Carrier Oils

Carrier Oils 

Carrier oils are also known as base oils and are added to a blend of essential oils prior to massage. Base oils may also be used on their own; such as durng Swedish Body Massage. Each carrier has its own properties and will be well suited to certain circumstances so a therapist will choose their base oil according to the oils' thinkness and or properties.

There are plenty of carrier oils to choose from including...

Avocado Oil

Latin Name: Persea americana

Basic Properties: Avocado oil is rich in many minerals such as potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, sulphur, calcium, sodium and copper, vitamins (A, B1, B2 and D) and lecithin.

Slight amounts of Avocado Oil often complements other carrier oils so as to enrich protein and vitamin content.

This carrier oil preserves well due to it’s content of natural antioxidants. It can have a shelve life of up to twelve months, provided that it is stored correctly.

Homecare: This oil may be used for self massage by decanting a small amount into a small bowl before rubbing onto the skin.

Effects After Use: This oil is particularly favourable for the treatment of dry or mature skin as it has a reputation of having a higher degree of penetration into the epidermis than most carrier oils and has regenerative and moisturising effects on the skin.

Method of Extraction: Cold compression from the fleshy pulp encircling the avocado pit.

Origins: Persea americana is most likely native to southern Mexico but was cultivated from the Rio Grande to central Peru before the arrival of Europeans. It has also been said though that it originated in South Africa.

Avocado oil can come either refined or unrefined. Refined avocado oil is of a rather clear, pale greenish-yellow colour with a very gentle, almost non-existent scent; whereas unrefined avocado oil is of a much darker green and has a strong aroma.

Historical Mythology: The name Avocado comes from a Nahuatl word meaning ‘testicle’. Avocados were used as an aphrodisiac and were known to the Aztecs as a “fertility fruit” so this fruit and it’s oil were not purchased or consumed by those wanting to maintain an impression of abstinence.

When avocados were discovered by the Aztecs, they were used as a source of permanent ink. This is because the seed of this fruit yields a milky substance which turns red upon oxidisation.

Folklore depicts that a Mayan princess ate the very first avocado and that it gave her magical powers.



Calendula Oil (pot marigold)

Latin Name: Calendula officinalis from the asteraceae family.

Basic Properties: This carrier oil has a shelf life of about one year. This oil is very beneficial for skin problems and as an anti-inflammatory. It is also helpful in the treatment of dry skin conditions and to help heal cuts and bruises.

Homecare: This oil may be used for self massage by decanting a small amount into a small bowl before rubbing into the skin.

Effects After Use: This oil has excellent healing, soothing and softening properties, which is why it is such a great oil for use on problem skin.

This oil has a high concentration of flavonoids and so acts as an excellent anti-oxidant in the body. It should not be used during pregnancy or lactation.

Method of Extraction: Extracted by maceration from the flower heads.

Origins: Calendula officinalis originated from the Mediterranean but is now cultivated all over the world.
This is an annual plant which has long, green, hairy leaves and produces bright yellow to orange flowers. It grows to a height of up to 30-60 cm.

Historical Mythology: It is said that this plant was originally native to ancient Egypt and one of the first cultivated flowers. It is said that marigold was first introduced to Britain by the Romans.

It is believed that the name ‘marigold’ relates to the virgin Mary, as in ‘Mary’s gold’.

The ancient Greeks and Romans drank marigold tea to relieve nervous tension and insomnia.

This plant is a well known symbol of good luck but was considered a symbol of jealousy in the middle ages.



Evening Primrose (King’s-cure-all)

Latin Name: Oneothera biennis from the onagraceae family.

Basic Properties: This carrier oil has a shelf life of six to nine months. This oil is very beneficial for dry skin problems and is rich in an essential fatty acid; linoleum acid. This fatty acid is the reason this oil is so good for the relief of menstrual symptoms. It is also helps wounds to heal and helps in the prevention of dandruff. This oil is particularly beneficial to prematurely aged skin.

This oil has been used by those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and it has been reported to have had an effect on the pain and swelling associated with the condition.

It has also been reported that this oil helps to prevent nerve damage associated with diabetes.

Homecare: This oil may be used for self massage by decanting a small amount into a small bowl before rubbing into the skin.

Effects After Use: Evening primrose oil is very rich and nourishing. This is a great oil to relieve symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. It also have anti-inflammatory properties so is good for the relief of aches and pains.

Method of Extraction: Cold pressed from the seeds.

Origins: Oneothera biennis is native to North America but is now common in the Mediterranean and is grown in the UK.

This is an biennial plant which has green, hairy leaves that are about 3 to 6 inches long. It produces bright yellow flowers and grows to a height of up to 4-5 feet.

Historical Mythology: Evening primrose has been used by native American tribes for centuries in the treatment of many ailments and in food. They would soak the plants in warm water to make a kind of compress for healing wounds, bruises and haemorrhoids. The plant was introduced to Europe in 1614.

