Using Essential Oils
Many plants contain essential oils that can be extracted from flowers, leaves, roots, bark, seeds, and peels. Each of these essential oils is highly concentrated and has specific healing properties. They can be soothing, antispasmodic, antiseptic, calming, warming, or stimulating, for example. The quality of the essential oil depends on a number of factors: plant species, region, soil condition, and the climate in which the plant was grown; time of day the plant material was harvested; the extraction method used; and storage. It is believed that plants grown organically, or collected in the wild, yield the highest-quality essential oils.
Extracting the essential oils is done through various methods, but the best ones are steam distillation and cold-pressing. Avoid synthetic oils whenever possible and those extracted with chemical solvents. In all cases, very large quantities of plant materials are needed to extract even the smallest quantities of oil. This means that extraction methods are labor-intensive and expensive. Consequently, it’s best to purchase essential oils from reputable sources.
Quality Oils
Be sure your essential oils are of high quality and pure. Read labels: Make sure an oil comes from the specific plant the product name indicates. Knowing Latin plant names may be helpful. Avoid blended and reconstituted oils and oils with synthetic or chemical additives. Anything labeled “fragrance oil” is not pure.
Therapeutic Effect: Research shows that the aromatic benefits of essential oils have a range of health-promoting qualities. They can also reduce anxieties and stress and generally enhance well-being. Essential oils are used with aromatherapy lamps, steam inhalations, baths, and massages.
Diluting for Use: Essential oils are very highly concentrated and should be diluted with water, plant extracts, or carrier oils before being applied to the skin.
Carrier Oils: Carrier oils do exactly what they say. They “carry” the potent essential oil for use on the skin. They are fatty, plant-based oils—usually vegetable, nut, or seed oils, such as Sweet Almond, Apricot Kernel, Olive, and Wheat Germ Oils. Each has its own therapeutic value to add to the essential oil’s value. Use up to 15 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. Prepare small quantities as needed.
Other Bases: There are several extracts that work well as bases for diluting essential oils which may be used in the same way as carrier oils. For example, Witch Hazel is astringent and combats inflammation; Aloe Vera is a moisturizing healer for burns, cuts, and irritated skin; and Rose Water imparts its scent and is antiseptic.
Controversial Beliefs: In Europe, the ingestion of essential oils is generally accepted, primarily because it’s done under a physician’s care. But American herbalists are more conservative: Because the active ingredients in essential oils are highly concentrated, they can be dangerous if used improperly or in excess. You should only ingest essential oils upon the advice and recommendation of a qualified herbalist.
Extra Tip: Store essential oils in clearly labeled, opaque glass bottles in a cool, dark place. Refrigerate citrus oils. Properly stored, most essential oils will keep over a year.