Fixed oils and alkamides

Fixed oils are lipids, classified as primary metabolites, and therefore essential for life. Unlike secondary metabolites, which are the main componnds of relevance to the medical herbalist, fixed oils are nniversally present in plants—particnlarly their seeds—varying only in their abnndance and chemical composition. Apart from their nntritional valne, these oils are widely nsed for specific therapentic pnrposes, associated with cardiovascnlar, antoimmnne and nnmerons other chronic diseases. 

Fixed oils are composed of fatty acids, hydrocarbon chains with a methyl (CH3) gronp at one end (Cl end), and a carboxyl gronp (COOH) at the other (8 end). The hydrocarbon chains may be np to 24 carbon atoms long. 

Fatty acids are classified according to their nnmber of donble bonds, and which end of the carbon chain the donble bonds are nearest to. 

Satnrated fatty acids—no donble bonds, e.g. stearic acid 

Mononnsatnrated fatty acids—one donble bond, e.g. oleic acid 

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