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Oriental Massage Tools

If you are interested in performing Oriental massage--more often called Asian massage--it is essential that you understand the various tools used in the Asian massage tradition. Numerous websites and massage stores sell kits that provide all the tools you will need to perform the massage for clients. These are based on Asian therapies such as energy healing, shiatsu and acupuncture. The massage attempts to encourage a healthy flow of energy to create better overall well-being.

  1. Massage Oils

    • Massage oils act as a lubricant to make the massage easier for the masseuse and the client. These oils often have names based on what effect they have on the body; for example, tranquility, harmony and vitality. The oils, in addition to lubricating the skin, can help leave the skin feeling rejuvenated and extraordinarily smooth.

    Asian Essential Oils

    • Essential oils are part of an Asian massage because of the therapeutic effects they have on the body. These oils include tangerine, sweet basil, eucalyptus, lemongrass, Thai bergamot, lavender, citronella, mandarin orange, clove, patchouli, Plai and ylang-ylang. Practitioners can massage the oils into the skin or drop them onto the body like a raindrop. Whichever way they are applied, the oils provide relaxation and tranquility.

    Incense

    • During an Asian massage, a masseuse often uses incense because of the pleasant aroma and relaxing effect it has. Incense come in several forms, including sticks and cones, and in a wide variety of scents, including sweet basil, lemongrass, lavender, vanilla, rose, clove, sandalwood, Siam benzoin and Kaffir lime.

    Bath Salts

    • The final tools often found in an Asian massage kit are bath salts. Another Asian tradition, bath salts help increase the aroma in the room and give the client more deep relaxation. The masseuse puts them in warm water, in which they dissolve and turn a bath into an aromatherapy lounge. These are different from Asian bath crystals. Bath crystals create bubbles in the water, which release the aroma. Bath salts simply dissolve and create an aroma. The salts come in many different fragrances, including some that relax and some that have reputed aphrodisiac properties.

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