1. How can I benefit from coming to you rather than going to a salon?

2. What is an essential oil?

Essential oils are the highly concentrated wonderful natural fragrances, found and extracted from a wide variety of plants: flowers, herbs, fruits, berries, seeds, woods, resins, gum, leaves and roots. These are extracted by various methods depending on the plant material - most commonly by steam distillation. Fruit and citrus oils are extracted by expression and solvent extraction is used for some of the finest flowers.

The oils have a consistency more like water than oil and are not greasy. They are highly volatile and odorous and therefore evaporate quickly when exposed to air. They are insoluble in water but soluble in alcohol and vegetable oils. Chemically they are very complex; some oils contain more than 200 constituents. They all contain therapeutic benefits for the physical body and mind.

People sometimes confuse perfumes with essential oils, but most perfumes - even the most expensive - are synthetic, and while they smell good, they are not doing anything therapeutical.

3. How do the essential oils work with massage?

Aromatherapy massage links together two highly important senses: touch and smell. It combines the caring and beneficial touch of massage with the distinctive aromas of the chosen essential oil blend. Using soothing massage techniques, the body is encouraged to let go of its tensions. We are not always aware of where we are holding these in our body until we experience the benefits of massage.

Massage physically eases muscular aches and tensions, nourishes the skin, and improves the action of the circulatory, nervous, lymphatic and endocrine systems of the body.

Emotionally the aroma of the oils directly affects our moods, feelings and memory.

Together with a wide range of physiological benefits, the aroma can help with emotional states such as depression, anxiety, nervous tension, anger, grief, fear, irritability, panic and hysteria.

Transported by the carrier oil, they are absorbed through the skin and carried to all parts of the body. Before they are finally eliminated from your body the oils continue to influence your system for several hours to several days. As a whole they can ease the body, calm, relax and still the mind.

This is what 'holistic' means - balancing mind and body as one, bringing it into harmony.

4. What is an aromatherapy blend?

A blend is the resulting chosen essential oils decided upon after a discussion with you, the client. This establishes your physical and emotional needs. Up to three oils can be suggested and given to you to smell together.

It is important that you like the aroma for the treatment to be of the most benefit to you. The aroma of oils can cause memories to be awakened and if these are upsetting - for example, if lavender reminds you of your Granny's passing, then this would not be appropriate to use. But many alternatives are available.

Everyone is an individual and there is no set rule. This is the beauty of tailoring an oil blend. For example, if you have muscular aches, or feel stressed and down, then a possible blend is lavender for calming, clary sage as a muscle relaxant and orange to lift your spirits.

5. What is a carrier oil?

A carrier oil is a vegetable oil derived from seeds or nuts.

It's very important, not only for transporting the essential oil blend around the body through massage, but in its own right. It cares for the skin layer, improving skin regeneration, enhancing and nourishing skin and making it soft and supple.

Sweet almond oil is one of the most commonly known, but there are many others: apricot kernel, advocado, grapeseed, macadamia, jojoba, camellia and evening primrose oil, plus many other unusual ones.

6. What if I am allergic to nuts?

A grapeseed oil derived from grape pips would usually be fine but there are other oils - e.g. camellia.

7. Is it a problem if I have sensitive skin?

A patch test can be done before massage treatment commences to ensure no allergic reaction occurs. This needs to be done 24 hours before.

8 .What if I am suffering from a medical condition such as high blood pressure?

I am always happy to discuss needs over the telephone or e-mail if you are unsure. Therefore, if you need a GP's clearance first, then you can arrange this before treatment. However, there are some conditions for which massage is not suitable.

A full consultation is taken before treatment can commence. This covers medical history, and your physical and emotional state. Certain conditions would need you to contact your GP to ensure that treatment wouldn't interfere or harm your condition. However, many conditions such as high blood pressure can be helped by gentle massage. Easing the body and inducing relaxation calms all organs and systems, therefore helping many situations.

All massage can be adapted to suit the individual's needs at the time.

9. Can a man benefit from an aromatherapy massage?

Certainly! It's not just a pampering experience, but also a way of helping the body be balanced as a whole.

It's surprising how tense we are in our bodies, and massage eases this tension out with the use of essential oils to help relax and ease or stimulate the body as needed.

By its nature, aromatherapy is not as deep as sports massage, but more pressure can be applied and different techniques used as appropriate to you.

10. How many treatments would you recommend?

In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle by reducing muscle tensions, easing stresses and strains, boosting your immune system, etc, if you can manage a regular treatment (e.g. every two weeks or once a month) this really does have a beneficial effect overall. Some clients alternate between an Aroma Body massage for one session then Indian Head for the next - whatever best suits your needs and pocket. Once every six to eight weeks will still give you benefit, and if you book ahead for several sessions, a discount may be offered.

