From lavender to rosemary: a great guide to essential oils

Aroma oils are perhaps one of the oldest ways to treat a person, but they are also one of the most mysterious and cause a lot of controversy and questions. To be honest, we don’t quite understand how to apply them properly, so our editorial staff has similar beauties.

So, we interviewed in detail with dietitian, gastroenterologist, therapist, naturopath and aromatherapist, health coach, doctor of integrative medicine with a holistic approach – Inessa Tsarkova, to punctuate all the t’s.

The conversation was as rich and complete as possible and provided answers to all the questions that worried us. Join the exciting and stimulating training program!

Inessa Charkova

What are aroma oils? And what is the difference between natural oil and synthetic?

Natural aroma oils are essential oils. Concentrates obtained by steam distillation or cold pressing, pressing are plant extracts. When we cut a lemon, peel an orange, breathe in the scent of a rose, we only feel the molecules of essential oils.

Its two main properties are volatility and lipophilicity. Fat molecules are so small that they penetrate the walls of blood vessels, cell membranes and can spread in all directions. They are also oil soluble and insoluble in water.

More than 17,000 aromatic plants have already been studied and their ability to produce various essential oils has been studied. As a result, 2,000 species were isolated, from which 3,000 different essential oils were obtained.

Why is there such a difference in numbers? Several different oils can be obtained from the same plant.

About three hundred of the three thousand essential oils are used for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes. Perhaps in the near future this list will increase due to new studies.

Each product, each part of the plant contains a certain amount of essential oil – this is called the yield of the product. This output is abundant in citrus fruits. For example, 75 lemons yields 15 milliliters of essential oil, but 5 milliliters of jasmine essential oil requires 20,000 flowers. For one rose – 15 thousand.

Natural essential oils, of course, differ from synthetic ones in action and composition. Organic molecules created by nature can differ from artificial molecules, for example, in spatial configuration. In addition, there are many natural molecules whose composition cannot be reproduced. Natural essential oils are natural components, natural molecules that our cells and bodies are familiar with. And so the human cell lets the essential oil in. Whereas, for example, drugs act outside in the intercellular spaces. Thus, essential oils can be used to improve respiration, regeneration and metabolism in the cell. Synthetic aromatic oils are mainly used in the perfume industry.

a little history

Even in ancient times, people learned how to obtain essential oils. Light bulbs and containers for storing incense were found during excavations in India, China, Egypt, Rome, Greece. In ancient Egypt, essential oils were used as medicine. Most often with nervous disorders and depression. Of course, infections developed and antibiotics and pills did not exist, so a wide range of antiseptic effects of essential oils were also in demand. Previously, we did not know much about the diagnosis, the pathogenesis of their development, but we saw how essential oil can help healing. How to restore functions, relieve symptoms, pain, inflammation, swelling.

Hippocrates loved to use essential oils. And in general, ancient healers used them for bathing and massage. And, accordingly, they restored both mental and physical condition. It is surprising that, until the beginning of the 20th century, essential oils were the most powerful drugs known in medicine. There was no other remedy powerful enough to activate, cure, and alleviate the symptoms of the disease. Pills were created only during laboratory studies. And unfortunately, all humanity has become addicted to these synthetic drugs, which have many unwanted side effects. The effects of oils are forgotten. Now, actually, there is a revival of this knowledge, the ancient knowledge of humanity.

This science was popularized by the French chemist Rene-Maurice Gatfoss, who published a book on aromatherapy in 1937. Thus, he re-entered the world of people and began to develop. René had many followers. For example, inspired by his work and summarizing all this work in his monograph called “Aromatherapy”, Dr. valne This already happened in 1964. It has become a reference book for modern aromatherapists. The next follower is Margarita Maori, an Austrian biochemist and beautician. From the 1940s until almost the end of his life, he published several books and lectured specifically on aromatherapy. She opened several centers: in Paris, Switzerland, England, she combined the use of essential oils with massage. And it is he who has the concept of choosing oil for a particular patient. At the same time, a holistic approach to aromatherapy was formulated that has consistently proven its worth.

How to choose a real essential oil?

