The Body & Spirit Blog

Essential oil

Dawn Xanyn — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:50:54 +0000

An essential oil is a concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile, ethereal oils or aetherolea, or simply as the “oil of” the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove. An oil is “essential” in the sense that it carries a distinctive scent, or essence, of the plant. Essential oils do not as a group need to have any specific chemical properties in common, beyond conveying characteristic fragrances.

Essential oils are generally extracted by distillation. Other processes include expression, or solvent extraction. They are used in perfumes, cosmetics, soap and other products, for flavoring food and drink, and for scenting incense and household cleaning products.

Various essential oils have been used medicinally at different periods in history. Medical application proposed by those who sell medicinal oils range from skin treatments to remedies for cancer, and are often based on historical use of these oils for these purposes. Such claims are now subject to regulation in most countries, and have grown more vague to stay within these regulations.

Interest in essential oils has revived in recent decades with the popularity of aromatherapy, a branch of alternative medicine which claims that the specific aromas carried by essential oils have curative effects. Oils are volatilized or diluted in a carrier oil and used in massage, diffused in the air by a nebulizer or by heating over a candle flame, or burned as incense, for example.

The techniques and methods first used to produce Ethereal oil (Essential oil) was first mentioned by Ibn al-Baitar (1188-1248), an Andalusian physician, pharmacist and chemist.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_oil

Benefits

Dawn Xanyn — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:51:05 +0000

Benefits of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a type of therapeutic treatment that uses naturally created oils, known as essential oils, as an alternative to or in conjunction with conventional medicine. Essential oils are highly concentrated and can be derived from different parts of a plant. These oils can be absorbed through the skin or the oils’ vapors can be inhaled. The odor of certain oils has been found to have both psychological and physiological benefits.

Relaxation

There is some evidence that the use of rose oil in aromatherapy can promote both physical and emotional relaxation. According to the article titled “Relaxing Effect of Rose Oil on Humans” in the February 2009 issue of “Natural Product Communications,” rose oil significantly reduces breathing rate and systolic blood pressure. Individuals exposed to rose oil also feel more calm and relaxed as a result.

Improved Mood

Essential oils can be used to combat negative moods such as anxiety and depression. In the January 1995 issue of the “Journal of Advanced Nursing,” C. Dunn et al., found the essential oil of lavender to be more effective than rest or massage for improving the moods of patients. The patients in this study also reported feeling more positive and less anxious as a result of aromatherapy with lavender.

Alertness

Unlike lavender, which has a sedative effect, the essential oil of rosemary has a stimulating odor. When inhaled through the nose, the scent goes directly to the brain and can have instant effects. According to the University of Miami School of Medicine, the scent of rosemary decreases alpha brainwaves, which are associated with non-arousal, thereby increasing alertness. Rosemary also increases the quantity, although not the quality, of work.

Relieve Pain

Daily aches and pains or pain that results from injury or illness may be alleviated through aromatherapy. In her article “The Smell of Relief,” Jane Buckle states that aromatherapy treatment reduces pain and enhances the effect of painkillers. She explains that soothing scents can effectively reduce tension. Specifically, chamomile and ylang ylang have been shown to relieve pain. Peppermint and eucalyptus can also provide pain relief.

Headache Relief

The pain caused by migraines, a severe type of tension headache, can be relieved by scents that provide pain relief. These scents include peppermint and eucalyptus as well as lavender and sandalwood. According to a 2001 survey conducted by researchers from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, aromatherapy was reported to be a recommended treatment for headaches, especially migraines, by many complementary and alternative medicine organizations.

References

Basic Information

Dawn Xanyn — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:56:44 +0000

Rejuvenate Yourself with Aromatherapy

If you are bored of the mundane English medicines and started to averse the very smell of the anti- biotic, here comes the feel lifting aromatherapy that soothes your body and mind. It comes in the form of essential oils and candles that makes it more usable than being mere medicine. Read more to understand what aroma therapy has got in store for you. This article covers

When did aroma therapy come to vogue ?(history )
What is the specialty of it?
What are the different ways of using it?
What are the benefits?
What are the demerits in using the products?
What are the things that you should keep in mind while buying aroma therapy products?

