Essential oils are becoming increasingly popular in natural healing circles for the vast array of health benefits they have to offer. Naturally fragrant, these concentrated substances not only provide plants and flowers with their distinctive aromas, but they are also chock-full of healing compounds. These particular essential oils characteristics make them ideal for aromatherapy, topical application, and other uses, with no risk of adverse side effects.
There are some properties common to all essential oils which allow them to be used in a similar way to one another. They are inflammable, non-greasy, readily absorbed by the skin, especially when blended with alcohol or a carrier oil, partially soluble in water, and volatile, which means they evaporate at temperatures exceeding room temperature. Therapeutically, all of them are antiseptic and pro-biotic.
Each oil typically contains over 100 different chemical compounds, each with its own therapeutic benefits. Besides having antiseptic properties, some oil varieties are also antiviral and antifungal in nature. Most oil comes from structures on the source plant such as the leaves, flowers, roots, fruit skins, and berries which secrete these substances.
Various methods are used to extract the oil from the plant, depending on the type of structure it is located in. Steam distillation is the most common technique, but some plant materials such as flowers must be handled more delicately as to not destroy the oil. Citrus oil is extracted using a cold press method. The liquid which is extracted should ideally not have anything added to it, if it is to maintain its purity.
The best aromatherapy oil is that which has been left in its natural state, not "standardized" by the addition of synthetic compounds or removal of existing qualities, to achieve a uniform aroma for commercial purposes. The therapeutic value of the oil is greatly reduced when it is adjusted in this way and it can also lead to possible skin irritation in some users.
In order to enjoy the full range of benefits an essential oil can provide, it is important to use some discretion in where it is purchased. Suppliers which are dedicated to producing only the purest, unadulterated oils which are intended for therapeutic use are the best choice. Products should be made from a single botanical species from a noted country of origin, with nothing added or subtracted, and quality-tested using gas chromatography or mass spectrometry.
The complex chemical make-up of an essential oil is what makes them so effective a healing agent for such a vast number of conditions. Each one has its own unique blueprint which is comprised of aromatic esters, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, phenols, sesquiterpenes, and terpenes. This multitude of naturally therapeutic substances can have a positive impact on both the physical body, as well as one's emotional well-being.
People use essential oils for many reasons. They can help one look and feel better in numerous ways such as promoting cell renewal for a better complexion, prevent and heal infection, keep unstable emotions in check, and soothe aches and pains. It can be expected that the results one will enjoy from the purest oil available will be superior to those they will get from cheap, diluted versions with limited healing potential.
There are some properties common to all essential oils which allow them to be used in a similar way to one another. They are inflammable, non-greasy, readily absorbed by the skin, especially when blended with alcohol or a carrier oil, partially soluble in water, and volatile, which means they evaporate at temperatures exceeding room temperature. Therapeutically, all of them are antiseptic and pro-biotic.
Each oil typically contains over 100 different chemical compounds, each with its own therapeutic benefits. Besides having antiseptic properties, some oil varieties are also antiviral and antifungal in nature. Most oil comes from structures on the source plant such as the leaves, flowers, roots, fruit skins, and berries which secrete these substances.
Various methods are used to extract the oil from the plant, depending on the type of structure it is located in. Steam distillation is the most common technique, but some plant materials such as flowers must be handled more delicately as to not destroy the oil. Citrus oil is extracted using a cold press method. The liquid which is extracted should ideally not have anything added to it, if it is to maintain its purity.
The best aromatherapy oil is that which has been left in its natural state, not "standardized" by the addition of synthetic compounds or removal of existing qualities, to achieve a uniform aroma for commercial purposes. The therapeutic value of the oil is greatly reduced when it is adjusted in this way and it can also lead to possible skin irritation in some users.
In order to enjoy the full range of benefits an essential oil can provide, it is important to use some discretion in where it is purchased. Suppliers which are dedicated to producing only the purest, unadulterated oils which are intended for therapeutic use are the best choice. Products should be made from a single botanical species from a noted country of origin, with nothing added or subtracted, and quality-tested using gas chromatography or mass spectrometry.
The complex chemical make-up of an essential oil is what makes them so effective a healing agent for such a vast number of conditions. Each one has its own unique blueprint which is comprised of aromatic esters, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, phenols, sesquiterpenes, and terpenes. This multitude of naturally therapeutic substances can have a positive impact on both the physical body, as well as one's emotional well-being.
People use essential oils for many reasons. They can help one look and feel better in numerous ways such as promoting cell renewal for a better complexion, prevent and heal infection, keep unstable emotions in check, and soothe aches and pains. It can be expected that the results one will enjoy from the purest oil available will be superior to those they will get from cheap, diluted versions with limited healing potential.
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