Aromatherapy Essential oils are highly concentratedextracts from plants, herbs and flowers. There are more than 300 types of oilsthat can be extracted. The term "100% pure and natural essential oil"is used to describe oils that contain only the extract of a particular plant.They are 75-100 times more potent than dried herbs and should be used with care.They are also sensitive to sunlight and should be stored in dark bottles andkept in a cool area.
These oils have distinctive therapeutic,psychological and physiological properties that improve health and preventillness. All essential oils have unique healing and valuable antisepticproperties. Some oils are anti-bacterial, anti- biotic, anti-inflammatory,pain-relieving, hormone regulating, anti-depressant, stimulating, relaxing andexpectorating. Some support digestion and have diuretic properties too.
Essential oils get absorbed into our body andexert an influence on it. The residue gets dispersed from the body naturally.They can also affect our mind and emotions. They enter the body in three ways:by inhalation, absorption and consumption.
Some of them are light liquids, insoluble in waterand evaporate instantly when exposed to air. It would take 100 kg of Lavender toyield 3 kg of Lavender oil;and 8 million Jasmine flowers to yield barely 1 kgof Jasmine oil. Some oft hese aroma oils are very expensive. They are usedsingularly or in combination to bring about restorative and curative processesin the mind and body,offering a gentle alternative to medicinal drugs.