Essential oils have been the talk of the town (or more like the world!) for years now – starting from doubtful whispers on its supposed healing benefits and eventually growing into full-blown support for this nature-based approach to holistic wellness. While essential oils are mostly lauded for its positive effects on our mental and emotional health, not many realise how beneficial they are in unlikely aspects too! The most surprising ones thus far? Their role in hair growth, pregnancy labour, and the topic of today’s article – weight loss! We know, who would’ve thought?!
Now, hold up. Before you attack the essential oils aisle at your local store, let’s be clear: Incorporating essential oils into your daily routine will not automatically lead to pounds off the weighing scale. But they do affect key body functions that will help you do so!
In this article, we share with you 5 essential oils proven to aid in weight loss – whether it’s curbing your appetite, regulating your blood sugar, or preventing emotional eating. Our customers at Lovoir Skin Body & Beauty regularly partake in these bonus benefits through our variety of aromatherapy massages.
If you’re interested in doing the same, our massage therapists can help you out! You can choose from our premixed blends of essential oils to help you achieve your health and wellness goals.
You can book an aromatherapy massage here, or perhaps book a consultation first and ask all the questions you want!
For those of you interested in knowing more before committing to any service, you can continue on with this article and learn everything you need to know. Happy reading!
How Aromatherapy Massages Help with Weight Loss
Let’s quickly run through the basics first – what exactly is an aromatherapy massage?
Technically speaking, it is similar to a traditional massage but with an added layer of wellness benefits through the use of essential oils. Personally speaking, we like to think of it as a natural form of holistic healing. Long-flowing movements, pressure points, and careful strokes are mixed in with specific oil blends, resulting in therapeutic benefits for your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Now, doesn’t that sound calming already?
For everything you need to know about essential oils and touch therapy, you can read our complete guide on aromatherapy massages here.
But for the purpose of this article and all of you eager to start your health kick, we’ll focus on how massage techniques and essential oils can help you with your weight loss goals!
Massage Techniques for Weight Loss
Now, don’t expect to leave a massage a lot lighter than when you came in, but you can certainly bank on it to help with weight loss to a certain degree!
Although the science is unclear, specific massage techniques can help target excessive fat storage in our bodies. By improving our blood circulation and overall immune system, they aid the body in naturally absorbing accumulated fat in different areas. Plus, repetitive strokes are said to help reduce the appearance of cellulite as well!
In a more indirect way, massages can address feelings of stress, fatigue, and body aches that prevent us from sticking to a fitness regimen to begin with. More strength, more energy, more chances of hitting the gym! Quite the opposite, massages also help our bodies relax, therefore improving our overall sleep quality. While we may not immediately notice it, lack of sleep actually slows down our metabolism.
To put it simply: We end up producing more cortisol (our stress hormone) which then prompts our bodies to load up on any form of energy to get through our all-nighters. Sure, it may seem like a cool survival instinct, but what happens underneath is a totally different story! We actually end up storing more fat cells instead of burning them. Thus, the common feeling of bloating, heaviness, and indigestion the next day. And on a more obvious note – staying up late also increases the temptation for midnight snacking!
Whatever the case may be, getting a massage can definitely improve our physical, mental, and emotional states to better complement a healthy lifestyle. No science needed here: If you’re feeling your best in all ways, then the easier it is to want to look your best too!
Essential Oils for Weight Loss
So how do essential oils fit in all this? Well, in a lot of ways!
Often referred to as ‘holistic medicine’, essential oils promote a sense of clarity, balance, and healing mainly through their aroma. When applied during a massage, their potent scent molecules reach your limbic system, which is basically a fancy term for the part of your brain responsible for emotions and moods. Hence, earning the sophisticated title of ‘aromatherapy’!
