Copyright © 2007-2010 All rights reserved
Sedona Aromatherapie is an Oak Creek Enterprises Incorporated Company
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona Aromatherapie is an Oak Creek Enterprises Incorporated Company
Sedona, Arizona
Essential oils have been used for centuries in one form or another. Yet, like a lot of things, they seem to come ‘in and out of fashion’ with mainstream thinking and once again, appear to be in vogue. Their uses and restrictions vary from country to country. France is the leader in the ‘true’ use of essential oils and as such has more rigid guidelines on who is ‘qualified’ to administer and sell them. In the UK, essential oils have been popular for a number of years and they are seen in almost every ‘health’ outlet as well as beauty salons. In the USA, essential oils are now emerging and growing in their popularity, as people seek out a more ‘natural’ way of life…
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Introduction
Historical Use of Essential Oils
Many civilizations have recognized, and used, ‘essential oils’ in one form or another, before they emerged today in their present usage. The earliest recorded use of aromatherapy can be attributed to the use of plants and plant extracts in the use of medicine and for personal hygiene in places such as India, Egypt, Greece and, later in time, the Romans. However, it is likely that it was in use long before even these early beginnings and record keeping.
Essential oil usage in modern use was redefined in France in 1928 by the French Chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse. Amazingly, it was by some accident that Gattefosse 're-discovered' the powerful and natural effects of what we today commonly call 'essential oils'. Gattefosse severely burned his hand, whilst carrying out his work, and plunged it into the nearest container, thinking it was water, when it fact it was a vat of lavender(lavandula angustifolia). To his surprise, his hand did not bear the burn scarring that he feared, and thus 'aromatherapy' was born. ‘Gattefosse’s Aromatherapy’ is accredited as being the first modern book written on the subject of essential oils and was first published in 1937.
Defining Essential Oils
Rene-Maurice Gattefosse wrote in 1937 ‘…essential oils play the same role in plants as hormones play in animals.’(p10, Gattefosse’s Aromatherapy)
This statement has not been proven scientifically and little is known as to what use essential oils have in plants or how they work when extracted but what is known is that they do help in relieving a great number of ailments.
Essential oils are the 'life blood' of the plant. The essential oils of the plant can be found in a number of places. They are in the glandular hairs, glands, veins or sacs of a plant, grass or tree. Oil can be extracted from flowers, leaves, trees (including the bark), roots, and the fruit. The orange tree is perhaps one of the most versatile in producing essential oils which produces a variety of essential oils from its fruit, leaves, twigs and flowers – all from the same plant!
Essential oils are volatile (from the Latin ‘volare’ - to fly), which means they evaporate at or above room temperature. Heat releases the fragrance of the oils (essentially the plant’s ‘perfume’ or ‘flavor’), hence the wonderful feelings generated by a walk through a summer garden, as we ‘smell the roses’! In the winter these fragrances are less noticeable as the cooler air prevents easy evaporation of the oils from plants. The rate at which an essential oil evaporates defines whether it is a base, middle or top note oil (top notes evaporating quickly and base notes being heavier in their molecule make-up and thus evaporating more slowly).
Despite their name, essential oils are in fact non-oily. The extraction of these oils is a lengthy and sometimes costly process, hence the wide variation in the cost of, for instance, rose (rosa damascena) essential oil, which is extremely difficult to extract in large quantities, to something such as orange (citrus sinensis) essential oil, which is far more easily extracted. If a 'true' essential oil feels oily to you, it is probably not a pure essential oil and been adulterated, as some suppliers do, due to the high costs involved in extracting.
Extraction of essential oils
Essential oils can only be extracted from aromatic plants. It is the ‘aroma’ or ‘smell’ which is essentially extracted. Non-aromatic plants do not produce essential oils.
A ‘true’ essential oil is extracted from a plant and is not produced synthetically, as is the case of a number of fragrances in the perfume industry. These synthetic fragrances are usually establishing a ‘branding’ of a particular product and thus need the fragrance to be identical. True essential oils are never identical by their very nature. Aromas of essential oils from the same plant may vary due to a number of factors including altitude grown at, soil conditions, temperature and the country grown in. In addition, synthetically produced ‘essential oils’ do not have the healing properties of true essential oils.
