Essential oils are the basic materials of the aromatherapist, and although sometimes referred to as essences, this description is incorrect, as the essence is what is actually produced by the plant, becoming
known as an essential oil only after distillation. This process causes certain chemical changes to take place in the various constituents of the essence, but the therapeutic value is not harmed and even seems to be enhanced. In the same vein, although the term 'essential oils' is used loosely to describe all the oils used in Aromatherapy, those obtained by methods other than distillation should not, strictly speaking, be so called. The citrus oils, for example, extracted by simple pressure, are still in the form of the simple essence when we use them, whereas the floral oils of Jasmine, Neroli and Rose, obtained by enfleurage, should rightly be classed as Absolutes. However the term essential oil is generally used to describe these odoriferous, volatile liquid components of plants, which accumulate in specialized cells in specific parts of the plant, seeds, leaves, flowers, bark, roots or resin etc.
The proportion of essence contained in a plant will vary a great deal from species to species, which accounts in part for the varying prices of essential oils, the amounts also varying according to the growing conditions and the time of harvesting. Sometimes different oils, with different therapeutic properties, can be extracted from different parts of the same plant 먹튀검증.
The orange tree, for example, produces Neroli from the blossom, Petitgrain from the leaves and Orange oil from the skin of the fruit.
Essential oils are said to be produced by the plant for its own survival, to repel predators and protect itself from disease. They are said to influence fertilization of the plant by attracting pollinating insects, and in this way could be likened to the pheromones secreted by humans and animals. Another line of thought is that they are actually the hormones of the plant, and influence growth and production in the plant itself, in much the same way as our hormones influence us. This seems realistic as the quantity of hormones produced during the whole lifetime of an individual could quite easily be compared to that produced by a single plant in its lifetime.
Due to this relationship, essential oils can be used to balance the human body, through their effects on our hormones, either duplicating or potentiating their effects, whatever is required to restore harmony. They have the added benefit of being organic substances which blend in well with the body, unlike inorganic substances or drugs which may be liable to cause quite severe side-effects.
Being organic, they are living substances and therefore contain life force, as evidenced by Kirlian Photography (image above), and are said to be the source of the life force in the plant itself, which can greatly compliment the life force of the human body. Just as the human body is influenced by diet, lifestyle, surroundings, climate and even time of day, the quality of an essential oil is similarly influenced.
Soil conditions, climate, altitude and the time of harvesting can all influence quality. Certain plants need to be picked at a certain time of day, where concentration of the oil in the plant is at its highest, or when the chemical composition is in the required state, which can also change according to the time of day or season.
It is important to complete the process of harvesting as quickly as possible and to obtain oil that has been produced by plants living in their natural environment. These factors will ensure the minimum loss of oil through evaporation, and also ensure that the oil has been produced from plants grown in a soil and climate best suited to the quality of the plant and therefore its oil.
When buying from a supplier, it is important that they have a reputable name in the trade. A good safeguard is to buy from someone who can provide the following information;
- The country of region of origin
- The botanical name of the plant
- The part of the plant used
- The method of extraction
- Whether the plant is wild or organically grown
Unlike ordinary oils, such as corn or sunflower, the majority of essential oils have the consistency of water, and are not greasy. They dissolve easily in ordinary fatty oils such as avocado or sweet almond oil. They also dissolve easily in wax products, such as melted beeswax or jojoba. It is important to note that they do not dissolve in water. They will ignite easily and can be quite varied in their depth and intensity of color. Some are almost colorless, or of pastel shades, while others are deeply pigmented. Where colors can omit certain healing vibrations, oils of the same color will possess the same therapeutic value. Blue, for example, is cooling, calming and relaxing. Chamomile oil which is blue, is used to reduce inflammation, and has a calming, soothing effect on the body and mind.
Essential oils promote natural healing by stimulating and reinforcing the body's' own mechanisms. Where all oils are antiseptic, some also contain one or more of the following properties;
- anti-sudorific
- anti-viral
- anti-bacterial
- anti-inflammatory
- anti-rheumatic
- anti-spasmodic
- calming
- relaxing
- carminative
- cicatrisant
- expectorant
- sedative
- laxative
- anti-depressant
- depurative
Unlike chemical antiseptics, most essential oils, when used correctly, are harmless to the body tissues, while at the same time being powerful aggressors towards germs and wound healing. Chamomile, among others, is credited with the ability to stimulate the production of white blood cells which help in our fight against disease, while Lavender has the remarkable ability to stimulate the regeneration of skin cells helping in the healing of burns, scar tissue, wounds and ulcers. Essential oils also act on the nervous system, Chamomile and Lavender having a relaxing effect, while Rosemary and Basil a more stimulating effect. Certain oils have actually have the ability to normalize, regardless of the problem, for example, Bergamot and Geranium have both sedating or stimulating properties according to the specific needs of the individual. On the whole essential oils act by re-balancing the body, mind and emotions through their absorption into the body through the skin, and through the tiny air sacs of the lungs after inhalation.
The chemistry of essential oils is complex with one single oil potentially consisting of hundreds of different components. These components are usually grouped into the following main categories;
- Acids - anti-inflammatory.
- Alcohols - antiseptic, anti-viral, anti-fungal, energizing, uplifting.
- Aldehydes - anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, disinfectant, uplifting, sedative.
- Coumarins - sedative, uplifting, hypotensive.
- Ethers - sedative, calming, anti-spasmodic, balancing, soothing.
- Ketones - stimulating, warming.
- Lactones - anti-inflammatory, expectorant.
- Monoterpenes - stimulating, warming, decongestant, expectorant, anti-viral.
- Oxides - antiseptic, expectorant, stimulating.
- Phenols - stimulating, anti-infectious, anti-spasmodic, anti-bacterial.
- Sesquiterpenes - anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, antiseptic, calming.
- Terpenes - anti-infectious, stimulating, tonic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral.
It is the unique combination of chemicals found in each plant that gives it its characteristic perfume and therapeutic properties. The combination of chemicals contained in each oil act synergistically, balancing and affecting each other's properties in such a way as to bring about a beneficial change in the physical or mental body. This change is able to take place without the risk of certain side effects, which are so often produced when chemists try to isolate a single 'active ingredient' from the plant essence in the treatment of a specific disorder.
The composition of essential oils will differ depending upon which part of the plant the oil is contained within, for example, those from flowers have a much more complicated composition than those from leaves. In their natural 'mixed state', essential oils are otherwise known as Terpenoids, because terpenes are present in the greatest quantity. In this 'whole state' the oil is infinitely superior to any man-made alternative, with certain molecules in the oil reinforcing the action of the whole.
All essential oils have their own individual characteristics and properties. While certain oils can be used alone to treat a number of different disorders, these oils often work best when mixed together as they complement and enhance each other's properties in much the same way as a single oil will work best as a 'whole' rather than when it is divided into it constituents parts.
