| Olive Oil is one of the many carrier oils
used in massage, aromatherapy,
and other body-work treatments - as well as for other purposes.
Olive Oil (from Olea europaea)
is extracted from the flesh of the fruit rather than the stone or "kernel".
The olives are first left to dry in the sun until they
begin to ferment. They are then gently crushed, the stones are removed
while still whole (not cracked or damaged), then the flesh of the remaining
fruits is pressed. The oil extracted in this way is then centrifuged
and filtered. This relatively lengthy extraction process means that olive
oil is also relatively expensive compared with other similar oils.
The other oil with the most comparable extraction process is Avocado
Oil, which is also extracted from the flesh rather than the kernel of
the fruit.
Olive oil is described in some texts as having very many
benefits for therapeutic external use, such as for use in cases of bruises,
burns, insect bites, itching skin, and sprains. However, it is not particularly
popular as a massage carrier oil, partly because it is rather fatty and
heavy compared with other oils (such as Grapeseed
Oil and Sweet
Almond Oil, for example), and partly because it has a sufficiently strong odour
that this may be noticed and overwhelm some of the subtler aromas of
essential oils.
Some therapists use olive
oil blended with other carrier oils, in which case it's beneficial properties
can be made available and while some of it's disadvantages for massage
are overcome.
Note that this oil must be used with care and by trained personnel
because it has some known contraindications.
This website also includes a general page about many Carrier
Oils for Massage and Bodywork Therapies. |
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