Had you inhaled, the scent of garden roses could have refreshed or relaxed you. Here you are experiencing aromatherapy in its’ unrefined form. So what is aromatherapy? Aromatherapy is the usage of herbs and fragrant essential oils to promote health. Aromatherapy includes two words. The word Have you ever enjoyed a stroll around your garden? ‘aroma’ means fragrance or smell and the word ‘therapy’ means treatment. Aromatherapy could be useful in treating various illnesses including asthma, digestive problems, stress, insomnia, headaches, menstrual problems and eczema.

History of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy has been used since ancient days. Egyptians used a method called infusion to take oil from plants. Cosmetics and medicines used by Greeks contained the aromatic oil. It is said that the Greeks provided medical knowledge, but Romans worked on it and made improvements to aromatherapy. The ancient Chinese civilization has also used aromatherapy.

Specialty of Aroma therapy Oils

Aromatherapy involves the use of essential oils, which provide a calming sensation to soothe your body and mind. Essential oils can be extracted from plants by using the following processes:

Steam Distillation

Steam distillation uses dry steam to vaporize and extract oil. Distillation is considered to be a straightforward process for extracting large quantities of essential oils. The disadvantage of steam distillation is that the heating process could impact the chemical constituents of the plant material.

Hydro Distillation

Hydro distillation involves the use of a common tub to boil water and plant material. It is not only the most ancient method of distillation but also the most versatile. Hydro distillation is the best method for tough materials like nuts, wood or root. The disadvantage of this method is that the still could get overheated, thus burning the aromatics and resulting in a burnt smell.

Solvent Extraction

Solvent extraction makes use of organic solvents in order to extract essential oils and oleoresins. This method is generally used for plant materials that do not respond to the distillation process.

Supercritical Carbon dioxide Method

Supercritical Carbon dioxide Method is the latest technological process used in essential oil extraction where carbon dioxide is used under high pressure to derive essential oils and oleoresins. It has high diffusion rates and it could penetrate a solid sample faster than liquid solvents. Supercritical Carbon dioxide Method has been used for the extraction of natural products, hops and also for the decaffeination of coffee and tea.

Applications of Aromatherapy Oils

Check out the following points to get an idea on the application of aromatherapy oils.

Bath

Aroma therapy oils can be used for a fresh bath at the end of a tiring day. All you have to do is to add 4-6 drops of essential oil to your warm bath tub and soak for 15 minutes. Then agitate the water well before getting into the bath tub. The following essential oil could be added to your bathing tub: rosemary, lavender, tea-tree and thyme.

Compresses

Compresses are considered to be an effective method for relieving your pain. The hot compress is helpful in relieving chronic pain whereas the cold compress relieves pain, swellings and headaches. The process involves adding 4-6 drops of the oil into very hot or cold water and mixing the two together. Place the cloth in the water and let it soak up some of the water. Wring out the cloth and place it on the affected area.

Massage

Massage is considered to be the best method of enjoying aromatherapy, as the oil is absorbed into the bloodstream. You could combine 4 essential oils for your massage, depending on your requirements. If you possess normal skin, you could add 5 drops of essential oil to your carrier oil. Carrier oils, also known as base oils, are used to dilute essential oils before they are applied to the skin.

Inhalation

Inhalation is also an effective method to incorporate essential oils into your system. The inhalation method helps you reduce respiratory tract problems. Add 3 or 4 drops of essential oil to a large bowl of warm water. Lean over the bowl and breathe deeply till you feel relieved.

article found on: www.aromacures.com

Hello world!

Dawn Xanyn — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:12:20 +0000

My name is Dawn and I am so glad to be with you today!! I would love to share information and exchange ideas about a variety of aromatherapy products and processes… from essential oils to potpourri and even candles. In these stressful times learning about and practicing natural methods of relaxing/ healing and rejuvenating the body and spirit may very well become a focus of more and more people.