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Where Do Essential Oils Come
From?
 The
odoriferous substances
(Essential oils) themselves are
formed in the chloroplasts of
the leaves where they combine
with glucose to form glucides
and are then circulated around
the plant in this form. At
certain times of the day or year
they are stored in particular
parts of the plant.
In some plants, the essential
oils are produced by the
secretory tissues, and in others
they are combined with
glycosides, and are therefore
not detectable until the plant
is dried or crushed, e.g.:
Valerian
Essential oils are considered to
be an important part of the
plant's metabolism: some have
hormonal activity and others are
a stage in some other process,
e.g.: the oil found in the rind
of the orange is a stage in
Vitamin A synthesis.
Essential oils can be found in
almost any part of the plant, in
differing concentrations,
depending on the plant itself,
the time of day and year. They
may be found in the roots (e.g.:
Calamus and Valerian), flowers
(e.g. Lavender, Rose,), bark
(e.g. Sandalwood, Cedarwood),
fruits (e.g.: Lemon, Cardamom,
Orange), berries (e.g. Juniper),
leaves (e.g. Thyme, Rosemary,
Sage).
Plants which contain essences
must be picked at the correct
time of day and in the correct
season, and in particular
weather conditions in order that
a maximum yield of the essential
oils can be obtained, and of
course, as with all medicinal or
nutritional plants, soil
conditions, and climatic
conditions will also dictate the
quality of the oils obtained.
Heavy, concentrated oils are
called ABSOLUTES e.g.: Rose,
Jasmine, Oils which are solid at
room temperature and which must
be warmed before use are called
BALSAMS, e.g.: Benzoin and
Camphor.
HOW DO ESSENTIAL OILS WORK?
Essential oils are known to have
an effect on us in three
different, but overlapping,
ways.
* On the physical body, both
locally and systemically, via
the lymphatic and blood
circulation.
* On the mind and emotions via
the Sense of Smell and the
Limbic System.
* On the “Etheric Energy System”
of the body via the energy
vibration of the individual oils
themselves.
The Way Essential Oils Effect
the Physical Body
When Essential oils are applied
to the surface of the body,
either via Massage, Baths,
Compresses, Creams or Lotions,
they will have an effect locally
(i.e. the site at which they are
applied), and Systemically (i.e.
throughout the body). The
Systemic effect occurs when
essential oils are absorbed
through the skin into the
Lymphatic Circulation, and they
are then dumped from the
Lymphatic circulation into the
blood stream.
Once the oils are circulating in
the blood, they are carried to
their TARGET ORGAN/S, where they
exert a therapeutic effect on
the specific tissues. Every
Essential oil has its own Target
Organ, e.g. Juniper oil targets
the urinary tract and kidneys in
particular, with secondary
effects on the Digestive,
Respiratory and Reproductive
Systems. Chamomile Oil targets
the Nervous System via which it
can then exert a broad effect on
many other body Systems, like
the Digestive Tract for example.
Even when Essential oils are
inhaled only, say in the form of
a steam inhalation for a cold or
as a fumigator for a background
“psychological” effect, the oils
will be absorbed across the
mucous membranes of the
Respiratory Tract and lungs into
the blood stream, where once
again, they can travel around
the body very rapidly.
If Essential Oils are taken
orally, their absorption through
the Mucosa of the stomach and
into the blood is very rapid.
Very few essential oils are
actually ‘digested’, which is
fortunate as their Therapeutic
principles may well be altered
if this were the case.
The reason why Essential Oils
behave in this manner in the
body is because the molecules of
which they are composed are
organic molecules and very small
indeed. Below are some of the
more common Therapeutic
Properties which can be obtained
by using Essential Oils.
SOME THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES
OF ESSENTIAL OILS
1.
ANTISEPTIC
All essential oils are to a
greater or lesser extent
ANTISEPTIC. This is one of their
most important and valuable
properties. This broad
description of ANTISEPSIS
includes anti viral, antifungal,
anti-bacterial and general
anti-microbial activity which is
found in such oils as: Lemon,
Thyme, Tea Tree, Garlic,
Eucalyptus, Cinnamon, Pine,
Lavender and Sandalwood.
2.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
Oils with this property help to
ease inflammation. The symptoms
of inflammation are typified by
pain, redness, swelling, and
partial or total loss of
function of the tissue involved.
Examples of oils with this
property are Chamomile, Rose,
Lavender, Sandalwood, Myrrh and
Benzoin.
3.
CYTOPHYLACTIC
Restoration of tissue function
and regeneration of cells is
another outstanding property of
essential oils. Oils such as
Pine, Basil and Rosemary are
known to restore function to the
adrenal glands, Jasmine,
Cypress, and Ylang Ylang restore
function of reproductive
endocrine glands, lavender and
chamomile stimulate cell
regeneration in the skin.
4.
SEDATIVE
Essential oils may also have a
pronounced effect on the nervous
system by producing relaxation,
pain relief and relieving muscle
spasm. Oils with these
properties include Lavender,
Neroli, Rose, Geranium and Ylang
Ylang.
However, the most outstanding
property possessed by essential
oils is their antiseptic/antigenetic
properly.
This is well documented in Dr
Jean Valnet's book, "The
Practice of Aromatherapy" and he
discusses at length the effects
of specific oils in relation to
the control of extremely
virulent microbes like
Meningitis bacteria, Golden
Staphylococcus bacteria and
typhoid bacteria.
In your Reading for Week One, in
the Chapter entitled "The
Healing Power of Plants", from
Valnet's book, there are
extensive references to the many
ways in which essential oils can
affect the physical body.
It is critical to your full
understanding and appreciation
of Essential Oil Therapy that
you appreciate the ways in which
essential oils can have both a
healing and preventive role in
diseases involving invasion of
the body by microbes.
Below are some
of the best resources we have
found for natural pure essential
oils.
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