out! No great news there. Similarly, when you break or injure the parts of plants, they
”bleed,” too.
Unlike blood, this fluid is clear. It is, in fact, an oil or resin and within it can be found
trace elements of nutrients, hormones, enzymes, vitamins, minerals and anti-bodies.
It has a whole range of different properties such as anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti
infectious, antiseptic and can stimulate the immune system as well. Oxygen is also
found in this resin, bound chemically within other organic molecules such as alcohols,
phenols, esters and many other organic molecules, which together make up the
essential oil.
This oil is released by the plant to clean the wound, kill the bacteria and start the healing
process, and in fact has the same function as blood in humans (and other animals). Like blood, this fluid/oil in plants transports the basic nutrients necessary to feed and support
the cells. The essential oil has the ability to permeate or penetrate the plant’s cell
walls and transport oxygen and nutrients into the cells themselves to support and help
their immune system.
Research has shown that, because of these immune stimulating properties, essential
oils can support the immune system. So that, for instance, whether applied topically
(rubbed on) or inhaled, 70% of people who get a cold or flu will recover faster using
essential oils!
During an aromatherapy massage, some of the volatile essential oils are inhaled and
absorbed through the nose and mouth. As well, the molecules of these essential
oils lock onto receptor cells at the back of the nose. An electrochemical message is sent
to the limbic (emotional) area of the brain which appears to trigger memory and
emotional responses, which in turn cause messages to be sent to other parts of the
brain and body. In this way, the production of euphoric, relaxing, sedative or stimulating
neurochemicals is stimulated. So many beneficial mental and emotional effects
are produced via this method.
Essential oils also have many special properties which give them the ability to help us
deal with odors and bacteria. They act in several ways: 1. They are able to increase atmospheric oxygen in a closed space as they release
oxygenating molecules into the atmosphere. Oils increase ozone and negative ions in
the home, which inhibits the growth of bacteria. This prevents and destroys existing
odors of cigarettes, mold, animals, etc.
2. They are able to break up the molecular chains of some chemicals in the air, making
them non-toxic to us because of their particular attraction to these chemicals.
3. Essential Oils will bond to metals and chemicals within the body and carry these toxic
out of the body. They work as natural chelators, i.e. they bond organically, forming new
compounds called chelates, so that these toxic substances can’t remain in the tissues.
4. Essential Oils remove dust particles from the air, acting as an air filtration system.
5. Essential Oils are recognized as having a very marked ability to increase cellular
oxygen through their normal functioning. When applied to the body by rubbing the feet,
they will travel through the body and affect every cell, including the hair, within 20
minutes!
In orthodox medicine, one compound, such as aspirin, is made and its properties are
tested and known. However, in nature, in each essential oil, there can be many, many
different compounds, all with different therapeutic effects. Each can act synergistically to
give the body what it needs. Sometimes it can have opposing effects so it can act as a
relaxant or stimulant depending on what’s needed. Each essential oil contains as many as 100 chemical components, which together have a strong effect on the whole person. Depending on which component is predominating in an oil, it acts differently. For example, some oils are relaxing, some soothe, some relieve pain, etc.
There are oils such as lemon and lavender, which adapt to what the body needs, and adapt to that situation. (These are called "adaptogenic.") The mechanism in which these essential oils act on us is not very well understood. What is understood is that they affect our mind and emotions. They leave no harmful residues.
They enter into the body either by absorption (by rubbing them on the skin) or inhalation. Because Essential Oils are volatile, i.e., they convert into a vapor, they stimulate the powerful sense of smell. It is known that the odors we smell have a great impact on how we feel. In fact, it has been shown that people who have no sense of smell have a higher incidence of psychiatric problems such as anxiety and depression.
We are able to distinguish between 10,000 different smells! The fine oil particles enter through the nose via cilia (the fine hairs lining the nose) and
are absorbed into the blood stream in the lungs. Once they have entered the
bloodstream, they change the electrical conductivity and pH right at the spot of entry at
the capillary and cause an electrical charge to travel through the body, which explains
why it can have such a fast effect at times. As previously mentioned, one of the major systems affected is the limbic system, the part of the brain that controls our moods, emotions, memory and learning.
There has been research done measuring changes in brain frequency with the use of different essential oil fragrances. For instance, studies with lavender have shown that the alpha brain waves, which are associated with relaxation, increase. On the other hand, studies with jasmine have shown a marked increase of beta waves, which represents alertness! So clearly, different essential oils have different effects.
There are many different essential oils, in fact, as many different oils as there are plants. They are very complex substances containing sometimes up to 100 chemical components which have many different effects, some of which even depend on what the body needs. They can act outside the body, e.g., oxygenating the air and removing pollution or they are absorbed into the body via the nose or the skin and can have multiple significant effects on mood, health and general well-being.
For more information about aromatherapy, this reference guide contains a great deal of information and is a handy book to keep in your personal health library.
(From the main page, click on Accessories)
Reference_Guide_for_Essential_Oils