Essential Oils & Raindrop Therapy

Many spas and massage therapists offer Raindrop Therapy as a treatment option for their clients. You may wonder what Raindrop Therapy is and how it could help you. You should consider the benefits and controversy surrounding Raindrop Therapy before you decide whether or not to schedule a treatment.

Identification

• Raindrop Therapy is a specific method of applying certain essential oils along the spine. Gary Young, N.D. developed the technique in the 1980s out of his experience treating himself with essential oils after an accident. A Raindrop Therapy practitioner uses a combination of oil application and massage techniques to bring the client's body into structural and electrical alignment.

Benefits

• According to proponents of Raindrop Therapy, a Raindrop treatment reduces inflammation and helps bring your spine into alignment. It strengthens your immune system and wards off illness. Raindrop Therapy brings your body and mind into balance, and it produces a feeling of deep relaxation.

Method

• During Raindrop Therapy, the client lies face down on a massage table. The practitioner drips essential oils in sequence along the spine from about six inches above the client's body. He massages each oil into the body before moving on to the next one. At certain points during treatment the practitioner applies regular massage oil to dilute the essential oils. After he's applied all the oils, he places warm towels over the client's back, covers them with a blanket and allows her to rest for ten minutes or so. The oils first become very warm, then cool down. The more inflammation or bacteria in the body, the more heat is generated. The entire treatment takes about an hour.

Oils

• Raindrop Therapy uses seven essential oils and two oil blends from Young Living, Gary Young's company. Each oil contributes benefits to the therapy. Thyme and oregano are anti-bacterial, wintergreen is an anti-inflammatory, cypress improves circulation, basil and marjoram are anti-spasmodic and peppermint aids digestion, stimulates the nerves and brings the other oils into balance. The two blends are Valor and Aroma Siez. Valor combines spruce, rosemary, blue tansy and frankincense in almond oil. It's applied on the feet and shoulders and helps balance electrical energy. Aroma Siez combines marjoram, basil, lavender, peppermint and cypress. It enhances the work of the other oils.

Controversy

• Many aromatherapy practitioners are concerned about the use of essential oils in Raindrop Therapy. The National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) has specific guidelines for using essential oils on humans, and the technique used for Raindrop Therapy doesn't follow these guidelines. During Raindrop Therapy, the oils aren't diluted to the standard called for by NAHA.

  Many aromatherapists are concerned that Raindrop Therapy is performed by practitioners without proper training in aromatherapy and the safe uses of essential oils. Some of these practitioners use perfume-grade oils rather than therapeutic-grade, which may cause burning and irritation.