Aromatherapy Overview and Essential Oils

Aromatherapy Overview

• Aromatherapy uses plant-based essential oils to improve physical and mental well-being.
• Essential oils are extracted from various parts of plants (flowers, leaves, roots).
• Essential oils are inhaled or applied topically.
• Oils are extracted through distillation and other methods.
• Essential oils have a concentrated molecular structure (75-100 x more concentrated than dried herbs).
• Essential oils are often aromatic and odorous.
• Essential oils are typically antiseptic, bactericidal, bacteriostatic.
• Essential oils are cytophylactic (promoting cell rejuvenation).
• Essential oils are lipophilic (absorb deeply into skin and internal organs).
• Essential oils are sensitive to heat and light.
• Essential oils contain vitamins and hormones.
• Essential oils are highly volatile (easily evaporate).
• Essential oils are soluble in oil, not water.
• Essential oils can be adaptogens (respond to specific needs).

Essential Oils Parts of the Plant

• Flowers/Blossoms (ylang ylang, jasmine, rose)
• Flowers/Plant (rosemary, lavender)
• Leaves (eucalyptus)
• Fruit/Peel/Rind (grapefruit, lemon, lime)
• Fruit/Seed (orange, black pepper)
• Wood/Trunk (cedarwood)
• Root (vetiver, ginger)

Essential Oil Quality

• Essential oil potency varies due to multiple factors:
• Variety of the plant
• Time of harvest
• Richness of soil
• Variation of weather
• Variation of altitude
• Part of plant used

Aromatherapy Pathways

• Transdermal (application to skin)
• Olfactory (inhalation)

Essential Oils and the Olfactory System

• Scent travels to the olfactory bulb in the brain.
• The limbic system processes scent information.
• Processed scents trigger neurochemicals (relaxing, stimulating etc.)

Aromatherapy Techniques

• Inhalation (fastest way to introduce essential oils to bloodstream)
• Essential oil diffusers
• Aromatic spritzers
• Body oils, creams or lotions for massage

Essential Oils Chemicals

• Essential oils contain 50-500 different chemicals.
• Terpenes (citrus oils)
• Alcohols (key constituent in benefit)
• Phenols (fiery, strong anti-bacterial)
• Ketones (dangerous, healing for wounds)
• Esters (soothing, calming)

Aromatherapy Uses

• Pain relief: coping with stress and anxiety.
• Immune system support: alleviating stress and removing microorganisms.
• Detoxification: via lymph tissues.
• Cardiovascular problems, Alzheimer's disease, sleep disorders, cancer.
• Cancer: some oils may reduce tumor size and induce programmed cell death in cells.

Essential Oil Extraction Methods

• Steam distillation
• Solvent extraction
• CO2 extraction
• Maceration
• Enfleurage
• Cold enfleurage
• Hot enfleurage
• Cold-press extraction
• Water distillation
• Water and steam distillation

Essential Oil Shelf Life

• Reduce exposure to oxygen.
• Keep away from light and heat.
• Use containers to store oils that are small.
• Maintain the correct temperature (36-40°F or 2-4°C).
• Avoid the use of dropper caps as lids.
• Dedicated refrigerator for storage, to avoid cross contamination.

Aromatherapy Contraindications

• Photosensitization (some oils, especially citrus, can increase sensitivity to sunlight).
• Skin irritation (some oils can irritate skin on direct contact).
• Sensitization (allergic reaction to an irritant).
• Iiosyncratic reaction (uncommon allergic reaction to a specific oil).
• Patch testing is crucial before direct use of an oil.

Adaptogenic Herbs

• Adaptogenic herbs aid the body's ability to adjust to stress.
• They increase resistance to stress and limit fatigue.
• Adaptogens, improve overall body physiology.

Adaptogens and Function

• Phenolics are mediators of the sympathetic adrenal system (SAS).
• Tetracyclic triterpenoids resemble corticosteroid hormones (protective inactivation in the stress response).
• Specific monoterpenes (ex: from Rhodiola rosea) inhibit certain enzymes which can benefit depression and senile dementia).

Adaptogen Examples

• Ginseng (Panax ginseng)
• Ashwagandha
• Licorice root

Ginseng

• Ginseng is a model adaptogen. Its active substances (panaxosides) are related to stress hormones.
• Benefits include boosting short-term memory, regulating blood sugar, fighting fatigue, and protection against the common cold or flu.

Ashwagandha

• Ashwagandha has benefits including reducing inflammation, improving insulin sensitivity, fertility, muscle mass, strength, lowering cholesterol and triglycerides, anticancer effects, dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression, and lucid dreaming in some individuals.

Explore the fundamentals of aromatherapy and learn about essential oils derived from various parts of plants. Delve into their extraction methods, properties, and therapeutic benefits for physical and mental well-being. This quiz will enhance your knowledge of how essential oils interact with the body and their unique characteristics.