Chemistry. Already getting nervous? The chemistry chapters of essential oil texts are the most frequently skipped, even by natural health professionals. But it can be fun and useful…really! Knowing what essential oils are made of, and how this affects their aroma and therapeutic value can have a big impact on the efficacy of your aromatherapy practice. Understanding the basics can help you make better choices in essential oils, and better choices in their application. Plus, this can give you the foundation for further understanding of true “medical aromatherapy”, as practiced in much of the rest of the world. So here’s a primer on the chemistry of essential oils, with some common examples and important tips to help you grow as a holistic medicine practitioner.

So what is it that makes an essential oil different than every other oil we’re familiar with? They don’t feel the same, they don’t act the same, and they certainly don’t smell the same. Essential oils and the so-called “fixed” oils (you may also know them as carrier or base oils – like Sweet Almond, Apricot Kernel, Evening Primrose, etc) are distinctly different in their molecular structure. While both essential and fixed oils share common basic atomic elements of Carbon and Hydrogen, that’s really where the similarity ends. Fixed oils are made of triglyceride structures – three long chains of carbon atoms, with hydrogens bonded at various places. The length of the chains and the position and number of hydrogens define the nature of the oil; if hydrogens are bonded to every available location, the oil is “saturated’, for example. One missing hydrogen is “mono-unsaturated’, more than one is “poly-unsaturated’. The long chains and relative consistency of the molecular structures makes fixed oils “oily’, and does not allow them to evaporate quickly.

Essential oils are “volatile” oils – oils that DO easily evaporate. Their chains of carbon atoms to which the hydrogens attach are not as long or heavy, and are much more complex. Many essential oil structures are not really chains, but ring, or multi-ringed shapes with diverse sub-units – called “functional groups” – sticking out in various directions. Like their fixed oil counterparts, essential oils are lipophillic – meaning “fat liking”. The fat-liking nature of both fixed and essential oils makes them easily absorbed by our bodies. Because of their typically smaller structures however, essential oils are absorbed more rapidly than fixed oils, and can easily penetrate deep into the body. Despite their plant origins, this lipophillic nature of essential oils makes their profound healing action on the human body possible.

The therapeutic action of an essential oil is primarily determined by the “functional groups” found in the molecules that make up that oil. An essential oil is actually made up of many individual molecular constituents. Each of these natural chemicals is formed of a carbon-hydrogen structure with a functional group attached. It is the combination of the base structure AND the attached functional group that makes a single, unique molecule. And MANY of these unique molecules combine to form ONE essential oil.

The extremely complex nature of essential oils becomes apparent from this description. There are an almost infinite number of molecular combinations that can be formed from the building blocks of chains, rings and functional groups. And any SINGLE essential oil is made of many, sometimes even hundreds of these molecular combinations. Yet while this may sound complex, you needn’t know ALL the chemical details to use oils therapeutically. It IS helpful to know that each oil is made of many molecular forms, that all the molecules within each oil exert some biologic effect, and that it is the SYNERGY of ALL these molecules together that create the sum total of an oil’s therapeutic action AND its aroma. Nearly every laboratory study comparing complete, pure essential oils to one singled-out molecule that was thought the “active ingredient” shows the essential oil to be more active.

Many factors in an essential oil’s production affect the total number and relative amounts of individual chemicals found in the final product. These include where the plant was grown, soil and climate conditions, time of harvest, distillation equipment, plus the time, temperature and pressure of distillation. This can give you an idea as to why two varieties of the same oil can smell so different: The full, beautiful bouquet of a fine essential oil will contain a myriad of notes, telling you that all natural components are present and in balanced amounts. Poorly distilled oils may lose some of the secondary constituents during production, and adulterated or synthetic oils may not have some of the trace components at all, detectable by your nose as a flat or uninteresting aroma.

As an example, let’s look at Lavender, the most commonly used of all essential oils. More than 50 individual molecules are present in a high-quality Lavender. As noted earlier, all of these chemicals work together to produce a therapeutic effect. For example, “linalool” is antiviral and antibacterial; “linalyl acetate” is also emotionally calming; other constituents including cineol, limonene, alpha-pinene and others are all noted for specific biologic and aromatic activity. It is the combined, balanced action of these chemicals that make lavender such a useful healing agent – no one chemical can be singled out and used to give the same profound results.

What does this mean to the lay-practitioner? That it’s important to find a nice smelling lavender oil! Each of the individual chemicals has a distinct smell, talked about in terms of “notes” within the overall lavender aroma. A precise amount of each will create a certain Lavender aroma. Some Lavenders are more sweet (and therefore more relaxing), others are more herbaceous (and more anti-microbial). There can be significantly different aromas from the same species of plant, even when the essential oils are of the highest quality. It is most often the essential oil that smells the most “true” to you that will be the most beneficial. Your senses can naturally detect what is good for you and what is not, if you’re willing to listen to them impartially.

