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Even when Essential oils are inhaled only, say in form of a steam inhalation for a cold or as a fumigator for a background “psychological” effect, oils will be absorbed across mucous membranes of Respiratory Tract and lungs into blood stream, where once again, they can travel around body very rapidly.
If Essential Oils are taken orally, their absorption through Mucosa of stomach and into blood is very rapid. Very few essential oils are actually ‘digested’, which is fortunate as their Therapeutic principles may well be altered if this were case.
The reason why Essential Oils behave in this manner in body is because molecules of which they are composed are organic molecules and very small indeed. Below are some of more common Therapeutic Properties which can be obtained by using Essential Oils.
SOME THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES OF ESSENTIAL OILS
1. ANTISEPTIC All essential oils are to a greater or lesser extent ANTISEPTIC. This is one of their most important and valuable properties. This broad description of ANTISEPSIS includes anti viral, antifungal, anti-bacterial and general anti-microbial activity which is found in such oils as: Lemon, Thyme, Tea Tree, Garlic, Eucalyptus, Cinnamon, Pine, Lavender and Sandalwood.
2. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY Oils with this property help to ease inflammation. The symptoms of inflammation are typified by pain, redness, swelling, and partial or total loss of function of tissue involved. Examples of oils with this property are Chamomile, Rose, Lavender, Sandalwood, Myrrh and Benzoin.
3. CYTOPHYLACTIC Restoration of tissue function and regeneration of cells is another outstanding property of essential oils. Oils such as Pine, Basil and Rosemary are known to restore function to adrenal glands, Jasmine, Cypress, and Ylang Ylang restore function of reproductive endocrine glands, lavender and chamomile stimulate cell regeneration in skin.
4. SEDATIVE Essential oils may also have a pronounced effect on nervous system by producing relaxation, pain relief and relieving muscle spasm. Oils with these properties include Lavender, Neroli, Rose, Geranium and Ylang Ylang.
However, most outstanding property possessed by essential oils is their antiseptic/antigenetic properly.
This is well documented in Dr Jean Valnet's book, "The Practice of Aromatherapy" and he discusses at length effects of specific oils in relation to control of extremely virulent microbes like Meningitis bacteria, Golden Staphylococcus bacteria and typhoid bacteria.
In your Reading for Week One, in Chapter entitled "The Healing Power of Plants", from Valnet's book, there are extensive references to many ways in which essential oils can affect physical body.
It is critical to your full understanding and appreciation of Essential Oil Therapy that you appreciate ways in which essential oils can have both a healing and preventive role in diseases involving invasion of body by microbes.
Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.