Massage oils and aromatherapy essentials: what to look for

There are many different types of massage oils available on the market now. Understanding and knowing the differences between base massage oils and aromatherapy essentials can make all the difference when creating your own unique brand and atmosphere in your clinic space or home.

Why is it important for us to know about the different types of massage oils? Because massage oils can make a big impact on how you feel during the treatments. Do the oils feel smooth and rich or are they slimy and sticky? Are there harmful ingredients inside the products or is it an organic product? While some oils are more likely to leave you feeling greasy after the massage, other massage oils go rancid quickly and take on a pleasant smell. When you first start out learning about massage oils, it could seem a little daunting. Therefore, to ensure that you only stock the finest massage oils at your practice, order yours from trusted retail stores or websites is important. Lierre’s impressive assortment of massage oils, gels, lotions and creams is targeted to suit a wide range of therapeutic approaches while remaining affordable. All our products are 100% natural, and we also carry organic products.

Sweet almond oil is one of the most popular massage oils among massage therapists. Avocado oil is another type of heavier oil in dark green color and is usually mixed with lighter massage oils such as sweet almond oil. Pure coconut oil is also a type of very commonly used massage oil now.

Massage Oils and Aromatic massage oils are used to enhance and deepen the massage experience with therapeutic botanical properties. One of the main purposes of massage oils is to lubricate the skin to reduce friction while performing a massage. Using massage oils provide maximum glide but do not absorb easily making them excellent for top tissue manipulation and circulatory stimulation is another important purpose.

Massage oils and salt scrubs are all you need for an ultimate home spa experience. Personalizing your daily massage with herbal massage oils formulated to balance specific skin types. Our herbal massage oils not only lubricate during the massage but also purify the skin. Apart from that, massage tables is another useful tool for professionals. It will create comfortable experiences for clients. Lierre offers excellent quality massage tables designed for professionals. You can buy massage tables (French: tables de massage) from both our physical location in Québec and our online massage supply store!

Tips to create a signature atmosphere at your clinic

As a professional massage therapist or acupuncturist, we believe you’ve already acquired the skills and experiences related to your professional treatments that will really make a difference in how your client feels after a visit. However, your expertise isn’t the only thing that counts in this business! Creating the right impression can really tip the scales in your favour, making you clients more receptive and relaxed before and after your treatments, and, finally, making them much more likely to remember you the next time they’re feeling out of sorts.

It isn’t always obvious how to go about creating an atmosphere that’s your own, however, and many professional clinics just end up looking and feeling the same. Here are some tips to get started on creating a personalized, signature atmosphere in your space!

Lierre aladdins lamp diffuser with essential oil

1. Scent really is the sense most associated to memory! Creating your own essential oil blend can create a powerful sensory association between the way your clients feel in your clinic and the space itself. It’s also a relatively easy step to implement, and it’s very versatile! For example, you can dab some essential oils on your head rest cover, or use them in a prettydiffuser in your clinic.
2. Feel the heat! Keeping your massage oils, lotions and gels slightly above body temperature can make a massage undeniably more pleasant for your clients. Liquid oil warmers and massage candles are a great way to make sure that they’re always the right temperature, and your clients will love the incredibly soothing sensation of pre-warmed massage oils, gels and lotions on their skin: the extra heat will make penetrating tissues and relaxing tense muscles much easier. Towel warmers are also a great idea to keep the heat up after treatments – there’s nothing cozier than a warm towel!
3. Eye pillows are a great way to relax your clients that are unfortunately quite uncommon in clinics! They can be scented or unscented, and they soothe the muscles around the eyes.
4. Offering a cup of herbal tea before or after the treatment adds a personal touch: hot tea is perfect for cold weather, while ice tea is cool and refreshing hot weather.
5. Besides a stone heater for both hot stone massage and warm stone massage, try keeping some massage stones in the fridge for clients who need to cool down during the hot summer months!
6. It’s always a good idea to take notes of clients’ preferences and their important dates such as their birthdays or some of their anniversary days: after all, clients will always
   

   Lierre Eye pillow
   remember if you make them feel valued and understood.
7. Change up the décor, and invest in local artists’ work if you can! You can vary your decorations from season to season as well, opting for flowers in the summer and for candles in the winter, for example.Lierre Eye pillow

The tips mentioned above are just a starting point: it’s important to take you time to think up more creative ideas to attract clients and differentiate yourself from others.

