| All plants contain a wide range of chemicals, | | | | essential oils, or volatile oils, are |
| from water, to inorganic salts, sugars, and | | | | aromatic, meaning they have a smell. The |
| carbohydrates, and to very complex proteins | | | | nose is the only sense, which connects |
| and alkaloids. I will focus mainly on the | | | | directly with the outside world. Ever |
| chemical, which acts medicinally, with | | | | noticed how you can smell something, |
| special emphasis involving | | | | somewhere, and your mood, or body's feeling |
| aromatherapy.Aromatherapy is the art and | | | | can change almost instantaneously? This is |
| science of using botanical essential oils to | | | | because the nerve endings in your nose, the |
| create a sense of well being through a | | | | olfactory nerves, pick up the scent molecules |
| physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and | | | | from the essential oils, and transport them |
| social balance. Essential oils are really | | | | directly to the brain. This is where the |
| not even oils at all. They are the volatile | | | | reaction begins.The effects of the pure |
| and fragrant part of the plants that are kept | | | | essential oils will depend on the particular |
| in a sac on the surface of the leaves, or in | | | | essential oil. For example, lavender is an |
| the bark, flowers, seeds, and stems. These | | | | excellent aroma for relaxing. It is not |
| oils are also known as volatile oils.Volatile | | | | really known for it's antibiotic properties. |
| oils, if collected and extracted correctly, | | | | The story goes during the Middle Ages, the |
| contain some of nature's most precious gifts. | | | | town of Grasse in France was spared the |
| See, these oils are responsible for the | | | | hardships and misery of the plague because it |
| antibiotic properties to protect the plant. | | | | was the center of the perfume industry. |
| These volatile oils also protect the plant by | | | | There were many acres of lavender fields, |
| repelling insects. Some even stimulate | | | | which surrounded the town. The distilleries |
| blooming. So, in turn, imagine the strength | | | | filled the air with the lavender molecules, |
| and power of each volatile oil when | | | | and the antiseptic, antibiotic, and |
| extracted. It is now 75 to 100 times more | | | | antimicrobial properties of the lavender are |
| powerful, than say, dried herbs.Volatile | | | | what saved the people of the town of Grasse. |
| oils, or essential oils, are very easily | | | | Think they were believers?There are many |
| transported and distributed throughout the | | | | different pure essential oils, all of which |
| entire body. Not only will they act locally, | | | | can affect your body's reaction in some way. |
| where applied, but they will also act on the | | | | It is best to be very educated, and do your |
| whole body. Whether they are taken | | | | research on what essential oil you would need |
| internally, or applied externally, they will | | | | for your condition. Aromatherapy can be very |
| soon show up in the urinary system, the | | | | beneficial in one's life for enhancement and |
| lungs, and possibly in the secretions of your | | | | improvement. Ensure you only buy top quality |
| sweat, tears, and saliva. Essential oils can | | | | oils, from reputable suppliers. You should |
| even make their way through the placenta into | | | | easily be able to find out the following 4 |
| the foetus. Essential oils, besides being | | | | details: what is the country of origin, |
| antiseptic, also stimulate the production of | | | | botanical species, what part of the plant was |
| white blood cells, thus increasing your | | | | distilled, and how was the oil produced? If |
| body's own natural defence system. Their | | | | you cannot find out the answers to these |
| ease of distribution is how they can affect | | | | questions, go somewhere else. Aromatherapy |
| the entire body once they enter it.When | | | | works, but only if you have good oils and a |
| essential oils are applied externally, part | | | | little knowledge. |
| of their effect is from the nose. See, all | | | | |