A full-body massage can be a powerful tool. It can help you take charge of your mental, physical, and emotional health. It can drive away your fatigue and stress (both of which the COVID-19 pandemic has given you in abundance!).
The Surprising Benefits of Ayurvedic Massage Oils
But, can you really afford to go to a spa every day? Or, call a masseuse/masseur home? Not only is this arrangement expensive, but given the pandemic situation, it is not recommended.
What is the next best option? Fill your cabinet with Ayurvedic massage oils. They’ve worked for generations (6000+ years!) and there’s no reason why they won’t help you now.
For thousands of years, Ayurvedic oil has been relied upon as a fundamental part of Ayurveda. In Sanskrit, the word for massage is ‘abhyanga’ and it is derived from the root word ‘Sneha’, which means care or love. Abhyanga is a unique massage that’s done using Dosha-specific warm herb-infused oil. The oil is applied to the full-body, starting from the scalp to the soles of the feet. By practicing this massage daily, you’ll be providing your skin and body with the nourishment and self-love that it deserves.
Typically, there are two categories of Ayurvedic body oil:
- Base Oil – Whole, pure, organic oil from natural sources like almond, sunflower, coconut, and sesame.
- Herbal Oil – This is when a base oil is infused with one or more Ayurvedic herbs. Herbal oils combine their soothing and nourishing qualities with the healing qualities of the base oil.
Ayurvedic oils can reduce pain, strengthen muscles, relax the nerves, and rejuvenate your senses. For maximum benefits, you need to carefully select the right Ayurvedic body oil for your specific needs.
Here Is A List Of Massage Oils Recommended By Ayurveda, Along With The Concerns That They Address. Choose Wisely.
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Sweet Almond Oil For A Deeply Nourished Skin
Is your skin extremely dry? Sweet almond massage oil is a yellow-colored oil with a sweet, mild fragrance that nourishes the skin. It might be a bit greasy, but it’s not a heavy oil. It is gentle and mild and suitable for all skin types. It can even be used to massage babies.
Sweet almond oil is also known for:
- Promoting bone health
- Aiding in sleep
- Relaxing the muscles as it has pain-relieving properties
- Protecting skin against damage caused by UV radiation
- Preventing tanning
- Relieving from rashes and itching
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Castor Oil For Relief From Pain
Known for treating arthritis, castor oil is a perfect massage oil for relieving nerve inflammation, joint pain, and sore muscles. It contains anti-inflammatory properties. For pain relief, simply massage your joints with castor oil and place a warm water bag.
Castor oil is also known for:
- Increasing immunity
- Boosting circulation
- Getting rid of cysts and moles
- Healing minor wounds and cuts as it has antibacterial properties
- Increases lymphocytes and strengthens the immune system of the body
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Coconut Oil Massage For A Glowing, Youthful Skin
Are you worried that your skin is aging prematurely? The aging process might be accelerated due to stress and environmental pollution. You can turn back the clock by regularly massaging your body with coconut oil. This is the best massage oil in India that has been in use since ancient times.
Coconut oil is rich in vitamin E, which is your skin’s best friend. It helps in bringing out healthy and young skin. Along with this, it is loaded with antioxidants that prevent sagging and wrinkling.
Coconut oil massage is also known for:
- Soothing the senses and the body
- Balancing Vata and Pitta doshas
- Preventing skin drying as it is full of saturated fats
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Olive Oil Massage For Relief From Swelling And Muscle Spasms
Olive oil is used for light massages that involve repetitive movements. This oil gets absorbed in the skin at a much slower rate than other massage oils. This oil provides relief from swelling, inflammation, muscle spasms, and aches. The oil has been used by Mediterranean cultures for thousands of years for its beauty and health effects.
Olive oil is also known for:
- Moisturizing skin
- Repairing skin damage
- Protecting the body from the harmful effects of pollution and UV rays
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Neem Oil For Treating Scaly, Dry, Or Acne-prone Skin
Neem oil is quite potent. It cannot be used directly on the skin for a full-body massage. It has to be used with other carrier oils like olive or almond oil.
By adding a few drops of neem oil to your massage oil, you can treat acne. This oil is rich in vitamin E and prevents all the free radicals from damaging the skin. It helps in treating moles, warts, fungal infections, and acne.
Neem oil is also known for:
- Soothing skin ailments
- Eliminating muscle and joint pain
- Fighting wrinkles
- Stimulating collagen production
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Sesame Oil For Repairing The Skin And Detoxifying
In Ayurveda, sesame oil is the most popular massage oil. The many benefits of this oil are listed in Charaka Samhita, a popular Ayurvedic text, and it claims it as the best body massage oil in India. This is one of the reasons why sesame oil is used as a base oil in most Ayurvedic skin treatments. The oil consists of antioxidants that fight skin damage by free radicals, as well as, repair skin from sun damage.
Sesame oil is also known for:
- Aiding your digestion
- Easily diffusing through the channels of your body to nourish deeply
- Alleviating Vatadosha without enhancing Kapha dosha
- Relieving inflammatory pain in the joints
Conclusion | The Surprising Benefits of Ayurvedic Massage Oils
A good full-body massage can provide your body with exactly what it needs. There are so many Ayurvedic body oils with their unique properties. You just need to find one that is perfect for you. The aforementioned guide should help you select the right oil for addressing your specific concerns. But, if you’re still confused, you can pick anyone and try it out. These oils do not cause any side-effects and each of them is beneficial in their own ways.