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What types of massage tables are available at Lierre?

Lierre’s wide selection of massage tables includes high end and affordable electric massage tables, versatile and specialised portable massage tables, sturdy and dependable stationary massage tables, lightweight shiatsu futons, and a huge variety of practical massage accessories. At Lierre, we believe there’s a right massage table for every practitioner: we’ve selected models that will accommodate a wide variety of different therapeutic approaches, and that can suit any budget.

Earthlite Spirit Package 30''

Portable massage tables are extremely competitive priced at Lierre. They are durable and light, allowing you to bring your practice with you wherever you go. There is a wide range of different models offered at Lierre, including incredibly lightweight aluminium tables, the gorgeous stained wood Lierre plus 2014 and the highly popular, affordable Lierre Eco. These portable massage tables come in various sizes and colours to accommodate different types of practices and therapeutic approaches.

Electric Table Pro.II

Lierre also offers some of the most competitively priced electric massage tables on the Canadian market. Our wide selection means that there’s a table for every type of practitioner and every budget, whether you require a high degree of adjustability, extraordinary comfort, or a bit of both. Our electric massage tables all come with whisper quiet and durable motors, 100% polyurethane upholstery and soft cushioning. Selected for the discerning customers, they will suit sophisticated spas as well as professional healthcare clinics. 

Stationary Massage Table Basic

Lierre’s high end stationary massage tables are built to last – and sure to impress! Comfortable, solid and stable, these tables will suit spas, clinics and tattoo parlors alike. Stationary massage tables make fantastic alternatives to electric massage tables for budget conscious practitioners, providing more comfort and storage than most portable tables. These massage tables are built to last, comfortable, solid and stable and they will suit spas, clinic and tatoo parlors.

For more information about how to choose the right massage table and how to take good care of your massage table, you can visit Lierre blog to find out more.

What is the weight capacity of a massage table?

Sometimes, a massage therapists or acupuncturist will concern about whether the massage table is strong enough to support all kind of clients including pregnant women or some big clients. No one would like to have accidents during the treatments. Therefore, having a good massage table which is strong and stable to support clients is an essential factor during your treatments.

But what is the weight limit of a massage table?

It is a good question. Usually on the manual or instructions of the massage table, you could find there is a working weight and static weight for a massage table.

What are the different between working weight and static weight?

Working weight

Usually, when we said the massage table could bear up to 350 pounds or 200 pounds. It is more likely to be an average working weight. Working weight is the force that a massage table can safely use to practice treatments without fear of breaking. Working weight of a massage table is considered to be how much weight the table will hold in addition to the added weight, pressure, and side load of a therapist giving the massage.  A working weight sometimes stated as safe working load (SWL) or Normal Working Load (NWL). This term also used in other lifting equipments.

As technology develops and better materials are found by manufacturer, the working weight capacity of massage table improves from 250 pounds to 350 pounds at least nowadays. With excellent frame designs and processing skills to improve material strength and stability, it is very common to find a massage table with up to 500 pounds or even 800 pounds of working load capacity.

Lierre Earthlite Massage Table Spirit Pack

Static weight

Static weight has a significantly higher weight threshold than working weight. It could be up to 2000 pounds for a portable massage table.

Static weight of a massage table is how much weight the table will hold with the weight remaining stationary. The static weight does not mean that you can put that amount of weight on a spot on the massage table. The weight is spread out evenly over the top of the table. In most scenarios, the four corners and in the middle seam are the strongest parts which can bear more weight.  When your clients sit on a massage table, most of the time, they will sit in the middle where the seam is. If you were to place several hundred pounds of weight in the middle of either half of the table it would probably crack the deck.

