To quote Patricia Davis (My Aromatherapy teacher's teacher) 'We can explain the human body in terms of chemistry but that does not explain life. However, chemistry alone will not explain the vital force of the plant, which is its vibration or healing energy. You need to consider that there is something beyond chemistry in the actions of essential oils.
Generally essential oils are consists of chemical compounds, which have as their building blocks:
1. Hydrogen
2. Carbon
3. Oxygen
These can be divided into two groups: Hydrocarbons and Oxygenated Compounds.
Hydrocarbons: These are made up of the Tepenes, Monoterpenes, Sesquiterpenes and Diterpenes.
Oxygenated Compounds: These are mainly Esters, Aldehydes, Alcohols, Ketones, Phenols and Oxides.
Phoenols
Phoenols are powerfully anti-infectious and act against bacteria and viruses and other organisms. They are immunostimulant, hypertensive and tonic: use with caution and short term. Use in burners and diffusers, for epidemics, colds and 'flu.
Eugenol found in Clove, Sage, Cinnamon Leaf/bud, Nutmeg.
Esters
Esters are among the safest, gentlest compounds in oils, it's antispasmodic, sedative, fungicidal and calming.
Linalyl Acetate found in Lavender (Main ingredient of Lavender).
Benzyl Benzoate found in Benzoin and other resins.
Alcohols
Alcohols are a useful group of compounds, good antiseptics and antiviral. Non-toxic to skin, they are good antifungal, bactericidal, immunostimulant, good nerve tonics.
Monoterpenic Alcohols: Linalol found in Lavender, Neroli, Thyme, Ylang Ylang.
Sesquiterpenic Alcohols: Geraniol found in Geranium, Rose, Neroli, Petitgrain.
Sequiterpenols
With free -OH hooks onto sesquiterpene it becomes a sesquiterpenol.
Aids the circulation, tonic, stimulating, strengthening immunostimulant.
Diterpenols
With free -OH hooks onto a diterpene it becomes a diterpenol.
Very few come through the distillation but those that do are hormonal balancers.
Aldehydes
Aldehydes are sedative, specially antiseptic, hypotensive and calming to the nervous system.
Citral found in Lemongrass (Main Constituent), Geranium, Mandarin, Orange, Petitgrain.
Citronellal found in Citronella, Eucalyptus, Lemon, Lemongrass, Melissa.
Monoterpenes
Monoterpenes are the most common molecules in oils, they are analgesic, antiseptic, decongestant, antiviral.
Limonene found in Bergamot, Lemon, Neroli, Orange.
Sesquiterpenes
Sesquiterpenes are soothing, calming, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive.
Diterpenes
Diterpenes are bactericidal, antiviral, expectorant, antifungal, hormone balancers.
Coumarins
Coumarins are good nerve tonics and are sedative, antispasmodic, anticonvulsive and help lower blood pressure and temperature. It is well-known that Bergamot oil has UV sensitizing effect on skin due to presence of the furocoumarin, bergaptene.
Ketones
These are among the most physiologically active compounds in essential oils and have a very potent effect however they are most fairly harmful and should only be used in very small amounts. They can be cooling, calming and sedative. In large amounts they can provoke epilepsy, are abortive and can become neurotoxic (toxic to the Nervous System).
Oxides
Organic oxides are unusual, highly reactive chemicals.
Decompose at high temperatures or over exposure to air.
The most important oxide is Cineole 1.8.
The Terpenic Pathway
The terpenic molecules are a large group that occurs frequently in essential oils. They are important as they form the base for other molecules such as Acids, Alcohols, Aldehydes, Esters, Ketones and Oxides to synthesize. Because of this the terpenic pathway gives rise to the most molecules found overall in essential oils. When oxidation occurs in the terpenic molecules these become terpenoid molecules and this makes only a slight difference in structure but a lot of difference in their therapeutic properties.
Safe Oil Blending at the following %:
* Eye Care: 0.5%
* Face Care: 1-2%
* Body Care for Adults: 2-2.5%
* Topical Compression for Adults: 3-5%
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