Essential oils are the distilled essences of plants, many of which are used to successfully treat a variety of health ailments. These aromatic essences can do for humans what they do for the plants: they act as antibacterials, antivirals, and anti-fungals, as well as antioxidants. The distillation process, first described in the thirteenth century, involves passing steam though plant material, cooling the steam, and separating the resulting water and oil.

The most common ways of using the oil are in aromatherapy and through massage. Aromatherapy essential oils are diffused in the air, inhaled, or applied to a surface of the body. Most essential oils are too concentrated to be applied directly to the skin. They do not mix with water so must be combined with healthy diluting agent such as like carrier oils, or unscented body care creams. Olive, sunflower, and grapeseed are common carrier oils. In addition to those of the essential oil, each carrier oil has different therapeutic properties.

The application method chosen depends on the condition being treated. For example, lavender essential oil is known for its calming effect. It can be mixed with witch hazel to create an attractive-smelling spritzer for the body. A few drops of lavender oil on the pillow can help a person experience more restful sleep. Tea tree oil is known to be effective in treating toenail fungus when over-the-counter remedies fail.

Carrier oils are seed and nut oils into which the essential oils are diluted. These have a variety of therapeutic properties unto themselves. It is in skin care that proper selection is most crucial. Some carriers have astringent aspects, making them useful in acne care. Some are very hydrating, excellent for dry skin. Others include their own antibacterial actions, and can be included in antiseptic formulas. It’s smart when creating your own recipes to investigate the properties of the carrier oils, not just the aromatic “active ingredients”.

There are some safety concerns to be aware of when just beginning your own aromatherapy practice. While the vast majority of essential oils in use today are quite safe, there are a few that one should be very careful with. Wintergreen, for example, is very popular for pain relief for those with arthritis. However, wintergreen’s chemical makeup is the same as aspirin. While it would take ingesting of an entire bottle to be of concern, it is worthwhile to be aware of such potential hazards.

In the case that one is unsure about the safety of a particular aromatic, a simple check on the internet can provide you with the information required for its safe use. In general, women who are pregnant, young children, and those with long-standing health issues are most susceptible to the effects of the more hazardous oils.

When venturing in to the realm of aromatherapy, there are a vast number of essential oils that are readily available today. They can address a great many health conditions with great success, and more research is being presented all the time indicating the growing potential of aroma-medicine. If you’re into natural health, essential oils and aromatherapy are truly worth investigating.

Interested in learning more? Uncover the vast number of resources about employing the therapeutic activity of a variety of essential oils at www.anandaapothecary.com.

Tags: Alternative Medicine, aromatherapy, disease, Essential Oils, health, herbs, illness, natural health, natural medicine, wellness

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 12th, 2011 at 2:49 pm and is filed under Alternative Medicine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.