At the end of the article, you could find that you do not have to worry about the working load of a massage table. It is strong enough for you to practice treatments. Apart from that, a wooden frame massage table will stronger than an aluminum massage table. A standard stationary massage table has higher weight capacities that are normally double the limit of portable models. A portable massage table is usually strong enough to use for a long time. But if you do would like to have something more stable, a stationary massage table will be a better choice.

With that said, it is known by professionals that a good table should be well designed and manufactured. In addition, no matter how much weight been put on it and how much time you use it over time, you can still use it for a very long time. Lierre Medical provides the top quality massage table (French: Table de massage)with the best price for you.

Tips to take better care of a massotherapist’s best friend

Hint: we’re talking about massage tables!

A massage table is an integral part of massotherapists’ professional life. It can also the single largest investment a new therapist makes at the beginning of their career. However, no matter how much experience a person has in the field, everyonewants to have a massage table that will last them as long as possible: it can save you so much money and energy!

Maintenance and proper care, then, is absolutely essential to guarantee that your table will stay as comfortable and spotless as when you first bought it. Failure to take proper care of your massage table can lead to broken frames and cracked, stained and faded upholstery.

Here, we offer you some advice on how to ensure that your best friend gets the care it needs!

Legs, Joints and Frame Maintenance

Quite literally the nuts and bolts of a massage table, checking up regularly on the main structure of your table is key to making sure nothing breaks down over time. To keep all the parts stay together constantly, you have to pay attention to all the screws, bolts and nuts. Check and tighten all the screws and tighten the leg adjustment knobs regularly.

Check the cables, wires, wooden frame, base, etc.. to observe whether there are signs of weaknesses.

Upholstery Care

Usually, therapists will purchase table sheets and covers for massage tables. However, it is still not a bad idea to clean and give protections to upholstery on a regular basis.

The first and most important thing is, when you using sharp objects like acupuncture needles on the table. Be careful, because damaged PU leather is difficult to repair.

It is better to always using warm soapy water to clean PU leather upholstery and using white towels to clean the light color massage tables such as white and beige. Cleaners with alcohol and oils will break down the fibers of PU leather over time. Don’t forget to rinse well to remove all soapy residues!

Travel

Lierre Plus 2014 28″

For massage therapists on the move, travel cases for their portable massage tableswill also be very important. A good case will prevent scratches and waters to leave stain on massage table. However, although there is a case cover the massage table, it is not a good idea to put massage table near sharp objects or corners.

Finally, do not leave your massage table uncovered during storage and transportation. It only takes a few minutes for you to put on a case. It will save you a lot of energy and money in the long run.

Lierre Medical offers massage table package with great price. The package including one Lierre Plus Table 28, one table case, one half-round pillow, two small half-round pillow, one table sheet along with massage oil and gels.

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Cover photo credit to Notebook, pen and flowers on the wooden bench.–Lia, modified

Acupuncture needles: sharpness, resilience and size

At the very beginning of your career, it can be hard to pick acupuncture needles. After all, there isn’t a type of needle that’s just better; instead, there are several types of needles, and varying degrees of quality within those types. Moreover, needles vary considerably from material to material, brand to brand and size to size, even if they are of the same type. Some factors to consider when choosing needles are their resilience, size, and sharpness, as well as their expiration date and their type. Covering all of these aspects would be too ambitious for a single blog post, so we’ve chosen to zero in on three of these aspects: we’ll first look at the most popular different sizes, then give you two tips on how to test needles for sharpness and resilience.

Lierre Acu Relaxo 30*1.0" (0.30*25mm)

Acupuncture needle sizing involves both the diameter and size of the needles, and it is usually written using either or both the metric system and the tsun system in Canada, and the imperial system in the United States. One tsun corresponds roughly to one inch. For example, 0.18*13mm or 0.5 inches, half tsun is an extremely popular size of needle. Here, 0.18 means the diameter of needle is 0.18mm, and 13 means the length of the needle is 13mm, not including the handle.

0.18*13mm (0.5 inches, half tsun)

This size is most commonly used for facial acupuncture. The needle is very thin and short, significantly reducing pain during insertion: as they are short, they can be inserted rapidly and precisely, and their tiny diameter makes them almost painless. ShinLin, Zagu and Acu Relaxo are some examples of brands that have needles measuring 0.16mm in diameter with 13 mm length, which are better suited to very sensitive patients, or for more sensitive areas.