All essential oils are subject to similar variations in production methods or the manipulation of their molecular make-ups through the addition of synthetic chemicals. For the most therapeutic benefit, it is always best to use true, carefully-made essential oils. To do this, find a source that is dedicated to supplying only the highest grades of oils. Examine their product’s aromatic quality and business practices and so that you are comfortable with their dedication to your health, not just their bottom line. Listen to your intuition and your own nose; they won’t lie to you! With experience, your ability to discern between subtly different grades of oils will become more astute. With even more education and skill, you’ll start to recognize individual chemicals within an oils aroma, and make the best decisions as to which oils will have the most profound therapeutic affects for you, your family, or in your professional practice.

The author is proponent of the varied and potent healing actions of aromatherapy essential oils. For more, see http://www.anandaapothecary.com.

There is a growing interest in seeking alternatives to conventional treatments for fungal infections. Pharmaceutical treatment for fungal related illnesses is often accompanied with unwanted and even dangerous side-effects. A growing body of science literature supports the use of essential oils to supplement or replace conventional treatments of fungal related diseases.

Brief Description of Fungi

Many of us associate fungus with mushrooms either growing on moist lawns or under a forest canopy. Yet fungus (known collectively as fungi) is a large group (in the Kingdom Fungi) of multi-cellar organisms that includes molds, yeasts and the familiar mushrooms. These organisms can infect human skin, nails and tissues ? causing unsightly, irritating and sometimes painful symptoms. Such infections are known as mycoses.

Skin and Tissue Damage from Fungal Infections

In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the perils of Candida species (namely Candida albicans) infections, especially for women. Overgrowth of these usually commensal critters often results in vaginal irritation and discharge. Other candida-related infections lead to oral thrush, gastrointestinal troubles, and infection of the urinary tract. For those with severely compromised immune systems, such infections can even be fatal.

Other disorders arising from fungal infections are such things as athlete’s foot, maladies of hair and nails, necrosis of the skin, and aspergillosis- a pulmonary disease initiated by fungi of the genus Aspergillus. An Aspergillus infection can cause airway restrictions and even fatal lung bleeding.

It is clear that fungal infections are not to be ignored. Some infections may only be an irritant while others may be fatal if left untreated. Below is a synopsis of recent science studies that have investigated the use of essential oils on various fungi, often with substantial results.

Stopping Candida Overgrowth

Using essential oils in the treatment of Candida infections has been the focus of many recent research studies across the globe. Candida treated with Japanese Cypress oil, tea tree, juniper and even cinnamon are among some of the essential oils found to be effective at inhibiting further growth of this fungus. Researchers from the Defense Research Laboratory in India (2007) chose six essential oils and compared their results with two known antibiotics used in the treatment of Candida. Scientists found that the essential oils exhibited more potent activity than the conventional drugs.

Inhibiting the Growth of Dermatophytes

Dermatophytes, a group of fungi that infect hair, skin and nails, feed on the nutrient-rich proteins of keratin. As they feed, they leave behind toxins which in turn cause inflammatory responses such as skin rashes and tenacious toe nail infections.

Researcher from the Center of Advanced Study in Botany in India (2009) found that Cymbopogon martini (palmarosa) and Chenopodium ambrosioides (wormwood) exhibited in vitro and in vivo (guinea pigs) antifungal activity separately and synergistically. They conclude that such results validate using essential oils in the treatment of dermatophyte infections and an alternative to conventional tropical treatments.

Essential Oils in the Treatment of Aspergillosis

Although spores of Aspergillus are found in the air and on the ground, those that develop an infection from Aspergillus (aspergillosis) can develop severe reactions. Several research studies indicated that using essential oils to combat this potentially deadly fungus merit consideration in clinical use. A 2009 study from the University of Porto in Portugal found that clove oil (Syzygium aromaticum) exhibited inhibitory activity against Aspergillus. They identified that the active compound found in clove oil (eugenol) caused extensive damage to the fungal cell membranes.

Final Thoughts

It might be undesirable to think about fungal infections, yet most of us will succumb to their irritating presence at some point in our lives. Although most healthy people do not experience life-threatening illnesses from fungi, infection from these organisms is not something to ignore. What may seem trivial may turn into something more systemic. Recent medical research indicates that essential oils are effective against strains of fungi and may be regarded as an alternative treatment to conventional drugs.