Although it is still considered a pseudoscience at this point, aromatherapy continues to intrigue the realm of medicine and science. A recent study published by Better Nutrition has found that teens who use aromatherapy have better mental focus, moods, and sleep patterns – factors that definitely affect our motivation to stay active and healthy. In even more exciting (and scientific!) news, experts are starting to uncover correlations between essential oils and specific body functions that aid in weight loss. All that said, here are some of the ways essential oils can help you with your fitness goals.
- Essential oils for a positive approach to a healthy lifestyle
The many feel-good benefits associated with essential oils can be great stepping stones to better habits. For one, they help relieve stress, anxiety, depression, and other mood swings, which are all common triggers of binge-eating and obesity. Additionally, certain essential oils also help alleviate body pains and sore muscles, which similarly prevent us from engaging in exercise and other physical activities. With your physical, mental, and emotional state in check, you’re well on your way to a happier and healthier lifestyle!
- Essential oils to curb appetite and cravings
The aromatic properties of certain essential oils are known to increase serotonin – a hormone associated with sleeping, eating, and digestion. On top of improving our mood, increased levels of serotonin can help regulate our appetite and curb our food cravings. If left with imbalanced levels, people often experience difficulties in controlling what they eat without knowing why. Apart from the aroma, appetite suppression also comes from natural compounds in essential oils, such as d-limonene, linalyl acetate, polysaccharides to name a few.
- Essential oils to reduce bloating
Some essential oils are labelled as diuretics, a term that refers to any substance capable of getting rid of excess fluid and salt in our bodies. These essential oils mainly impact our lymphatic system, which is tasked to regulate fluid circulation in our bloodstream. A faulty system can lead to bloating and swelling, thus causing weight gain! Another common cause of fluid retention in our bodies is the presence of toxic wastes. In such cases, essential oils with detoxifying properties can help too.
- Essential oils for metabolism and digestion
Digestion and metabolism are bodily functions often confused for one another, but when it comes to weight loss, they both play significant roles. Digestion is how we process our food after eating, while metabolism is how we use the ‘leftover’ energy stored in our bodies during digestion. While your digestive rate mostly depends on your food intake and health conditions, your metabolic rate is heavily based on things that are harder to control, like your age, gender, height, weight, body composition, and hormone levels. That said, it helps to know the difference between the two, in order to identify which one you may need help with! Several essential oils help boost overall metabolism, leading to sustained levels of energy. For digestion, on the other hand, essential oils address more specific conditions that affect your digestive system, such as stomach congestion, acid reflux, and nausea.
- Essential oils to help regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels
When your doctor mentions terms like blood sugar and cholesterol, then you more or less know you’re in for some bad news or, at the very least, an impending lifestyle change. An overabundance of these substances can lead to health conditions like diabetes, fatty liver, coronary heart disease, and the like. On top of a well-balanced diet and regular exercise, essential oils are another natural way to manage these conditions.
Certain oils have similar functions as insulin, which is the hormone in-charge of maintaining normal blood sugar (also called glucose) levels in our system. It does this by encouraging cells to absorb the glucose in our bloodstream, thus converting it to useful energy instead of it just settling in our bodies. Without this kind of regulation, your body will continue craving for sugar even if your bloodstream is already filled with it! All that said, essential oils can potentially benefit those with insulin-resistant issues. While it should not be seen as a one-all-be-all solution, adding them to your arsenal of health habits could be helpful.
Similarly, essential oils help to reduce cholesterol levels as well. While we all need cholesterol to build health cells, too much of it can be bad for the heart. They manifest as fat buildups in our blood vessels, increasing the chances of heart conditions! While it is not clear how essential oils address it exactly, studies have shown positive results – another reason for us to trust in this product!
How To Use Essential Oils for Weight Loss
Impressive, huh?! Including essential oils in your day-to-day routine can ideally lead to all these weight loss benefits – that is, with the right exercise and diet plan, of course!
While some prefer to inhale or ingest a few drops daily, experts say that the topical application of essential oils is the best (and generally safest!) way to use them for weight loss. That is why aromatherapy massages are seen as a popular – albeit unconventional – way to achieve this.
