Essential oils are natural and derived from plants. The structure varies with different plant source. Generally, they contain compound such as alcohol, aldehyde, acid, esters, ketone, phenol, terpene. Some essential oils contain even more complex compound and hard to produce synthetically. There are various ways of obtaining essential oils from various part of plants and each essential oil is used as of its distinct characteristics and beneficial effects.
Take rose and lavender for example, the essential oils are derived from flowers. Rosemary and Peppermint essential oils are derived from flowers. Sandalwood and Cedarwood essential oils are derived from tree trunks and branches. Frankincense essential oil is derived from resins. Lemon essential oil is expressed or squeezed out of the peel. The fragrance from rose, Peppermint is because of the essential oil contained within.
Essential oil is different from normal vegetable oil. Essential oils fragrance molecules are very volatile as of its high level of free electrons. Also, the rate of evaporation for essential oil is very fast. Normal vegetable oil when dropped on a piece of paper will leave stain and some residue, while, when lavender essential oil is dropped on a piece of paper, the drop will disappear shortly when fragrance evaporates into air.
Methods of obtaining essential oils
Expression method
It involves squeezing. Example for lemon and orange, the peels will be squeezed or pressed to extract essential oil. Then, the essential oils will be collected via dropper and put into container for further purification.
Cold soak method
Without damaging the flowers or petals, coating with lard oil, butter, or vegetable oil and place coated flowers or petals on piece of glass panel for 16 to 24 hours. The flowers' essential oils are absorbed by the fat; then, the flowers and petals are removed and replace with new ones. The same process is going few repetitions; then, the fat is saturated with essential oils. Subsequently ethanol is used to treat this essential oil saturated fat. This fat is not miscible and dissolved in ethanol, but the essential oils will dissolve in ethanol. With slight heat to to vaporize ethanol, the process will leave behind pure essential oils.
Steam distillation method
One of the highly used methods to obtain essential oils. Ancient Egypt people used to put plant raw ingredients into pottery pot and go through natural distillation.
Warm immersion method
This is quite similar to cold soak method. The flowers are soaked in 60ºC to 70ºC fat (butter, lard oil, or vegetable oil), the cells that contain essential oil will rupture and the essential oils are absorbed by fat. Then, filter out the "used" flowers and replaced with new flowers. The process is repeated till fat is saturated with essential oil, which will then be treated with ethanol to get essential oils.
Solvent extraction method
There are some people who use solvent extraction method, for example the essential oils coming from resins are used with ethanol. For other fresh flowers and plants, ether is used and then vaporized to leave essential oils.
Storage method of essential oils
As mentioned, essential oils have high evaporation rate. Essential oils are easily affected by sun or other radiation. Thus, essential oils have to be sealed properly and stored in dark color glass containers and in dark and cool place. With proper storing condition, essential oils can last for 18 months to 24 months. Polyethylene made containers are not suitable as they absorb essential oils.
Ways of essential oils used in aromatherapy
Inhalation
Making essential oils vaporize and inhale in from nose to lungs. This has fast effect. The simplest method is to have 5 to 6 drops of essential oils on napkin and cover the nose for inhalation. If you wake early morning and still feeling heavy-headed, you can try Rosemary or Eucalyptus essential oil for great result.
If you have motion sickness, try out stomach easing Peppermint essential oil.
If you are rushing to meet project deadline or exams and feel it is too much for your brain, you can try out basil oil that can stimulate brain and keep you awake and relax. Basil essential oil is also useful if you feel sleepy while driving.
If you are feeling nervous before presentation or examination, try out lavender essential oil that can calm you down. If you need even stronger calming effect, try out Sandalwood essential oil.
If you are feeling down, or moody, or having PMS (for ladies), try out Rose, Ylang Ylang, Geranium essential oils and you will feel better.
If you are having problem sleeping or sleeping well at night, try out effective lavender or orange essential oil.
If you are having blocked nose as of flu, can try inhale in Eucalyptus to ease stuffed or blocked nose and you will sleep better.
Another way of inhalation method
Put essential oils (6 to 12 drops) into boiling hot water, cover your head with towel and then inhale in the aromatic steam for 15 to 20 minutes.
Vaporization
Another way of inhalation, which the room is filled with aromatic scent. Put few drops of essential oils into boiling hot water at a corner of room, the aromatic steam will fill up the room and prevent germs growth, and kill germs.
Aromatic bath
Put few drops (4 drops to start with) of appropriate essential oils and soak for 20 minutes. Rosemary, Black Pepper, Peppermint, Basil essential oils will slightly stimulate skin, promote blood circulation. However, for those with sensitive skin, start with less and increase accordingly (maximum 10 to 15 drops in common size bath tub). Use warm water, do not use too hot water as bad for skin and blood pressure. Clean yourself before you soak in bath.
Wet cloth method
This method uses wrung warm wet cloth and cover area of treatment.
Massage
Massage is known to be good natural therapy that can get rid of blood clogs, promoting new blood circulation ensuring cells, organs getting oxygen and nutrients, excreting waste. At the same time, it can help to lymph circulation and achieve relaxation. Massage with essential oils can step up therapy effect 2 to 3 times.
As massage needs lubricated skin so that hands can glide over skin, the essential oils are usually mixed with vegetables oils (safflower oil, olive oil, soybean oil) to act as foundation oil in the ratio of 2 drops essential oils per 100 drops of foundation oils. Do not use mineral oils (baby oils) as, unlike vegetables oils, they can sip through skin and will block essential oils from entering skin. As vegetable oils are easy to get oxidized and give out unpleasant smell, a few drops of vitamin E rich wheat germ oil can prevent oxidation.
Essential oils safety notes:
It is NOT meant for oral use.
Beware of UV
Some essential oils, particularly those from citrus fruits (lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit to name a few), will have reaction when exposed to sunlight. Thus, pay attention not to go under sun within 12 hours after applying these essential oils.
Important message for Moms-to-be
Do not orally consume essential oils. Any usage to essential oils should be in weak dilutions (use half of what is recommended for normal people), ideal to refrain to those fruits and flowers essential oils as they are normal weaker.
High blood pressure
Those with high blood pressure need to avoid Rosemary, Cypress, Sage essential oils as they are stimulating. More calming essential oils such as lavender or ylang ylang are more suitable.
Asthma or Epilepsy
People with asthma are advised not to practise inhalations with essential oils; try massage and bathing. Again stimulating Rosemary is not suitable for those with Epilepsy; the more calming Sandalwood, orange essential oils are more suitable.
Elderly and children from 2 to 10 years old are advised to take half of what is recommended for adults.
100% tea tree and lavender essential oils have to be diluted before putting in contact with skin.
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