http://essentialoils.co.za/history-essential-oils.

htm

The history of essential oils and aromatherapy

Egypt

In the history of mankind it seems that the Egyptians were the first people to extensively make
use of aromatherapy and aromatic herbs and included their use in religion, cosmetics as well
as medicinal purposes.

Aromatic essence and resins were also extensively used in the embalming process. Although
it was thought that most essential oils were produced in Egypt by means of a type
of enfleurage extraction method, the Egyptians in actual fact did have access to the
distillation method via the Mesopotamians as distillation pots have been found at Tepe
Gawra dating back about 3,500 BC.

China and India

At the same time the Chinese also made use of herbs and aromatic plants and this was also
taken up as an integral part of the Indian Ayurvedic medicinal system.

Greeks

The medicinal wisdom of the Egyptians were taken over and absorbed by the ancient Greeks
- and the most well-known physician of that time - Hippocrates (c.460 - 377 BC) was also a firm
believer of treating the patient holistically and included aromatherapy massage as a
treatment.

Romans

The Romans again took over the medicinal wisdom of the Greeks and were great believers in
hygiene to promote health and also place great stock in aromatherapy and the power of
fragrances.

Arabian empire

After the fall of the Roman Empire and the subsequent Dark Ages we saw the emergence of
the Arabian empire which was in the position to draw not only from the Greek and Roman
teachings, but also those of China and India.

It is the Persian physician Avicenna (980 - 1,037 AD) that is being credited with perfecting the
distillation process of essential oils.
The Dark Ages

During this time it was the monks housed in their monasteries which tended after the sick and
kept herbal medicinal wisdom alive, yet folk medicine as practiced by illiterate village
herbalist normally lead to persecution of such people as witches.

Since the Church saw bathing as sinful, great stock was placed on aromatics to keep stench
at bay, and most of the aromatics used also had anti-bacterial and anti-pesticide properties.

During this time, the holistic approach of Hippocrates all but disappeared.

The Renaissance

During this time there was a swing back again to the holistic treatment of illness and the most
noteworthy of physicians were Paracelsus (Phillipus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von
Hohenheim 1493 - 1541).

He once again turned to look at the wisdom of folk medicine and did not discount such
knowledge as unimportant - much to the disgust of his contemporaries, yet proved his mettle
by having great success in curing leprosy.

Flower therapy

Dr Edward Bach was a consulting physician and trained as a pathologist and bacteriologist
but became disenchanted by orthodox medicine and developed his system of treating
disorders - where the disease is not as such looked at, but the personality suffering the
problem.

His medicinal wisdom was not so much founded on logic but relied mostly on his intuition - but
with astounding good results.

Aromatherapy (Modern)

The term aromatherapy as we know it today was first coined in 1937 by the French chemist
and perfumer Rene Maurice Gattefosse. He was not a believer of the natural health
movement but was interested in the properties that essential oils exhibited.

In 1910 he burnt his hand badly in his laboratory and being the first available compound
handy, treated his badly burnt hand with pure undiluted lavender oil, which not only
immediately eased the pain, but helped heal the hand without any sign of infection or scar.

He also found that minute amounts of essential oils are absorbed by the body and interact
with the body chemistry.

During the second world war, as a result of Gattefosse's experiments, Dr. Jean Valet used
essential oils to treat injured soldiers with great success.
In the 1950's Marguerite Maury started diluting essential oils in a vegetable carrier oil and
massaging it onto the skin using a Tibetan technique which is applied along the nerve
endings pf the spinal column.

She was also the first person to start the use of "individually prescribed" combinations of
essential oils to suit the need of the person being massaged.

Since the late 1970 and early 80's the use of essential oils and aromatherapy has become a
major part of alternative and holistic health systems, and has a huge following across the
world.

The chemistry of essential oils, and their chemical

components.
It is interesting to know the chemical components that nature combines to make up the oils,
but it is also humbling to take note of the fact that even with the best human efforts, should
you in a laboratory combine all the chemicals in the correct proportions, you would still not
have an identical oil.

