Aromatherapy is all about
essential oils. Essential oils are naturally-occurring oils that have
been extracted from the various parts of different plants including the
leaves, the bark, the stem, the flowers, the fruits and even the roots.
Essential oils are not to be confused with perfumes which frequently
are manufactured using a variety of ingredients, many of which are
synthetic and do not provide the same types of mind and body benefits.
There
are several commonly used methods of extracting the essential oils from
plant matter. The oldest method and the one that is still the most
commonly used is distillation. In this process, the plant material is
heated. The volatile components are then able to be condensed and
collected from the vapors that result. Maceration, enfleurage, solvent
extraction, and expression are other methods used to extract essential
oils from plant matter.
Something interesting
about essential oils and something many people don't realize is that
there are different qualities of essential oils. While there is no
formal grading system for these essential oils, where and how the plant
was grown can have a significant impact on the quality of the oils that
are extracted. Environmental conditions such as the weather and soil
quality will impact the harvest as will the actual time of harvest, the
farming methods used during planting and harvesting, and believe it or
not, the way the plant material is treated after it has been harvested.
Essential oils contain a number of different
chemical components and it is these components that influence the
various effects on the body. While this sounds dangerous, it really
isn't as our bodies naturally produce and utilize many of these
chemical components. First and foremost, essential oils stimulate our
sense of smell. From there, the chemical components go to work,
stimulating or sedating the different systems within our bodies.
For
example, the chemical component ester acts as a sedative, a calming
agent, an anti-fungal and an anti-inflammatory. Esters are found in
lavender, chamomile, bergamot and sage. Ketones promote new cell growth
and help wounds heal faster and they're found in rosemary, camphor,
sage, and eucalyptus. Alcohols act as diuretics, they kill bacteria,
energize, and stimulate the body. Tea tree, ginger, rose, rosewood,
peppermint, sandalwood, and patchouli are some of the plants that
contain alcohols.
The methods used to extract
essential oils from plants produce highly concentrated oils. Therefore,
you need only a very small quantity to reap the benefits. Oftentimes,
concentrated essential oils are first diluted and then inhaled or
absorbed. This makes economical sense, especially when you realize that
essential oils can be expensive. When you begin shopping for essential
oils, you'll also notice that many are sold as blends of
different
oils. Buying blended essential oils can save you a good deal of money.
It's also very easy to create your own essential
oil blends, and doing so can be more fun.
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