Essential oils, aromatherapy

Smith I. Suspected adverse reaction to essential oils. Aromatherapy World 2000 September 7. 

Elder flowers are also used in aromatherapy. Rather than making an essential oil by using a steam distillation process to extract the plant s essence, elder is prepared as an absolute by extracting its es-... 

Lawless, Julia. The illustrated encyclopedia of essential oils the complete guide to the use of oils in aromatherapy and herbalism. Barnes Noble, 1995. 256p. 

The plant is strongly aromatic on account of an essential oil which comprises cis-a-ocimene (25.11%), 3,7-dimethyl-l,6-octadien-3 ol (16.85%), and trans-nerolidol (13.89%), hence the use of the plant in aromatherapy. A methanolic extract of bark of Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers. and its fractions (0.01 mg/mL) from bark inhibit NO and PGE2 production in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages without significant cytotoxicity at less than 0.01 mg/mL concentration. The methanol extract decreased the enzymatic activity of myeloperoxidase (0.05 mg/mL). These findings suggest that L. cubeba is beneficial for inflammatory conditions and may contain compound(s) with anti-inflammatory properties (63). Can we expect the vasorelaxant laurotetanine (64) isolated from the plant to exert such activity ... 

Buchbauer G, Jirovetz L, Jager W, Dietrich H, Plank C and Karamat E (1991). Aromatherapy Evidence for the sedative effect of the essential oil of lavender after inhalation. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung (Tubingen, Germany), 46c, 1067-1072. 

How are essential oils for aromatherapy extracted from plants ... 

As everyone knows, plants have been used for centuries in herbalism, homeopathy, and aromatherapy because of their medicinal qualities. The long-term use of plants has led to recent observations about their antioxidant properties (1, 2). Many scientists have observed antioxidant activities in compounds derived from the volatile constituents (3, 4) and essential oil extracts - of plants. They have reported that ingestion of these volatile chemicals can prevent lipid peroxidation, which is associated with diseases such as cancer, leukemia, and arthritis. In the present study, analysis and antioxidative tests on the volatile extract isolated from a commercial beer were performed. Why did we choose beer We chose beer because... 

Essential oils, their fractions and their isolates are utilised in flavour and fragrance, food, perfumery, cosmetics and toiletries, fine chemicals, pharmaceutical industries and therapy. They are used as such or in diluted forms in the budding aromatherapy sector [1, 3, 5,6, 8-14,16-19, 21-35]. 

Guba R (2000) Toxicity myths essential oils and their carcinogenic potential. In Essential Oils and Cancer. Proceedings of the 4th Wholistic Aromatherapy Conference, San Francisco... 

Terpenes continue to be a popular choice as experimental enhancers for delivering materials across skin membranes. For example, L-menthol facilitated in vitro permeation of morphine hydrochloride through hairless rat skin [37], imipramine hydrochloride across rat skin [59], and hydrocortisone through hairless mouse skin [60]. Recently, niaouli oil was found to be the most effective of six essential oils in promoting estradiol penetration through hairless mouse skin [61]. It is noteworthy that there is currently little control on the topical use of most terpenes, and many aromatherapy oils and formulations contain appreciable quantities of these chemicals. Their excessive use offers potential for permeation of hazardous compounds from the same formulations into the skin some terpenes also have pharmacological activity. 

Volatile or essential oils are usually obtained from the appropriate plant material by steam distillation, though if certain components are unstable at these temperatures, other less harsh techniques such as expression or solvent extraction may be employed. These oils, which typically contain a complex mixture of low boiling components, are widely used in flavouring, perfumery, and aromatherapy. Only a small number of oils have useful therapeutic properties, e.g. clove and dill, though a wide range of oils is now exploited for aromatherapy. Most of those employed in medicines are simply added for flavouring purposes. Some of the materials are commercially important as sources of chemicals used industrially, e.g. turpentine. 

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils from plants to enhance general health and appearance. The term was coined by its originator, the French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse. The following summarizes the ten most useful oils and their supposed effects (Thomas, 1997) ... 

