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| Essential Oils |
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| Essential oils are the concentrated vital essences of aromatic plants. They contain potent therapeutic properties and are much used in cosmetics, perfumes and flavorings, and in aromatherapy- a system of healing the body through massage, inhalation or bathing with blended oils. |
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| HOW ESSENTIAL OILS ARE PRODUCED The extraction of oils is a highly complex and expensive business. Most oils are collected by distillation (steaming) or enfleurage (in grease). Both methods are time-consuming, labour-intensive and require expert use of complicated equipment and top quality materials. Huge amounts of plant stock are needed to distil minute quantities of oil: it takes about 250 pounds (115 kg) of rose petals to produce 1 fl oz (25 ml0 of essential oil. For this reason it is not worth attempting at home. |
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| PURE ESSENTIAL OILS VERSUS SYNTHETIC Continuous attempts are being made to create synthetic essences as substitutes for essential oils. Some scents have beed reproduced quite successfully, but it is only the scent. This is often acceptable to the food and cosmetic industries but it is of no use to anyone interested in the therapeutic value of an essential oil. Each essential oil is composed of many active and effective ingredients so that it can have many functions; one oil may soften the skin, act as a preservative, and deter insects. No synthetic substances can replicate all these aspects. |
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| SPECIFIC BENEFITS Here are some ideas for using oils to treat a number of common problems. |
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| Use of the correct oils can normalize an oily or dry skin ( for oily skin, try cedarwood, juniper, lemon, ylang-ylang; for dry skin, try chamomile, geranium, clary sage, jasmine, lavender, neroli). |
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| To soothe acne and other skid eruptions, try juniper, chamomile, cedarwood, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon grass. |
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| To increase the elasticity of the skin and promote the growth of new skin cells, try lavender, chamomile, calendula, jasmine, frankincense, myrrh. |
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| Cellulite seems to improve with aromatherapy massage ( try cypress, fennel, geranium, juniper). |
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| To eradicate feelings of apathy, try jasmine or rosemary. |
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| To lift depression, try camphor, chamomile, jasmine, thyme, basil, bergamot, clary sage. |
| WHEN MASSAGE IS INAPPROPRIATE Although there are many benefits to an aromatherapy massage, the effects can be so far-reaching that sometimes it should be avoided. |
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| After a very hot bath, steam bath or sauna, the skin will be eliminating excess heat, toxins and surplus moisture for up to an hour. When the body is eliminating, it is not absorbing, so except for giving a pleasant fragrance, the therapeutic benefits of the oils would be wasted. |
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| Do not massage any area if it causes discomfort either to you or your friend. |
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| Do not massage if the person has a temperature, fever or viral infection, as this may spread the infection further via th lymphatic system. For the same reason, do not massage if cancer is suspected. |
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| Do not massage someone who has recently undergone a serious operation. |
| Avoid areas where there are fractures, broken skin, sprains, bruises, swelling, rashes, torn muscles or ligaments, or varicose vains. |
| Do not massage anyone who has heart trouble. |
| Do not massage someone who has acute back pain. |
| Do not massage the abdomen straight after a meal. |
| If in doubt, don't massage. |
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