Traditional massage

Aromatherapy massage

นวดน้ำมันอโรมา

A relaxing oil massage in which plant essential oils, diluted in a carrier oil, add scent to long gliding strokes, sometimes with warm stones.

IntensityGentle

Origin

Modern concept from France; aromatic oils used since antiquity

History

The term ‘aromatherapy’ dates from the early 20th century (book published 1937)

Licence in Thailand

Not required

Where it comes from

Aromatic plant oils have been used for thousands of years, including in ancient Egypt and in the Middle Ages. The modern idea of ‘aromatherapy’ is more recent: the French chemist and perfumer René-Maurice Gattefossé coined the word and published a book with that title in 1937.

Interest faded in the mid-20th century and was later revived, notably by the French physician Jean Valnet. Today, massage with essential oils diluted in a carrier oil is one of the main ways aromatherapy is practised, alongside inhalation from a diffuser.

Many spas also offer massages with heated stones, often smooth basalt stones placed on or moved over the body. The sources reviewed for this page do not document a reliable history for hot-stone massage, so we do not give one.

The principle

The session combines two things: the touch of a slow, flowing massage and the smell of essential oils such as lavender. The oils are always diluted in a neutral ‘carrier’ oil before touching the skin; they are partly breathed in and partly in contact with the skin.

Evidence is modest. An early review found a mild, short-lived calming effect but called the research not rigorous enough, and a 2016 Cochrane review of massage with or without aromatherapy in people with cancer rated the evidence very low quality and could not show what essential oils add to plain massage.

What people come for

To relax and take a calm pause
To ease a feeling of stress or tension
To enjoy pleasant scents as part of the experience
To feel the comfort of warmth, when hot stones are used
To unwind before sleep, as many people report

How it works on the body

Aromatherapy massage uses long, smooth strokes with diluted oil on bare skin, mostly with light to medium pressure.

A session, step by step

01
Short consultation
You are asked about allergies, skin sensitivity, pregnancy and health conditions, and you can choose or smell the oil.
02
On the table
You undress to your comfort level and lie on a massage table, covered with a towel except for the area being worked.
03
Oil massage
The therapist applies essential oils diluted in a carrier oil with long, flowing strokes.
04
Optional warm stones
Heated stones may be placed on the body or used as massage tools; say at once if they feel too hot.
05
Rest and aftercare
You rest a few minutes. If citrus oils were used, avoid direct sun on that skin for a while.

Precautions

Allergies and sensitive skin: allergic reactions and contact dermatitis are reported, especially with skin application. Tell the therapist about any allergy.
Sun: some citrus oils can make skin react to sunlight if applied before sun exposure.
Pregnancy: the safety of essential oils in pregnancy has not been clearly demonstrated. Avoid concentrated oils and ask your midwife or doctor; see our prenatal massage page.
Hormone-sensitive conditions: lavender and tea tree oils have shown weak hormone-like effects, and the NCI notes advice to avoid them in people with estrogen-dependent tumours.
Heat and clots: burns can occur if stones or oil are too hot, and vigorous deep pressure is not advised if you have, or are at risk of, blood clots. Never swallow essential oils.

Complementary practice: does not replace medical advice.

In Thailand

In Thailand, oil and aromatherapy massage offered as a business falls under the Health Establishment Act B.E. 2559 (2016), in force since 27 September 2016 and administered by the Department of Health Service Support of the Ministry of Public Health. The Act requires spa, health-massage and beauty-massage establishments to be licensed and their service providers to be registered after a recognised training course and their service managers to be licensed. Before booking, you can check that the licence is displayed.

Frequently asked questions

What is a carrier oil?

A neutral plant oil used to dilute essential oils. Essential oils are generally applied to the skin only in diluted form.

Is aromatherapy massage scientifically proven?

People often find it relaxing, but research is limited and mostly low quality, and it is not shown to treat any disease.

Can I have it while pregnant?

Talk to your midwife or doctor first. Concentrated essential oils should be avoided in pregnancy; a prenatal massage with plain or very diluted oil is the usual alternative.

Can I go in the sun afterwards?

If citrus oils were used, wait before exposing that skin to strong sun, as they can cause a skin reaction with sunlight.

Also in Traditional massage

On pranathai

Find a Aromatherapy massage practitioner

No practitioner of this discipline on pranathai yet. Are you a practitioner here? Create your free page