Massage Therapist Essential Oils For Massage Therapy 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client with high blood pressure is booked for an aromatherapy massage. Which essential oil should the therapist AVOID?
- Ylang ylang
- Rosemary (Correct answer)
- Lavender
- Chamomile
Correct answer: Rosemary
Rosemary is a stimulant that can raise blood pressure and should be avoided with hypertensive clients.
Question 2: What is the purpose of performing a skin patch test before an aromatherapy massage?
- To check the viscosity of the carrier oil
- To identify potential allergic or sensitization reactions to an essential oil (Correct answer)
- To determine the correct dilution ratio
- To measure the client's skin pH level
Correct answer: To identify potential allergic or sensitization reactions to an essential oil
A skin patch test is conducted to detect hypersensitivity or allergic reactions before applying an essential oil blend to a larger area.
Question 3: Which essential oil is most commonly associated with promoting sleep and reducing insomnia?
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Vetiver (Correct answer)
- Lemon
Correct answer: Vetiver
Vetiver is a deeply grounding, sedative essential oil widely used to support sleep and relieve chronic stress and insomnia.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes a 'sensitization' reaction to an essential oil?
- An immediate rash upon first application
- An increased immune response after repeated exposure that causes future reactions (Correct answer)
- A temporary tingling sensation that fades within minutes
- Redness caused by using too high a dilution
Correct answer: An increased immune response after repeated exposure that causes future reactions
Sensitization is an immune-mediated process where repeated exposure to an allergen leads to an increasingly severe reaction upon future contact.
Question 5: Sweet orange essential oil is extracted from which part of the orange tree?
- Flowers
- Leaves
- Rind (peel) (Correct answer)
- Roots
Correct answer: Rind (peel)
Sweet orange essential oil is cold-pressed from the outer rind of the orange fruit, unlike neroli which comes from the flowers.
Question 6: When storing essential oils to maximize shelf life, which conditions are most important?
- Warm temperature, light exposure, and open containers
- Cool temperature, darkness, and tightly sealed dark glass containers (Correct answer)
- Refrigeration, plastic containers, and exposure to air
- Room temperature in clear glass near a window
Correct answer: Cool temperature, darkness, and tightly sealed dark glass containers
Essential oils should be stored in cool, dark environments in airtight dark glass bottles to prevent oxidation and degradation.
Question 7: A client requests a massage to help with grief after a recent loss. Which essential oil is traditionally associated with emotional healing and grief support?
- Tea tree
- Rose (Correct answer)
- Eucalyptus
- Lemongrass
Correct answer: Rose
Rose essential oil has a long tradition in aromatherapy for supporting emotional healing, grief, and matters of the heart.
A client with high blood pressure is booked for an aromatherapy massage.
Which essential oil should the therapist AVOID?