0.25*25mm (1 inch, one zen)

One of the most popular sizes of needle, it is suitable for a large number of different parts of the body, especially for shallower insertions. Though 0.30*25mm is a bit thicker than 0.25*25mm, it is easier to insert. Needles with 0.25 diameter are thinner and softer than 0.30, and therefore, they will be both less painful and more difficult to insert with precision.

0.30*40mm (1.5 inches, 1.5zen)

This very popular size of needle is suitable for different parts of the body with thicker muscle groups or acupuncture points needing deeper insertion. Because 1.5 inches is a bit longer, needles with smaller diameters will bend easily, and require dexterity and experience. Some practitioners will choose to use 0.35*40mm diameter needles to avoid bending; though easier to insert with precision, their larger diameter can cause pain. If you have excellent dexterity, then, ultimately the 0.30 diameter needles will be a better fit; however, you otherwise want to strike a balance between the potential length of insertion and its potential for pain.

0.30*50mm (2 inches, 2 zen)

Almost the same as 0.30*40mm. Suitable for insertions deeper than 1.5 inches.

0.30*75mm (3 inches, 3 zen)

Commonly used for buttock areas or insertions deeper than 2 inches. 0.30mm is a popular needle diameter, but 0.35mm and 0.40mm are very commonly used as well, depending on the practitioners’ preference.

Acupuncture needles are made from various materials, including alloy, pure steel, stainless steel, iron, gold and silver. Alloys and stainless steels are the most common material for single use acupuncture needles, and gold tends to be reserved for specialized treatments, as it is much more likely to bend.

Resilience and Sharpness Tests

Lierre ShinLin 1000 32*0.5" (0.25*13mm)

First, you have to assess the sharpness of the needles.  To test it out, you can slowly insert a needle into a sensitive area of your body, such as your finger tips, to get a sense of how your most sensitive clients will feel. Though it’s normal to feel some amount of discomfort, insertion should not produce sharp, intense pain, and such a sensation indicates that the needle points are not thin enough for your treatments.

Then, you have to assess the resilience of the needles, meaning their capacity to retain their shape. Though needles are flexible, and therefore will always bend, they should be able to retain their shape: if they cannot, it indicates that they might bend inside the patient’s skin, which could be dangerous. To test resilience, then, hold the needles firmly between your two fingers, and flick the end vigorously. If the needle immediately bounces back to its original shape, it is a good needle. You – and your clients! -  will feel the difference between needles with good resilience and bad resilience during your practice, since needles with poor resilience will be much harder to insert, and potentially much more painful. .

In general, if the acupuncture needles pass these two tests, you can safely and confidently use them in your practice.

Lierre offers a selection of needles that meet these two criterias, and they are available in a range of sizes. Consult our website to find out more about the Acu Relaxo, Zagu, Shinlin, and H L Seo Won needle brands.

Acupuncture Needles: Norms and Standards

While acupuncture detractors often like to point out that acupuncture does involve some risks, the truth is that the profession and materials are highly regulated in Europe and North America. For example, the vast majority of acupuncture needles are one-time-use, avoiding the problems of improper sterilization. Medical equipment, moreover, is subject to a variety of norms and standards across Canada, all of which must be met in order for acupuncture needles to make it to the market, and to continue being sold. These norms and standards require regular reports to be made to approve the products’ continued sale. It can be difficult to parse out the different rules applying to these standards, however, since they tend to be written in cryptic legal language, and they tend to be so long that it’s easy to get lost while reading them.

It is very important for medical devices such as acupuncture needles and TDP Lamps to follow all the guidelines in order to meet the safety requirements. Apart from that, only professionals are allowed to have access to certain kinds of medical devices such as acupuncture needles.

