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There are approximately 350,000 species of plants on earth but only about 300 can produce essential oils (EOs). These oils are highly concentrated. For example, you need 50 pounds of eucalyptus leaves to yield 1 pound of oil, 150 pounds of lavender flowers to yield 1 pound of lavender oil, and approximately 1,000 pounds of rose petals to produce 1 pound of pure rose oil. One pound is approximately 650 drops of EO. That is why you need only few drops of the pure and natural oil.
EOs can be categorized in various ways:
- According to family (i.e., Lamiaceae, Styracea, Rutaceae, Piperaceae, Zingiberaceae, Pinaceae, Asteraceae, etc.)
- According to function group (i.e., monoterpenes, sesqueterpenes, aldehydes, alcohols; esters, acids, ketones, phenols and oxides);
- According to its notes (i.e., high, medium, low)
- According to its scent (citrus, flower, herb, resin)
- According to its effects (i.e. pharmacological, physiological and psychological)
I personally like grouping essential oils according to its physiological effect. And these are my recommended EOs:
- EOs that have a calming and relaxing effect – Lavender, Chamomile, Neroli, Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Benzoin, Melissa, Bergamot, Orange, Jasmine, Cedarwood, Valerian
- EOs that have a sedating effect – Clary Sage, Marjoram, Lavender, Cypress, Chamomile;
- EOs that have stimulating, revitalizing and recharging effect – Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Spearmint, Rosemary, Ginger, Black Pepper, Spruce, Basil
- EOs that have balancing and strengthening effect – Geranium, Helichrysum, Jasmine, May Chang, Lemongrass, Mandarin, Myrrh, Sandalwood
- EOs that have clarifying effect – Frankincense, Myrrh, Eucalyptus, Clary Sage
- EOs that have cleansing effect – Pine, Lemon, Grapefruit, Tea Tree, Cedarwood, Juniper
The ancient and rich culture of Egypt has paintings and papyrus manuscripts documenting the use of essential oils in their cosmetics, rituals, baths, temples and most notably in the embalming process that enabled them to preserve mummies for centuries. The Assyrians, Babylonians, Hebrews, Arabs, Romans and Greeks soon adopted the Egyptian aromatic medicine and the latter in fact mastered the art of aromatics that made Greece known as the bathing capital of the World. Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine (circa 460-377 BC) recommends daily baths and regular massages with infusions of various herbs and essential oils.
It is ironic to think that essential oils opened the door to the evolution of synthetic fragrances and today’s modern drugs in mid 1800. The credibility and inconsistencies of the essential oils slowly limited its use in the perfume, cosmetic and food industries. And overtime, essential oils disappeared in history.
In 1910 the word aromatherapie was first coined by French chemist, René-Maurice Gattefossé, who while working in his laboratory, accidentally burned his hand. He immediately submerged his burned hand in a bucket of lavender oil. To his surprise, his hand healed without blisters and almost without a scar. He then reclaimed the therapeutic benefits of essential oils; thus, the rebirth of Aromatherapy in the 20th century.
Today though, it is a marketing hype that any product that has a scent is considered aromatherapy. What makes essential oils different from synthetic fragrances or perfume oils are the chemical composition present in plants that offers therapeutic benefits.
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