Essential Oils
General Information and Resources
Essential oils have been referred to as the quintessence of a plant's being. The Oxford English Dictionary defines quintessence as "An extract from anything, containing in concentrated form its most essential principle." Essential oils are concentrated aromatic liquids extracted from a variety of aromatic plant material through the process of distillation.
Essential oils are natural organic substances that are produced in various glands and sacs within aromatic plants. Each essential oil is usually produced in one part of the plant, except in a few cases. Where a plant produces essential oils in more than one of its parts, differences of odour and hence differences in chemical composition occur. For example, the oil from the leaves of the cinnamon tree has a cinnamon and clove like odour; where as the oil from the bark has the characteristic ‘cinnamon’ odour. Another example is from the bitter orange tree: Bitter orange oil is produced from the peel, petitgrain from the leaf and neroli from the blossom; all have different odors yet similar properties.
Aromatherapy is the art of treating the body, mind and spirit with natural aromatic substances harvested from nature's rich store. "Aroma" refers to the aromatic substances that give essential oils their characteristic smell. "Therapy" refers to the fact that essential oils have been used for healing for centuries. Aromatherapy also refers to the use of essential oils for beauty and body care treatment. Aromatherapy is one the most popular beauty treatments worldwide in clinics and spas throughout Europe. Aromatherapy also refers to the medical practice of using essential oils in some countries. Finally, aromatherapy refers to the layman's use of essential oils for personal home use of essential oils and products containing pure unadulterated essential oils. Aromachology is the study of psychology and odors. The terms aromatherapy and aromachology are often used to differentiate the science, study and theory (aromachology) from the application by clinicians and aroma therapists (aromatherapy).
Absorption of Essential Oils through the Skin
Skin is the largest organ of the body, weighing in at an average of 9 lbs. Our skin is a living, dying and rejuvenating organ, constantly on the move. Ill-treatment of the skin can take 3 to 4 months to have an effect and visa versa. Skin is the packaging that keeps us warm, stops our insides from falling out and keeps the rain out. It is our outer warning system, alerting our brain about the environment we encounter. Skin is mostly waterproof, however it does allow substances with small molecular structures and low molecular weight to penetrate it. Molecules of essential oils pass through the skin's epidermis and are carried away by the capillary blood circulating in the dermis. They are then taken into the lymphatic and extra cellular fluids at which point the therapeutic ingredients of the essential oils are broken down and used by various regions of the body. After the essential oils perform healing functions they are metabolized and eliminated with the bodies other waste. Skin is our largest elimination organ. It takes anywhere from 20 minutes to 7 hours for skin to fully absorb essential oils, depending on body fat. Essential Oils are eliminated from our bodies within 3 to 26 hours through our saliva, urine, feces or sweat in a healthy adult. Essential Oils work as rubbish collectors, attaching themselves to toxins, free-radicals, cell debris, heavy metals, renegade cells, fungi, bacteria, viruses or other debris and taking them to the exits for disposal. Because of this, in an unhealthy adult, it can take up to 14 hours for the essential oils to pass through the body. The human body takes the most vital properties of essential oils and uses them to bring itself into balance and is left in a healthier state without side effects. It is easy to test the absorption of essential oils. If you were to smear lavender essential oil onto your cheek, you would taste the lavender inside your mouth. Garlic essential oil can be smeared onto your ankle and the aroma will soon appear in your breath. Components of essential oils can be found in a blood sample taken after an application of essential oils. Essential oils can stimulate circulation to the surface skin cells, encourage cell regeneration and the formation of new skin cells. Some essential oils calm inflamed or irritated skin, release muscle spasms, soothe sore muscles and relieve muscular tension. Many scientist believe that essential oils stimulate the body's own natural defense systems. The positive effect of essential oils on blood circulation is well known. Studies have found that basil, tea tree and thyme essential oils can encourage the production of white blood cells, boosting the immune system of the body.
Properties of Essential Oils
Each essential oil has it own therapeutic uses and other properties. Many essential oils have antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antineuralgic, ant rheumatic, antispasmodic, anti-infectious, ant parasitic, diuretic, ant venomous, antitoxic, antidepressant, sedative, nervine (relieves nervous disorders), analgesic (reduces pain sensation), hypotensol, hypertensol, digestive, expectorating, deodorizing, granulation stimulating, circulatory stimulating and diuretic qualities.
Hospital Studies
Hospitals, Hospices and Nursing Homes are using essential oils to deodorize and cut down cross infections.
In Worchester Hospital in Hereford, England they did a 6 months study in which they discovered that vaporizing lavender caused their patients to have more natural sleep patterns and made them less aggressive. Many patients were able to be weaned of tranquilizers altogether.
In Minneapolis, essential oils are used to reduce the wandering of elderly patients.
At Churchill Hospital in Oxford, England, many of the Alzheimer's patents treated with essential oils have become more alert. Patients with dementia have become calmer.
St. Croix Valley Memorial Hospital in Wisconsin uses essential oils throughout the lobby, at the nurse's station and the emergency waiting room. They use anxiety relieving essential oils. They also have two floater mobile units to be used whenever the hospital has a special need.
At Memorial Sloan-Keeting Cancer Center in New York, they tested the anxiety level of patients going through MRI. 42 patients breathed normal air and 38 breathed air with essential oils. 63% of those exposed to the aroma experienced reduced anxiety levels.
