Do Essential Oils Work?

Aromatherapy, like many other alternative/complimentary medicine practices often receives 'bad press' about whether it actually works. Many people believe aromatherapy to be 'just a pretty smell'.

Some of this 'bad press' may come from the fact that aromatherapy is not regulated in the USA; anyone can set up and claim to be an aromatherapist with little or no training. In addition, some essential oil suppliers, who claim to supply 'pure' essential oils, are actually selling adulterated or unpure essential oils.

Pure essential oils are obtained from plants; plants possess essential oils for a number of reasons. Botany and aromatherapy are closely interlinked because essential oils are extracted from plants. The therapeutic powers obtained from essential oils often had an original purpose in protecting the plant too.

Scientists in many countries have conducted many experiments to try to prove or disprove the value of essential oils in certain circumstances. Sometimes the results are inconclusive, due to various factors, but many experiments end in a postive result for the power of essential oils. The International Journal of Essential Oil Therapeutics carries many indepth studies on essential oils.

Often essential oils are confused with fragrance oils; fragrance oils, although pleasant smelling, do not carry the therapeutic properties of essential oils and should not be used in the practice of healing aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy is also a phrase which is often misused. True aromatherapy is the use of essential oils for therapeutic practice but often people talk about aromatherapy when they are really talking about fragrance oils or perfumery.

Essential oils are used medicinally in France and are becoming more popular in medical practice in the U.K. too. I don't beleive that essential oils are in common practice in the U.S.A. in medical settings as yet (please let me know if you know different!) and perhaps the aromatherapy profession needs to be regulated more firmly before this can happen.

For this reason, I am planning on doing further aromatherapy training next year to greater understand the complexities in the chemical make-up of essential oils so that when people ask if essential oils really do work, I will have the knowledge and further experience to expand on my answer!

If understood correctly, and if used correctly, essential oils can be beneficial to a great many people in a number of health problems.

If you have any comments please post them below!

How to Create an Aromatherapy Spa

Going to the spa in these economic times might be something which you give a miss - but that doesn't mean you have to give your spa treatments a miss too! Its relatively easy to create your own aromatherapy spa, with pure essential oil blends, at home!

To learn more read How to Enjoy Spa Treatments at Home...

Vetiver Essential Oil Profile

Another of the scented grasses which produces an essential oil is vetiver - not as well known as citronella or lemongrass , vetiver is a popular plant used in ancient perfumes of India.

It is also extremely useful for problematic skin and is a gentle, non-toxic, non-sensisitizing and non-irritating essential oil due to its high chemical content of alcohols.

Learn more about vetiver essential oil by reading my latest essential oil profile vetiver...

Quality Testing Essential Oils

Essential oils undergo a number of quality tests to test for their purity; as discussed in the previous blog post on essential oil suppliers, it difficult to know if an essential oil is pure. Many 'pure' essential oils are, in fact, 'fragrance oils'. However, quality testing essential oils with such tests as the GC-MS and GLC means that some 'pure' essential oils will not 'pass the test'. Some essential oil suppliers will provide you with the GC-MS test reports if you ask.

Quality testing essential oils is a scientific and complex process but I have tried to explain, in simple terms, the process of quality testing essential oils in my latest article Essential Oil Quality Testing...

Essential Oil Suppliers - Who Can You Trust?

Essential oils have changed considerably since their inception in modern day aromatherapy practice. In Ancient Egypt, plant oils used were different to the essential oils of today and many of these ancient 'oils' were made at source. In other words, people made a lot of their own plant oils and knew what was going into them. Today, it is a much different practice.



In the UK, when common usage of modern day essential oils became popular, it was in the beauty and massage industry they were used the most; not many people really knew about the therapeutic powers of essential oils and essential oils were often used for their 'nice smells' rather than for healing power. Today, this is true in the USA with the use of fragrance oils, which are synthetically made and are not from nature's plants; indeed, many 'essential oils' are also not of the qualitative and therapeutic standards required for aromatherapy practice, even some of those which claim to be so.



As the use of essential oils for their therapeutic properties has risen, people are learning to educate themselves more on what they are actually buying. It is difficult to know if the information being supplied by the large essential oil companies (and some smaller companies too) is both correct and believable.



Some guidelines for buying from a true and pure essential oil supplier include:



- the reputation and the history of the essential oil supplier - if you have heard rumors or 'bad press' about a particular essential oil supplier, you may believe in the old adage 'there is no smoke without fire'. Check your facts, do your own research and decide for yourself.

- pricing of essential oils - if you study essential oils, you will have some idea of what is a reasonable charge for a particular essential oil - for example, rose essential oil is a really expensive oil. If you see it being sold really cheaply, its probably not the 'real deal.'

- check the latin names of the essential oil - true essential oils will have come from the botanical plant of the same name and not from a 'blend' or 'infusion' of a synthetically engineered oil in a factory.

- essential oils go through a number of qualitative tests for evaluation. These include gas chromatography and mass spectometry (more on that in subsequent posts) and some essential oil suppliers will allow you access to the GS/MS reports.

