WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL
OILS
Essential oils are the fragrant or volatile constituents found in
plants. They contain the most active physiological properties. Experts
believe that they contain the life force of the plant. Chemically
essential oils are made up of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, phenols,
terpenes, sesquiterpenes, ethers, and esters. In the living plant,
these essential oil components are used as hormones for growth and
reproduction, plant pheromones for smells which will attract pollinating
insects, defense mechanisms protecting the plant from predators and
also protection against bacterial, viral and fungal invasion. Some
plants have very high concentrations of essential oils, which acts
as a defense mechanism for protection. We call them herbs, and have
used them for thousands of years to add to our own body's arsenal
of defense. Essential oils can be derived from all parts of the plant.
The flowers produce essential oils that have often had sedating, narcotic,
or relaxing effects on the body. The resins, woods, barks and exudates
produce heating essential oils that actively move fluids in the body.
The leaves often have healing and cooling coming from the green colour
of the chlorophyll. The roots contain many of the earth properties
of plants and can be very grounding. |
