As a certified AromaTouch® Technique practitioner, I work with women to support them in reconnecting with their authentic selves.
This subtle—yet powerful—technique was developed by Dr David Hill to balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for intense physical activity and is often referred to as the fight-or-flight response. The parasympathetic nervous system has almost the exact opposite effect and relaxes the body and inhibits or slows many high energy functions.
The AromaTouch® Technique is unlike any other massage. While it is deeply relaxing, it is also emotionally and physically supportive—well beyond the session on the massage table.
To experience an AromaTouch®, please contact me here. I am based in Cambridge, New Zealand. However, I do regularly travel throughout New Zealand, Australia and, occasionally, the United States. If you are outside Cambridge, please feel free to contact me to register your interest.
To learn the AromaTouch Technique to use with family, friends or clients, please inquire about my online training (and support group), which is held at the beginning of each month. Local participants also have the option to attend a half-day in-person practical workshop. Find out more here.
The Oils
The essential oils used in the AromaTouch Technique are doTERRA Balance®, Lavender, Tea Tree (Melaleuca), doTERRA On Guard®, AromaTouch®, Deep Blue®, Wild Orange, and Peppermint. As Dr. Hill developed the AromaTouch Technique, he tried many different combinations of essential oils to create positive benefits and the perfect aromatic profile. These eight oils, as they are layered onto the body, are able to meet both of these important requirements.
• Your body contains approximately 1,000 different genes that encode for odor receptors.
• There is a direct connection between your nose and your brain’s emotional control center: the limbic system.
• The limbic system controls our emotions, mood, and memory. This is why the “aroma” of the AromaTouch Technique is so important.
The Aroma Touch
Physical touch is as important to the AromaTouch Technique as the aroma itself because of its ability to soothe the body and bring people together. While the main purpose of the technique is to apply the oils and provide the recipient with an essential oil experience, the AromaTouch Technique is also about connecting with another person on an emotional level. The connections developed through the AromaTouch Technique form feelings of trust and help the recipient relax.
• Touch is the first sense that we develop when we are born.
• The right kind of touch can lower blood pressure, cortisol levels, and heart rate.
• The AromaTouch Technique uses light, consistent touch that creates a beneficial response in the recipient.
AROMATOUCH TECHNIQUE STUDY
The new study, a clinical pilot trial published in the Journal of Integrative Medicine and Therapy, investigated the benefits of the AromaTouch® Technique. The AromaTouch Technique is a unique essential oil application method developed by Dr. David Hill, doTERRA founding executive and Chairman of Scientific Operations. The technique is an essential oil application that combines a moderate touch procedure with eight of doTERRA’s most powerful oils and blends. Read more about the AromaTouch Technique here.
Although a fair amount of research shows the benefits of touch and other research supports the benefits of essential oils applied topically, little research exists on the combination of the two. In addition, no prior research had investigated the benefits of the doTERRA AromaTouch Technique specifically. The AromaTouch Technique was designed to promote homeostasis and relaxation, reduce stress and support overall well-being. In this study, the researchers put the AromaTouch Technique to the test.
Experimental Design
To get an idea of both the short-term and long-term benefits of the technique, the researchers evaluated the effects on the body immediately after volunteers received just one technique, and they also measured the lasting effects on the body when the technique was administered regularly for an extended period of time. In addition, two groups were used in the experiment. The treatment group received the AromaTouch Technique exactly as described in the protocol developed by Dr. David Hill. A control group was comprised of individuals who received the AromaTouch Technique with every condition the same, except that Fractionated Coconut Oil was used in place of the eight essential oils normally used in the technique. See Figure 1 below for a schematic diagram of the experimental design.
The researchers measured heart rate, blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and took saliva samples, which were analyzed for cortisol (a stress hormone) and other biomarkers of health. Volunteers also filled out a subjective questionnaire that indicated their current state of mind.
Results
Both groups experienced decreases in heart rate, mean arterial pressure, diastolic blood pressure, stress scores, and salivary levels of cortisol immediately after the first AromaTouch Technique. But overall, the changes were more pronounced in the group that received the AromaTouch Technique with the essential oils. Although the study comprised a small sample size, the differences over the long-term did achieve statistical significance.
Conclusion
These results suggest that the AromaTouch Technique is an excellent way to immediately reduce feelings of stress and promote relaxation. When administered regularly, it is also effective at promoting sustained results in the body over the long term. This research study provides strong evidence supporting the benefits of the AromaTouch Technique. If you’d like to see the study results in greater detail, you can access the full-text study for free on the publisher’s website, since the Journal of Integrative Medicine and Therapy is open-access.
For more information about AromaTouch sessions, or to purchase your own doTERRA oils, please contact me here or visit my personal doTERRA website here.