12:00a.m. 27th February 2008

| By Sue Short

Shiatsu practitioner and healer Riga Walsh at her new studio clinic in Eumundi. Photo: Robyne Cuerel/172772a

I could feel myself sinking deeper and deeper into the bed as my body just released and let go while Riga’s nimble fingers ran the essential oils up and down my spine.

I felt so relaxed; it was like being taken to another place, you know that place where the butterflies fly and no one has ever heard of watches or responsibility. Please, I thought, let me lay here forever.

I was lying on a massage bed receiving a Raindrop Technique essential oil massage from Riga Walsh in her new studio clinic in Eumundi, which is nestled in a rainforest outlook and the only music that is played is the sound of the native birds and crickets.

Along with shiatsu and other therapies, Riga practices and teaches the Raindrop Technique, which she said is based on a combination of an ancient Tibetan, American Indian and Egyptian wisdom.

The technique was developed by American Garry Young using his 100% pure Young Living essential oils. He first developed the technique, Riga said, to treat scoliosis, based on the belief that bacteria and viruses live along the spine and are responsible for scoliosis, which he claims has since been scientifically proved.

“The Raindrop technique may help to relieve stress and tension in the back and neck as well as improve the circulation and increase your energy,” Riga said.

“It’s so much more than a normal massage because the oils we are using are therapeutic grade and are absolutely pure, there’s no chemicals, no synthetic compounds, no herbicides or pesticides.

"The distillation process retains the full essence of the plant which is then passed onto the person so they receive the full benefit of the plant itself.”

Before each session Riga asks you to fill in a questionnaire, which notes your allergies and health problems so she can choose the right oils for you.

She also does a patch test on your inner arm with the oils to make sure you do not have an allergic reaction.

During the massage Riga uses eight of the therapeutic grade essential oils firstly on the spinal reflex area on the soles of your feet (which is heavenly) and then she applies them down your spinal column and back.

A range of massage techniques is used to take you to heaven and back again while the therapeutic action of the individual oils provides benefit to the body physically, mentally and emotionally.

After Riga had applied the oils to my back I began to feel a strong burning sensation at the back of my neck.

“The first two oils we actually use are quite high in phenol and that causes the heat sensation that you experienced, but not everybody feels this, only about 10-15% of people and that’s very easily diluted with a high grade vegetable oil,” Riga explained.

“My experience is that the technique works on a lot of different levels, including the emotional and physical levels.”

Essential oils have been around for thousands of years and there are many scientific papers that back up the benefits of their use around the world.

I had been feeling a little tired as I had the beginnings of a cold coming on when I arrived at Riga’s clinic but when I reluctantly got off the massage table, I felt like my energy had been restored and my cold symptoms had vanished.

I also took my 80-something-year-old mum for a treatment on the same day and she said that it eased the constant pain she suffers due to osteoporosis.

It’s amazing what a few raindrops can do ...

Riga Walsh, phone 5442 8080

Note: Sue Short paid the full amount for this treatment