Essential Oils

Essential oils offer natural ways to support health and well-being through various applications.

For over 2000 years, essential oils have been valued for their healing abilities. They are 75-100 times more concentrated than dried herbs and possess similar anti-viral, anti-septic, and anti-fungal properties. Despite their name, essential oils are actually liquid plant extracts. They are produced by distilling parts of plants like blossoms, fruits, leaves, bark, and resins. These volatile, non-oily essences contain tiny molecules that penetrate the skin. Essential oils influence the endocrine system by interacting with hormone-like chemicals, affecting our emotions and bodies. They provide focus, groundedness, peace, and calm, which is why they have been used in spiritual practices for thousands of years.  

Because the oil is very concentrated, only drops are used in a diffuser for aromatherapy, in carrier oils for external use, or in food to enhance flavor. As you explore how to use essential oils, consider these common applications:  

• Diffuser – do not buy one that heats with a candle, as it gets too hot and negatively affects the essence.
• Carrier oil
• Hydrosol  

OR in:  

• Haircare Products
• Personal hygiene Products

It is important to know that what we smell or put on our skin can affect our health. We have seen an increase in skin cancer and other forms of cancer from excess use of chemicals, all affecting the immune system; it does not matter if we ingest and/or inhale toxic substances; it affects the immune system! Smell goes through the olfactory system, which transmits the aroma (good or bad) to the hypothalamus, part of the endocrine system. Naturally derived smells influence other glands by supporting metabolism, insulin production, stress levels, sex drive, body temperature, appetite, and our mood, feelings, memories, motivation, and creativity. Did you know the word Aromatherapy was invented in 1937 by René-Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist? He discovered that diffusing therapeutic-grade essential oils has a positive effect on our health.  

If you are struggling with health issues and are interested in using essential oils internally, it would be best to contact a clinical aromatherapist, who is trained for internal use. Remember, essential oils are extremely concentrated.  

Most oils are blended into a carrier oil when applied to the skin, but a few can be applied directly. These oils are called ‘neat’. Here is a list  

If you know you’re sensitive, it is always best to do a patch test before applying an essential oil directly on your skin.  

Patch test: place a small amount on the wrist and wait 24 hours to see if you have a reaction.  

When using essential oils, the quality matters to your health and the health of those around you, including children and animal friends. The only essential oils you should purchase are those that are extracted, and the methods of extraction are:  

• Steam distillation is the most common method. Plants are placed in a vat over heated water. The water and essence pass through a condenser, cool, and separate. Oil is collected, and the remaining water is used as hydrosol. Popular hydrosols include lavender, rose, and orange blossom.  
• Expression or cold pressing is used to extract fruit oils. The peel of the fruit is pressed between two pieces of wood, one of which has a sponge. The sponge is then wrung to collect the oil.  

Avoid essential oils extracted in solvents. Solvent extraction is performed using a chemical solvent like hexane or ether. The plant is immersed in the solvent and heated at a low temperature until the solvent evaporates, leaving the essential oil, which can be harmful over time.  

When purchasing pure essential oils, note that the price will vary depending on the plant. Oils such as Jasmine, Rose, German Chamomile, Roman Chamomile, True Melissa, Neroli, and Sandalwood are precious oils. A high-quality oil USD cost – Rose-5ml $300, Jasmine-5ml $131, Neroli-5ml $176, and Sandalwood-5ml $167.  

• Pure Jasmine flower oil is the most expensive essential oil you can buy. It takes 8 million flowers, hand-picked before the sun becomes hot on their first day of opening, to make 1 kilo of oil.  
• Pure Rose oil is also very expensive. It takes 60,000 rose blossoms to produce one ounce of Rose oil.  
• Sandalwood oil should be used sparingly because it takes a 30-year-old 30-foot sandalwood tree to be cut down for the distillation of its oil.  

Other oils, such as lavender flowers, are abundant and can easily be grown and harvested to make essential oils. 100 kilograms of lavender flowers make 3 kilos of oil. A 15 ml bottle of therapeutic-grade Lavender oil-15ml costs around $40  

Carrier oils also have medicinal properties, and they vary in thickness. Look into the carrier oil that would best suit you for the essential oil/oils you want to add.  

Excellent Reference Books—

Essential Oils Desk References by Life Science Publishing

The Fragrance Pharmacy by Valarie Ann Wormwood