When I did my Hot Stone training, I was taught not to use essential oils or any nut oils with the stones when massaging - just use grapeseed oil. The theory behind this was the stones are porous and can absorb these oils into them and even though they are washed in between, traces of the oils can still be found in the stones. This is not ideal if they are then used on a client with allergies to nuts or a specific essential oil.
I have always stuck by this but have seen a lot of therapists advertising Aromatherapy Hot Stone Massages etc.
What are your thoughts on this?
Hi Lavendula,
When I learned Hot Stone Massage we were taught to use 'rock oil' which is water soluble. I just had a look at the ingredients and it contains sunflower seed oil, rice bran oil, expeller pressed almond oil, grapeseed oil, naturally derived water dispersant and natural vitamin E.
Hi Lavendula,
When I learned Hot Stone Massage we were taught to use 'rock oil' which is water soluble. I just had a look at the ingredients and it contains sunflower seed oil, rice bran oil, expeller pressed almond oil, grapeseed oil, naturally derived water dispersant and natural vitamin E.
Any ideas where I could purchase this from?
I never use essential oils with hot stones because I don't want to taint the stones with aromas. some clients can be very sensitive to smell, so I would rather they didn't smell of anything (the stones that is, not my clients!). LOL!
Lavendula,
On the bottle it says rubrocks.com but I had a look at the site there and it is American. I bought it in a shop in Cork which must be importing it. Why don't you ask in your local suppliers about a water-soluble oil?
Out of curiousity what have others been taught to use?
I never use essential oils with hot stones because I don't want to taint the stones with aromas. some clients can be very sensitive to smell, so I would rather they didn't smell of anything (the stones that is, not my clients!). LOL!
I think the same as this and it is what I was taught too. I think I will stick to what I feel is right and just continue to use grapseed oil with the stones. Like Stardust, I'd be interested to hear what other people were taught regarding this.
I was taught use jojoba, no essential oils, but then the trainer wasn't aromatherapy qualified.
If you do more than one hot stone treatment, I wouldn't use essential oils - the heater turns into one big oil burner type environment, you'd just be flooding the room with a strange mixture of aromas unless you used the same blend on everyone.
If it's a one off hot stone treatment, you need to consider what the oils are and how the heat affects them - I halve the number of drops I usually use since the heat speeds up the rate they are absorbed, and there are no studies about the effect of heat with application of essential oils, so I err on the cautious side.
I was taught on my LaStone simply stones course not to use essential oils as the stones become tainted. The instructer was a qualified aromatherapist. LaStone recommend the use of Jojoba as it is light, lasts a very long time and does not go rancid. In fact they put the bottle of oil into the heated water to heat it up on occasions. The instructor advised that if you really wanted to use an essential oil it could be applied in the last effleurage of the body with hands. Even one drop rubbed into the therapists palms will work on the subtle levels.
Aroma Amethyst:)