Aromatherapy Defined

“The medicinal use of Therapeutic Essential Oils”

Soon spring will be here.  The landscape will come alive again with green foliage and the scent of blossoming flowers.  Everyone recognizes the smell of spring and how that smell makes them feel.  Some of the fragrances we are experiencing are the essential oils of the blossoming plants.

Essential Oils

When you run your hand over a bouquet of lavender blossoms the smell left on your hand is from essential oils.  Although essential oils really are not oils but volatile, complex mixtures of chemicals that provide the plant with many purposes.  The oils can be a means to repel insects, stimulate blossoming or may even be the by products of plant metabolic processes.  Regardless, they are very effective in healing and have been used for centuries just for that purpose.

Essential oils come from approximately 20% of the plants in the world.  Therefore if someone tells you that the lilac perfume they are wearing is from the lilac essential oil, you will know this is not true.  Lilac does not have an essential oil available for extraction.  There are about 300 essential oils available.  Many are steam distilled and others, such as jasmine or rose, use a solvent method to remove the delicate oils.  Only citrus oils are cold pressed, therefore you should always look for organic citrus oils when the extraction is using this method.  In the last few decades the CO2 extraction method has allowed for some additional extraction of essential oils from a variety of plants.

The therapeutic use of essential oils range can be from antiseptic, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, stimulating, relaxing, and euphoric to grounding.  In skin care oils, such as carrot seed, essential oils are used to stimulate cell regeneration for younger, more resilient skin.  The oils can be used through massage, inhalation therapy, lotions, baths and facials. 

Therapeutic Quality

Not all essential oils are alike.  In fact the majority of the industrial essential oils are used in flavoring, fragrance and the toiletry industry.  When practicing true aromatherapy you want to choose only therapeutic quality essential oils.  There are a few requirements the supplier of your oils should be able to give you to be assure they are a therapeutic quality.

The first is the country of origin.  Plants take on qualities of the environment in which they are grown.  A plant that is grown in Montana or Utah will not have the same chemical constituents and therapeutic value as a plant grown in its native region of Australia. 

The second requirement is to know the Latin binomial name of the essential oil you want to use.  If the bottle says “Pure Essential Oil of Eucalyptus”, for example, it is not therapeutic and may be adulterated to bring the cost down as well as its value.  Know what species you need for your purpose.  For example, Eucalptus globulus is fine for adults, but it is stronger, therefore immune compromised individuals and children should use Eucalptus radiata which is much safer because of the main chemical constituents.  

Know what part of the plant was distilled.  Essential oils are extracted from many parts of the plant.  They can come from the bark, the leaves, the flowers, resin, roots, rind and even the seeds.  An interesting example is the following three essential oils. Bergamot, Neroli and Petitgrain come from the same plant.  The Bergamot essential oil (Citrus bergamia) comes from the fruit of the plant; Neroli essential oil (Citrus aurantium var. amara) comes from the flower and Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium) is extracted from the bark.  Each variety provides a very different aromatic experience and different therapeutic effects.

Ask your distributor how the oil was produced.  If it was steam distilled, determine if it was distilled at lower temperatures and lower pressure for a longer time period for a complete therapeutic chemistry or was the process accelerated to produce a less therapeutic and less expensive essential oil.

Understand that the price varies with the type of plant being distilled.  For example it takes 220 pounds of lavender to yield 7 pounds of essential oil but it takes 8 million rose blossoms to yield 2.2 pounds of essential oil, therefore the rose essential oil is much more expensive than the lavender.

Finally, the oil should have the growing method on the label such as organic, wild crafted or select farmed.  This also makes a difference in the quality and chemistry.  The difference in using therapeutic essential oils for medicinal use makes a huge difference.  The complete therapeutic essential oil contains all the chemical constituents that can act as buffers to the human physiology preventing side effects.  If you are using essential oils to make basic cleaning products for the bathroom you do not have to purchase the more expensive therapeutic quality oils.  But if you are using them for inhalation therapy, massage or therapeutic bathing, you only want therapeutic quality.

Basic Uses

Our olfactory system is connected directly to the limbic system of the brain.  In fact our sense of smell is the only sense that has a direct outside connection to our brain.  This is one of the reasons that diffusion of essential oils is so effective in its results from creating a mood to killing air born germs and viruses.  Inhalation of the essential oils allows the chemicals to not only effect the receptor sites of the brain but also allows entry into the capillaries of our respiratory system. 

The best diffusion method is using a nebulizing diffuser.  The glass nebulizer releases the essential oil in a fine mist by breaking the oil down into small particles.  This allows the oil to stay airborne a long time.  The neublizer is only used seven to ten minutes because of the concentration it releases.  If it is diffused longer our nervous system adapts and the awareness of the scent is lost (Streicher, C. Ph.D., 2006).

