The Properties of Essential Oils
Physical and Therapeutic Properties Common to All Aromatherapy Oils
Aug 19, 2008
An essential oil is basically the life blood of a plant. It can be found in the glandular hairs, glands, veins or sacs of a plant, grass or tree. The 'oil' is extracted from flowers, trees, fruits, roots and leaves. It is the actual aroma which is extracted and it is this aroma which is used in aromatherapy to treat a number of ailments.
Essential oils are volatile; that is, they evaporate at, or above, room temperature. It is the factor of heat which releases the aroma and fragrances. True essential oils are non-oily, despite their name. They are never identical by their very nature; variations can be caused by temperature, soil conditions, the altitude grown at and the country grown in.
The chemical make-up of each individual essential oil is complex but they are nearly all comprised of some combination of alcohols, phenols, aldehydes, ketones, acids, esters, oxides, lactones, coumarins and furocoumarins. The result of this means that most essential oils are anti-inflammatory; anti-viral; anti-fungal; detoxifying; circulatory; anti-spasmodic; analgesic and decongestant.
Common Properties of Essential Oils
Common physical properties of essential oils include:
- all essential oils are able to be absorbed by the human body; they are all non-greasy; they are only partially water soluble; they are all inflammable; they are all volatile; they are all soluble in both alcohol and carrier oil (which are used to blend essential oils and be absorbed by the skin.
Common therapeutic properties of essential oils include:
- all essential oils are capable of being antiseptic; all essential oils are balancing to the mind, emotions and various systems of the body; all essential oils are pro biotic, that is, they help the body fight infection and disease and build up the body's natural defenses to further attack.
Other Properties of Essential Oils
In addition, all essential oils:
- are prophylactic – they are all intended to prevent disease.
- are stress relieving – they balance emotions and certain essential oils have a pronounced sedative and calming effect on the nervous system, for example, Lavender (lavandula angustifolia).
- are synergistic – the different chemical components complement each other within an essential oil and when blended together their effectiveness is greater than when used singly.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that all essential oils are quenching, meaning they 'satisfy' each individual component of an essential oil or blend of oils. For example, the high proportions of ketones in Sage (salvia officinalis) are 'made safe' by the presence of the other components. On their own, they would be toxic; without them, the other components would not function as expected.
References:
Lawless, Julia 1995 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils London: Element
Price, Shirley 2000 Aromatherapy Workbook Thorsons: London, UK
For Further Reading:Using Essential Oils
