Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/72195
VISIT MASSAGEANDBODYWORK.COM AND CLICK ON M&B'S NEW DIGITAL EDITION TO VIEW ANNE WILLIAMS' VIDEO SIDEBAR ON CONTRAINDICATIONS. Essential Oils to Avoid Avoid Completely. Bitter almond, boldo leaf, brown camphor, buchu, calamus, horseradish, mugwort, mustard, pennyroyal, rue, sassafras, savin, savory, tansy, thuja, wormseed, wormwood, yellow camphor. Avoid with Pregnant Clients. Aniseed, basil, birch, cedarwood, clary sage, common sage, cypress, geranium, hyssop, jasmine, juniper berry, myrrh, peppermint, rosemary, sweet fennel, sweet marjoram, thyme, wintergreen. Avoid with Hypertensive Clients. Common sage, hyssop, pine, rosemary, thyme. Avoid with Clients Taking Homeopathic Remedies. Eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary. Avoid with Epileptic or Seizure-Prone Clients. Basil, bitter fennel, common sage, hyssop, sweet fennel. Avoid with Clients with a History of Estrogen-Dependent Cancer. Aniseed, basil, birch, cedarwood, clary sage, common sage, cypress, geranium, hyssop, jasmine, juniper berry, myrrh, peppermint, rosemary, sweet fennel, sweet marjoram, thyme, wintergreen. Phototoxic Essential Oils. Angelica root, bergamot, bitter orange, ginger, grapefruit, lemon, lime, mandarin, sweet orange. Skin Irritants. Ajowan, basil, cassia, cinnamon bark, cinnamon leaf, clove bud, clove leaf, costus, fir needle, lemongrass, lemon verbena, melissa, oregano, peppermint, sweet fennel, thyme. When taking clients' health histories, it is important to check for shellfish or iodine allergies. Allergic clients should not receive a seaweed treatment; small amounts can cause serious allergic reactions. WHEN ADVERSE REACTIONS HAPPEN With any client, the therapist should watch for increased pain, discomfort, agitation, nausea, headache, or dizziness. If any of these symptoms occur during a treatment, the therapist should stop the session and allow the client to relax in a quiet environment at a normal temperature. Monitor the client at all times and do not allow him or her to go home until symptoms have disappeared. Most often, symptoms like nausea and headache are the result of accelerated detoxification. If the symptoms persist after the session has ended, a physician should be consulted. If the symptoms increase rapidly at any time, the therapist should call emergency services. THERAPIST SAFETY Therapists working in a spa are often exposed to a number of potent products during the course of a workday. In some cases, this has resulted in severe contact dermatitis or in persistent chronic dermatitis. Vinyl gloves can be worn in most cases to protect the hands from reaction to products. Heavy gloves should be worn when working with strong sanitation products. therapist, esthetician, aromatherapist, certified reflexologist, registered counselor, educator, and author. The work outlined in this article is adapted from the author's textbook, Spa Bodywork: A Guide for Massage Therapists (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007). Williams is also the education program director for Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals. She can be reached at anne@ abmp.com or anne@spabodywork.com. Anne Williams is a licensed massage massagetherapy.com—for you and your clients 123