Such a copy of an oil will not have the same therapeutic effect as the natural and pure
essential oil. And though we pride ourselves on being a technology advanced society,
modern science can still not unlock the secrets of essential oils and why they can do what
they do.

If you for instance took all the correct chemical components, which will include lavandulol,
borneol, terpineol, geraniol and linalol, and try to make up lavender essential oil in a
laboratory, you will not have an oil that can successfully treat burns the way that true
lavender oil can.

Essential oils, like all organic compounds, are made up of hydrocarbon molecules and can
further be classified as terpenes, alcohols, esters, aldehydes, ketones and phenols etc.

To help you in the understanding of the chemical constituents of the oils, it may be a good
idea just to have a look at what an isoprene unit is.

Every single oil normally has more than a hundred components, but this figure can also run
into thousands, depending on the oil in question.

When you analyze essential oils with a chromatograph various organic components are
found and the primary ones are as follows:

Terpene hydrocarbons
o Monoterpene hydrocarbons
o Sesquiterpenes
Oxygenated compounds
o Phenols
 o Alcohols
Monoterpene alcohols
Sesquiterpene alcohols
o Aldehydes
o Ketones
o Esters
o Lactones
o Coumarins
o Ethers
o Oxides

Terpenes Hydrocarbons:
o Monoterpene
These monoterpene compounds are found in nearly all
essential oils and have a structure of 10 carbon atoms and
at least one double bond. The 10 carbon atoms are derived
from two isoprene units.
They react readily to air and heat sources. For this reason
citrus oils do not last well, since they are high in
monoterpene hydrocarbons and have a quick reaction to
air, and are readily oxidized.
Although some quarters may simply state that these
components have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiviral
and antibacterial therapeutic properties while some can be
analgesic or stimulating with a tonic effect, it could be seen
as a very broad generalization, since this large group of
chemicals vary greatly. Since some have a stimulating
effect on the mucus membranes they are also often used
as decongestants.
o Sesquiterpenes
These sesquiterpenes consist of 15 carbon atoms and have
complex pharmacological actions and here we can look at
chamazulene, which is found in German chamomile.
It has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy properties. Another
sesquiterpene often found in chamomile and rose, as well
as other floral oils is farnesene.
History highlight of terpene research
The 1910 Nobel prize winner for Chemistry was Professor
Otto Wallach for his work on terpenes which influenced the
essential oil industry. Click here to read more.
Oxygenated compounds:
o Phenols
The phenols found in essential oils normally have a carbon
side chain and here we can look at compounds such as
 thymol, eugenol and carvacrol. These components have
great antiseptic, anti-bacterial and disinfectant qualities
and also have greatly stimulating therapeutic properties.
Due to the nature of phenols, essential oils that are high in
them should be used in low concentrations and for short
periods of time, since they can lead to toxicity if used over
long periods of time, as the liver will be required to work
harder to excrete them.
Phenols are also classified as skin and mucus membrane
irritants and although they have great antiseptic qualities,
like cinnamon and clove oil, they can cause severe skin
reactions.
o Alcohols
Monoterpene alcohols
These oils have good antiseptic, anti-viral and anti-
fungal properties with very few side effects such as
skin irritation or toxicity and have an uplifting
energizing effect.
Examples of these alcohols are linalool, citronellol
and terpineol found respectively in lavender, rose
and geranium, and in juniper and tea tree oil.
Sesquiterpene alcohols
These alcohols are not commonly found in
essential oils, but when found, like bisabolol in
German chamomile, have great properties, which
include liver and glandular stimulant, anti-allergen
and anti-inflammatory.
Other oils that contain sesquiterpene alcohols are
sandalwood (a-santalol) as well as ginger,
patchouli, vetiver, carrot seed, everlasting and
valerian.
Aldehydes
o These aldehydes have anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant,
sedative yet uplifting therapeutic qualities and are the component
that imparts the citrus-like fragrance in melissa, lemongrass and
citronella. These properties are best used in aromatherapy when the
essential oil is used in low dilutions - around 1%.
o Should oils high in this component be used, it could cause skin
irritation and sensitivity as for instance lemongrass oil. Aldehydes are
also unstable and will easily oxidize in the presence of oxygen and
even low heat.
Ketones
o Although ketones can be toxic, as in the case of thujone found in
thuja and wormwood oil as well as pinocamphone found in others,
they also have some great therapeutic benefits - especially in the
field of easing the secretion of mucus as well as cell and tissue
regeneration.
 o Other oils, such as hyssop, eucalyptus and rosemary have moderate
amounts of ketones, and when used properly in aromatherapy can
be greatly beneficial to the body.
o The ketone italidone found in everlasting, not only has the mucolytic
(mucus easing) properties, but is also useful in skin regeneration,
wound healing and reducing old scar tissue such as in wounds,
stretch marks and adhesions.
o Essential oils high in ketones need to be used with care in pregnancy.
Esters
Esters are formed from alcohols and acids, and are named after
o
both their original molecules with the alcohols dropping the "ol" and
gaining an "yl" and the acids dropping the "ic" and gaining an "ate".
o The esters found in essential oils are normally very fragrant and tend
to be fruity and their therapeutic effects include being sedative and
antispasmodic. Some esters also have anti-fungal and anti-microbial
properties - like the anti-fungal properties in geranium oil.
o The most well known ester must be linalyl acetate, which is found in
lavender, clary sage as well as petitgrain.
o These components are normally gentle in their actions and can be
used with great ease.
Lactones and coumarins
o Lactones contain an ester group integrated into a carbon ring
system and coumarins are also types of lactones. There are similarities
between the actions of lactones, coumarins and ketones since they
also have some neurotoxic effects and can cause skin sensitizing and
irritation.
o Yet the sesquiterpene lactone, called helenalin found in arnica oil,
seems to be responsible for the anti-inflammatory action of arnica oil.
o The amount of lactones and coumarins normally found in essential
oils is very low, and does not pose a huge problem. Lactones also
have great mucus moving and expectorant properties and for this
reason elecampane is often used in the treatment of bronchitis and
chest complaints.
o Some coumarins, like furocoumarin - bergaptene - found in
bergamot oil are severely skin UV sensitive and should be used with
great care should you be exposed to sunlight. For more info onsun
sensitizing (phototoxic) oils, please click here.
Ethers
o Phenolic ethers are the most widely found ethers in essential oils with
anethol found in aniseed, the only real ether of importance together
with methyl chavicol found in basil and tarragon.
Oxides
o The main therapeutic effect of oxides are that of expectorant, with
1,8-cineole - commonly known as eucalyptol being the most well
known.
The above is a brief overview of the chemical components found in essential oils, and should
not be seen as a lesson in organic chemistry, but was merely included for the sake of interest.
If you are interested to view our essential oils for sale, please click here.