International Standards and Guidelines

These norms were formulated as guidelines that would facilitate consistent international regulation regarding medical devices. Countries and regions are free to adopt these standards, or to modify them in any way they see fit. For a more in-depth explanation regarding international medical device standards, this article makes a great starting point. Canada, the United States and the European Union all adopt international legislation to

Lierre Acu Relaxo 30*1.5″ (0.30*40mm)

different degrees, and sometimes substitute their own; however, despite this lack of concordance, the policies tend to be consistent enough that an acupuncture needle approved for Canadian customers can more often than not be approved in the US and in the EU, once requirements such as proper paperwork and inspections are fulfilled.

Lierre ShinLin-Silicone coated

These standards include risk management measures, their effect on the body, and quality control, which usually involves sterilization.

For example, some acupuncture needles are coated by silicone. This kind of silicone is different from silicone used in constructions or decorations. Therefore, silicone coated acupuncture needles such as brand Acu-Relaxo and ShinLin Spring are safe for insertion into human body.

Lierre Zagu Non-coated

Even for non-coated acupuncture needles, the stainless steel has its standards. Therefore, not all stainless steel can be used for non-coated acupuncture needles. Normally, stainless steel imported from German has high standards

along with great quality are used by lots of acupuncture needles manufacturer such as Zagu.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Perhaps the most famous state organization regulating the sale of products, the FDA is arguably better known in Canada than its national equivalent. In spite of its name, the Food and Drug Administration also controls the sale of medical devices and the approval of medical procedures. FDA regulations stipulate that acupuncture needles should be one use only, properly and consistently sterilized, and that their materials should be appropriate for use in contact with the body.

Canadian Medical Devices Conformity Assessment System (CMDCAS)

The Canadian Standards Authority oversees standards regarding medical devices, and it is a branch of Health Canada. The Canadian standards for medical devices closely resemble international standards, and include mandatory certification that products are manufactured in such a way as to meet the National Standard of Canada, and more specifically ISO13485. Products must also be registered, and any reports of adverse effects linked to their use must be reported to the board.

Expiration date of acupuncture needles is another important consideration apart from all the standards. If the needles passed the expiration date, even they are followed all the regulation guidelines. You would better avoid using it for your treatments. Lierre only offers acupuncture needles with sufficient period for professional acupuncturists to use.

All of Lierre’s acupuncture needles meet FDA and CMDCAS guidelines, including ISO13485. These norms are strict, and guarantee both the needles’ safety and consistency. Lierre’s brands, such as Zagu, Acu-Relaxo, Lierre, Shinlin, H.L. Seo Won and Seirin are all manufactured to meet even higher standards of quality than these norms require: our goal is not simply to provide adequate needles, but ones that truly excel.

Acupuncture point Tian Shu (ST 25)

天枢- One of the most often used acupuncture needles for gastrointestinal diseases. It is also used for irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea and other gynecological disorders. It is located on Yangming Stomach meridian of Foot. To be more specific, it is on abdomen 2 cun from the navel.

The meaning of Tian Shu: The name Tian Shu is coming from one of the names of the Big Dipper. When Qi arrives at Tian Shu (ST 25), there are two paths for Qi to flow. Qi could flow to Large Intestine Meridian or stomach meridian.

It could help with the following problems:

1. Abdominal pains
2. Bloating
3. Constipation or diarrhea
4. Irregular menstruation
5. Indigestion
6. Acute and chronic gastritis
7. Acute and chronic enteritis

And it can deal with lots of problems with stomach and intestine.

But it is usually uses with other acupuncture points to solve the problems. For example: it can use with Zu San Li ST 36 to treat children’s diarrhea. It can use with Ju xu (ST 37 and ST 39) and Lan Wei to treat acute appendicitis.

You could use moxa to do moxibustion on this acupuncture point to deal with difficult urination or constipation.

Using method:

Using acupuncture needles insert straightly into this acupuncture point for about 1 cun to 1.5 cun.

Using moxa with indirect moxibustion or hanging moxibustion method. Do not practice moxibustion on this acupuncture point for pregnant women.

Location

2 cun from the navel.

Location of Tian Shu (ST 25)

And it is very effective for the symptoms I mentioned before. You can also massage Tian Shu every day to help with stomach and intestine health and keep energetic.