If you have a particular problem - e.g. shoulder and neck pain - initially you may need to come for a few sessions closer together to improve your condition, then regular massages will help you to maintain your balance.

11. Will an Indian head massage make my hair oily?

I can give an Indian head massage without oil if you prefer - you will still benefit greatly.

Any massage of the scalp improves circulation to the skin and hair follicles; this benefits scalp and hair condition.

I do not use a lot of oil on the head - you will not go away dripping and greasy. However, the use of oil benefits the hair and scalp, providing nutrients and improving the condition of both.

If oil is used, it can be removed easily if you apply shampoo first, before the water.

12. Why is it called 'Indian Head Massage'?

Indian Head Massage has been practised for over 5000 years in India. It was given the name 'champissage' or 'champi', which is where we get our modern term 'shampoo' from. The technique was used not only for hygiene but also for health. The head was massaged with oils to rid the scalp of dead skin cells and to moisturise the head and hair, making it shiny and healthy.

Champissage was normally practised by women massaging their children and other women in their family. The technique was passed down from mother to daughter for generations and it was believed by many to have enormous health benefits.

13. How did Indian Head Massage become popular in Britain?

As I have previously said, Champissage was practised mainly by women – but it was soon taken up by men too. Men would have their Champissage as part of a haircut at the local barbers. However, it was different from the Champissage the women used. It was more aggressive and invigorating, and it involved some manipulation of the neck.

A man by the name of Narendra Mehta was responsible for our introduction to Indian Head Massage. In the 1970s he came to England to study and was surprised when the Champissage was left out of his visit to the barbers. He grew to miss it greatly, and went to a massage therapist who performed a full body massage, only to leave out the head. He was quite disappointed. So much so, in fact, that in 1978 he returned to India to study Champissage. He travelled all over India to study the different techniques as they varied from place to place, barber to barber and from family to family. With all that he learnt he put together his own massage and brought it to England.

This incorporated work in particular on the upper back, shoulders and neck which the traditional scalp massage did not. It is this combination of moves that releases tensions, and relaxes or stimulates as required. As one of my clients put it: "As you work upwards from the back, neck and finish on scalp I feel the tension being released out of my head".

Although it may not be the traditional Champissage, it is a variation of techniques from all over India. This is what we call Indian Head Massage.

14. What should I wear for a treatment?

If you are having an Indian head massage it is best to wear a comfortable T-shirt with no collar. Do not wear your best new shirt! However, many clients are happy to remove their top clothes and sit with a towel around their chest. This increases the benefit by working directly on the skin on the shoulders and back. I will do whatever is most comfortable for you.

With a part-body massage you will need to remove clothing from the area to be massaged - i.e. the back and shoulders: bra and top.

For a full body massage, remove all clothing down to briefs.

I will leave the room whilst you prepare and let you get onto the couch draped in a warm towel.

When you turn over part way through the massage, the towels are held by the therapist to protect and cover you. At all times, your comfort and dignity are respected.

After treatment, when the circulation has been improved by the massage, some people feel a little cool, so it is advisable to bring an extra jacket.

15. What do I need to do after the massage?

I will give you a glass of water after a treatment, as massage encourages the release of toxins into the blood stream and these need to be flushed out.

It is advisable for you to drink some more water later, especially after a full body massage.

After treatment, when the circulation has been improved by the massage, some people feel a little cool, so it is advisable to bring an extra jacket.

It is advisable to avoid showering or bathing until the next day, if possible, as the oils are still working in the body.

It is always advisable to try to plan your time carefully. Following a relaxing massage, you don't want to have to rush off to the supermarket!

16. Can essential oils be used in other ways?

Essential oils can be used in other ways as well as massage.

The oil burner is an excellent way to benefit, by adding a few drops to the water you then inhale the aroma as it is released. This benefits the emotions by calming, stimulating, etc - depending upon the oil chosen.

It can also aid respiratory problems such as a blocked nose, coughs, etc. All oils are anti-viral and this helps kill germs within the atmosphere.

They can also be used in the bath, but you need to get the advice of an aromatherapist as no more than six drops added to a full run bath of water are needed; and depending on the oils used and a person's sensitivity, some may not be appropriate.

17. Where can I buy essential oils?

I get my oils from a local supplier in the Cotswolds who has a wide range of oils including many unusual types from all over the world - all sustainably sourced.

18. How can I find out more?

Keep browsing through this website. It should give you an insight into what aromatherapy and Indian head massage is all about.

If you have any specific questions, then please fill in the online enquiry form and I'll do my best to answer them.