Although they are far from being a direct and instantly effective solution, they are certainly helpful in promoting a healthy mindset and certain bodily functions, all while enjoying a day of relaxation and pampering. Win-win!
Here at Lovoir Skin Body & Beauty, we can assist you in choosing the right blend of essential oils for your specific weight loss goals. Here are some we recommend the most!
5 Essential Oils Good For Weight Loss
Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon is not new to the weight loss scene, with lemon water being a favorite recommendation in health plans, diet programs, and at-home weight loss tips. So when it comes to its essential oil form, it’s safe to assume the same reputation! It is generally made up of limonene, a compound found in many essential oils but is especially abundant in lemon peels. It is mostly praised for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anf fat dissolving properties, making it a commonly used ingredient in dietary supplements.
- Weight loss benefits:
- Suppresses appetite
- Breaks down accumulated fat
- Improves digestion
- Increases energy and relieves muscle pain, together encouraging better exercising habits
- How it works:
- Lemon essential oil’s main compound – limonene – stimulates a lot of bodily functions that affect weight loss, the most beneficial of which is breaking down the buildup of toxins and fats. In doing so, the body’s digestive system and overall energy level are improved.
- It also aids in lowering blood sugar levels, leading to less food cravings and a more manageable appetite.
Patchouli Essential Oil
Patchouli Oil is not as hyped up compared to other essential oils, but for those of us familiar with it, we’re well aware of its amazing weight loss benefits! Native to Asia, it was first used by Indians for its antibacterial medicinal benefits, as well as its scent for repelling insects. Today, its small but hard working profile of compounds are found to also aid in inflammation, stomach problems, and food cravings.
- Weight loss benefits:
- Relieves stomach discomforts due to indigestion, acid reflux, nausea, and other common symptoms
- Reduces stomach bloating and inflammation
- Suppresses appetite
- How it works:
- Some experts have found that compounds in patchouli oil have an effect on our gastrointestinal tract, specifically when it comes to inflammation. This explains why it helps relieve stomach conditions and overall bloating. Although indirectly, anti-inflammatory properties can also help with shedding excess fat and weight.
- Studies have also been published that show decreased appetite in test animals after inhaling patchouli oil.
Basil Essential Oil
Basil is a common ingredient used to enhance a meal’s flavor, but many are unaware of its benefits as an essential oil. Apart from its calming and uplifting benefits for anxiety and stress, it surprisingly helps with weight loss too! Basil Oil is packed with compounds, vitamins, and minerals that offer a holistic approach to strong immunity and a healthier system. Similar to patchouli, it can help relieve digestive problems, as well as reduce bloating from water retention. Additionally, applying it on the skin can help soothe muscle pains, giving you that refreshing boost to hit the gym!
- Weight loss benefits:
- Suppresses appetite and food cravings
- Reduces stomach discomforts and digestive problems
- Reduces water retention and bloating
- Relieves muscle pains and tension
- Regulates blood sugar
- How it works:
- Basil contains eugonel, linalool, and citronellol, which all have anti-inflammatory properties. This powerhouse allows it to aid in stomach discomforts, specifically with digestion and bowel movement.
- It also contains magnesium and calcium (among other many nutrients) that help improve blood flow in the muscles, ultimately relieving it from pain and discomfort.
- Lastly, many studies show that basil helps prevent diabetes, particularly in combating symptoms like weight gain and high blood sugar levels.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is loved by many for its sweet scent and wellness benefits. It is a common go-to for calming the mood and improving sleep, which naturally help in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. More recent discoveries have found it to be a natural treatment for weight loss as well! Although it cannot explicitly claim to treat diabetes or insulin problems, it does help to regulate blood sugar levels in its own way.
- Cinnamon essential oil has a relatively unique ability to balance out blood sugar levels similar to insulin, therefore aiding in less sugar cravings and an overall healthier system.