At St. John's and St. Elizabeth's Hospital in London most of the midwives have become trained Aroma therapist. They use essential oils from the beginning of pregnancy to the aftercare.
At Royal Sussex County Hospital, they tested 36 patients that were in the intensive care and coronary care units. The control group received nothing, the second group received massage alone and the third group received aromatherapy massage. They followed their progress over 5 weeks. Systolic blood pressure dropped 50% with aromatherapy, 40% with massage alone and 16% for the control group. Respiratory rate decreased by 75% for the aromatherapy group, 41% for massage alone and 16% in the control group. Heart rate decreased by 91% for the aromatherapy group, 58% with massage alone and 41% for the control group.
Studies in the Science of Essential Oils
Hypocrites, Galen and Dioscorides researched and wrote about plants. Their research was later confirmed by 20th century research. Hypocrites, the father of modern medicine, believed plants had antibacterial properties. He developed herbal medicine into a scientific discipline, basing prescriptions upon accurate observation and diagnosis. Galen, the physician to the gladiators, sent Greek soldiers into battle with a First aid kit containing myrrh essential oil. Dioscorides discovered the first source of aspirin made from willow.
During the plagues and epidemics in Europe the apothecary, cosmetic chemist and perfumers, who handled essential oils daily, escaped the plagues and epidemics without illness.
Buch found that Lavender, Neroli and Sandalwood decrease the motility of mice, even when the mice are agitated with caffeine.
S. Torii, measured skin potential levels (SPL's), which are related to mental activity and correspond with the arousal of a test person. Chamomile was found to sedate and Jasmine was found to stimulate a test subject. SPL's changes were parallel to activity of the sympathetic nervous system. CNV, which shows the upward shifts in brain waves, recorded by an EEG that occurs when a subject is tense or anticipating something. Torii found that Lavender decreased CNV and Jasmine increased CNV. This was confirmed by Kubota et al. Heart rate and blood pressure was also used to measure study effects.
In 1881, Koch studied the bactericidal action of turpentine (a chemical family of essential oil components) on anthrax spores. In 1887, Chamberland studied the activity of the essences of oregano, cinnamon and clove bacillus anthracis.
In 1910, Martindale showed that the essential oil of oregano is the strongest plant-derived antiseptic known to date. Oregano is 25 to 76 times more active than isolated phenol on the colibacillus.
In 1937, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse first introduced the term "Aromatherapy" in his book, Aromatherapie.
1949-1950 Schroeder and Messing developed a technique that later became the aromatogram (a testing method that allows one to examine the effectiveness of essential oils in treating a wide range of conditions).
1954-1956 Kellner and Kobert published a study on the action of 175 essential oils against eight airborne bacteria and fungi. They identified a group of 21 particularly oils, including Spanish oregano.
In 1960, Maruzzella demonstrated antibacterial and anti-fungal effects of hundreds of aromatic compounds.
Professor Paolo Rovesti, Director of the Institute Derivati Vegatali in Milan was able to show that depression and anxiety could be relieved by the inhalation of the oils from certain plants.
In1964, Jean Valnet published The Practice of Aromatherapy. Valnet found that he was able to cure long-term psychiatric patients by administering essential oils with almost immediate results. In 1969, M. Girault used the aromatogram technique to develop effective essential oil treatments for the specific flora of each patient.
In 1972, H. Audhoui, P. Belaiche, J. Bourgeon, P. Duraffourd, C. Duraffourd, M. Girault, and J.C. Lapraz employed the aromatogram technique to develop treatments for a broad range of infectious illnesses. Forty essences and one tincture were studied. In 1973, Jacques Pellecuer reestablished the antibacterial and anti-fungal actions of the Mediterranean labiatae, rosemary and thyme, and the phenomenal effectiveness of Satureja Montana.
In 1973, Wagner and Sprinkmeyer demonstrated an essential oil mix to have broader activity than broad-spectrum antibiotics.
In 1974, Deininger provided clinical proof in double-blind studies on the effectiveness of essential oils for autonomic nervous system imbalances.
In 1977, Robert Tisserand published the first English language aromatherapy book, The Art of Aromatherapy.
In 1978, Paul Belaiche published his three-volume study on the clinical uses of aromatherapy for treating a wide range of infectious and degenerative illnesses.
In 1979, Kubeczka developed guidelines for determining the quality of essential oils used for medicinal purposes.
In 1987, Deininger and Lembke demonstrated antiviral activity of essential oils and their isolated components. At the Pasteur Institute microbes were isolated in a culture medium and then subjected to an essential oil. If the essential oil effectively killed or inhibited the bacterium, the result was considered positive.
In 1990, Pierre Franchomme and Daniel Penoel published the current textbook of medicinal aromatherapy, L'aromatherapie exactement.
In 1995, R. Deininger, one of the most respected essential oil researchers wrote, "The main use of the anti-microbial action of essential oils are trivial infections in the context of self-medication: Infections of the respiratory system (in combination with a spasmolytic actions of essential oils), skin infections (e.g. herpes virus), disease of the gastrointestinal tract (in combination with spasmolytic action), urinary tract infections (in connection with diuretic action). Advantages: Include a broad spectrum of activity. Side-effects are not to be expected when the products are used properly."
Today in France, essential oils are used primarily for infection control. Only Doctors can be certified as Aroma therapist in France. Doctors prescribe essential oils and insurance companies pay for them.