Visit the website for more on essential oil research, Lavender essential oil and more.

So-called ‘alternative’ treatments encompass virtually all medicine mankind has ever used, and our species by almost every measure is exceptionally successful. And there are many physicians who specialize in alternative medicine whom believe that natural treatments and lifestyle modifications are the ONLY way to truly cure the vast majority of illness. So how effective, really, are essential oils and the science of aromatherapy in treating stress and disease in humans? How can you learn more about the oils and their potential to help you? Let’s review the current state of affairs, and see how you might investigate their use in your own natural health and wellness lifestyle.

The term Aromatherapy was coined by a French scientist after accidentally discovering the remarkable healing effects of Lavender oil on burns sustained in the lab. He had thrust his burning hands into a vat of Lavender oil, finding the wounds to heal extremely quickly. Further investigation lead to his book ‘Aromatherapie’, and the modern medical use of essential oils began. Aromatherapy refers simply to the branch of medicine utilizing volatile aromatic compounds naturally distilled from plants. Essential oils can be as effective as any other natural remedy when employed with proper knowledge and skill. In fact, many pharmaceutical drugs are plant extracts manipulated to give the inventor patent protection on their formulation. But essential oils cannot be patented – ANYone with the right tools and know-how can produce them. At the same time, there is no major lobbying effort underway to educate the public about their medicinal properties – likely the reason America has not gone beyond ‘aroma’ to ‘therapy’ with essential oils.

The education seems inevitable, however. As more folks get fed up with the costs and red tape of our Allopathic medical system, they are paying more attention to reports on the efficacy of natural remedies. The use of essential oils has been shown as, if not more, than any other available medicine in certain instances. For Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a painful and debilitating condition, Peppermint essential oil taken during and after bouts of the disease has profound effects on pain, duration, and recurrence of the illness – more so than the most commonly used modern medical treatment. Patients using Peppermint oil felt better than those using conventional treatments, in part because the natural antibiotic effect leaves much needed intestinal flora in balance. It is this balance that is inherent in knowledgeably practiced natural medicine; a facet which occurs with essential oils and many other so-called alternative therapies.

Another well documented treatment using essential oils is the use of Melissa essential oil on Herpes Simplex viral legions. The legions are outbreaks of the virus during times of undue stress; the virus is typically under control of the immune system and remains dormant in nerve endings of the skin – the disease is considered ‘incurable’ by conventional medicine. A great many university studies have evaluated Melissa (and other essential oils containing similar molecular components) and it’s efficacy in treating Herpes – and the results have been astounding. A majority of study participants have less pain, along with shorter and less-frequent outbreaks. One professor claims that the disease has gone into complete remission in some study participants with regular use of Melissa oil; no more outbreaks at all! Further, Melissa is very well tolerated, has no known toxic effects, and is readily available. This is true aroma-’therapy’ taking it’s place in the world of natural health, wellness and fitness.

On the ‘soft side’ of essential oil use, that of inhalation or massage-based ‘aroma’ therapy, it is important first to note that MANY health professionals consider stress to be the number one cause of all disease. The body, lead by the mind, becomes overburdened in a variety of ways which lead to breakdown of particular systems (immune, circulatory, etc). Time and time again, Lavender and other essential oils have been reported by patients, even in controlled studies, to reduce stress levels. As the understanding of the mind-body connection to health and well-being grows, the importance of stress reduction techniques in natural health programs is coming to the forefront. Inhalation of essential oils is but one possible technique, but a powerful one at that. Upon comparison to Valium – the most ubiquitous of anti-stress agents in the Western world, a headline in the Journal of Essential Oil Research proclaimed “Lavender beats benzodiazepines” for stress reduction. This is one commonly-used anti-stress oil; there are many, many others – some people don’t like Lavender, but the may like Neroli, Bergamot, Sweet Orange, or one of hundreds of other oils that may reduce stress and have ‘downstream’ effects of improved health and wellbeing.

Aromatherapy certainly deserves it’s place in the realm of medical treatments available today – some consider essential oils the absolute best route of treatment for certain infectious illnesses (essential oils have a wide range of antimicrobial and anti-viral effects). Oils are not a cure all, nor are they wonder drugs. They are effective plant medicines which should be used in appropriate situations with the respect they deserve. There are many well-written, interesting guides to medicinal use of essential oils; noted authors are Kurt Schnaubelt, Robert Tisserand, and Jane Buckley, among others. Find one or more of these texts and educate yourself! You’ll find a whole new world opening up in your natural health and wellness choices.

The author is a natural health professional utilizing therapeutic aromatherapy and aromatherapy formulas.