Diluting essential oils

Since essential oils are very concentrated and potent, they should never be applied
in its pure undiluted form to the skin, but should be suitably diluted.

There are different dilution levels that

should be used, depending on how
they are being used.
Essential oils in a bath
Essential oils in an aroma burner or vaporizer
Essential oils in creams and lotions
Adding essential oil to a massage blend
Adding essential oil to shampoo

Carcinogenic oils

Other compounds found in essential oils that may be carcinogenic is methyl chavicol, which
is found in basil oil. This statement does not make basil a dangerous oil, but care should be
taken to select the basil oil with the highest linalool content and lowest methyl chavicol
content.

Certain essential oils can cause liver toxicity (hepatoxicity)

The liver is involved in a wide variety of actions and helps with carbohydrate and
lipid metabolism, secretion of bile as well as the synthesis of proteins, yet most people
perceive the liver as only a detoxification organ for the blood.

Certain essential oils may cause liver toxicity, but this is unlikely to be due to skin
absorption, as in massage.

This is however a problem if the essential oil is taken orally (swallowed) - therefore
the taking of essential oils internally must be done with great care - and only done
when so instructed by a medical practitioner that has specialized in this branch of
 medicine.

No essential oil should be taken internally unless so prescribed by a licensed

medical practitioner - for more on this see our page on the medicinal use of
essential oils.

