In our busy lives, heading to a spa every week or fortnight is not possible, so the best option lies in home remedies and home massages. There are an array of natural oils that are beneficial for the body in terms of hair care, skin care and body care. Charoo Chawla Anand, Director, Blliis by Ravissant in New Delhi gives us names of different natural oils and their health benefits.
Olive oil massage for dry skin
Massaging your skin daily with olive oil is an excellent way to combat dry or flaky skin caused by harsh weather. It helps to repair skin damaged from overexposure to the sun.
Olive oil massage for pain relief
Olive oil Massage therapy on its own helps to relieve pain aches and muscle spasms.
Olive oil for head massage
Olive oil helps to heal dry, flaky scalp conditions such as dandruff. Scalp massage with olive oil promotes healthier, shinier and more manageable hair.
Sesame oil massages for face and throat
For best results, apply a few drops in the morning and evening after cleansing your skin. Use circular motions and cover all joints to stimulate the natural energy of those joints.
Sesame oil massages for body use
Use a small amount to cover the areas you wish to apply and massage in gently till almost completely absorbed. Can be used morning and night.
Sesame oil massages for itchy skin after bath or shower
Helps to calm itchy skin many suffer from post bathing, showering, and swimming. Towel dry and apply a thin layer to your skin and rub in, making sure to cover areas of intense itching. If you still feel slight itching or tingling, apply more and rub into skin. Reapply as needed.
Sesame oil massages for burns and sunburn
Apply after the affected area is cleaned using thoroughly washed hands or sterile gauze, covering the affected areas lightly, and re-apply as needed.
Sesame oil massages for hair
Before shampoo: As a pre-shampoo treatment, apply to hair 20-30 minutes before shampooing, wrap hair in bag or towel.
After shampoo: After shampooing while your hair is still wet, apply a small amount to your hands and rub to make distributing to your hair and scalp easier. Allow to air dry.
Almond oil massage for skin care
Almond oil massage is especially good for dry skin, although it is beneficial for most types of skin.
Mustard oil – An excellent moisturizer
If you have dry skin or dry patches in your body, getting a mustard oil massage will help moisturise the skin. As a matter of fact, you can do spot massages once in a week to retain the suppleness of the skin.
Coconut oil massage
A heavy and thick oil, it is best to warm it before use. It is especially beneficial for cracked, dry skin.
First of all, the presence of such a high concentration of medium chain fatty acids (saturated fats) makes it very stable oil. So, when you rub coconut massage oil on your skin and leave it for hours, you need not fear that it will go rancid and damage your skin or invite infections.
Secondly, the presence of expert anti microbial agents like capric acid and lauric acid do not let microbes infect your skin.
Thirdly, the layer of such stable oil full of saturated fats, on the skin, does not let moisture escape, thus protecting it from drying and cracking.
Coconut oil massage
Fourthly, coconut oil is rich in vitamin-E, your skin’s best friend. It keeps your skin rejuvenated, young and healthy.
Fifthly, the coconut massage oil, gifted with a lot of anti oxidants, can keep you looking young even in your seventies. These anti-oxidants do not let the skin wrinkle and also protects it from other adverse effects of ageing, like sagging, peeling and de-colouring etc.
Sixthly, it penetrates the skin very easily while massaging and can serve very well if used as carrier oil for other herbal extracts, essential oils, medicines etc.
Finally, last but not the least, its fragrance is unmatched. It is so earthy and soothing that it keeps you fresh all the day and drives away body odour.
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