If you are a new mother, or if you know someone who has recently brought new life into the world, you are probably familiar with many of the challenges that new mothers face after delivery. The toll this takes on your body and mind can cause fatigue, stress, and may take away some of the joy of the process—but new research shows that massage can help!

The Study

Researchers in Japan worked with 29 mothers who had given birth and were recovering in the hospital; most mothers were in their early thirties. The mothers were given a single, 20-minute hand and arm massage using aromatherapy and assessed regarding their feelings of stress and fatigue. Using self-reported fatigue and relaxation measures, the mothers were assessed for their stress and relaxation levels before and after the treatment. The result? Statistically significant improvements were found for both relaxation levels and stress levels for new mothers. Even more interesting, those who reported the highest benefits were those who had chosen citron and sweet orange essential oils, suggesting that specific scents can have even more benefits.

The Benefits

For new mothers, a chance to be relaxed and to reduce stress is always welcome. It is very difficult to navigate soon after giving birth, and there are always a wide variety of stresses that must be attended to. However, having too much stress, or not having the skills to manage that stress, can have a poor impact on the relationship between mother and baby, and can affect the relationship between parents as well. On the other hand, when the new mother is rested and refreshed, she is able to be as responsive as possible to her newborn and promote a positive bonding experience.

Why Aromatherapy?

Many people ask why aromatherapy is so effective—after all, isn’t it “just” a smell? Certainly, the fine aromas found at high-quality massage offices in New Jersey will produce a beautiful smell, but don’t discount the importance of scent! When you smell something, changes occur in your brain—think of the warm, happy feeling you get when returning home after a long time compared to the feeling you get when walking into the DMV or other highly sanitized and impersonal place. Scents affect our emotions and help with relaxation. At Essential Massage Therapy, we use therapeutic grade essential oils by Young Living and are proud to be an independent distributor (#10256875). To get started on a great aromatherapy massage today, contact Essential Massage Therapy.