The ease of which an essential oil can be extracted is usually reflected in its price. For example, lemon (citrus limon) is fairly easy to extract and therefore is relatively cheap to buy. Rose (rosa damascena), on the other hand, is extremely difficult to extract and this is reflected in the high price of true essential oil of rose (rosa damascena).
Methods of extraction vary depending on where the essential oil is to be extracted from. For example, most citrus oils are extracted by expression, extracting the essential oil from the rind of the fruit. The majority of other essential oils are extracted by steam distillation. Steam distillation is a simple process which can easily be carried out by a basic homemade still as well as a bigger more professional still. Basically, the plant material is heated by steam or water, releasing the aromatic molecules and, once cooled, a mixture of water and oil remains. The essential oil is separated from the water. As a by-product of this process, ‘flower waters’ are often produced from the water.
Other methods of extraction such as solvent extraction, maceration, effleurage and percolation do not produce a ‘true’ essential oil but may be used by the food and perfume industries.
How do essential oils work?
There is still a lot of scepticism about whether essential oils actually work. After all, are they not just a pleasant ‘smell’? How could this ‘smell’ have a noticeable effect on the human body’s system?
Smell is one of the most basic of our senses and a lot of animals ‘identify’ and are ‘attracted’ to each other (including humans!) by it.
The nose is the quickest way in which an essential oil can enter our system and have effect. Through the nose to the limbic part of our brains (the part that governs our moods and emotions), the smell will trigger a response and thus a reaction in us. Memories are re-created by a reaction to the smell, be it good or bad. Freshly baked bread may bring back a memory from that small bakery you visited on your French trip, or the smell of wet grass may bring back summer days of childhood. Thus, certain essential oils have the power to induce aphrodisiac qualities (rose(rosa damascena)) or calming moods (for example, lavender(lavandula angustifolia), although lavender can be a stimulating essential oil also, depending on what it is used for).
Essential oils are also commonly used in massage, being absorbed through the skin. As essential oils are made up of small molecules they are readily absorbed through the skin to the blood stream. They are then carried through the blood stream to where they are needed and dispelled by the body by perspiration or through the bowels or urinary tract.
Chemistry of essential oils
Essential oils are complex in their make up. Science is still trying to identify the actual components of some oils, which is why synthetic copies are never as good as the real thing. It is estimated that there are over 300 different constituents in rose (rosa damascena), for example.
The chemical make-up of an essential oil is important in determining its uses and suitability for a particular ailment or client. Some essential oils are more toxic than others and thus are unsuitable for children, babies or in pregnancy.
An essential oil can be made up from any number of combinations of esters, aldehydes, ketones, sesquiterpenes, oxides, acids, monoterpenes, alcohols, phenols or coumarins. Each chemical family has a differing effect on the systems of the body.
Therefore, it can be seen that essential oils are complex in their make-up and it is advisable to consult a qualified aromatherapist if you are not familiar with them.
Adulteration of essential oils
Due to the high cost of extracting some essential oils, such as rose (rosa damascena), there is always the temptation by some companies to adulterate their essential oils. That is, add in a less expensive oil (such as geranium (pelargonium graveolens) or palmarosa (cymbopogon martini) to substitute rose (rosa damascena)) as a substitute, dilute the essential oil, add in a synthetic substitute or ‘fractionate’ the essential oil (i.e. remove some of the chemical components).
To try to substantiate the authenticity of a true essential oil, the industry has introduced a number of tests to identify the substitution. Quality testing includes gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), mass spectrometry, optical rotation, infrared testing and refractive indexing. Essential oils are also tested for additional factors such as color, solubility in alcohol and specific gravity.
Those experts in the use of essential oils may also use their nose to determine the true authenticity of an essential oil.
An adulterated essential oil will not hold the therapeutic properties of its true origin and therefore is unsuitable for the use of aromatherapy. Not only that, but an adulterated essential oil may cause skin irritations, causing redness and irritation. As mentioned above, the chemical components of an essential oil are extremely complicated and a synthetic copy will not produce the same results in aromatherapy as a true essential oil.
