|
Essential oils
Essential oils are potent, highly aromatic oils extracted from plants, then
used topically in pure, or diluted, form in carrier oils.
Essential oils are mainly used in aromatherapy, where appropriate oils are
selected to treat each patient's unique personality and needs. The different
therapeutic effects of essential oils work by skin absorption and smell.
Aromatherapy is derived from the ancient practice of using natural plant essences
to promote health and well being. It consists of the use of pure essential oils
obtained from a wide assortment of plants, which have been steam distilled or
cold-pressed from flowers, fruit, bark and roots.
Aromatherapy works by therapeutically stimulating the nasal/olfactory senses,
mental responses, circulatory and respiratory functions.
Aromatherapy can help ease a wide assortment of ailments; easing aches, pains,
and injuries, while relieving the discomforts of many health problems.
Aromatherapy acts on the central nervous system, relieving depression and anxiety,
reducing stress, relaxing, uplifting, sedating or stimulating, restoring both
physical and emotional well-being.
Essential oils stimulate the powerful sense of smell. It is known that odors
we smell have a significant impact on how we feel and we have the capability
to distinguish 10,000 different smells.
Smell enters through the fine hairs lining the nose, called the cilia, and
into the part of the brain that controls our moods, emotions, memory and learning.
Different oils are associated with different areas of the brain and each one
produces a different response. For example Lavender is associated with relaxation
and Jasmine makes you more alert. Essential oils contain chemical components
that can produce specific effects on the mind and body. The chemistry of essential
oils is complex, but generally they include alcohols, esters, ketones, aldehydes,
and terpenes.
Each essential oil contains as many as 100 chemical components, which together
exert a strong effect on the whole person. Depending on which component is predominating
in the oil, the oil acts differently. For example, some oils are relaxing, some
soothes you down and some can relieve pain.
The mechanism in which these essential oils act on us is not very well understood.
What is understood is that they affect our mind and emotions. They leave no
harmful residues. They enter into the body either by absorption or inhalation.
|
