This book aims to give health professionals a balanced and indepen­ dent overview of massage and aromatherapy. I have written it because, despite growing interest, there is a dearth of professional literature on this subject. This book aims to cover a number of topics which are under-represented in existing publications. These include: • scientific research in massage and aromatherapy; • the use of the therapies in medical settings; • the knowledge base of massage and aromatherapy; • professional and managerial issues; • safety. Understanding of these subjects is essential for any reasoned evalu­ ation of massage and aromatherapy. Yet this book is probably the first to provide information suitable for this task. At the current time of writing, almost all books on massage and aroma therapy have been written with the lay public in mind. The texts recommended to students and practitioners by the foremost schools and institutions are exactly the same as those available in health food shops as general introductions for prospective patients. Not surprisingly, such books generally fail to include in-depth discussions of professional issues.