Essential Oils

Essential Oils and their Indications

Essential oils, also called etheric oils or aromatic oils, are highly odorous and volatile substances. Their consistency is more like water than oil. Their chemistry is complex; they contain alcohols, esters, ketones, aldehydes, terpenes. Many of the odoriferous substances are found in the chloroplasts of the leaf, but also in fruits, barks, flowers, leaves, twigs, resin, seeds, etc.
Underneath the leaf of rosemary plant, for example, we find small clusters of little, transparent vesicles which contain the oils. As soon as we rub the leaves these vesicles burst and the aromatic oil is released, evaporating as the characteristic smell of rosemary. Also, heat, wind, changes in temperature, and crushing causes release the essential oils from the plants.
A plant uses its essential oils to draw insects and thus ensure fertilization. On the other hand, it keeps dangerous insects or other harmful creatures away to ensure the plant’s survival. There are approximately 200-300 kinds of essential oils, but we only use about 50 kinds in aromatherapy.
Essential oil is about 1-12% of the plant only.
From 100 kg of lavender, we gain 30 liters of essential oil, but rose releases only ½ liter from 100 kg of blossoms, which makes this oil much more expensive and valuable. The quality and quantity of the essential oil depends on cultivation, environment, water supply, harvesting, yielding, separation method, age and season. Unfortunately, the growing demand for essential oil causes farmers to pay less attention to quality and more to quantity. The more the plant is allowed to grow naturally, and the more natural the environment, the better the quality of the oil. The more the plant has to fight for its survival, the stronger the essential oil.
Different kinds of the same plant will yield different kinds of oils. For example, we will have a completely different smelling oil of rose from Bulgaria than from Damascus. Lavender from France will smell differently than its counterpart in Italy. If you compare sage grown in the garden with sage grown in nature, you will find that they will look and smell differently. The same is true for all plants.
Also, the therapeutic properties of the oils change according to the conditions the plants grow in.
Essential oils are widely used today on the market. We find them in cosmetics, food products, medication and perfume. Also, essential oils are in great demand since people are searching for more natural ways to increase well being, and less aggressive measures against ailments. In the last 6-7 years this fact has made essential oils very popular in Israel, together with the demand for natural health practitioners. Once, where there was only one pharmacy that carried natural products, now there is only one that does not.
Essential oils can be compared to mammalian mother’s milk. It is an organic fluid, part of the plant, but acts different than the plant itself. Though the essential oils are the essential part of the plant, with the same characteristics, they are much more concentrated and have a greater therapeutic influence than the plant itself. The essential oils are able to influence the physical, emotional and mental part of human beings. They are antibacterial and anti-viral on the physical level. They can cause sexual arousal, relaxation, and excitement on mental and emotional level.
Essential oils are extremely sensitive to light, heat, cold, humidity, and oxygen. When left in an open bottle, they evaporate. Thus, special precautions have to be followed when bottling, storing and using them.
The more processed the essential oils are, the more fragile and sensitive they become. They are energetic with a strong life force and work best when not tampered with. We can separate one or another component from an essential oil, but this does not make the oil better or more therapeutic. Often, the very minimal amount of a component in the oils is the one ingredient which is the therapeutic agent or increases the other constituent’s activity. The endogenous synergy of the components in the essential oils has the most effective therapeutic value.
The synergy of several essential oils mixed together also increases the therapeutic effect for a certain ailment. There are different opinions about how many essential oils are allowed to be mixed together. Some say to blend only four essential oils, other believe that there are no limits to combinations, and one may blend as many as needed. I personally believe that a blend of 4-5 essential oils works usually well therapeutically. Depending, of course, on what one wants to achieve, one can choose between a single essential oil, and a more complicated and larger blend of essential oils.
One has to choose carefully among the large number of essential oils after analyzing the constitution of the person to whom the blend is prescribed. Often, a very minimal amount or blend of essential oils will do wonders if we take the time to consider an ailment and the cause of that ailment. The holistic aspect of a single essential oil and the holistic aspect of the patient usually work in wonderful synergism. If we would use a blend of 10-15 different essential oils or more we would interfere with the synergism and harmony between oil and patient.
Imagine the smell of a single rose, or the smell of cut grass which will bring back memories and give you time to ingest and connect to yourself through this single stimulation. Then imagine you are amongst a vast amount of flowers which altogether have a strong impact on many of your senses. Now we find that the flowers are drawing attention to themselves and do not interact with us gently and individually. We are influenced and even overwhelmed by the synergism between them and us.

Application and Absorption of Essential Oils

• Through the skin:

1. Massage,
2. Compress (hot/cold),
3. Local/topical application.
4. Bath,
5. Sit bath,
6. Vaginal rinse,
7. Oral rinse,

• Through the respiratory system:

1. Steam,
2. Burner
3. And /or all the above

• Olfactory system:

1. Burner
2. Directly smelling the oil from bottle or tissue
3. Incense
4. And /or all the above
   

• Rectal suppositories
• Vaginal pessaries
  

Recommended dosage for:

Important!

1. Essential oils are not water soluble, and must be mixed with 1 tsp. salt, honey or alcohol before they are added to water.
2. Healthy, clean skin absorbs better.
3. Sweating skin will absorb less well.
4. Skinny people absorb essential oils fast, and react faster.
5. Compress applied over an organ (i.e., liver) will mainly influence that organ.

Recommended dosage for baths:
(take an aromatic bath only after showering)

Remember!

Essential oils are not water soluble, and must be mixed with 1 tsp. salt, honey or alcohol before they are added to water.

Week I             Bath every day
Week II           Bath and massage 3 times weekly
Week III          Bath and massage 2 times weekly
Week IV          Bath and massage 1 time weekly
Week V           None
Week VI          Bath and massage 1 time weekly
Rules:
Do not dry yourself vigorously after the bath; rather pad yourself dry gently to leave as much essential oil on the skin as possible.
When resting you should lie down in an aired and comfortable room, without a TV; close your eyes for a while; listen to the sounds of nature or soft, relaxing music
After the use of essential oils, it is recommended to drink at least two cups of fresh juice or water.

Practical Applications of Essential Oils at Home

Discovering and Using the Right Essential Oils for Every Need
Primavera offers nearly 200 certified organic, and biodynamic essential oils. Essential oils are suitable for an extensive array of uses, including sensory aromatherapy, treatment of common ailments, body soaks, and steam inhalation. Whether you are familiar with aromatherapy or are just starting to learn its practice, our pure oils allow you to create your own unique aromatherapy experience.

The Essential “Essential” Oils
Here’s a starter guide to the most commonly used essential oils. It is by no means comprehensive, but will give you a great foundation upon which to build your understanding of essential oils. We’ve listed oils by benefit so some oils are listed multiple times.

INVIGORATING Basil* Aroma: herbal, sweet, fresh, green Blends well with: Lemon, Lemongrass, Orange, Rose     Eucalyptus* Aroma: fresh, clear, stimulating Blends well with: Lemon, Peppermint, Thyme

Peppermint* Aroma: fresh, cool, clean Blends well with: Grapefruit, Rosemary Rosemary* Aroma: clear, fresh, spicy Blends well with: citrus oils, Tea Tree Thyme* Aroma: herbal, fresh, spicy Blends well with: citrus oils