What are Essential Oils
An essential oil is any concentrated, hydrophobic compound or liquid from a plant which contains aromatic compounds stored within leaves, flowers, bark, twigs and stems of the host plant.
These aromatic particles are extremly volatile and all carry a distinct smell which is made according to the different chemical profile of the plant it comes from. Essential oils do not as a group need to have any specific chemical properties in common, beyond conveying characteristic fragrances.
Essential oils are not 'natural in the 'true' sense of the word as they need human or animal intervention to obtain the essential oil from the plant. The essential oil is obtained from the plant by distillation, expression or solvent extraction.
Many purists believe that they are essences when they are stored within a plant but an essential oil when they have been extracted from the plant by any of the above methods. They are used extensively within industry from perfumes, cosmetics to food flavourings and cleaning products.
The usage of essential oils have long been documented in history and the bible obviously holds the most widely known use. Frankincense and Myrrh were given to Jesus on his birth but texts from Egyptian times describes wide spread use of essential oils/essences over thousands of years. Many oils were used in embalming practices to help preserve the body for it's journey to the other world.
Today essential oils are most widely used in Aromatherapy. A form of treatment using essential oils blended in different proportions for each individual and applied either to the skin or used in inhalations.
Essential oils are chemically active compunds and as such will be stored and sold in small dark bottles. This is to stop the oils reacting to the sunlight, oxygen and heat. When using essential oils, always make sure that the lids are replaced firmly after use and that they are stored in a cool, dry place away from heat, never in a bathroom cupboard where you have a boiler as the oil will degrade quickly.
Essential oils are extremly poisoneous and should not be taken internally so please make sure that you have placed them high up and away from small children as there is no cure if swallowed.
Essential oils are wonderful at healing various symptoms and are a far more pleasant way of healing a human body than with medicine where appropriate.
Essential oils work on many levels and heal on many levels. They affect the biochemical activity of the brain, balance chakras and subtle bodies, heal meridians, strengthen muscles and heal psychological problems.
They work on the whole energy system of an individual rather than on just one element and the effects of their healing continues long after the oil is used.
Psychologically using essential oils to work on anger, fear, guilt etc is a good way to clear the mind and allow the person to move on from the emotion that is holding them back.
Josie Donaldson has written a book which you can buy below describing the psychological aspects of essential oils and how they can heal you.
Used safely essential oils can show you a new way of healing and open you up to a new you that you thought never existed.