Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/296580
A variety of exotic vegetable oils are available, many of which are suitable for massage. oil, making it less viable for skin health when applied topically. Natural oils are more expensive than refined oils and tend to have a shorter shelf life. Purchase them in small quantities and refrigerate them between uses, making sure to warm them before a session. When buying commercial massage oils, lotions, or gels, read the ingredients list carefully. Avoid preservatives like BHT, BHA, and EDTA; hydrogenated oils (oils that have been changed from poly or monounsaturated to saturated fats to make them more stable); lanolin, mineral oil, and petroleum; and dyes and synthetic fragrances. COMMON OILS USED IN MASSAGE A variety of exotic vegetable oils are available, many of which are suitable for massage. Some of the oils described below are best used in moderation or in combination with other oils for a massage session because of their high cost or viscous consistency. • Almond oil (Prunus amygdalis var. dulcis) is pale yellow with a light odor and medium-weight texture. • Apricot kernel oil (Prunus armeniaca) is yellow and has a prominent odor and lightweight texture. Avoid the refined oil, which has a pale yellow color and no odor. • Avocado oil (Persea americana) is olive green and has a strong odor and heavy texture. An avocado oil that is pale yellow in color and odorless has been refined. Avocado oil is generally expensive but is particularly useful for stretch marks, dehydrated skin, scars, and mature skin. • Canola oil (Brassica napus) is pale yellow and has a light odor and lightweight texture. Check to ensure that the canola oil is natural, organic, and unrefined. Heavily processed canola oil is often used as an ingredient in cheaper massage and body products. • Cocoa butter (Theobroma cacao) is pale yellow and has an odor reminiscent of chocolate (in which it is a key ingredient). It is solid at room temperature but light- to medium- weight when melted and applied to the body warm or mixed with other oils. Because it contains high levels of saturated fats, it does not absorb into the skin but forms a micro-layer on top of the skin, which is useful for preventing moisture loss in dry skin. • Coconut oil (Cocos nucifera) is clear or white, has a coconut odor, and may be solid or liquid at room temperature (it melts at 76 degrees Fahrenheit). It is medium weight when melted. Refined or fractionated products are most common, but unrefined coconut oil is increasingly easy to find. Like cocoa butter, coconut oil is high in saturated fats and does not absorb into the skin. This oil causes skin irritation in some individuals. • Evening primrose oil (Oenothera biennis) is yellow and has little odor and a heavy, almost sticky quality. Because of its high gamma-linolenic acid content, it has been used in the treatment of conditions including eczema. This oil is often used as a spot treatment during facial massage or added to other oils to boost their healing properties for the skin. • Hazelnut oil (Corylus avellana) is yellow and has a mild, nutty odor and a lightweight texture. It is inexpensive and easy to find. • Hemp seed oil (Cannabis sativa) is green and has a medium nutty odor and a heavy texture. While it is expensive, its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties make it especially useful in massage. • Jojoba oil (Simmondsia chinensis) is bright yellow and has a light odor and a medium-weight texture. Jojoba is a wax that is liquid and stable at room temperature. It mimics sebum, the body's natural moisturizer, and so is useful for all skin types. It is believed to regulate sebum production in oily skin when used for extended periods of time. • Kukui nut oil (Aleurites moluccana) is pale yellow and has a sweet odor and a lightweight texture. While it is expensive, it contains high amounts of linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and vitamins A and E, which make it useful for healing sunburn, chapped skin, eczema, and psoriasis. I t p a y s t o b e A B M P C e r t i f i e d : w w w. a b m p . c o m / g o / c e r t i f i e d c e n t r a l 39