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Expeller-pressed or cold-pressed oils are also superior, since they don’t rely on petroleum-based chemicals or solvents to draw oil from the plant’s seed. (A nonrenewable resource, petroleum is known to pollute air and water.)
Also, if you’re selecting a scented product, seek out manufacturers that use clinical-grade essential oils instead of potentially toxic synthetic fragrances.
Organic oils and lotions tend to come with a higher price tag than conventional varieties, but Ragan stresses that spending a few extra dollars can go a long way. “Because they’re so pure, you can get more out of them than you would an oil that includes chemical filler to stretch its volume,” she says. “In the end, it could be equally cost-effective to purchase the more expensive product.”
It’s even possible to recycle your oil, a practice adopted by Sundara Inn & Spa lead massage therapist Alan Weld. The spa offers many oil-intensive ayurvedic massage treatments, so Weld collects the excess oil and brings it to a local restaurant. Sundara’s oil is then combined with the restaurant’s excess oil and reused as fuel for biodiesel-powered vehicles. If you’re interested in oil recycling, visit www.biodiesel.org to find a biodiesel distributor in your area.
Cleaner Cotton
About 25 percent of the world’s insecticides and more than 10 percent of its pesticides are sprayed on cotton, according to the Organic Trade Association. Of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton in 2000 in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies seven as “possible,” “likely,” “probable” or “known” human carcinogens.
For a cleaner cotton, opt for organic fibers in your massage sheets. Grodjesk recommends shopping for linens at Gaiam (www.gaiam.com), which offers 100 percent organic sheets created with a low eco-impact dye process.
And if you ever need to use disposable sheets, look for products made from biodegradable materials. “When you have to throw them away, the fiber breaks down so that they don’t end up sitting in a landfill forever,” says Ragan.
Biodegradable fiber is also key when it comes to disposable face cradle covers, Ragan adds. “They’re obviously more expensive, but the fiber tends to feel nicer on the skin,” she notes. Try the covers sold at Body Logic (www.ebodylogic.com) or Hands-On Supply (www.handsonsupply.com).
The Green Clean
When it’s time to wash your linens, get clean with laundry aides that snub petroleum-based cleansers, chlorine, and artificial fragrances and dyes . Instead, opt for vegetablebased, nontoxic, biodegradable ingredients. Try Seventh Generation, Ecover and Earth Friendly Products to start. As Homes That Heal author Athena Thompson points out, detergents were originally invented to clean synthetic fibers, but natural fabrics can be washed effectively with plant-based soaps.
Eco-friendly cleaning products should remove any kind of oils from your sheets, promises Grodjesk. “There’s a huge movement in using water-dispersible oils because they can wash out of linens easier, but a lot of those oils contain chemical derivatives,” she says. “We’re even starting to see a growing number of skin sensitivities in massage therapists.” For clean sheets no matter how tough the oil stain, Grodjesk recommends using water softening laundry balls (try the Eco Ball Wash Kit at www.nigelsecostore.com) and a half-cup of soda ash.
It’s important to reach for green cleaners when you’re tidying up surfaces as well. “You want to make sure the room isn’t being cleaned with bleach and other chemicals that are going to be off-gassing fumes,” says Lee. For scrubbing your hands, avoid synthetic bacteria-killers and select soaps made with natural antibacterials like tea tree oil.
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American Massage Therapy Association®
