Most of us are familiar with the culinary uses of nut and seed oils such as olive, sesame, sunflower and coconut oils to flavor and moisten the foods we ingest. In addition to the benefits of ingesting them through our diet, nut, seed and some vegetable oils applied topically can help bring immediate relief to problems associated with digestion, skin conditions, muscle and joint aches and pain to name a few. Because these oils are inexpensive, easy to access and use with no side effects, you may want to add them to your list of [tag]home remedies[/tag].
The use of [tag]nut and seed oils[/tag] is popular among massage therapists and other body workers, and for good reason. Using oils topically during a massage moisturizes and softens the skin, assists with increasing blood circulation and eliminating toxins from the system, helps the muscles and tendons to relax, and has a calming effect upon the nervous system. But you don?t have to pay to go to a massage therapist to enjoy the benefits of oil massage! The following are some suggestions for enjoying the benefits of self-massage using nut and seed oils:
Begin by using cold-pressed or ?expeller-pressed? oils which you can find at health food stores or in the health-food section of many chain grocery stores. (If not, ask them if you can special order.) Don?t use toasted oils! These oils have minerals and nutrients which, when applied topically, are absorbed into the blood stream and carried to the various tissues of the body. Oils have a particular affinity for muscle, fat, bone, marrow & reproductive tissues and are good for addressing deficiencies or weaknesses in those tissues.
Each oil has different heating and cooling properties that should be taken into consideration. You may need to experiment a bit to find which most suits your constitution. Sesame oil is heavy and heating and more suited to those who tend toward dry skin and hair combined with a cold body temperature. Coconut oil is a cooling oil and great for people with a lot of natural hair & skin oils who tend toward a warm body temperature. Sunflower and olive oil are more neutral.
Some suggested applications:
?For nervousness, anxiety or sleeplessness: add 1 tsp of sesame oil to a warm cup of milk (cow, rice or other) and drink. Follow this by applying warm sesame oil to the bottoms of your feet and massaging each foot slowly with gentle pressure. (Stroke the length of the foot with long strokes up and down, and small firm circular strokes in and around the toes.) A very effective remedy also is to gently massage some warm oil into your hair and scalp at night and retire to bed. (Cover your pillow with a sheet or towel to absorb the oil.)
Coconut oil, a tropical oil, has strong anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties and, when applied topically, can alleviate skin conditions such as rashes, burns, swellings, sores, eczema & fungal infections. This oil has antiseptic qualities that can help heal burns & cuts. Massaging the head before showering or shampooing can help those with oily skin and hair to cool the skin and balance the production of oil in the skin and scalp.
Nut and seed oils are also great carriers for the [tag]healing chemical constituents[/tag] of herbs and essential oils. St. John?s Wort oil (the herb St. John?s wort usually infused in olive oil) can be used topically to relieve the pain of gout, lumbago (lower back pain), rheumatic inflammation in joints, general aches & pains, inflammations & strains.
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