The Cherokee drank tea made from the roots of this plant as they believed it would aid in weight loss. It was also used by the Shakers to make tea which would settle an upset stomach and they would use the leaves and roots externally to promote the healing of wounds.

Ancient herbalists believed that this plant could dispel the ill effects of wine.



Grapeseed Oil

Latin Name: Vitis vinifera.

Basic Properties: This carrier oil deteriorates quickly and has a shelve life of about three to six months. It is a good oil to use if nut allergens are an issue because it is obtained from seeds. Grapeseed oil, when consumed by certain amounts each day has been researched to reduced cholesterol levels by up to seven percent.

Homecare: This oil may be used for self massage by decanting a small amount into a small bowl before rubbing onto the skin.

Effects After Use: Grapeseed oil contains a unique type of bioflavonoid which increases the absorption of vitamin C and therefore increases the production of collagen. This makes it a great oil to use for anti-ageing benefits.

Method of Extraction: Hot extraction of the seed.

Origins: Vitis vinifera is said to have originated in France whereas other sources say that it is native to Maharashtra India.

While Grapeseed oil has been acknowledged by Europeans for centuries, grapeseed oil was not produced on a large scale until the twentieth century, mostly due to them containing a lower percentage of oil as compared to other oil producing seeds, nuts, or beans.

Grapeseed oil is mainly produced in Italy, but other producing nations include France, Spain, and Argentina.

Historical Mythology: The medicinal and nutritional value of Vitis viniferous has been appreciated for thousands of years. At least 6,000 years ago, the Egyptians consumed it and several ancient Greek philosophers praised the healing power of grapes; usually in the shape of wine.

An ointment from the sap of grapevines was developed by European folk healers as a remedy for skin and eye diseases and the leaves have been used for stopping bleeding, inflammation, and pain.

Today, health care professionals use standardised extracts of Grapeseed to treat a variety of health problems associated with free radical damage, including blood sugar regulation problems, heart disease, and cancer.



Jojoba (wild hazel, coffeeberry)

Latin Name: Simmondsia chinensis from the simmondsiaceae family.

Basic Properties: This carrier oil has a long shelf life and rarely turns rancid. This oil is very beneficial for dry skin problems and is rich in myristic acid so has good anti-inflammatory properties.

Homecare: This oil may be used for self massage by decanting a small amount into a small bowl before rubbing into the skin.

Effects After Use: This carrier oil is the most similar to that of the skins’ sebum and is therefore easily absorbed. Due to its similarities to sebum, jojoba is good for dry skin and the scalp.

This oil has the ability to dissolve sebum and is therefore a great oil to use in treating acne as it acts as an emulsifier by unclogging pores and freeing congestion.

Jojoba has anti-inflammatory properties due to its myristic acid content so is a good oil to use in rheumatism and arthritis.

Method of Extraction: Oil is pressed from the seeds.

Origins: This is an evergreen shrub which has grey-green, waxy leaves. This plant has the ability to be of either sex and takes a long time to reach maturity. This plant lives for a long time; the female plants only producing seeds after five years of growth. It can grow to a height of up to six feet.

Simmondsia chinensis is native to both north and south America.

Historical Mythology: Natives of north and south America would use the oil of the jojoba seeds in skin and hair care to protect against the sun. This oil was also used to treat skin irritations, burns and general aches and pains. The seeds were also chewed as a dietary supplement. They would also roast the bean-like seeds to make a coffee-like beverage.

The use of this wax-like oil spread world wide and commercialisation started in America in 1980 when the use of sperm whale oil (spermacetti) became prohibited and jojoba oil became its substitute.



Macademia (macademia nut, Queen of nuts)

Latin Name: Macademia integrifolia from the proteaceae family.

Basic Properties: This carrier oil has a long shelf life. This oil is very good for moisturising the skin and is thought to help in the prevention of ageing skin.

Homecare: This oil may be used for self massage by decanting a small amount into a small bowl before rubbing into the skin.

Effects After Use: This carrier oil is similar to that of the skins’ sebum and therefore has a natural affinity with the skin. The reason for this similarity is tat macademia oil is rich in palmitoleic acid, which is a mono-unsaturated fatty acid.

This oil is a good emollient and is great for dry, mature and ageing skins as well as acting as a good moisturiser for the skin.

Method of Extraction: Cold pressed from the nut.

Origins: Macademia integrifolia is a tree which grows in subtropical forests. The tree produces creamy white or pink blossoms and nuts; from which the oil is extracted.

Macademia integrifolia is native to south-eastern Queensland, Australia.

Historical Mythology: The Aborigines ate this nut for thousands of years before European settlement. These nuts were referred to as ‘gyndl’ or ‘jindilli’, and later the Europeans would call them ‘kindal kindal’.

In 1857, Macademia was given its scientific name after Dr. John MacAdam; the friend and colleague of a German-Australian botanist; Ferdinand Von Mueller.