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| Essential Oils - also aromathic oil,essences,ethereal oil,volatile oil).The odoriferous, volatie(i.e. evaporates in the open air) component of an aromathic plant usually captured by steam distillation or expression |
| THE MAIN CHEMICAL COMPONENTS OF ESSENTIAL OILS |
 While it is interesting to take a closer look at the individ-ual components of essential oils, it is important not to lose sight of the whole. Assigning actions to an essential oil based on its chemical composition can be misleading. As we have seen, the therapeutic properties of the whole oil is the result of synergism: an interaction of all its chemical constituents working harmoniously together so that the whole becomes more potent than the sum of its individual parts. Bearing this in mind, here is a brief sur-vey of the main chemical compounds found in essential oils.
Terpenes This is a vast group of chemicals with widely varying properties, so it is impossible to generalize about their therapeutic actions. However, common terpenes include limonene (an antiviral agent found in 90 per cent of cit-rus oils), and pinene (an antiseptic found in high concen-trations in pine and turpentine oils). Others, such as chamazulene and farnesol (found in chamomile essence), possess remarkable anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties. Esters The most widespread group found in plant essences, which includes linalyl acetate (found in clary sage and lavender), and geranyl acetate (found in sweet marjo-ram). Esters are fungicidal and sedative, usually with a fruity odor. Aldehydes These substances are found notably in lemon-scented essences, such as lemongrass and citronella. Aldehydes generally have a sedative, though uplifting, quality. Ketones Certain ketones are known to be toxic, so this chemical group is regarded with a degree of caution. However, it is misleading to generalize about the toxicity of individual chemical components without knowing the exact ratio of the substance in relation to other chemicals in the whole oil. Certain essences, however, do contain appreciable quantities of toxic ketones, so should be avoided by lay people. Mugwort, tansy, wormwood and common sage contain the potentially risky thujone, while pennyroyal contains pulegone. Non-toxic ketones include jasmone, found in jasmine, and fenchone in sweet fennel. Ketones ease congestion and aid the flow of mucus, which is why plants and essences containing relatively large quantities of these substances are usually helpful for upper respira-tory complaints. Alcohols Some of the most common alcohols include linalol (found in abundance in lavender), citronellol (rose, lemon, eucalyptus and geranium) and geraniol (gera-nium and palmarosa). These substances tend to have good antiseptic and antiviral properties and an uplifting quality. Phenols These are bactericidal with a strong, stimulating effect on the central nervous system. Essential oils containing rela-tively large quantities of certain phenols are potentially irri-tant to skin and mucous membranes. Common caustic phenols include eugenol (found in clove essence), thymol (thyme) and carvacrol (oregano). However, anethole (from fennel) and estragole (tarragon) are not at all caustic. Oxides These are found in a wide range of essences, especially those of a camphoraceous nature, such as rosemary, eucalyptus, tea tree and cajuput. Oxides tend to have an expectorant effect; for example, eucalyptol (eucalyptus). |
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