Medical aromatherapy and essential oils

Right at the start, we would like to make it very clear that the ingestion of essential oils as used
in medical aromatherapy should not be undertaken by the lay person, but only under the
direction and supervision of a licensed medical practitioner qualified to administer essential
oils.

France seems to be the forerunner of medical aromatherapy, where essential oils are
encapsulated and prescribed to be taken orally by the patient, or as suppositories.

French aromatherapy doctors employ the aromatogram where a sample is taken from the
infected area of the patient and cultivated in a laboratory, and then subjected to various
essential oils, to find the most effective oil to treat the infection for the specific patient.

They have found that different oil combinations work better when such oil combination is
specifically blended for a patient - even if various patients suffer from the same strain of
bacteria - some oils seem to work better on certain people.

The above is an over-simplification of the serious medicinal side to aromatherapy, but is used
to elucidate the effect that aromatherapy and essential oils can have in the medical arena.

In this particular brand of medicine, there are some very prominent medical doctors, such as
Drs. Lapraz and Duraffourd of Paris. These two esteemed gentlemen have undertaken
thousands of clinical trials to determine the effectiveness of essential oils in medical
applications.

Drs. Duraffourd and Lapraz are also respectively the President and General Secretary of the
International Federation of Association of Defense in Phytotherapy Research and Teaching -
an organization whose aim is to promote the research and practices of phytotherapy and
aromatherapy under doctors, chemists and other members of equivalent scientific disciplines.

Extraction of essential oils

Various extraction methods are used in the manufacture and extraction of essential oils, and
the method used is normally dependant on what type of botanical material is being used.

General information

It is the type of plant material that determines which method will be used to obtain the
essential oil. But there are exceptions - for instance - CO2 is a great way to extract most oils,
but the cost involved in following this method, would place it out of the financial reach of
most people.

Although the extraction of essential oils may sound only to be of technical interest, it is one of
the key points which determines the quality of the oil that is used, since a wrong, or wrongly
executed extraction, can damage the oil, and alter the chemical signature of the essential
oil.

Extraction methods

Underneath a list and short explanation of the different extraction methods used in the
manufacture of essential oils as found on this website.

More information is available on each type of extraction method by simply

clicking the hyperlink in question.

Distillation

Distillation converts the volatile liquid (the essential oils) into a vapor and then
condenses the vapor back into a liquid - it is the most popular, and cost
effective method in use today in producing essential oils.
o Water distillation
o Steam distillation
o Hydro diffusion
Other specialized distillation
o Cohobation
o Rectification
o Water and steam distillation
o Fractional distillation

Expression

Expression is a cold pressed method of extraction, which is mostly used in the

extraction of citrus essential oils.
o Sponge expression
o cuelle piquer
o Machine abrasion

Solvent extraction

With solvent extraction, solvents are used to coax the essential oils out of the
botanical material, and various ways are also employed.
o Maceration
o Enfleurage
o Solvent
o Hypercritical carbon dioxide CO2
http://essentialoils.co.za/therapeutic-properties.htm

