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Essential Oils & Aromatherapy Reloaded:
The Complete Step by Step Guide

Table of Contents

• Air purification
• Detoxifying properties
• Emotional and physical healing
• Facilitation of nutrient transport in the body
• Multi-anti capabilities, starting with it being an antiseptic. Essential oils also fight:

• Bacteria
• Cancer
• Fungi
• Infection
• Microbes
• Parasites
• Tumors

• Penetrating power to the skin owing to its small molecular size, which enhances efficacy of the intervention
• Purification of air
• Regenerative, oxidative, and immune defense properties

Essential oils refer to volatile liquids which are distilled from plants and plant parts to extract their essence for therapeutic applications both on the physical and the psychological realm of healing. Source plants for these oils range from plants, shrubs, and trees to grasses. Essential oils are extracted from various plant parts including the bark, flower, fruit, leaf, root, and stem.

They are called essential oils because of how ancient doctors or medicine men, as well as pharmacists of the olden times (called apothecaries or more specifically, alchemists), perceive these plant extracts as the essential life force of plants. Mystics even believe in their magical healing powers. However, as man continued to benefit from their therapeutic applications, they also came to realize that essential oils indeed heal, but not because of magic.

Contrary to popular belief, the essential oils used by reputable professionals in the modern world who engage in aromatherapy and massage therapy are not pure essential oils. This is not, however, a bad thing at all. Technically, essential oils cannot and should not be used in their pure form because these will cause severe skin irritation and/or reactions for most individuals. The same is true for essential oils used in aromatherapy because the nasal lining is more sensitive than the external skin.

Essential oils are distilled from selected plants mostly via steam or water. Being volatile in nature, these oils have concentrated aroma but evaporate over time. It is standard practice to dilute essential oils using carrier oils. Carrier oils are derived from the fatty portion of plants such as the kernel, nut, or seed and do not have the strong aroma of essential oils, but they do not evaporate. Carrier oils are important in aromatherapy and are used to dilute essential oils to prevent irritation or other adverse reactions.

Carrier oil is the general term used in aromatherapy to dilute essential oils prior to application. Base oils are practically the same as carrier oils, but the former term finds more frequent use in skin care, specifically when referring to natural methods of caring for the skin. This book adopted the term base oil grounded on the fact that aromatherapy dilutes pure essential oils to prevent skin irritation, and thus, is an effort to effect natural skin care.

However, base oils are not simply dilution agents. They provide distinct characteristics and healing properties. Aromatherapy practitioners therefore select particular base oils in terms of the therapeutic goal of the procedure. Base oils are also interchangeably called fixed oils or vegetable oils, although the latter may present some confusion. Not all base oils are extracted from plants although many of them are.

The following base oils are used in aromatherapy:

• Apricot kernel oil is extracted from the kernel (apparently) of the fruit and exhibits a pale yellow color. It contains vitamins and minerals. This oil is generally used for all skin types and is best for dry, prematurely aging, sensitive, and/or swollen skin.

• Avocado pear oil is sourced from the flesh of the fruit itself and is, therefore, dark green. It has fatty acids, lecithin, proteins, and vitamins A and D. This oil is used as an additive to base oil at 10% to 20% dilution. It suits all skin types and is best for dry or dehydrated skin. It is effective against eczema.