It is very important that the product is from a well-known manufacturer and is purchased only on the official website. There are too many fakes. What immediately catches your eye? Of course, the price. If we buy a natural essential oil, then in pharmacies it cannot cost 100 or 200 rubles, since aroma oils cost. In addition, pure therapeutic grade oils – must be CPTG certified. Ideally, there is also a food certification, because if the essential oil is natural, it can be used internally. There are products that do not contain essential oils at all – banana, kiwi, strawberry. Of course, such oil is fake. The bottle is also important – it must be glass and darkened.

What is the application range for natural essential oils?

Almost everyone! Everything in life needs to be improved, corrected, changed, supported. Essential oils are an alternative to medicines, especially in the treatment of chronic diseases and as a home remedy. We already know that essential oils have been used as the most powerful medicines throughout almost all human history. Also, with their help, you can improve your mood, get rid of anxiety, stress, depression, calm down, raise the level of joy and positive in your soul, in your life.

aphrodisiacs. For a positive attitude of people towards an individual, individual mixtures of resources are created that have a positive effect on the human psyche, as well as on his condition – mental and physical.

personal care product. You can drip it into toothpaste, add it to shampoos, gargle as an antiseptic.

for daily life. Lemon oil whitens very well, removes greasy stains and dirt from surfaces, acts as an antiseptic and gives freshness.

For sleep. You can drip lavender on the pillow and in this way, the person’s sleep becomes normal. It becomes better, more productive, restorative.

for treatment. The field of application of essential oils is incredibly wide, from gynecology to inhalation. But first, you should seek advice and advice from your aromatherapist to use oils wisely and for good. A person completely unfamiliar with essential oils should start by looking for a guide to the world of essential oils, a long-time expert in the field who knows all the effects of essential oils. And give him specific tasks. Health complaints that you want to fix with the help of essential oils. Choose two or three necessary protocols, start applying them and see a positive effect: how will the symptoms disappear, how will health improve.

What are the benefits of using essential oil?

You should understand that these are highly concentrated active ingredients. Therefore, the dosage must be strictly observed. One or two drops are enough for the therapeutic effect of the essential oil. If a person has an allergy or hypersensitivity to various substances, it is better to start by diluting essential oils and applying them to the feet. Away from the veins, the nervous system. Another option is to dilute it with any base vegetable oil (shredded coconut, almond or grapeseed). If oil intake is indicated inside, you can drip activated charcoal or honey on it, vegetable oil is also suitable. And definitely start with small doses. But still, all this should be done under the supervision of your aromatherapist.

How to create source blends with essential oils?

First, you need to drop five drops of base (high volatility) oil into the aroma. This is, for example, essential oil of vetiver, patchouli, incense or sandalwood. They can be chosen according to the fragrance, how much oil you like. The next to add is medium volatility – floral aromas. They can already add 10 drops. For example, roses, jasmines, magnolias, lavenders or geraniums. The third component in the source mixes is the top or essential, essential oils, citrus. They can already be added 15 drops. It can be wild orange, tangerine, grapefruit, bergamot. Next, you need to give these flavors a day to “marry”.

There are specific guidelines for essential oils that are mutually exclusive. For example, it is not recommended to combine lavender with rosemary. In general, lavender in spring blends softens pungent odors. So if you like the smell but it is sharp, you can drip lavender. For example, geranium sometimes looks very concentrated, and when we combine it with lavender, we get a softer, calmer scent of geranium.

Is it possible to harm yourself using aroma oils?

If these are synthetically created molecules, then yes. They often cause allergic reactions. And in general, many side effects. If this is a natural essential oil, then a classic allergic reaction cannot occur, since there are no protein molecules in the composition and an allergy only occurs to them. Except for a few oils that are not recommended during pregnancy, there are many protocols that allow even pregnant women to use essential oils.

As for the use of essential oils and the body’s overreaction to them, as a rule, such an undesirable reaction occurs in people with chronic pathologies, chronic inflammatory processes or an extracellular matrix filled with metabolic products. This vigorous cleansing reaction can produce undesirable symptoms, as essential oils lead to healing through body cleansing through the activation of detoxification organs and the lymphatic system. Therefore, it is very important to choose dosages and look at the reaction of the body, to act very consistently and slowly.

Reader, I invite you to pay attention to essential oils and get to know them better. Let them come into your life and be amazed, be amazed at how life, psychological state and destiny changes under the influence of essential oils. With the dexterity of our cells and the increased vibrations of our molecules, we can influence what happens next to us, what happens to us, and thus shape our destiny.