Therapeutic properties of essential oils

anesthetic
o cinnamon, cloves, peppermint
anti-dontalgic (relieve toothache)
o cajuput, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, peppermint, pimento
antiseptic
o basil, bergamot, black
pepper, cajuput, camphor, cedarwood, cinnamon, cloves,
fir, frankincense, lavender, lemon, nutmeg, parsley, rose, sandalwood
antispasmodic
o angelica, aniseed, basil, bay, bergamot, camphor, clary
sage, clove, jasmine, lavender, mandarin, neroli, nutmeg, orange, pep
permint, sandalwood, tangerine, thyme
Astringent (causing the contraction of body tissues, typically of the skin.)
o bay, benzoin, cedarwood, cypress, frankincense, geranium, hyssop. im
mortelle, juniper, lemon, lime, myrrh, peppermint, rose, rosemary, sandal
wood, yarrow
Carminative((chiefly of a drug) relieving flatulence.) "marked by or affected with gases
generated in the intestine or stomach; likely to cause digestive flatulence".
o angelica, aniseed, basil, bergamot, black pepper, carrot
seed, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, hyssop, juniper, lemon, lemongrass, me
lissa, nutmeg, orange, oregano,
parsley, peppermint, pimento, rosemary, spearmint, thyme
Cholagogue (is a medicinal agent which promotes the discharge of bile from the
system, purging it downward.)
o bay, hyssop, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary, rosewood
Cordial (a comforting or pleasant-tasting medicine.)
o benzoin, bergamot, lavender, marjoram, melissa, neroli, peppermint, ros
emary, tea tree
Decongestant (used to relieve nasal congestion.)
o cajuput, eucalyptus, garlic, lavender, niaouli, peppermint, pine
digestive
o black pepper, coriander, ginger, lemon, lemongrass, peppermint
Expectorant (a medicine that promotes the secretion of sputum by the air passages,
used especially to treat coughs.)
o angelica, basil, bergamot, cajuput, cedarwood, garlic, hyssop, myrrh,
parsley, pine, peppermint, sandalwood, thyme
feet: sweaty
o cypress, clary sage, geranium, peppermint
flatulence
o coriander, peppermint
Gout (a disease in which defective metabolism of uric acid causes arthritis,
especially in the smaller bones of the feet, deposition of chalkstones, and
episodes of acute pain.)
 o juniper, geranium, peppermint
gum infection
o myrrh, peppermint, tea tree
headache
o basil, eucalyptus, grapefruit, lavender, melissa, peppermint
heartburn
o chamomile (German), marjoram, peppermint
indigestion
o cardamom, coriander, ginger, lemon, peppermint
influenza
o bay, black
pepper, cinnamon, cloves, cypress, ginger, lemon, peppermint
insect repellent
o cedarwood, citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, sandalwood
jet lag
o basil, geranium, grapefruit, peppermint, rosemary
migraine
o chamomile (Roman), lavender, peppermint, rosemary
muscle pains
o basil, bay, black pepper, chamomile (Roman), clary
sage, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary
nausea
o clove, ginger, melissa, peppermint
neuralgia
o bay, benzoin, black pepper, chamomile, clary
sage, geranium, peppermint
overindulgence
o juniper, grapefruit, lemon, peppermint
respiratory problems
o basil, benzoin, cedarwood, eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary, sandalw
ood
sinusitis
o basil, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, pine, rosemary, tea tree
toothache
o chamomile (Roman), clove, peppermint

What are essential oils?

Essential oils, also referred to as "essences", are botanical extracts of various plant materials,
and do not only originate from flowers, but from herbs, trees and various other plant material.

The essential oils are extracted from the botanical material using a variety of extraction
methods to suit the material extracted from and are highly odoriferous liquids.

The use of essential oils have a long history and many prominent healers in history have made
use, and believed in, the healing power of these extracts.
 Essential oils differ from other oils (fixed oils such as olive oil) as they are volatile and evaporate
when left open, and have certain therapeutic properties which can be used to promote
health and well-being.

Safety

But as with anything there are certain essential oils which can be toxic, but luckily these are
not sold in general, but people should be aware that they have to take care when using
essential oils for the first time, or experimenting with a new oil.

There are also certain safety precautions to be followed in the use of essential oils, such as
never to use pure, undiluted essential oils on the skin - for more safety precautions,
please click here.

Uses

Essential oils are used in a variety of ways, and include aromatherapy massage - where the oil
is absorbed through the skin and vaporization where the essential oil molecules enter the
bloodstream via the lungs.

Essential oils are also used medicinally and taken internally, but this must NOT be undertaken
by the layperson, but should only be done under the treatment and direction of a qualified
medical practitioner.

If you have never used essential oils on your skin, it is advisable to perform a skin-patch test to
check for any allergic reaction.

Mood properties of essential oils

Although the emotions evoked by smells and fragrances are highly personal, there seems to
be a certain correlation between the scent of some essential oils and the "moods" they
create.

http://essentialoils.co.za/mood-properties.htm

Alertness - peppermint