This is the text of my son. Later I will tell more about the history of using essential oils. It is very exciting.
Today we will talk about essential oils. Essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (easily evaporated at normal temperatures) aroma compounds from plants. Essential oil is “essential” in the sense that it contains the “essence” of the plant’s fragrance—the characteristic fragrance of the plant from which it is derived. In contrast to fatty oils, essential oils typically evaporate completely without leaving a stain or residue. Essential oils are generally extracted by distillation, often by using steam. Other processes include expression, solvent extraction, absolute oil extraction, resin tapping, wax embedding, and cold pressing.
Aromatic plants, essences and oils have been used for ages in ceremony, religious observances, beauty care, food preparation and preservation, as incense, and for perfumes. Aromatic plants have also been the basis for herbal and botanical medicines and remedies for thousands of years. In India, Ayurveda utilized essential oils to help the body balance energy and achieve harmony with the outside world. The ancient Egyptians also harnessed the unique power of essential oils in their process of mummification, as we are shown in the hieroglyphics of their time. In the era of modern medicine, the term “Aromatherapy” first appeared in print in 1937 in a French book on the subject: Aromathérapie: Les Huiles Essentielles, Hormones Végétales by René-Maurice Gattefossé.
Different essential oils may have drastically different pharmacology. Some act as locally anesthetic counterirritants and, thereby, exert an antitussive effect. Some essential oils, such as those of juniper and agathosma, are valued for their diuretic effects. Many essential oils affect the skin and mucous membranes in ways that are valuable or harmful. Some essential oils, such as clove oil or eugenol, were popular for many hundred years in dentistry as antiseptics and local anesthetics.
Studies have shown that aromatherapy is very useful in treating psychological disorders such as stress, depression, and anxiety. By using essential oils to stimulate positive signals in your brain, you can significantly reduce negative emotional conditions. You may use these oils in an oil diffuser or a hot bath. Certain essential oils have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that, when applied to the skin, can reduce irritation and inflammation. These oils may either be applied directly to skin or used with a carrier oil.
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