Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Essential Oils: What Are They And What Are They Used For



Essential oils are volatile liquid substances extracted from plants. They are generally extracted by means of distillation, although other processes are employed such as mechanical expression, or solvent extraction. They are used in a variety of settings and purposes. For example, it is no longer uncommon to find perfumes, beauty, hygiene, and household products that contain them. They are also often used to flavor food and drink.

The therapeutic use of these oils is called aromatherapy, which is widely considered as a form of alternative medicine. The curative effects of essential oils are theorized to result from the effect of odorant molecules on the brain's emotional center, the limbic system. Aromatherapy practitioners assert that a number of these volatile oils, such as frankincense and lavender, can soothe inflammation, treat infections, and alleviate pain. In addition, frankincense essential oils have been used for many years as a treatment for diseases such as ulcerative colitis.

There are also researches done in the past which report that the smoke from incense sticks infused with Frankincense essential oils are effective at calming the mind, and may be used to bring those who are depressed to a better mood. Lavender essential oil is known to aid in relaxation as well, and is in fact, a component of some anxiolytic drugs. Vaporized lavender essential oils have also been used to alleviate stress-related headaches and cure cough.

Essential oils are generally not applied to the skin undiluted because they are known to cause severe irritation, and can even trigger an allergic reaction. Use of lavender essential oil has also been pointed out as a possible contributory factor to gynecomastia, which is the enlargement of breasts among males. Though non-life threatening, it can still cause problems in terms of the person's self confidence. There are also some people who reported that they experienced abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea after using products containing frankincense essential oil. Remember to talk with your healthcare provider about your aromatherapy practices to ensure safe and coordinated health management.

Essential oils for therapeutic use can be bought from online and offline health stores. Food and industry-grade ones can be bought from manufacturers and affiliated distributors. Various agencies regulate essential oils according to their intended use. In the United States, essential oils are regulated by the FDA in terms of their intended use. Although a few companies have obtained FDA approval to carry out research on essential oils used therapeutically, the majority of these aromatic oils are not considered drugs by official agencies. Thus, they can be bought by anyone even without a prescription.

Instead, buyers check if the product passed ISO or AFNOR manufacturing standards to evaluate its

quality. Non-therapeutic essential oil products on the other hand are regulated by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

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