Frequently asked questions
WHAT IS AROMATHERAPY?
Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils in order to
take advantage of their benefits for the body, mind and spirit.
Essential oils have been used therapeutically for hundreds of years but
as modern medicines began to appear around the turn of the century the
use of essential oils declined.
In the 1950's, the practice of aromatherapy enjoyed a strong revival that has
continued into the present. While the professional practice of aromatherapy
requires extensive training, anyone can enjoy many of the benefits of essential
oils at home with just a little reading in one of the many affordable and
readily available reference texts now on the market.
WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS?
Essential oils are complex mixtures of naturally occurring compounds that exist
in some plants which have fragrant flowers, leaves, wood, bark, roots, or seeds.
From an organic chemist's point of view, the active constituents of essential
oils are composed of hydrocarbons and oxygenated hydrocarbons which can be
grouped according to their molecular structure into terpenes, esters, alcohols,
aldehydes, ketones, and phenols.
Essential oils may be extracted from plants using a variety of methods but
for aromatherapy purposes, the only acceptable methods are those that are
non-toxic. This includes distillation, cold pressing, and, in a few cases,
non-toxic solvent extraction. A good therapeutic grade essential oil is produced
using non-toxic procedures that preserve the life-giving vital essence of the
plant. Essential oils vary greatly in quality and not all are therapeutic grade.
Do not confuse essential oils with vegetable oils, which are also sometimes
called "carrier" or "base" oils. Essential Oils are volatile, which means that
they evaporate when exposed to air; they are very fragrant; they do not feel
slick or oily, and do not leave an oily residue. Vegetable oils, such as almond
oil, apricot oil, olive oil, or avocado oil are not really fragrant; they do not
evaporate readily; they do feel oily and leave an oily residue. Vegetable oils
are used in aromatherapy for the purpose of diluting essential oils so that they
can be safely applied to the skin.
WHAT ARE FRAGRANCE 0ILS?
"Fragrance oils" are chemical mixtures that mimic natural plant aromas. They
may smell just like the "real thing" but are not appropriate for aromatherapy.
Read product labels carefully and avoid those labeled as "fragrance oils",
"essential fragrance oils", or "nature identical".
USE OF ESSENTIAL OILS
Add 2 to 4 drops of essential oil to a warm (not hot) bath. For a massage/body
oil, add 1 drop of essential oil per teaspoon of high quality, cold pressed
vegetable oil, such as sweet almond or grape seed oil. For room fragrancing, add
a few drops to a diffuser or a pot of steaming (not boiling) water. If you are
mixing several oils in a "blend", treat the "blend" as a single oil; in other
words, use no more than 4 drops of the "blend" in a bath, or 1 drop of the
"blend" to a teaspoon of vegetable oil. These and other methods of use are
described in aromatherapy reference books.
KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PURCHASING.
Some products sold as "essential oils" are diluted in cheaper "carrier" oils
or are adulterated in some other way. Again, read product labels carefully but
be aware that labels may not disclose full information. Several popular
aromatherapy books outline simple tests that purchasers can perform at home, to
aid in detecting inferior products. We encourage you to learn these methods and
apply them to the products you purchase. Become familiar with the botanical
names of the oils you want to use and never purchase an essential oil that is
not labeled with the botanical name, as well as the common name.
STORAGE
The shelf-life of most essential oils is about 12 months,
with proper handling. Oils should be stored in a cool (not cold) place, where
they are not exposed to sunlight. Refrigeration of essential oils is not
recommended since some can be spoiled by this procedure. Open bottles only for
use and keep caps securely closed, as exposure to air speeds the deterioration
of any botanical product, including essential oils.
Question - What is "Aromatherapy Grade Oils" (therapeutic grade)?
Answer. If you are looking at the therapeutic
properties of essential oils, then there is often a very real difference
between one and another. That is why we always review the MS/GS reports for
each oil before making a purchase. No one tells us that these are are
"aromatherapy grade" or therapeutic grade. This is the decision we
make and the label we apply. "Aromatherapy Grade" or "Therapeutic Grade" may
be considered by some to be marketing hype but, in fact, it is not. We use
the terms "therapeutic grade" or "aromatherapy grade" (same thing) to
differentiate our essential oils from other essential oil "stuff". We use
the terms to mean that we consider our essential oils to be of excellent
quality and suitable for therapeutic applications. There is no official
grading system other than perhaps the use of the term "food grade" or
pharmaceutical grade, which often denote oils inferior to those sought by aromatherapists. You could say that all essential oils are alike. You could
also say that all wines are alike. I think there is often quite a lot of
difference between one wine and another and one essential oil and another.
Some oils for sale on the market are adulterated and some have had
certain components removed or come from the second or third distillation of
the plant material. We consider such oils to be inferior and definitely not
therapeutic grade. All our oils are pure, unadulterated, complete and from
first run distillations (unless otherwise plainly stated).
We purchase our essential oils either directly from growers or through
known sourcing agents (people who know the oils and the growers). We check
the material data sheets on each oil and the gas chromatographs to be sure
they have the properties we're looking for. We only select the oils that we
feel have the "right" properties. That's what we mean by aromatherapy grade.
Is it hype? I don't think so but some might
Question - Do you have any tips on making essential oils candles?
Answer. When we tried crafting a few candles we can't get the "candle part" right
but we did get the essential oil part
right. Here's what we found: Use the best essential oils you can afford
(like ours). Combine (1 part to 5 with Jojoba) - this seems to enhance the
fragrance and help with the mixing of the essential oils with the wax. Add
the essential oils at the last possible stage. Use as little heat as
possible in this last stage (heat causes the essential oils to evaporate).
Seal your candles as soon as possible (essential oils continue to slowly
evaporate over time. Note: Synthetic fragrances will smell stronger and last
longer but they are certainly not therapeutic and may even be harmful.
DISCLAIMER: This information is based upon the literature research
and the personal experience of Joie Power, Ph.D. and Dreaming Earth. It is not intended as a
substitute for consulting with your physician or other health care
provider. Joie Power, Ph.D. or Loving Aroma are not responsible for any adverse effects
or consequences resulting from the use of any of the suggestions,
preparations, or procedures discussed above or in her publications or on
her web site. All matters pertaining to your physical health should be
supervised by a health care professional.
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