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The whole world is filled with fragrance
From calming lavender to refreshing lemongrass, essential oils offer a variety of applications for body, mind and soul. Their concentrated form makes them versatile, from relieving stress to improving concentration or supporting the immune system.
03.09.2024
10 min
Essential oils are natural plant extracts and are obtained from various parts of plants, such as flowers, leaves, bark, roots or resins. They help plants to attract insects for pollination, keep pests away or protect themselves against diseases caused by bacteria or fungi. Versatile in use, they are suitable for scented lamps, massage oils, baths, poultices, inhalations and more. They have a direct effect on the brain and can thus positively influence both physical and psychological processes in the human body.
Contents
Many plants produce essential oils, which are secondary plant substances. Essential oils consist of a variety of chemical compounds, including terpenes and phenols. They are volatile and have fat-soluble properties, but do not contain fats. In contrast to fatty oils, essential oils evaporate without leaving any residue. As a rule, they are hydrophobic and only very slightly soluble in water, if at all.
For us humans, they have antiviral, antimicrobial, circulation-promoting, anti-inflammatory, expectorant and many other effects.
Essential oils are not ordinary oils and therefore do not leave unsightly greasy stains. The term "essential" means that it is something intangible, a highly volatile oil - unlike ordinary fatty oils.
Application
It is important to use essential oils correctly as they are very potent. The dosage is often far too high. Before use, you should inform yourself about the specific properties and applications of each oil.
Therapeutic work with essential oils belongs in the hands of therapists and nurses trained in aromatherapy. However, the diluted application as an aroma spray or in the aroma lamp is accessible to everyone and is also ideal for private use.
Special care should be taken with children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as with epilepsy and asthma.
Manufacture
Most essential oils are obtained by steam distillation, although some fragrances are lost at high temperatures. Cold pressing is a gentler method, but only a few plants such as citrus peel are treated in this way. Sensitive plant parts often require extraction with chemical solvents. Carbon dioxide extraction is a newer process that extracts high-quality essential oils at low temperatures and preserves the precious fragrances.
Storage & shelf life
Essential oils are sensitive to light and temperature and should therefore be stored in a dark place (even if they are already in dark bottles) and preferably in a cool place up to room temperature. Direct sunlight should be avoided at all costs.
Trust your sense of smell. If an oil suddenly smells different from what you are used to, especially if it smells strong or pungent, it could be that it is broken. In such cases, it is advisable to dispose of the oil, as it could do more harm than good to your health.
Eucalyptus oil
The oil is extracted from the older and more oily leaves of the eucalyptus tree and has many health benefits, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, circulation-enhancing and expectorant properties.
It is often used for colds, coughs, bronchitis, sinusitis and other complaints. Eucalyptus oil can be used externally for rheumatic complaints, muscle and joint pain. It can be used in a variety of ways, e.g. for inhalation, in compresses or as a bath additive.
It is important to be careful when using it on children under the age of three.