There is a vogue for many scientifically nonqualified aromatherapists to practice clinical aromatherapy, in which they prescribe the internal usage of essential oils. Internal prescribing involves oral, rectal, and vaginal intake however, the use of tampons soaked in various potentially toxic essential oils, such as the various tea tree oils, with variable biological potential could have a possible harmful effect on the delicate internal mucosal membranes. The possibility of misdiagnosis of a urogenital condition by medically unqualified aromatherapists or by the patients themselves could also result in serious consequences. 

Halcon, L. L. (2002). Aromatherapy Therapeutic applications of plant essential oils. Minnesota Med. 85, 42-46. 

Geiger, J.L. (2005) The essential oil of ginger, Zingiber officinale, and anaesthesia. The International Journal of Aromatherapy 1 5, 7-14. 

Another application of nutmeg essential oils is in aromatherapy, which is gaining importance these days. The main constituents of nutmeg and mace - myristicin, elemicin and isoelemicin - when presented in aroma form, act as stress relievers. In Japan, many companies diffuse such aromas through air ventilation systems to improve the work environment, as well as the quality of the air. 

Gilligan, N.P. (2005) The palliation of nausea in hospice and palliative care patients with essential oils of Pimpinella anisum (aniseed), Foeniculum vulgare var. dulce (sweet fennel), Anthemis nobilis (Roman chamomile) and Mentha x piperita (peppermint). International journal of Aromatherapy 15(4), 1 63-167. 

From the time of the Aztecs, vanilla was considered an aphrodisiac. This reputation was much enhanced in 1762 when a German study found that a medication based on vanilla extract cured impotence. It was also once believed that vanilla was a febrifuge, i.e. used to reduce fevers, though it is used rarely for any medicinal purposes other than as a pharmaceutical flavouring. Essential oil of vanilla and vanillin were and are sometimes used in aromatherapy. 

Star anise essential oil, I. verum, is often used as a substitute for anise seed oil in perfumery because it shares similar chemistry. It is used in aromatherapy to help relieve coughing, colic, cramping, hiccups and indigestion. It should be used in moderation to avoid skin irritation (Rosengarten, 1969 Lust, 1974 Malcolm, 1987). 

Anise leaves are used to treat digestive problems and to relieve toothache, and its essential oil is used to treat lice and scabies. In aromatherapy, aniseed essential oil is used to treat colds and flu. It is also being researched for the treatment of bird flu (Waumans et al., 2006). 

In many cases the approach and techniques of the complementary therapies have a scientific basis. This is particularly true for aromatherapy using essential oils extracted from plants. Aromatherapy is scientific in terms of the biochemical and physiological functioning of the body and works in conjunction with the more esoteric and spiritual needs of the individual. It is naive... 

The essential oils used in aromatherapy are a potent mix of chemicals, with a vast range of properties and reactions, and should be handled with caution. A useful working definition of aromatherapy is the use of essential oils in a controlled manner. In order to ensure safe and effective use of these oils, the... 

The quality and composition of essential oils are of paramount importance to the aromatherapist when choosing oils. We all expect to see products such as foods and cosmetics properly labelled, giving names and amounts of ingredients along with instructions for use and associated possible hazards. This is not yet the situation with aromatherapy oils, but it is likely to develop. It will be a considerable task as essential oils may contain up to three hundred different compounds, albeit many in minuscule amounts, and criteria would have to be set to decide a convention for such labelling. Good working practices, as currently advised, are outlined in this area. 

Analysis of the composition and purity of aromatherapy products relies on a number of well-established scientific techniques. The principles and application of those most commonly employed, such as GC (gas-liquid chromatography), MS (mass spectrometry) and optical rotation, are explained. The importance of the human senses in the physiological analysis and appreciation of essential oils is also outlined. 

The movement of gas particles is essential in aromatherapy. A substance must be constantly losing particles into the gas or vapour phase, which can enter the air and then the nose and be detected as an odour. Volatility is the property of a substance to evaporate (disperse as vapour). If a few drops of pure, concentrated essential oil are put out in a room on a dish, their presence will soon be detectable at any point in that room. Oil vapour molecules mix and collide with air molecules, gradually spreading evenly through a room (by the process of diffusion). 

Careful storage of essential oils high in aldehydes is crucial. Over a period of time, or in poor conditions, the oxidation of the aldehydes to acids will render them useless for aromatherapy. 

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