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. |
