Aromatherapy

What Are Essential Oils

Essential oils are highly concentrated and potent oils extracted from plants, trees, seeds, shrubs, flowers, fruit peels and leaves. The aromatic oils are formed and stored in the plants as a by-product of its metabolism. Each essential oil is totally unique. The combination of the essence of the individual plants, the sun, soil, air and water gives each its own individual scent and from such are created the healing properties in the living essential oil of the plant. The same species of plant can produce an essential oil with different chemical components depending on where it is grown, the soil, temperature and altitude can each affect the properties of the essential oil.

According to Wikipedia:

An essential oil is a concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile, ethereal oils or aetherolea, or simply as the "oil of" the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove. An oil is "essential" in the sense that it carries a distinctive scent, or essence, of the plant. Essential oils do not as a group need to have any specific chemical properties in common, beyond conveying characteristic fragrances.

Essential oils are generally extracted by distillation. Other processes include expression, or solvent extraction

Essential oils are not oily at all, in fact, most essential oils are actually very light and appear watery. Most essential oils have a low viscosity and only a small handful of them have a high viscosity (i.e. sandalwood). Essential oils are the most concentrated form of any botanical. It takes an average of about one pound of any given plant to create one drop of essential oil. Some essential oils require much more than a pound of product per drop. It takes about 1.3 lbs or 125 rose buds to produce one drop of rose absolute. Essential oils provide a concentrated dose of nature's vast pharmacological active ingredients in a single drop of oil. One hundred percent pure unadulterated essential oils are distinguished by an extraordinary diversity of substances that only nature could produce.

How does Aromatherapy Work?

Aromatherapy fragrances from the oils are believed to stimulate nerves in the nose and in some instances nerve endings in the skin. Those nerves send impulses to the part of the brain that controls memory and emotion. Depending on the oil, the result may be calming or stimulating.

The oils are thought to interact with the body's hormones causing changes in blood pressure, pulse, and other body functions and some oils may stimulate the body to produce pain-fighting substances.

Aromatherapy may promote relaxation and help relieve stress. Aromatherapy has been used to treat a wide range of physical and mental conditions, including burns, infections, depression, insomnia, and high blood pressure. scientific evidence to support claims that aromatherapy effectively prevents or cures illness.

Is aromatherapy safe?

Practitioners of aromatherapy are not specially licensed in the United States. In California the practice of Alternative medicine is allowed but not licensed. However, no treatment should be taken as an alternative to licensed Medical or Psychological treatment for any condition they are only complementary. It is important to talk with your medical doctor to see whether aromatherapy may be helpful and safe for your specific health condition.

Do not swallow the oils used in aromatherapy. Many of the oils are potent and can be dangerous if taken internally (swallowed).

WARNING: Essential Oils can be toxic to animals unless diluted in carrier oils. Essential oils should not be taken internally and one needs to understand which oils and at what levels can be used on the skin before self treatment.

These products and services are in no way to be used to replace licensed medical service nor do we claim that they have healing properties. It is important to speak with your medical doctor to see if these products and services may be helpful or safe for whatever medical condition you may have.