS
• Chamomile
• CRADLE CAP/NAPPY RASH
• Olive Oil/Ravensara
• COLIC
• Chamomile
• CONSTIPATION
• Chamomile
• DRY SKIN
• Olive Oil
• COUGHS / COLDS /CROUP
• Frankinsense/Myrrh/Pine/Peppermint
• TEETHING
• Chamomila homeopathic crystals
• DRY SKIN
• Olive Oil / Chickweed Cream

An easy alternative use of essential oils in babymassage, is to put a few drops of your choice of oil into a spray bottle with purified/distilled water (not tap water) shake well, and spray the room with a little before you begin, if you use the same aroma with babymassage, the baby will begin to recognise it and associate this with a pleasant experience. Ensure that you change the mix regularly and keep it out of direct sunlight. Also ensure that you do not leave essential oils in sunlight as they oxidise and ‘go off’ (when this happens the scent changes and the oil appears cloudy). Be careful when buying bottles to store the mix in ensure, that they are properly washed so your oils remain unaffected.

Avoid commercial baby oils, clothes fabric, detergent and perfumed soaps.

Calendula and camomile can be soothing for dry skin, also camomile tea can be used to wash badly effected areas.

USEFUL NUMBERS IN THE UK

A.O.C - AROMATHERAPY ORGANISATION COUNCIL TEL: 020 8 251 7912
A.T.C - AROMATHERAPY TRADE COUNCIL TEL: 01473 603630
I.F.P.A - INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION of PROFESSIONAL AROMATHERAPISTS
TEL: 01455 637987
MATERIA AROMATICA TEL: 020 8 392 9868
FRAGRANT EARTH TEL:01458 831216
ESSENTIALLY OILS TEL: 01608 659544
ALAN HOWEL TEL: 020 8569 8440
ORGANIC HERB TRADING TEL: 01823 401205

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

---