Coconut massage oil is a marvelous gift from nature for our skin. Both coconut oil and massage are distinctly important for our skin and body. Let’s learn a bit more about what massaging with coconut oil has in store for our bodies.
Let us first talk about massaging. Massaging plays an important role when it comes to health. For thousands of years around the world, particularly in India and its neighboring countries, mothers have been massaging their babies with oil so that they grow faster and better, stay healthy, and look beautiful. It is not only for babies but also for men and women of all age groups, who have been massaging themselves for ages to stay healthy.
Countless massage parlors have opened within the last century and giving massages has given birth to a billion dollar industry. People are ready to spend a fortune to have a body massage in the Ayurvedic Massage Centres in Kerala in India or in those costly herbal massage parlors and spas in some of the world’s top tourist destinations.
But why are massages so good for health? During a massage, as the skin is rubbed with oil and the muscles are subjected to light pressure, they are agitated and the blood circulation below the skin and in the muscles is stimulated. This increased circulation brings more oxygen to tissues and the tissues are revitalized, speeding up healing and growth. This increases the rate of metabolism as well. Furthermore, the oil that seeps through the skin keeps the skin soft, smooth, and moist by not letting moisture escape. This oil collected under the skin, when it reacts with sunlight, also aids in the formation of vitamin D.
Raw coconut oil and diced coconut Photo Credit: Shutterstock
That is the importance of massage. Now, why is coconut oil such an ideal massage oil? When massage alone can do so much good for the body, then think what it can do if it is done with an oil like coconut oil. If you do your research, then you will find that there is hardly any oil that can match the quality of coconut oil when it comes to massage. Let’s look at some more specific reason….
First of all, the presence of such a high concentration of medium-chain fatty acids (saturated fats) makes it a very stable oil. So, when you rub coconut massage oil on your skin and leave it for a few hours, you don’t need to worry that it will become rancid and damage your skin or invite infections.
Second, the presence of powerful anti-microbial agents like capric acid and lauric acid in coconut oil do not let microbes infect your skin.
Third, the layer of such a stable oil full of saturated fats on the skin does not let moisture escape, thus protecting it from drying and cracking.
Fourth, coconut oil is rich in vitamin-E(source: USDA), your skin’s best friend. It keeps your skin rejuvenated, young, and healthy. [1]
Fifth, coconut massage oil is gifted with a lot of antioxidants, so it can keep you looking young even in your seventies. These antioxidants do not let the skin wrinkle and also protects it from other adverse affects of aging, like sagging, peeling, and discoloration.
Sixth, coconut oil penetrates the skin very easily while massaging and can serve very well if used as a carrier oil for other herbal extracts, essential oils, or medicines.
Last but not the least, the fragrance of coconut oil is unmatched. It is so earthy and soothing that it keeps you fresh all day and eliminates body odor.
Coconut oil is a beneficial oil in massaging. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
History & Prospects
Coconut oil has been in use as a massage oil for centuries, more so in coastal areas of India and the Indian Subcontinent, the Philippines, Indonesia, Java, Sri Lanka, and some Latin American countries. In coastal India, you will find many people who show gleaming, smooth, and beautiful skin even after their sixties. They are those people who were massaged with coconut oil in their childhood and throughout their life.
Now, around the world, as people are learning more and more about the benefits of coconut oil, the craze for coconut massage oil is growing. Many companies have launched and are still launching their specifically made coconut massage oils on the market, some with and some without herbal extracts, and even in varied fragrances. So, now that you have a lot to choose from, try one and see the results for yourself.
