Science of Aromatherapy
Most people consider aromatherapy essential oils in terms of the fragrance alone, or maybe their effects such as relaxation or cleansing. An aromatherapy massage or a soak in a warm scented bath is how most of us think of aromatherapy essential oils. It is also interesting to look a little deeper and take note of the chemistry to help us understand why they help us to feel so great after that delicious soak or massage.
Essential oils all contain a mixture of chemical components and it is the properties of these components that give the oils their therapeutic benefits. Many of these chemical components are used in science, industry and pharmacology. We use products at home that utilise these same properties. Alcohol, for example when found in essential oils has anti bacterial and anti viral properties, how many of us use alcohol hand gel to kill any germs? Essential oils allow us to utilise these naturally occurring chemicals in a natural pleasurable way.
Please do seek advice from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before experimenting as some oils are very potent and have powerful effects which are not suitable for everyone. Take special care if you are pregnant, have unstable blood pressure or epilepsy. If you have any concerns about your health and the use of essential oils speak to your medical practitioner.
There are a number of chemical groups which cover most of the components of essential oils. Below is a summary of these to introduce the concept of the science behind aromatherapy.
Terpenes -Often end in “ene”
These chemical components have a number of properties such as :
antibacterial, antiseptic, anti inflammatory, mild diuretic, decongesting, bracing, warming, uplifting.
It is worth noting that this is quite a broad generalization for the purpose of simplification as this large group of chemicals vary greatly.
Terpenes are a group of chemical constituents with a wide number of properties. Common Terpenes include Limonene, which is an anti-viral agent found in most of the citrus oils. Pinene is found in pine oils, this has strong antiseptic properties. Chamazulene which is found in Chamomile, possesses noticeable anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
One group of terpenes are Monoterpines. These chemicals components have properties such as anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiviral and antibacterial, some can be analgesic or stimulating with a tonic effect. Since some have a stimulating effect on the mucus membranes they are also often used as decongestants.
Essential Oils containing Terpenes:
MANDARIN 98% ORANGE SWEET 98% LEMON 98% NEROLI 35% BERGAMOT 30% BLACK PEPPER 70-80% TEA TREE +30%
FRANCINSENSE HIGH % JUNIPER HIGH % MARJORAM HIGH %
ROSEMARY (PINENE AND LIMONENE)
YLANG YLANG, LAVENDER, ROSE, GERMAN CHAMOMILE
Aldehydes –often end in “al”.
These chemical components have a number of properties such as :
anti inflammatory, antiviral, antiseptic, analgesic, stimulating action on exocrine glands of digestive tract, increase localised blood flow, calming and soothing on nervous system but uplifting.
Aldehydes are most commonly found in lemon scented oils and they generally have sedating but uplifting qualities. This chemical component imparts the citrus-like fragrance in melissa, lemongrass and citronella. These properties are best used in aromatherapy when the essential oil is used in low dilutions - around 1%.
Should oils high in this component be used, it could cause skin irritation and sensitivity as for instance lemongrass oil. Aldehydes are also unstable and will easily oxidize in the presence of oxygen and even low heat.
Aromatherapy essential oils containing aldehydes:
LEMON GRASS HIGH % CITRONELLA
Ketones –often end in “one”.
These chemical components have a number of properties such as :
Healing and regenerative on skin, mucolytic action, stimulating.
Some Ketones are potentially toxic, so oils containing large quantities of this need to be treated with a degree of caution. Not all ketones are bad, eg; Jasmine and Sweet Fennel contain relatively benign ketones and are helpful with problems affecting the upper respiratory tract.
Oils containing ketones are useful in skin regeneration, wound healing and reducing old scar tissue such as in wounds and stretch marks.
Essential oils containing ketones include:
ROSEMARY , JASMINE, SWEET FENNEL.
Alcohols –often end in “OL”.
These chemical components have a number of properties such as :
Antiseptic, analgesic, antiviral, stimulating, stress relieving, immune stimulant, diuretic.
Alcohol substances in essential oils have good antiseptic and anti-viral properties as well as having uplifting qualities. Common examples include Linalol, which is a major constituent of Lavender; and Citronellol, this is found in Rose, Lemon, Eucalyptus and Geranium
These oils have good antiseptic, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties with very few side effects such as skin irritation or toxicity and have an uplifting energizing effect.
ROSEWOOD 90% PALMAROSA 80% SANDALWOOD 70% GERANIUM 65% LAVENDER 50% NEROLI 40% BERGAMOT 30% PATCHOULI 40%
PEPPERMINT ( MENTHOL) HIGH % YLANG YLANG (LINALOL) PETITGRAIN TEA TREE, ROSE
Acids -ACID
Acids are rarely found in significant quantities in essential oils, usually less than 1%.
This chemical component has antimicrobial properties. One oil used containing acids is BENZOIN. Benzoin was used for many years in hospitals as a cleaning and antiseptic tincture before synthetic agents were developed.
Esters –Often end in “YL or ATE”
These chemical components have a number of properties such as :
Calming and sedative, insomnia, cictrasant (helping scar tissue) cell regenerating, antifungal, anti inflammatory, good for skin health, anti spasmodic.
Esters are among the most common compounds found in essential oils and they have fungicidal and sedative properties.
Therapeutic effects include being sedative and antispasmodic. Some esters also have anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties - like the anti-fungal properties in geranium oil.
These components are normally gentle in their actions and can be used with great ease
CLARY SAGE (80%) CHAMOMILE ROMAN (80%) LAVENDER (50%) PETITGRAIN (50%) BERGAMOT (40%) NEROLI (16%) GERANIUM (15%) BENZOIN.
Phenols –often end in “OL”
These chemical components have a number of properties such as :
Ant bacterial, fungicidal, stimulating, dilate bronchi, anti-spasmodic, immune stimulant.Phenols are anti bacterial and have a strong stimulating effect on the central nervous system. Any oil that contains large quantities of some Phenols can cause potential skin irritation.
These components have great antiseptic, anti-bacterial and disinfectant qualities and also have greatly stimulating therapeutic properties.
Phenols are also classified as skin and mucus membrane irritants and although they have great antiseptic qualities, like cinnamon and clove oil, they can cause severe skin reactions
Oxides -often end in “oxide”
These chemical components have strong expectorant properties.
Oxides are commonly found in Camphoraceous aromatherapy essential oil, eg; Rosemary, Eucalyptus and Tea Tree.
The main therapeutic effect of oxides are that of expectorant, with 1,8-cineole - commonly known as eucalyptol being the most well know. This component is found in many mouth washes and couch medicines.
EUCALYPTUS 70-80% PEPPERMINT, ROSEMARY, TEA TREE + 15%(CINEOL)
Lactones and coumarins -often end in “in or one”
Lactones stimulate liver.
Coumarins have properties which are anti convulsive, calming and sedative, anti coagulant and encourage perspiration.
Lactones also have great mucus moving and expectorant properties and for this reason Elecampane is often used in the treatment of bronchitis and chest complaints
Coumarins : PEPPERMINT, CLARY SAGE
For more information on aromatherapy or to book you aromatherapy massage call me on 07531121199 or e-mail me.