-ask where the essential oil supplier gets their essential oils from - essential oils are available from plants which only grow in certain areas of the world. For example, if someone tells you they buy their frankincense essential oil from a local farmer and they live in England, alarm bells should be ringing!

- if possible, get a recommendation of a good essential oil supplier from a friend or professional you trust.

Currently, regulation governing the sale of essential oils is little or non-existent in most areas of the world so it is up to the consumer to work out who is 'trustworthy' and who is not. Studying essential oils helps you to have some knowledge of what you are looking for - after all, knowledge is power! But, even then, it can be difficult to identify a trustworthy supplier of true essential oils.

In my time I have spent living in the USA, I have learned from peers, forums, publications and my own internet searches and research about the essential oil suppliers in the USA; after 3 years, I am only just beginning to 'trust' some of the information I have on essential oil suppliers who supply the 'real deal'. I am not going to post a list of the 'good guys' and the 'bad guys' on my aromatherapy blog, but if anyone has any thoughts or ideas on essential oil suppliers, I would love to hear from you, either by posting a comment at the end of this post or through my personal contact information in the right hand side column of the blog!

Lemongrass Essential Oil

Lemongrass is another lesser known essential oil but it a light and fresh essential oil with a number of uses; traditionally used in Indian Medicine for fevers and disease, it has also been used as an insect repellent - quite apt for this time of year!

It can be an irritant to those with sensitive skin so should be used with care. However, for anyone who has experience of using essential oils with animals, it is reportedly a natural way to repel fleas from dogs...

For more information read Lemongrass Essential Oil, my latest essential oil profile.

An Essential Oil Glossary - Understanding Aromatherapy Terms

Aromatherapists use some complicated terms to describe essential oils and what properties essentials hold. To the student of aromatherapy this can be very confusing. A simple list or glossary of essential oil terms can help.

There are many aromatherapy books out there - the good ones will contain a glossary of essential oil terms and their meanings. Some are self-explanantory, such as deodorant; others are more complex, such as emmenagogue.

Then there are the terms used to describe the odor of an essential oil. What does 'green' mean? It doesn't mean the essential oil is green in color, in fact it describes an essential oil which has a grassy odor! Of course, many aromatherapists use different terms and can interpret things slightly differently but in general there are some common aromatherapy terms used by most.

As an initial student of aromatherapy, I found the composition of an essential oil glossary helpful and still add to it today, as I continue to learn, or re-visit, new terms. If you want to know more about an essential oil glossary and some of the more common aromatic terms, check out An Essential Oil Glossary of Aromatic Terms.

If you have any suggestions or thoughts on essential oil terms please let me know!

How To Use Essential Oils Safely

Essential oils are safe to use - if you understand them! Many people make the mistake of thinking they are just 'nice smells' like perfume and do not realise the power one little bottle may hold. Apart from taking the time to study, either through books or through a course, there a few basic concepts to using essential oils safely. These include:

- never use essential oils neat, that is directly onto the skin, unless you have had significant training and knowledge in the neat application of essential oils; even then, some essential oils should still never be used neat.

- be aware that some essential oils are phototoxic, so be careful when going out in the sun - see phototoxic essential oils for further information.

- always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil.

- store essential oils in a dark colored glass bottle, such as amber or cobalt blue, to avoid interference from light and possible changes in the chemical components of the essential oil.

- store essential oils in a cool, dark place to preserve the shelf life of the essential oil. Some oils, such as the citrus oils, don't have a long natural, shelf life but others, such as Patchouli, are said to mature with age, but still need to be stored correctly.

- when using essential oils with children, the elderly, pregnant women or other vulnerable groups, dilute the essential oils in a carrier oil more than usual. Some essential oils should not be used in pregnancy or with babies and children, so know your oil before using.

- take a 'case history', if the essential oil use is not for yourself. Even if you are not a qualified aromatherapist, asking a few questions about the person's medical history, allergies and other health concerns might prevent misuse of the essential oil. For example, some essential oils are contraindicated for use with heart problems and high blood pressure.

- keep essential oils out of the reach of children and pets; they can be harmful in the wrong hands (or paws!)

- finally, always label your essential oil blend with its contents! Not only does this indicate what's in the bottle but may avoid possible misuse by someone who comes across it!

Some of these points may sound logical but if you want to use essential oils safely it doesn't hurt to state the obvious and avoid a potential mishap! There are probably many more hazardous chemicals and cleaning agents around your home but it should be remembered that essential oils are, after all, little bottles of chemicals....albeit, 'good' ones if used correctly!

What is an Essential Oil?

There is much debate in the modern world as to the historical use of essential oils. Essential oils as we know them today are not the same as essential oils as used by the ancient Egyptians and Romans. In fact, the very early essential oils used in history were not oils obtained by the distillation process we use today; the distillation of essential oils, with the use of the refrigerated coil, was first used by the Arab physician, Avicenna (AD 980 - 1037). Furthermore, 'modern day' aromatherapy is accredited to Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist, who 'discovered' the therapeutic properties of lavender through an accident in his laboratory in 1928.

