Essential Oils 101

Did you know that at least 30% of prescription drugs in the United States are based on naturally occurring compounds from plants? Each year, millions of dollars are spent searching for new, undiscovered, curative elements in the bark, roots, flowers, seeds and foliage of plants from every corner of the Earth.

As the most powerful part of the plant, essential oils and plant extracts have been mankind's first medicine. History has shown and science supports that these can be used medicinally to kill bacteria and viruses. They can balance hormones and brain chemistry. They can stimulate the regeneration of tissue and stimulate nerves. They can even carry nutrients to and oxygenate the cells.

The chemistry of essential oils is very complex; a single oil may consist of hundreds of unique chemical compounds. Each compound within an oil may only be present in miniscule amounts, but each and every one of them contributes to the oil's therapeutic effects. Essential oils are also highly concentrated and therefore very potent. It often requires an entire plant to produce a single drop of distilled oil.

The difficulty and expense involved in growing and distilling pure, high-quality essential oils has led to a great deal of adulteration in the industry. Some oils are engineered or extended with the use of synthetic chemicals. For instance, much of the lavender sold in the U.S. is the hybrid called lavandin. It is cut with synthetic linalyl acetate to improve the fragrance, then propylene glycol, DEP or DOP are added and it is sold in stores as lavender oil. In France, production of true lavender oil dropped from 87 tons in 1967 to only 12 tons in 1998. During this same period, global demand for lavender oil grew over 100%. From where did all that phantom lavender oil come? It came from sources that engineered or adulterated their product. At best, these oils are not effective. At worst, they can be harmful. It is extremely important to always know the source of your oils and be familiar with the growing, harvesting and distillation processes used to procure them.

Different Methodologies

Therapeutic use of essential oils follows three different models: French, German and English.

The English model advocates diluting a small amount of essential oil in a carrier oil and massaging the body for the purpose of relaxation and relieving stress.

The French model prescribes the ingestion and topical application of neat (undiluted) therapeutic grade oils.

The German model focuses on the inhalation of essential oils.

Integrating all of the models described above promise the best results.

How do essential oils work?

Essential oils and human blood share several common properties. They fight infection, contain hormone-like compounds and can initiate tissue regeneration. It is helpful to think of essential oils as the life-blood or chemical defense of the plant. Whenever a plant experiences a physical or environmental stressor, the essential oils are the problem solvers. Interestingly enough, essential oils have a chemical structure that is similar to that found in human cells and tissues. This makes the oils compatible with human protein and enables them to be readily identified and accepted by the body.

Aromatherapy - More than just a nice smell

Much research has been dedicated to the effects of aromas on both mind and body and it is reasonable to suggest that the fragrance of an essential oil can directly affect everything from your emotional state to your lifespan.

When a fragrance is inhaled, the odor molecules travel up the nose where they fit like a puzzle piece into one of many specific receptor sites that line the olfactory epithelium. When stimulated by odor molecules, these nerve cells trigger electrical impulses to the olfactory bulb in the brain. These transmissions then travel to the gustatory center (where the sensation of taste is perceived), the amygdale (where emotional memories are stored), and other parts of the limbic system. The limbic system is directly connected to those parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress and hormone balance. Therefore, inhaling essential oils can have profound physiological and psychological effects.

The limbic lobe can also directly activate the hypothalamus, which is our body's hormonal control center. The production of growth hormones, sex hormones, thyroid hormones and serotonin are all governed by the hypothalamus.

Please visit my blog, www.amazing-oils.com, to learn more about how you can keep yourself and your family healthy with these amazing oils. And tell a friend!