Essential oils

ESSENTIAL OILS

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are concentrated extracts obtained by distillation from aa wide variety of herbs, flowers, fruit bark, wood or roots. A natural essential oil is one that is extracted by mechanical methods, distillation or cold pressing, as opposed to unnatural essential oils, which are extracted by various methods with chemical solvents, and which have nowhere near the healing effects of natural essential oils.

Essential oils bring considerable improvements to the physical, mental, mental and emotional health of people who use them consistently and consciously.

What are their uses?

First of all, 100% natural essential oils have anti-infectious, antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal qualities, in addition to calming, sedative, stomachic effects, being used in the treatment of many conditions, such as.

Some examples of volatile oils and their effects:

  • Eucalyptus oil (Eucalyptus globulus)- is good in treating respiratory ailments (infections, cough, asthma) increases immunity and calms muscle tension;
  • Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata)- lowers muscle tension, has a relaxing effect, used in the treatment of depression;
  • Lavender (Lavandulla officinale)- is useful in the treatment of wounds and burns, it is relaxing and antispasmodic;
  • Tee oil-tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)- natural antifungal, antiviral, good in the treatment of fungal infections, is immunostimulant and effective antibacterial;
  • Rosemary oil (Rosmarinus officinalis)- stimulates the digestive system, is soothing and antispasmodic;
  • Sage oil (Salvia officinalis)-  is a natural analgesic, relaxant, hormonal balancer.
  • Aniseed oil (Pimpinella anisum)- antispasmodic, antibacterial, good in case of abdominal colic, but also coughs, colds and stimulates breast milk production;
  • Fennel oil (Foeniculum vulgare)- digestive, vomiting, good in case of water retention, good in case of biliary, renal, intestinal colic.

Methods of application of essential oils:

Essential oils can be used in various ways: baths, inhalations, compresses, massage, sprayed into the air, or taken internally, but the method of administration and the dose required will be best prescribed by your herbalist.

Possible side effects of using essential oils

The internal use of volatile oils without proper advice may cause undesirable effects such as nausea, vomiting, and phenomena associated with poisoning. Their use on the skin can also cause allergies, itching, irritation or burns, especially after prolonged contact. Some essential oils have an oestrogenic effect on the body, so should not be used by people with hormonal disorders (aniseed oil, fennel, lavender).

Conclusion

100% natural essential oils have scientifically proven healing effects through thousands of medical studies. Non-natural volatile essences, although similar in chemical structure, do not have the same therapeutic effects, in addition they load the body with toxic products which then require elimination from the body. It is therefore very important to choose only natural volatile oils in therapy, even if they are rare and sometimes quite expensive, as opposed to non-natural oils, which are more easily accessible.

Dr. VIOLETA PÎRVU, family medicine specialist

apiphytotherapy competence