The History and Science of Healing With Essential Oils Did you know that at least 30% of prescription drugs in the United States are based on naturally occurring compounds from plants? Each year, millions of dollars are spent searching for new, undiscovered, curative elements in the bark, roots, flowers, seeds and foliage of plants from every corner of the Earth.
As the most powerful part of the plant, essential oils and plant extracts have been mankind 's first medicine. History has shown and science supports that these can be used medicinally to kill bacteria and viruses. They can balance hormones and brain chemistry. They can stimulate the regeneration of tissue and stimulate nerves. They can even carry nutrients to and oxygenate the cells.
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Some oils are engineered or extended with the use of synthetic chemicals. For instance, much of the lavender sold in the U.S. is the hybrid called lavandin. It is cut with synthetic linalyl acetate to improve the fragrance, then propylene glycol, DEP or DOP are added and it is sold in stores as lavender oil. In France, production of true lavender oil dropped from 87 tons in 1967 to only 12 tons in 1998. During this same period, global demand for lavender oil grew over 100%. From where did all that phantom lavender oil come? It came from sources that engineered or adulterated their product. At best, these oils are not effective. At worst, they can be harmful. It is extremely important to always know the source of your oils and be familiar with the growing, harvesting and distillation processes used to procure …show more content…
When stimulated by odor molecules, these nerve cells trigger electrical impulses to the olfactory bulb in the brain. These transmissions then travel to the gustatory center (where the sensation of taste is perceived), the amygdale (where emotional memories are stored), and other parts of the limbic system. The limbic system is directly connected to those parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress and hormone balance. Therefore, inhaling essential oils can have profound physiological and psychological