Using a humidifier, a pot with boiling water on the stove or simply a few drops on a hanky are a few simple ways to diffuse essential oils for inhalation therapy.

Topical application such as massage has become more popular because the combination of touch and the therapeutic value of the essential oils create a beautiful synergy in healing.  Essential oils must be diluted. Carrier oils are used to dilute the essential oils at a proper ratio for safe use.  The most common carriers are almond oil, jojoba oil (which is really a wax) and olive oil.  Any reputable distributor of essential oils can guide you to the proper carrier oil for your intended use.  The only essential oils recommended for direct contact to the skin are lavender and tea tree (for adults only).  The dilution ratio of 2% is the general rule of thumb used in aromatherapy.  This translates to approximately 10 drops of essential oil to a tablespoon of carrier oil.

Dr. Christoph Streicher of Amrita Aromatherapy recommends only the most mild of oils for babies.  His guidelines indicated up to six months old use only Lavender or Roman chamomile and only 1 to 2 drops in 10 mls of carrier.  For children 1 to 6 years safe oils include Neroli, Orange and Tea Tree using 2 to 3 drops in 10 ml of carrier oil.  For 7 to 12 years the oils can be those that are safe for adults but only four drops per tablespoon of carrier oil.

To use in a bath add your essential oils to a cup of milk and mix in the bath water.  The essential oil evaporates quickly so add this when the tub is full.  It is recommended to use approximately 10 drops of essential oil.

A foot bath using essential oils and a basin of water can be very relaxing and help relieve stress and exhaustion.  Use approximately 5 drops of essential oil to the water and soak your feet for ten minutes and enjoy!  Peppermint essential oil is always a foot favorite.

Compresses are a simple and effective way to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy.  For arthritis or muscular aches use peppermint, Roman Chamomile and Juniper in a hot compress for a very soothing benefit.  These three essential oils have analgesic qualities.   To make a compress simply use two cups of water and 8 total drops of essential oil.  Mix the oil and water and lower a cloth in, squeeze out the excess water and lay it on the problem area.  It is recommended to leave it on the area for an hour. Hot compresses are used for muscular aches, pains, arthritis, infections and menstrual cramps.  Cold compresses are used for sprains, migraines and bruising.

Safety

Aromatherapy is gaining a wide audience in our culture.  It must be noted that essential oils are very concentrated natural chemicals and need to be used properly and with respect.  There is a lot of reckless use of essential oils because of a lack of proper education. Just because it is natural does not mean it is always safe. Seek out a qualified aromatherapist when in doubt.

The following list indicates basic safety consideration:

1.    Avoid eye contact or mucus membranes

2.    Do not use internally!

The International Federation of Aromatherapists strongly discourages the internal use of essential oils.  They can damage the lining of digestive tract and are considered toxic when taken internally.  The only fatalities noted in the literature using essential oils has been with internal use.  Only under the supervision of a medical professional can essential oils be taken internally.

3.    Contraindications should be reviewed if you have any other medical problems such as high blood pressure or epilepsy.  A reputable distributor of essential oils should have the information on safety and any contraindications of the essential oils you choose to work with.

4.    Always dilute the essential oils in a carrier oils when applying to the skin.

5.    Seek the advice of your veterinarian when considering use with animals.  Remember, dogs have a sense of smell many times greater than ours and improper use can be detrimental to your pet.

6.    NEVER use essential oils on cats because they lack the liver enzymes to safely metabolize the oils and they have fewer layers of skin, therefore, the oils penetrate the skin much quicker.

7.    Phototoxicity does occur with the use of some essential oils such as Bergamot, Orange and Lemon when used directly on the skin.

8.    Store your oils away from heat, sunlight and oxygen.  They should be stored in either an amber bottle or cobalt blue bottle.  Many aromatherapists keep their precious oils in the refrigerator to lengthen the shelf life.

9.    When in doubt, ask a qualified distributor or aromatherapist.

Conclusion

Aromatherapy has been used for centuries.  The essential oils are gifts from nature and are very potent.  They can be safely used for the mind, body and spirit.  The antimicrobial qualities of essential oils have been gaining the attention of allopathic medicine with more professional nurses becoming certified as clinical aromatherapists

It is exciting to see this old healing art become a part of new modern times.  Aromatherapy is available for all to use easily, safely and economically with a little education and common sense.  Find a good book or take a class to learn the basics.  Then be creative, but understand the potency and remember less means more in the art of aromatherapy.

As spring begins to unfold this year, become aware that some of the euphoria you may experience at this aromatic time of year may be the power of aromatherapy!  So breath in and enjoy the benefits.