Essential oil

Essential oils are excessively renowned as volatile oil. ^{[1, 3]} Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts that typically obtained by steam distillation or cold processing from flowers, roots, leaves, gums, berries, stems, seeds, needles, bark or resins of several plants. ^{[1, 2, 3]} They restrain natural hormones, vitamins, antibiotics and antiseptic. ^[4] Essential oils indeed have some easy and simple curative activities, they simply act through smell and smelling of an essential oil can strengthen the spirit which can be a positive change and naturally promotes good feelings and outlook. ^[4]

Essential oils have been used for healing purposes for approximately 6,000 years. ^[2] The use of aromatics or essential oils has been established since the dawn of mankind. ^[4] The ancient Chinese, Egyptians, Indians, Greeks, and Romans used essential oils in cosmetics, perfumes, and also in herbal preparations. Essential oils were also commonly used for spiritual, healing, and hygienic purposes ^[2] Ayurvedic remedy also utilizes natural essential oils to restore health besides massage technique and pressure points. ^[4] Essential oils are purposeful since antediluvian to modern world. ^{[3, 4]}

The mode of action of essential oils is different from others

It is not seem to be possible that something like soothing smell can perform wonders on health and well being. All essential oils are aromatics and they use human’s strongest sense for their action that is smell. It is the solitary among all five senses that strikes the brain first. It is faster than a bullet and “superman of senses”. ^[4] It strikes higher brain centers and researchers believe that stimulation of this influences our physical and mental health. ^[2] During its journey to brain it also travels around respiratory tract and it enters in lungs to absorb through it along with its entry in circulatory system. As a result, it shows its more profound effects. ^{[1, 2, 4]}

There is another additional and physical way to use the essential oils in aromatherapy, through the skin. When they apply on skin they absorb all the way through epidermis to circulation and hence produce prompt effects. ^[4] Another important issue for essential oil is that the body does not harm by absorbing these essential oils because these oils are expelled from the body by variety of ways like sweat etc. ^[4]

There are also some other methods to use essential oils like facial tonics, cream, hot tubs, potpourri, mouth wash, perfume, humidifier, mouth wash, face and body spray or sitz bath. ^[4]

Essential oils have incalculable diverse applications on our lives. They can be used as a natural adjunct to health, or substitute for maintenance of wellbeing or as prescription. We can also employ them simply to make ourselves feel better. ^[1]

In broad-spectrum, use of essential oils comes out to ease discomfort, enhances mood, and promotes a sense of relaxation. ^[2]

Many women also report that peppermint oil relieves nausea and vomiting during labor. ^{[1, 2, 4, 5]} Aniseed, ^{[2, 4, 5]} sage, ^{[1, 2, 4]} and clary-sage ^{[2, 4]} have estrogen-like compounds, which may make them effective for feelings associated with female reproductive organs. ^{[1, 2, 4]}

Use of essential oils is beneficial during harm produced by germs especially the essential oils of rosemary, ^{[1, 4, 7, 9]} clove, ^{[4, 7, 10]} lime, ^{[ 4, 6, 7]} cinnamon, ^{[6, 7, 8]} lemongrass, ^[7] thyme, ^{[1, 4, 7, 12]} tea tree oil, ^{[1, 4, 7, 10, 11]} sandalwood, ^{[1, 7]} lavender, ^{[1, 7]} juniper ^{[1, 7, 9]} and hyssop ^{[1, 4, 7]} are good in this regard.

Essential oils of clove, ^{[6, 7]} cinnamon, ^[7] sage, ^{[6, 7]} eucalyptus, ^[7] black cumin ^[7] and bay leaf ^[7] are beneficial during problems of soreness.

Use of oils of lavender, ^{[1, 4, 6, 7]} rose ^{[1, 4, 7]} and angelica ^[7] are helpful in condition of sadness.

1. Phyllis A. Balch, CNC & James F. Balch, M.D. (2000). Prescription for Nutritional Healing. (3rd edition) Page No. 104, 107, 109, 200, 388, 696 and 697. Penguin Putnam INC. New York: Avery.
2. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/aromatherapy-000347.htm
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_oil
4. PJ Pierson and Mary Shipley. (2004) Aromatherapy for Everyone. Page No.12, 26, 46, 48, 50, 60, 70, 96, 100, 106, 114 and 116. Ridgefield, CT: Vital Health Publishing.
5. James A. Duke (1997). The Green Pharmacy. Page No. 21, 43, 68, 69, 88, 91, 105, 125, 133, 202, 203, 288, 296, 349, 376, 443 and 452. Pennsylvania: Rodale Press Emmaus.
6. Norman Grainger Bisset (Ed.) (1994) Max Wichtl Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals Page No. 130, 149, 293, 441 and 494. Stuttgart: Medpharm Scientific Publishers.
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatherapy
8. Marcia Zimmerman, CN & Jayson Kroner, CSN. (2006). 7-Syndrome Healing. Page No. 96. Chico, California: Nutrition Solution Publications.
9. Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D. The Scientific Validation of herbal Medicine. Page No. 226 and 274.New Canaan, Connecticut: Keats Publishing, Inc.
10. Kenneth A. Goldberg, M.D. (2001) The Men’s Health. Longevity Program. Page no.107. USA: Rodale Inc.
11. Michael T. Murray, N.D. (1995) The Healing Power Of Herbs. (Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition) Page No.321 and 323. New York: Gramercy Books.
12. Remington. (1975) Remington’s Pharmaceutical Sciences. (15th edition). Page No. 1101. Easton, Pennsylvania: Mack Publishing Company.

Essential Balance Oil (12 fl oz) by Jarrow Formulas

Essential Oil Grapefruit (.5 FL Oz) by Aura Cacia