That is why Sedona Aromatherapie Blends (link to web store) are made only from the purest essential oils with no artificial substances or ingredients.
Use of essential oils
Essential oils should never be used neat, unless directed to do so by an experienced aromatherapist, and then only with extreme care. Some form of ‘carrier’ should be used. These can take the form of lotions, carrier oils, water, milk or honey.
Essential oils can be used in a number of ways including:
-in the bath, either in bubble bath, bath oil, milk, honey
or bath salts
-In the shower, for example in a shower gel base.
-In a foot or hand bath.
-As a hot or cold compress for inflammation, pain or
injury.
-Inhalation for coughs, colds and breathing problems, as
well as for relaxation and meditation. Use on a
handkerchief, in a bowl of water, or on your pillow at
night time
-In a mist spray for freshening up rooms or yourself!
-In a diffuser to aromatise a room.
-In massage, usually through a carrier oil.
-In a hand or foot lotion.
-In shampoo.
-In skin care, through lotions and oils.
-As a natural perfume.
-Household cleaning.
-Beauty treatments.
-in the bath, either in bubble bath, bath oil, milk, honey
or bath salts
-In the shower, for example in a shower gel base.
-In a foot or hand bath.
-As a hot or cold compress for inflammation, pain or
injury.
-Inhalation for coughs, colds and breathing problems, as
well as for relaxation and meditation. Use on a
handkerchief, in a bowl of water, or on your pillow at
night time
-In a mist spray for freshening up rooms or yourself!
-In a diffuser to aromatise a room.
-In massage, usually through a carrier oil.
-In a hand or foot lotion.
-In shampoo.
-In skin care, through lotions and oils.
-As a natural perfume.
-Household cleaning.
-Beauty treatments.
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Essential oils can be used in the treatment of the following conditions, by no means an exhaustive list:
Stress, back problems, asthma, arthritis, depression, burns, pregnancy related problems, childhood ailments, menstrual and menopausal problems, coughs and colds, circulation problems, headaches, skin problems, digestive complaints, insect repellants and bites - and much, much more.
Research
Research into essential oils has grown more in recent years. There is still much to learn about these powerful tools of nature.
France is traditionally the world leader in leading the research field into essential oils. The French medical profession use essential oils alongside conventional medicine and prescriptions can be made out for a formula of essential oils for a specific treatment. In the UK, the National Health Service is slowly beginning to accept the use of essential oils into mainstream medicine for some conditions. Research carried out by the University of Exeter in the UK found that 46% of doctors thought complementary therapies to be effective, more noticeably among younger doctors (Ernst, Resch & White, 1995).
However, in some countries, the use of essential oils is still viewed as more of a cosmetic item used in beauty rather than the medical field and in fact some of the research is being carried out by the cosmetic and food industries, more interested in the flavor and mood alteration of essential oils than the therapeutic qualities.
This is changing and clinical studies are now being conducted throughout Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States of America, to name but a few of the larger players. Research has shown that essential oils do have a positive effect on a number of health issues including anxiety and depression, pain and premenstrual disorders.
These include:
-Dale A, Cornwell, S (1994) where a blind randomized trial using lavender (lavandula angustifolia) essential oil showed a lower discomfort level between the 3rd and 5th days following childbirth by mothers who used it in the bath, when it is expected to have the highest discomfort.
-Pittler M. H., Ernst, E. (1998) where the results of a research trial indicated that peppermint (mentha piperita) essential oil improved significantly the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome for patients.
-Rose J.E. & Behm F.M (1994) where three random groups of smokers were deprived from smoking overnight. One group inhaled vapour from Black Pepper (piper nigrum) essential oil; another inhaled mint/menthol; and another inhaled on an empty cartridge. Those who inhaled Black Pepper (piper nigrum) essential oil reported a significant reduction in cigarette cravings, less negativity and less somatic symptoms of anxiety.
A Final note
Essential oils are complex but can be effective if you know how to use them. If you haven’t used essential oils before I highly recommend trying one of Sedona Aromatherapie’s blends or one of Sedona Aromatherapie’s treatments.
