Massage Oil and
Triglycerides
by John W. Cartmell, LMP
A letter in Nov/Dec 1993 issue of MASSAGE-"Kneading Advice" asked whether cholesterol could enter the blood from certain kinds of massage oil. The answer quoted from dietitians at The American Heart Association said that cholesterol or other saturated fats could not enter through the skin and if they did, couldn't reach the intestines where it would ordinarily enter the systemic blood. I thought this answer was inadequate and misleading.
It implied that if saturated fat doesn't enter the blood by the ordinary route, the intestines, there's no cause for concern. This ignores the fact that other substances in the massage oil such as aromatic oils or polyunsaturated fats can indeed enter the blood transdermally and cause physiological effects.
I've used commercially produced scented massage oils that gave me a pounding headache within minutes. In others, I could taste the scent within minutes. Flax oil gave me severe carpal tunnel syndrome. Changing to a different type of oil cleared the symptoms.
The chemistry of fats is not fully understood yet. Some scientists believe under the right conditions high Triglycerides can stimulate the body to produce cholesterol. A lot depends on the kind of oil, how old it is, how it's processed and stored, and the diet and lifestyle of the person the oil contacts. If the oil can potentially cross the skin, it should preferably be food grade. If we are to care for our clients' health, we should use care in the kind of oil we choose to put on their skin. As massage therapist, our hands are sometimes in oil all day and we may be absorbing more than the client. It would seem prudent to have a blood test for cholesterol and Triglycerides whenever you have a physical and be aware that diet alone may not be the sole cause of elevated levels of blood fats.
Dietary nutrients specific for protecting against the deleterious effects of high blood fat levels include Vit. E, Calcium/Magnesium, and Chromium.
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