Massage oils

[Luv2bemommy]

(hope this is in the right forum lol)

I was hoping you all could share what you use as massage oil when you do massages.. Tonite I bought a massage book and I seen some massage oil at this place but it was like 25 bucks for a small bottle.. I thought it was insane! Anyways, I want something calming and relaxing to the mother, so what do you all use???

After the kids get asleep I'm going to test the book on dh, he's excited.

[sjistarr]

I use sweet almond oil either plain or as a carrier oil to add my essential oils to. The only issue with some natural nut and vegetable oils is that they go rancid quickly, but sweet almond is pretty stable and I keep it in the fridge when I'm not using it.

If someone has any kind of nut allergy, I use Elta's paraffin massage cream. I paid $16.00 for a 16oz bottle, and it's lasted me quite some time.

[Gentlebirthmama]

I just recently bought avocado oil to use as a carrier oil for essential oils. It is wonderful. It has a non-greasy residue and is very softening to the skin. No smell, very light.
Amy

[tlcdoula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjistarr I use sweet almond oil either plain or as a carrier oil to add my essential oils to. The only issue with some natural nut and vegetable oils is that they go rancid quickly, but sweet almond is pretty stable and I keep it in the fridge when I'm not using it. If someone has any kind of nut allergy, I use Elta's paraffin massage cream. I paid $16.00 for a 16oz bottle, and it's lasted me quite some time.

Just curious, but do you ask them if they have allergies? What about the staff at the hospital before using the almond oil? I am only asking and going to share my experiences as "something to think about."

I am severely allergic to nut products and I know many people are, but I am so severely allergic that just being in the same room that a nut oil is used will send me into a pretty good reaction. I found this out only after I went to a pregnancy massage demonstration. I never thought the oil would cause me problems. In fact I never even gave it any thought about the oil. After a few minutes of the massage therapist doing the demonstation my nose and eyes started running, and I was sneezing like crazy. I couldn't figure out what was going on, but I got so sick that I had to leave. On the way home I took tons of Benadryl because I didn't know what else to do and wasn't going to go to the hospital. I then came home and slept it off. It wasn't until days later when I was talking to a sister doula that I realized it was the almond oil the massage therapist was using.

All I thought was "yikes" because I didn't realize it, and now I am forever thinking about what I use. I not only ask the mother about allergies, but everyone else in the room too.

I use plain old olive oil and do not add essential oils for fear of causing an allergic reaction.

Again, not trying to be argumentative just giving you something to think about and wondering how you handle situations where you use almond oil in the hospital, etc.? Maybe you don't? I am just curious.

[sjistarr]

I probably should have made my reply more "doula-centered" than "massage-centered". I always ask a massage recipient about allergies prior to working, but in a hospital environment, I only use the hypoallergenic cream. The essential oil I use as a doula is clary sage... one drop to a 2 oz bottle of cream and it's very mild. I carry a bottle of plain cream for when mom prefers no scent.

Sakinah

[tlcdoula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjistarr I probably should have made my reply more "doula-centered" than "massage-centered". I always ask a massage recipient about allergies prior to working, but in a hospital environment, I only use the hypoallergenic cream. The essential oil I use as a doula is clary sage... one drop to a 2 oz bottle of cream and it's very mild. I carry a bottle of plain cream for when mom prefers no scent. Sakinah

Thanks for clarification Makes total sense.

[~Tranquility~Doula]

I use a hypoallergenic massage cream with no scent. If someone wants essential oils for their birth I ask them to purchase it themselves and I'll use it on them if they want.

[Kim Trower]

My dh is a massage therapist and so I get lotion from him...I have a non greasy type lotion to do foot massage and such with and then I have a jojoba oil mixed with eo's of clary sage, nutmeg, neroli, geranium, and lavendar for pain...it's amazing..i even rubbed it on my dh's knee when he jammed it riding his bike...it dulled the pain for hours.