Wishing you a truly aromatic experience!
Copyright © 2007-2010 Sharon Falsetto BA (HONS) All rights reserved
References:
Stress, back problems, asthma, arthritis, depression, burns, pregnancy related problems, childhood ailments, menstrual and menopausal problems, coughs and colds, circulation problems, headaches, skin problems, digestive complaints, insect repellants and bites - and much, much more.
Research
Research into essential oils has grown more in recent years. There is still much to learn about these powerful tools of nature.
France is traditionally the world leader in leading the research field into essential oils. The French medical profession use essential oils alongside conventional medicine and prescriptions can be made out for a formula of essential oils for a specific treatment. In the UK, the National Health Service is slowly beginning to accept the use of essential oils into mainstream medicine for some conditions. Research carried out by the University of Exeter in the UK found that 46% of doctors thought complementary therapies to be effective, more noticeably among younger doctors (Ernst, Resch & White, 1995).
However, in some countries, the use of essential oils is still viewed as more of a cosmetic item used in beauty rather than the medical field and in fact some of the research is being carried out by the cosmetic and food industries, more interested in the flavor and mood alteration of essential oils than the therapeutic qualities.
This is changing and clinical studies are now being conducted throughout Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States of America, to name but a few of the larger players. Research has shown that essential oils do have a positive effect on a number of health issues including anxiety and depression, pain and premenstrual disorders.
These include:
-Dale A, Cornwell, S (1994) where a blind randomized trial using lavender (lavandula angustifolia) essential oil showed a lower discomfort level between the 3rd and 5th days following childbirth by mothers who used it in the bath, when it is expected to have the highest discomfort.
-Pittler M. H., Ernst, E. (1998) where the results of a research trial indicated that peppermint (mentha piperita) essential oil improved significantly the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome for patients.
-Rose J.E. & Behm F.M (1994) where three random groups of smokers were deprived from smoking overnight. One group inhaled vapour from Black Pepper (piper nigrum) essential oil; another inhaled mint/menthol; and another inhaled on an empty cartridge. Those who inhaled Black Pepper (piper nigrum) essential oil reported a significant reduction in cigarette cravings, less negativity and less somatic symptoms of anxiety.
A Final note
Essential oils are complex but can be effective if you know how to use them. If you haven’t used essential oils before I highly recommend trying one of Sedona Aromatherapie’s blends or one of Sedona Aromatherapie’s treatments.
Wishing you a truly aromatic experience!
Copyright © 2007-2010 Sharon Falsetto BA (HONS) All rights reserved
References:
Brown, Denise Whichello (2003) A Beginner’s Guide to Aromatherapy D&S Books Ltd Devon, England
Caddy, Rosemary (1997), Aromatherapy: Essential Oils in Colour Amberwood Publishing Ltd
Gattefosse, Rene-Maurice (1937) Gattefosse’s Aromatherapy Girardot & Cie, Paris (English language version 1993 edited by Robert B Tisserand C.W. Daniel Company Ltd, Essex, England)
Lawless, Julia (1995) The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils Thorsons London
McGuinness, Helen (1997) Aromatherapy Therapy Basics 2nd Edition Hodder & Stoughton London
Price, Shirley, Price, Len, (1999) Aromatherapy for Health Professionals Churchill Livingstone Edinburgh
Takingcharge of your health Articles (www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu) (www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/therapies/aromatherapy/research)
Caddy, Rosemary (1997), Aromatherapy: Essential Oils in Colour Amberwood Publishing Ltd
Gattefosse, Rene-Maurice (1937) Gattefosse’s Aromatherapy Girardot & Cie, Paris (English language version 1993 edited by Robert B Tisserand C.W. Daniel Company Ltd, Essex, England)
Lawless, Julia (1995) The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils Thorsons London
McGuinness, Helen (1997) Aromatherapy Therapy Basics 2nd Edition Hodder & Stoughton London
Price, Shirley, Price, Len, (1999) Aromatherapy for Health Professionals Churchill Livingstone Edinburgh
Takingcharge of your health Articles (www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu) (www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/therapies/aromatherapy/research)
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