On my resent trip back to Japan this spring I learned a new style of aromatherapy treatment called ‘Raindrop’. It’s a special foot and back massage that uses lots of pure essential oils. Many people had this treatment in May and they all loved it very much. I’m very excited about it and it seems to work very well!

What is Raindrop Technique?

Raindrop technique is a powerful technique using essential oils that was developed by D. Gary Young in the 1980s. It combines several modalities to bring balance and transformation. It also supports body systems on a physical and emotionally level.

www.youngliving.com/raindrop

It’s a unique treatment that uses a lot of oil. Usually most massage styles use 2 or 3 drops of oil diluted in a base oil (like almond oil) that are applied in my hands first before your body. For the Raindrop technique I use 60 or 70 drops of pure oil and apply them directly on your back! It’s very healthy and rejuvenating!

This technique involves applying therapeutic grade essential oils to the spine, neck and feet. The session lasts about an hour however the benefits may last up to a week or more.

Gary found that combining several holistic techniques, described below, created a synergistic effect for the body. The three modalities that combine to form Raindrop Technique are:

  • Aromatherapy – Raindrop technique uses seven single essential oils, two blends and one essential oil massage blend during the session. It is congruent with the French application of aromatherapy where essential oils are applied NEAT (undiluted) to the body.
  • Vita Flex Technique – Vita Flex was brought to the US in the 1920s by Stanley Burroughs. It is an ancient Tibetan methodology meaning “vitality through the reflexes”. Its theory is based on the fact that slight pressure applied to the body creates an electric charge that is therapeutic to the body. This is known as piezoelectric.
  • Feather Stroking – This is similar to a massage term technique called effleurage. But this technique was actually termed by the Native American Indians.

How does Raindrop get its Name?

Essential oils are actually dropped from about 6 inches above your spine, simulating rain drops! It feels like a rain drop gently striking your spine, and it is very relaxing and comforting.

It is thought that the oils interact with a person’s electric field before even penetrating the skin of the back. Thereby, enhancing the electromagnetic properties of the oils as well. Amazing!

What is the Concept behind Feather Stroking?

In the 1980s Gary Young worked with a Lakota elder named Wallace Black Elk. He learned that the Lakota people went to Canada to experience the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis (before there were border crossings and reservations). The Lakota people would raise their hands toward the light and breathe in the energy of the lights for transformational purposes.

Once the Lakota people could no longer cross the border, they created a stroking technique along the spine using a feather that simulated the energy of the Aurora Borealis. And this is the massage technique that was taught to Gary Young and is named feather stroking.

Benefits of the Raindrop Technique

What are the Benefits of Raindrop Technique?

There are numerous benefits of the Raindrop Technique. Here are just a few:

  • Balance and Re-align the Energy Centers of the Body
  • Re-aligns the Spine in a Non-manipulative Manner
  • Reduce Stress and Anxiety
  • Reduces Inflammation in the Body
  • Relax Muscles
  • Relieve Pain
  • Create a Hostile Environment for Viruses and Bacteria along the Spine
  • Improve Circulation
  • Improve Immune System Functions
  • Emotional Well Being and Release
  • Help Detox the Body Systems

Are there any Side Effects?

Because the Raindrop Technique encourages detoxification of the body, someone may experience some mild side effects. The best advice is to drink plenty of water before and after a session.

While some may experience detoxification, others may feel relaxed, have heightened awareness or may fell peaceful. It is really on a case by case basis, and depends on so many factors.

*Contraindication

Pregnancy, epilepsy, asthma, diabetes, kidney trouble, high blood pressure, heart conditions.