How to Use Essential Oils
September 5th, 2008 at 11:09am Under Main Content
Essential oils are highly concentrated, and must be diluted in a carrier oil before they are used on the skin. Please note that citrus oils, particularly Bergamot, may cause photosensitivity, and should not be used on the skin before significant exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet radiation. The bowl is first filled with a small amount of water, into which a few drops of essential oils are placed. The oils are evaporated through the gentle heating of the water by the candle. Mostly, essential oils are obtained by steam distillation although other methods are used. Citrus fruits are cold pressed by mechanical means, and the oil from delicate flowers is obtained by a more sophisticated method that produces what is known as an absolute .
Essential oils are pure herb extracts that deliver the essence of the aroma. Some essential oils are used for aromatherapy while other essential oils are used for massage, other edible oils are eaten for specific health applications or fatty acid supplementation. Essential oils are extracted using steam distillation or Carbon dioxide, or pressed by expeller press (Citrus fruits). Essential oils that are extracted by food grade solvent are called concretes and absolutes. Essential oils are generally extracted by distillation. Other processes include expression, or solvent extraction.
Another theory suggests that because essential oils are extracted from whole aromatic plants, they have a life force or vitality that can affect the body in unique ways. Because essential oils are so highly concentrated, most of them are at least 50 times more therapeutically potent than the herbs or plants they came from. When herbs are cut & dehydrated for therapeutic use, they can lose as much as 90% of the healing nutrients as well as the vast majority of the vital oxygen molecules. Essential oils are in essence the life force of the plant.
Essential oils are the aromatic components of plants. They can be distilled from the flowers, seeds, leaves, bark, or roots of plants, grasses, and trees. Two types of essential oils are distilled from this shrub. Juniper berry oil is the better quality and the one recommended for therapeutic use. The line of Mountain Rose Herbs essential oils are 100% pure, natural plant oils with no added water, alcohol, carriers or other diluents. They are suitable for aromatherapy, cosmetics, cooking, and within cosmetics.
Impaired reproduction is not observed when canola oil, mineral oil, or shortening (eg., Crisco, a vegetable lard) containing essential oils are delivered to the hives. The fats and greases do not enter the food chain as readily as syrups, and the amounts of essential oils ending up in larval food or in the larvae themselves are inconsequential. Essential oils are volatile as they evaporate easily, and although called an oil are in fact not oily to the touch. Essential oils are extracted from the plant by a number of different means including steam distillation (the method most often used), cold pressing, enfleurage, solvent extraction and CO2 extraction. Essential oils are the concentrated essence of plant material widely used in aromatherapy. They are exclusively made from botanical matter, so any fragrance that contains musk (an animal product), for instance, is not pure essential oil.
Tags: Aromatic Plants, Carrier Oil, Citrus Fruits, Citrus Oils, Delicate Flowers, Edible Oils, Essential Oils, Flowers Seeds, Food Grade, Healing Nutrients, Health Applications, Herb Extracts, Oxygen Molecules, Solvent Extraction, Sophisticated Method, Steam Distillation, Ultraviolet Radiation, Vital Oxygen
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