Essential Oils - The Power of the Plant
From the Beginning - Origins of Essential Oils
For thousands of years, people have used plants for health and emotional support. It is believed that humans have relied on plants since ancient times, learning from animal behaviour and passing down knowledge. By 3000 BC, Egyptians used aromatic plants for medicine, cosmetics and embalming, and burned incense during special events. The ancient Greeks built on Egyptian practices, finding flowers refreshing and relaxing. They mixed olive oil with flower petals and herbs for medicinal and cosmetic uses, treating wounds from battle. India and China also have a long history of using plants for healing, influencing both Asian and Western medicine, including Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine. In the early 19th Century, the scientific revolution helped identify and name the components of essential oils. In the 1920s, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse sparked renewed interest in essential oils after using lavender oil to heal a burn on his hand, which led him to study their medicinal properties.
What are Essential Oils
Essential oils are highly concentrated volatile aromatic extracts distilled from various parts of plant material through a variety of distillation processes including steam and water distillation, enfleurage, solvent extraction and CO2 extraction. Their scents can be:
Floral: Geranium, Jasmine, Rose, Ylang Ylang
Woody: Benzoin, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Petigrain
Citrus: Bergamot, Orange, Lemon
Spicy: Black Pepper, Cardamon, Clove, Ginger
Herby: Basil, Roman Chamomile, Clary Sage, Lavender
Medicinal: Eucalyptus, Tree Tree
Research has shown that essential oils have three different ways of which they interact with the body. These are:
Psychological: an individual’s response to the odour of a particular oil
Physiological: the way in which the systems of the body are affected by the essential oil - for example calming
Pharmacologicial: the chemical changes take place in the body when the oil enters the blood stream
Essential oils have many physical beneficial properties including:
Anti-bacterial
Anti-microbial
Antiseptic
Anti-inflammatory
Detoxifying
Digestive
They also have emotional beneficial properties, which include:
Calming
Balancing
Sedative
Invigorating
Relaxing
Essential oil aromas can positively impact emotional health and wellbeing. As an Essential Oils Practitioner, I provide various uses for essential oils, including aromatic baths, compresses, body lotions, moisturisers, room diffusers, steam inhalation, rollerballs and sniff sticks. Due to their strength, essential oils should be mixed with a carrier oil, like Sweet Almond oil, Jojoba oil, or Aloe Vera butter, before applying to the skin. They don’t mix with water, so always dilute them with a carrier before adding to water, such as in bath oils or shower gels. Essential oils should never be applied directly onto the skin without first blending them with a carrier oil, with a couple of exemptions of Lavender and Tea Tree oils and always keep them away from children and pets.
