Many modalities of massage including Swedish, Shiatsu and deep tissue, use some form of lubrication to reduce the amount of friction between the client's and massage therapist’s skin. Oil is the least expensive and most common type of lubricant used by massage therapists.The oil used varies depending upon the massage therapist preference and client needs. Kondañña, director of the Bodhiwork Institute in Petaluma, California, notes that oil is absorbed into and serves as a nutrient for the skin. Because some oils contain allergens, it is important to be aware of any allergies the massage therapist or client may have when choosing a massage oil.
Carrier Oil
The carrier oil makes up the majority of the contents of massage oil. It carries the other ingredients of the oil. The carrier oil may consist of any number of vegetable, nut and seed oils. Kondañña, explains that oils may be classified as saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated depending on the dominant lipid or fat, present in the oil. Coconut, palm and cottonseed are saturated oils which may be found in massage oil. Corn, soy, sunflower, walnut, cottonseed, palm kernel and safflower oils are examples of polyunsaturated oils. Monounsaturated oils include olive, avocado, almond, apricot kernel, peanut, canola and sesame oils.
Scent
Some massage oils contain scents to enhance the experience of the massage for the client. The scents used can be synthetic or plant based. According to holistic aromatherapist Éva-Marie Lind-Shiveley pure essential oils are not only inhaled but also absorbed directly through the skin. These oils have different healing properties, such as inducing relaxation or relieving sore muscles. Lavender, rose, orange and eucalyptus are examples of essential which may be added to massage oil. Synthetic scents are made in a laboratory and simply add aroma to the oil without the healing properties of essential oils.
Additives
Additives may be included in the oil to increase shelf life, make washing away from sheets and clothing easier or to extend the carrier oils. According to Kondañña, some additives can reduce vitamins and nutrients and clog pores of the skin. These include mineral oil and isopropyl alcohol. Chemical preservatives including BHT, BHA, and EDTA may be added to the oil but vitamin E and wheat germ oil are non-chemical preservative found in many massage oils.
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