From Dr. Pappas at Essential Oil University; here is how he describes Essential Oils:
"Essential oils are the volatile, aromatic oils obtained by steam or hydrodistillation of botanicals. Most essential oils are primarily composed of terpenes and their oxygenated derivatives. Different parts of the plants can be used to obtain essential oils, including the flowers, leaves, seeds, roots, stems, bark, wood, etc. Certain cold-pressed oils, such as the oils from various citrus peels, are also considered to be essential oils but these are not to be confused with cold-pressed fixed or carrier oils such as olive, grapeseed, coconut etc. which are non-volatile oils composed mainly of fatty acid triglycerides. Other aromatic, plant-derived oils, which technically aren’t essential oils because they are solvent extracted, include Absolutes (hexane followed by ethanol extraction), CO2’s (liquid carbon dioxide used as the solvent) and Phytols or Florosols (fluoro-hydrocarbon solvent).(1)
Until a few years ago, I thought of aromatherapy as simply a
nice option/replacement for other types of aromatics in the home. I thought that it was an expensive option, considering I could purchase candles of any
variety of scents or Scentsy wax burners for less than a diffuser and bottle of
Lavender. As far as other uses, I believed
that Lavender could be a calming, soothing oil to assist with relaxation and
sleep. Of course, this was a very
uneducated view of aromatherapy but I believe one that is shared with many
other people, at least here in the United States
where oils are not as commonly used as in Europe ,
for example. I’ve learned how essential
oils can play a role in a more therapeutic way and that aromatherapy isn’t
simply about pleasant smells and perfumery.
Essential oils, in my mind are to be cherished; a gift that if properly
handled and safely used, can enhance our lives and aid in healing in our
homes.
According to Shirley Price as noted on her web site (2011),
aromatherapy is the controlled and informed use of essential oils to maintain
and/or improve the health of the mind, body and spirit[2]. Aromatherapy can be delivered through
topical application, through inhalation and internally.
Essential oils have been used for thousands of years and
some of our most popular oils today date back to biblical days and beyond. As defined by Dorene Peterson in Aromatherapy 101 (2011), an essential oil is
the distilled (or sometimes expressed) product of the volatile components
synthesized by various plant tissues of a single plant species[3]. Essential oils are distilled from the plant
leaves, berries, resins, bark, stems, nuts, roots and flowers. Chemical constituents present in essential oils
determine the essential oils’ properties and specific qualities that help us
determine what oils to use for specific issues
Essential oils are volatile.
My thoughts on “volatility” were that of a description of a situation or person rather than that of
evaporation speed. Therefore, a volatile
oil to me only triggered a thought the oil was unstable or unpredictable, could
go rancid, or not meant to last. Not
true at all.
Many references on the internet refer to essential oils as
the “essence” of the plant and often mention their volatile nature. In Aromatherapy 101, Dorene Peterson explains
that the word comes from the Latin word volare or “to fly”[4]. Essential oils, unlike other fixed oils
evaporate quickly and do not turn rancid.
This term volatility, in regards to essential oils, has become clearer
to me and is not nearly as negative a term as I suspected previously. The rate of volatility is the rate at which
the oils evaporate when they are exposed to air. Some essential oils evaporate faster than
others based on their constituents and knowing those rates aides those
interested in perfumery with coming up with a nicely balanced perfume, for
example.
Upon reflection now, of course, I realize that essential
oils can play an important role in an overall holistic approach. I am a novice, but even with my limited
exposure to essential oils they have empowered me to believe, from first hand
experience, that there are indeed healthier options in treating minor
ailments. This feeling of empowerment
moved me towards more education and I see now that more education will in turn
bring more empowerment! I am now more
proactive in my pursuits for alternative treatments since realizing that herbs
and essential oils truly work and without the terrible side effects we see from
prescription drugs. The science behind
the plant is what intrigues me now and I’m certain that scientists will
continue to find and prove what we know today; that plants are the key to
living longer, healthier lives.
I like how Valerie Ann Woodward (2000) describes essential
oils as nature’s healing tools[5]. The thought really spoke to me. The description reiterated for me this idea
that indeed plants, herbs and essential oils are virtually handed to us by
nature to help us aide our bodies in healing themselves. We have, within reach, these tools.
References
[1]http://essentialoils.org/knowledge-center/what/, accessed 11/15/11
[2] Price,
Shirley, Shirley Price Aromatherapy http://www.shirleypriceessentia.com/aromatherapydefined.html,
(2011).
[3]
Peterson, Dorene (2011) Aroma 101
–Introduction to Aromatherapy, ACHS, 27.
[4]
Peterson, Dorene (2011) Aroma
101-Introduction to Aromatherapy, ACHS, 27.
[5]Woodward, Valerie Ann (2000) Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child, New World Library, 4.
