Health & Fitness

What are Essential Oils?

Health & Fitness

Posted by: Ginnie

21st Oct 2011 06:56am

Essential oils are very complex substances produced by different varieties of plant and can be stored in the petals, leaves, stalks, seeds, roots, wood or bark and are equally diverse in their effect. They each have their own medicinal properties which may include bactericidal, anti-toxic, anti-spasmodic, diuretic, anti-rheumatic and so forth. You may be equally surprised to know that one-third of modern drugs are based on them, for example, thyme is twelve times more effective than carbolic acid, but doesn't carbolic acid sound much more technical and in our minds more likely to be efficient than thyme?


Essential oils are considered nature's answer to balance - which is everything when it comes to good function of our bodies. Some of them even have pain killer effect. Essential oils are, of course, well known for their positive effect on circulation and are often incorporated in to massage therapy. Not only do they have those wonderful therapeutic qualities, but often a beautiful scent which, in itself, is healing.


When I first began studying the beneficial effects of essential oils, I treated a friend's bursitis or ''housemaid's knee'' with a blend of lavender, juniper and rosemary. It worked marvellously and whenever his knee became painful, I would use this blend, to the point, that in the long term he has little trouble with it and has not required an operation.


Extracting the essential oil is a precise process where timing is everything - that is because the oil moves around the plants not only daily but also seasonally - for example, the palma rose oil is made from a grass which must be harvested before its flower appears, pepper oil is made from unripe berries and the white jasmine flower is carefully picked before its a day old.


The most widely used method of extraction is distillation and this involves putting the material in a still and forcing steam in from below which goes through the material. This process eventually results in the essential oils being separated from the plant.


Comments 3

Anonymous
  • 23rd Jul 2012 07:44am

Natural oils are defently the way to go.

dave
  • 8th Apr 2012 11:29pm

natural oils are the best

tanguyen
  • 18th Apr 2012 05:25pm
natural oils are the best

I agree Dave. Top 5 things in my life.

Help Caféstudy members by responding to their questions, or ask your own in Café Chat, and you will get the chance of earning extra rewards. Caféstudy will match these and donate equally to our two chosen Australian charities.

AMCS
Australian Marine Conservation Society are an independent charity, staffed by a committed group of scientists, educators and passionate advocates who have defended Australia’s oceans for over 50 years.
Reach Out
ReachOut is the most accessed online mental health service for young people and their parents in Australia. Their trusted self-help information, peer-support program and referral tools save lives by helping young people be well and stay well. The information they offer parents makes it easier for them to help their teenagers, too.