Monday, August 24, 2015

The Uses Of Organic Essential Oils

By Nancy Gardner


An essential oil can be described as a hydrophobic liquid of high concentration that consists of unstable aroma compounds obtained from plants. The three most common methods of extraction include the expression, distillation using steam and solvent extraction. They are used as a raw material in making soap, perfumes, cleaning agents and flavouring of food and drinks. Organic essential oils are therefore gotten from natural sources.

These extracts are very valuable to people who practice alternative medicine and in the health community, they are not taken seriously. It is therefore a very difficult task to find references of the specific benefits. The transmission of some resistant pathogen strains can also be controlled by the use of essential oils which is according to several studies.

Many of these extracts can be dangerous in high concentrations if taken orally causing effects such as a burning feeling and salivation. This also has a carminative effect in the stomach which causes the gastric sphincter to relax thus encouraging belching. The most effective ones include eucalyptus oils, camphor, capcaisin, menthol and anise while others offer no significant benefit.

Many these products also affect the skin and mucous membranes in a negative way; the tree tea oil may cause contact dermatitis. Menthols as well as others cause a feeling of cold followed by a burning sensation that is caused by their effect on heat-sensing nerve endings. Others such as the clove oil were used in the ancient dentistry as anaesthetic and antiseptic.

Some oils are claimed to cause immense relaxation to the mind. Although such claims are difficult to quantify, it does not mean that they are false. The extracts are hydrophobic and are therefore dissolved in organic solvents such as pure ethanol and polyethylene glycol. Their negative effects can only be linked to their level of purity and not the effects it has on the body itself.

A majority of the extracts are only meant to be used for their aroma therapeutic ability and should not be directly applied on the skin in their raw form. Some of them are known to bring about allergic reactions, become hepatotoxic over time and cause severe irritation. Those that are sourced from citrus plant are photo sensitizers which increase the skins exposure to sun rays.

People working with merchandise on an industrial level are required to seek the help of safety data sheets in determining safety measures and their handling techniques. This is because, grade oils are known to have a bad effect on expectant women and people who suffer from epilepsy. They are also known to be aggressive on some materials such as rubber and plastic thus correct equipment should be used.

Therapeutic essential oils have been known to have traces of pesticides and are the reason why these products are sought by practitioners. For the ingestible ones, they should be taken in their correct dosage which is usually safe for consumption in small quantities. Government standards should be used in the case of concerns of pesticide traces.




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