Introduction to Essential Oils
Published On: 11-12-2011 01:28am
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Category: Essential Oils
What are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are highly concentrated aromatic liquids found in flowers, roots, shrubs, trees, bark, bushes, seeds, and even in the rinds of certain fruits. These potent oils have the unique characteristic of being able to penetrate the skin on contact, which enhances their ability to be effective. Essential oils are absorbed through the skin's pores and hair follicles and enter into the bloodstream via the capillaries, to be circulated throughout the body.
One of the oldest known medicines, essential oils have been revered throughout history as powerful immune enhancers and are used in multiple cultures as healing tonics. They are extracted from the plant sources through a variety of ways, with steam distillation being the most common method.
The Power of Scent
Scent has the power to influence our moods in a very powerful way, thus supporting shifts in the health of our body. When an aroma enters the nose, it comes in contact with the cilia, those tiny hairs located inside the nostrils. The cilia contain receptors which are linked to the olfactory bulb, a structure found in the brain that processes information about odors.
The olfactory bulb is located at the end of the smelling tract, is connected to the brain, and is a key part of the neural system responsible for the sense of smell. These impulses reach the limbic system - the part of our brain associated with our moods, emotions, memory, and learning. All the smells that reach the limbic system have a direct chemical effect on our state of mind.
From grief to stress, there are scents able to help lift our moods, and scents to assist in calming our spirits. There are specific oils capable of enhancing energy or promoting sleep. We can apply them to our skin via liquids, or the aroma can be inhaled through diffusers and sprays.
Overview
Pure essential oils are highly concentrated, so it's always best to consult with an aromatherapy expert if you have any questions regarding health interactions. Never use undiluted oils directly on the skin and never take them internally, unless working directly with a certified practitioner.
There are however, a limited few which are generally safe to use "neat" (undiluted) on the skin. Those include tea tree oil, which is extremely effective in treating toe nail fungus and skin acne, and also lavender, which is useful for bug bites, mild skin eruptions, acne, eczema, bee stings, etc. If your pet is plagued by fleas, lavender is an effective at deterring fleas.
Essential oils vary in quality and price. Some essential oils are available in limited supplies due to over harvesting of the botanical material, or the expense involved in producing it. Recently, sandalwood, patchouli, and neroli are a few of the oils which the price has increased to reflect the shortage. Products made with these oils for instance, will generally cost more. Despite being more costly, they are highly effective; only a few drops will provide the desired effect. Synthetic oils are available at a lesser price, yet they do not achieve the same level of healing effects provided by truly natural oils.
essensu has many skincare products utilizing the beneficial and healing properties of essential oils. We invite you to visit our shop and take a look around. In fact, if you see a product not currently listed in a scent (essential oil or fragrance oil), you are interested in, simply drop us a note. We are more than happy to customize your products in your desired scent.
