Essential Oils-Essential to Beauty :: Holistic Healing :: Functional Foods/Nutraceuticals :: A-F

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Essential Oils-Essential to Beauty
by author Cindy Mortimer

The art of using oil to improve physical, emotional and psychological well being has been with us for centuries. In the 11th century AD, European healers extracted oils from plants through squeezing and distilling methods. The essential oils were burnt for their antiseptic properties and used topically as medicinal salves. The significance of this important form of treatment was lost by the 1800s. During the 1920s, however, essential oils became popular again in France and the therapeutic practice was called "aromatherapy."

The aromas from these plant-based oils work directly on alpha or beta brain waves associated with specific emotional or intellectual states. Many of the same oils provide antiseptic or analgesic assistance when administered topically, since the molecules in essential oils are small enough to penetrate skin and enter the blood stream. Other oils, such as almond, olive and sesame, have larger molecular structures and are less easily taken in. These oils are used as carrier or base oils and are mixed with quicker absorbing oils to lessen the chance of irritations. Sniffing and dabbing aromatherapy pendants and roll-on vials are now very popular.

Incorporating internal oils that contain essential fatty acids into our daily diets is extremely important. The body is unable to manufacture gamma linoleic acid or GLA. However, it’s needed to maintain the integrity of our cell walls. Taken internally, evening primrose, flax seed and cold-water fish oils provide high levels of these essential fatty acids.

One of the newest of these essential fatty acid-rich oils to come to the public’s attention is emu oil. It was originally used by the aboriginal tribes of Australia to ward off the effects of the sun. In time, they introduced it to European settlers who adopted its use.

Produced today from refined and deodorized emu fat, emu oil helps cellular function, cell growth and regeneration, and decreases cellular inflammation and death. The oil works well as a moisturizer and in healing skin disorders because of its physical similarity to the fats in skin cells. It easily penetrates and is readily absorbed into cells. When you start using emu oil, your body will quickly respond in the healing of skin tissue. This has been seen with patients who have leg ulcers and dermatitis caused by circulatory problems. If the essential fatty acids are not available the body will use unhealthy dietary fats which impair function of the cells due to the structural rigidity they cause. Skin becomes dry, itchy and inflamed.

Essential fatty acid oils are used in the reduction and prevention of pain, inflammation, tumours, cirrhosis of the liver, colon problems, hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and female reproductive disorders, such as cramps, heavy bleeding and hot flashes.

Emu oil is used internally to attain these benefits but it can also be used externally for faster healing of skin disorders, for moisturizing, muscular aches and for bruising.

Stimulate Better Health

Peppermint oil is a mental stimulant. Rosemary oil increases energy. Citrus oils work on improving mood and uplifting your spirits, while floral oils such as geranium, orange blossom, lemon balm and camomile all help alleviate stress and minor depression. If you’re feeling angry, use rose oil to help your disposition.

Lavender reminds us of what our grandmothers used to scent dresser drawers. Lavender is one of the most versatile of the essential oils. It can treat bruises, burns, muscular pain, cuts and emotional upset.

Most oils have more than one curative function. They can be used topically as massage oils, salves and anti-bacterial cleansers or can be taken internally for digestion and cold remedies.
A useful topical oil is tea tree oil. Its ability to battle micro-organisms helps treat warts, lacerations and acne. It’s a major ingredient in toothpaste, mouthwash and shampoo.

Castor oil, evening primrose oil, ylang ylang and jojoba oils are all moisturizers included in shampoos for their ability to nourish the hair and scalp. Eucalyptus oil is commonly used for chest and sinus congestion.

Cindy Mortimer is a kinesiologist living a holistic, vegetarian life in Toronto, ON

Source: alive #224, June 2001

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