- Weight loss benefits:
- Invokes positive feelings to help prevent emotional eating and encourage a healthy lifestyle
- How it works:
- Lavender’s main role in a weight loss plan is its ability to calm emotions in the face of anxiety and stress. In doing so, it helps improve sleep habits and inspire an overall better attitude towards health and wellness. These positive emotions can help prevent binge-eating, which is a common source of comfort in stressful situations.
Petitgrain Essential Oil
If you don’t know what petitgrain essential oil is (which isn’t surprising since most people don’t!), we’ll start by describing its scent profile. It has a sweet floral fragrance mixed in with tart and woody notes, which together form a rich aroma. The smell itself can instantly soothe your mood, making it a good addition to your diet-exercise weight loss plan. Other than offering the usual weight loss benefits, its unique feature is its link to insomnia. By inducing better sleep and improving energy, it can significantly help you stick to a regular fitness plan!
- Weight loss benefits:
- Relaxes the mind and body
- Reduces anxiety
- Relieves muscle pains and tension
- How it works:
- Petitgrain is backed by a long list of compounds that help relax the body and ease negative emotion from anxiety to anger to fear. It is strongly referred to as a solution to insomnia, hypertension, palpitations, and other nervous reactions of the body.
- It also has antispasmodic properties, which means it relieves tension and pain in the muscles, nerves, and blood vessels.
- Lastly, fennel oil is also considered a diuretic, which as we mentioned, helps against water weight and bloating.
At Lovoir Skin Body & Body, we offer three kinds of aromatherapy massages with premixed blends that include many of these essential oils. While they have become customer favorites mainly because of their wellness benefits, it’s a great bonus to know that they are naturally aiding in weight loss too! Here’s a rundown of our aromatherapy massage treatments that can avail of:
- Stress Relief Aromatherapy Massage, which uses a blend of Lavender, Patchouli, Lime, Petitgrain, and Ylang Ylang
- Energising Aromatherapy Massage, which uses a blend of Lime, Basil, Rosewood, and Rosemary
- Relaxation Aromatherapy Massage, which uses a blend of Lemon, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Clary Sage Petitgrain, and Lavender
Before you book your aromatherapy massage with us, we’ll end with a few things you should expect when it comes to achieving weight loss results!
What to Expect from an Aromatherapy Massage for Weight Loss
Before you book your aromatherapy massage with us, here are a few things to keep in mind. It’s important to start your session with clear expectations especially when it comes to weight loss. After all, it’s all about finding what works for you and balancing them all together!
- We’ll put it bluntly: An aromatherapy massage might not work for everyone. Before considering this type of solution for weight loss, it is best to consult our massage therapists and let them know your specific goals. That way, we’ll be able to recommend the most effective oils for you. However, if we feel like this method will hardly help your weight loss plan, you can trust us to be honest with you. Either way, we’ll always have your best interest in mind!
- An aromatherapy massage is not a one-done-deal for achieving your weight loss goals. While it can work wonders for people, common sense and science will tell us that there’s no single method of losing weight — and you certainly won’t burn fat through aromatherapy massages alone. That said, it is just one of the many things you can do as part of your overall weight management strategy. Pair it with a healthy diet and regular exercise, and you’re sure to achieve visible results!
- Essential oils are made from extracts of plants and flowers, but although these are natural remedies, they can also cause side effects for some people. Whether you’re using them at home or through a professional massage treatment, be sure to use ‘therapeutic grade’ essential oil, which is something we can assure you of in our sessions!
Experience the Best Aromatherapy Massage in Christchurch
Okay, now’s your cue! Head on over to our beauty treatments section, and book your aromatherapy massage! Whether you decide to start with a consultation or go straight to booking a session, we promise you’re in safe hands. Our massage therapists will work their magic with your weight loss goals, safety, and, of course, relaxation in mind!
Book an aromatherapy massage here
Apart from our aromatherapy massage, we offer a wide range of other body massages, which you might enjoy as well. Shop around, and let us know once you’re ready for the ultimate spa day!
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