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Aromatherapy is a form of herbal medicine. It uses the scent of essential oils distilled from plants, flowers and trees to improve the health and energy. Used correctly, it can re-energize and rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit. Aromatherapy comes in many forms. It can be used as oils, candles, lotions and soaps.
How fragrant oils extracted from plants?
Many herbs are used in the production of essential oils and waters for aromatherapy. Essential oils are aromatic compounds found in the plant. They are extracted by distillation. There are different approaches to this, but they are all basically the same.
herbs are placed in water that is heated until it produces steam. This release and then be content, including aromatic compounds. The steam is then cooled in a condenser and the material left behind is collected. Oil (which will become Essential Oil) floats to the top of distilled water and can draw from.
The distilled water part is called hydrosol. If you want to buy a plant or flowers’ water is the best kind of hydrosol this is a by-product of aromatic distillation. Are there many ‘waters’ essential oils added to water or alcohol and are not as good as true hydrosols.
Aromatherapy Treat with respect!
Many people believe that because of the fragrant oils have ‘only come from plants “that they can use as much as they want. Essential oils are highly concentrated and are usually measured in drops. Strength wise – one drop would equal volume quantities Skalet. Drinking one ounce of essential oil could prove fatal.
Unless you are a professional aromatherapist, it is best to use only essential oils on the skin. Mix always drop of oil ‘carrier’ as almond oil. Undiluted essential oils can burn skin.
How can anything from plants to be so rich?
Our pharmacy has evolved from herbal medicine. Many drugs in use today are still derived from plants.
There are more than 250,000 known plant species and still less than 1% of them have been thoroughly tested for use in medicine. A quarter of our prescription drugs are derived from tiny 1%. The list includes morphine, atropine, ephedrine, warfarin, aspirin, digoxin, taxol, hyoscine – so plants are quite powerful and caution should be exercised. Is not it amazing to think what other helpful drugs are out there and still undiscovered!
Growing Herbs For Aromatherapy
Large areas of crops need to grow herbs for aromatherapy purposes. This is because, when calculated on the weight of fresh herbs distilled, plants only yield between 0.01% and 2% of essential oil. So much needs to be grown and distilled to produce a fair amount of oil.
To produce essential oils, are requirements of plants, good soil (often organic), irrigation, reasonable shelter harsh weather, harvest and distillation equipment.
Hints and tips on essential oils
1. Always read and heed advice on the labels of essential oils.
2. Keep them out of sight and reach of children.
3. Never put essential oils near the eyes.
4. Always dilute with carrier oil before placing on the skin – or it will burn
5. Essential oils are for external application. Do not ever let them down.
6. As with any new skin preparation, test the oil first. Diluted drops of essential oil with a carrier oil and apply on the skin of the inner arm. If there is any irritation, stop using it.
7. Many herbs should be avoided by pregnant women and people suffering some health. Always check before use.
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