However, the ancient Egyptians and Romans were using plants to make oils for both cosmetic and medicinal uses; albeit, it was in a different form than that we know today, but the medicinal properties of the oils were not dissimilar to the properties of the essential oils of today. It is also worth bearing in mind that the chemical components of an essential oil are a complex thing and the removal or addition of a component can alter the essential oil considerably, once extracted from the plant too. But that's for a future posting...

So, how is an essential oil defined? An essential oil is basically the life blood of the plant and is actually stored and used by the plant in a number of ways, prior to its extraction. My article - botany and aromatherapy - explains this in more depth. An essential oil can be extracted from the flowers, roots, seeds, leaves, bark or fruits of a plant; depending on the actual plant this may be by steam distillation or cold expression. An essential oil, despite its name, is in fact non-oily. And essential oils don't dissolve in water.

So what isn't an essential oil? An essential oil is not synthesized or made in a factory or chemically altered in any way. Today, most manufactured perfumes are synthetic (man made) as are many fragrances and 'pure' essential oils which claim to be therapeutic but are in fact, sadly, not. Some essential oils are expensive to produce, such as Rose, so if you find Rose essential oil very cheaply, you are probably being sold a synthetic or 'knock-off' oil. Adulteration of essential oils is common by many large companies looking for a profit margin, rather than a therapeutic value.

The secret to identifying a pure essential oil is to study, study and then study some more! Learn to identify essential oils by their latin names (which relate to the botanical source). Research the history and reputation of the essential oil supplier. Know that most citrus oils are not steam distilled but are actually cold expressed. Fragrance oils (despite their popularity in the USA are of no therapeutic value in aromatherapy) and hydrolats (are of therapeutic value in aromatherapy) are not essential oils. Many items described as 'aromatherapy' products with 'essential oils' may not be what you think; that 'essential oil' may not be an essential oil...

As you can see, essential oils are very complex and take some understanding! Even more so, essential oils should only be used with experience and knowledge - and usually in carrier oils, which is coming up next....

Aromatherapy or Massage?

Most people are more familiar with the term massage therapist than aromatherapist. I have found this to be even more evident since I moved to the USA from the UK. In the UK, aromatherapy and the use of essential oils is becoming more widely accepted in the health field and some forwarding thinking doctors are even allowing the use of essential oils either at their practices or in the hospitals.

Traditionally associated with the beauty industry, this is a very positive move in recognising the importance of the use of essential oils and aromatherapy in their own right. Essential oils are so much more complex than 'nice smells' - and for that reason it is very important to know the power of essential oils and the reactions that the individual chemical components can cause. It is essential to consult a qualified aromatherapist; unfortunately, there are no rules or regulations in the USA to govern someone setting themselves up as an 'aromatherapist' - anyone can do it.

I have found many people (that's not to say all!) in the USA are more familiar with fragrance oils than essential oils; although pleasing to the nose, fragrance oils do not possess the same healing powers of essential oils. And the USA appears to have some catching up to do in accepting essential oils in medical practice in the same way as in the UK; educating people about what an essential oil actually is may help spread the word.

One journal I can highly recommend for the serious aromatherapist interested in evidence based case studies and reports on random clinical trials carried out in the UK, Australia and some other select places is The International Journal of Clinical Aromatherapy. The Journal presents some very interesting cases and non- biased evidence on the power of essential oils and the use of aromatherapy and is produced by Bob and Rhiannon Harris, both very experienced in their fields.

So what about massage? Should it be considered a separate discipline to aromatherapy? Both massage and aromatherapy are 'stand alone' therapies and one can work without the other. However, when aromatherapy and massage are combined they are even more powerful. Often, I have had clients who may have experienced a massage before but not aromatherapy. And I have never had a dissatisfied client yet! The power of essential oils when experienced for the first time is amazing! However, aromatherapy doesn't have to be administered through traditional massage; for example, it can be inhaled or made into bath and body lotions. The magic is in creating a synergy of essential oils which have the ability to treat and heal.

So, in my next post I'll go 'back to basics' and discuss what an essential oil actually is - and is not...

Welcome to my aromatherapy blog!

I have been asked a lot about aromatherapy advice, articles, links and news in my position as an aromatherapist! So, I decided to create an aromatherapy blog to try and address some of these issues. Here you will find essential oil profiles, links to my aromatherapy articles and other relevant articles, links to relevant aromatherapy forums and a whole lot of advice about aromatherapy and essential oils!

As I qualified in the UK but am now living in the USA, I am in the unique position of having an insight into two 'different' worlds - both from an aromatherapy point of view and a practical point of view! If you want to learn more about me and what I do, click on my 'about me' profile on the right of the page.

By writing 'aromatherapy notes', I hope to be able to pass on some very relevant and useful information about aromatherapy and the use of essential oils and try to separate the fact from the fiction in, what can be, a very confusing area! I have found this to be more true since moving to the USA. To get started, check out my latest aromatherapy article posted today at suite101 - helichrysum essential oil....

...And I hope you enjoy my very own 'essential' aromatherapy notes!