But if you have the problems I mentioned above, it is better for you to go for a therapist such as acupuncturist. Acupuncturists would use acupuncture needles to accelerate the healing process.

You do not have to worry about acupuncture needles, high-quality needles are very sharp while smooth. These two characteristics indicate that you will not feel any pains during acupuncture needle insertion.

You can find all acupuncture accessories at Lierre.ca . If you are acupuncturists who are looking for painless acupuncture needles for sale, you could also check Lierre.ca.

If you are suffering from all the problems I mentioned above, you could always find an acupuncturist to help with these problems. It is important to find a reliable acupuncturist to help you. I recommend acupuncture-clinic.ca

It has good environment while the acupuncturist is professional and friendly.

About the acupuncturists in Clinique Laval: Xiao Lei Wang is a professional TCM therapist with Quebec registered acupuncturist license. He focuses on helping patients with Traditional Chinese medicine including acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping therapies. You can find more about him on his own acupuncture clinic website. You could also book an appointment on the website.

Why do I have blisters/bubbles after cupping?

After receiving glass cupping treatments, some patients will notice blisters/bubbles on their skin. In fact, it’s common enough that it’s become one of the most common concerns voiced by people who are interested in receiving cupping treatments. Despite these anxieties, however, cupping has become one of the popular alternative therapies. Rooted traditional Chinese medicine, cupping has been practiced for millenia: this is not to say, however, that it has remained unchanged in the past thousands of years. Approaches to this therapy have evolved with the changing times, and there are now various types of cups made from different materials, from bamboo and clay to

Lierre Silicone Cupping Set 14

glass and silicone cups. The types of illnesses and pains it can treat has also expanded and changed, and it is now used to relieve anything from surgical carbuncles to rheumatic pain, low back muscle strain, headaches, asthma, abdominal pain, trauma, congestion, colds and rheumatism and most general pain syndromes.

There are lots of clinics and therapists who can practice cupping treatments, and some patients now prefer to do cupping treatments at home.

Usually, it is safe to have cupping treatments at clinics. However, because fire and alcohol can be used during more traditional glass cupping treatments, patients sometimes risk suffering from minor burns if they are treated by irresponsible practitioners. Some patients will also have blisters/bubbles on skin after receiving glass cupping treatments. These two problems are often caused by mistakes, and outdated, misguided or even downright sloppy practices.

Most common causes of blisters:

1. The practitioner left cups on patient’s skin for too long. Different patients have different problems and tolerance level for cupping treatments. Some patients will not have blisters/bubbles even with cups for 20-30 minutes. Some of them may have blisters/bubbles with cups for 5-10 minutes. In order to acknowledge the tolerance level of the patient, therapists usually will leave the cups on patient’s skin for a short time at the first time practicing cupping.
2. Cup’s temperature is too high. Though cups are almost always kept at sensible levels of heat, there is a small possibility of causing blisters/bubbles due to high temperatures. When therapists are doing quick cupping on patients with very high temperature cups, they may cause blisters/bubbles on patient’s skin.
3. Cupping area. Areas with thinner or sensitive skin will have higher possibility to have blisters/bubbles during cupping.
4. Heavy cupping. It is mentioned in the first incorrect operations, that different patients have different tolerance level to cupping. If the cupping treatment is over the patient’s tolerance, it would cause blisters/bubbles on patient’s skin.

Lierre Glass Cup Set set of 14

Patients will not only feel uncomfortable with blisters/bubbles, but these wounds risk getting infected. Therefore, people interested in glass cupping treatments  should research and find a good therapist with enough knowledge and experience to avoid getting hurt.

Otherwise, someone interested in cupping but worried about these issues should look into alternative forms of cupping, without fire or glass cups. These options are in fact so safe that you can practice them at home! Silicone cups or plastic cupping sets are especially recommended for this purpose. It’s easy to control the degree of suction with these sets, and they don’t require fire or heat.

The last thing need to be mentioned is that not everyone is suitable for cupping at anytime. If you have any problems during cupping at home, it is important to go to your doctor. Careful consultation with a therapist is always recommended before trying cupping at home.