26/09/2017
How and Why Essential Oils Work:
The history of Essential Oils in healing is well documented in the Bible, Koran, and Egyptian manuscripts dating back to 4500 B.C. Volatile oils are distilled from plants; seeds, bark, leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and fruit. Essential oils used for medicinal purposes must be derived from plants free of pesticides, herbicides, and other man-made chemicals.
Essential oils are effective in healing because they are the lifeblood of the plant. Plant oils and human blood share common properties: fighting infection, hormone-like compounds, and stimulating regeneration of cells. As the chemical defense system of the plant, essential oils possess potent antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Essential oils have a chemical structure similar to that of human cells and tissues, making them compatible with human protein. The minute, lipid-soluble structure of essential oils has the unique ability to rapidly pe*****te cell membranes, are readily identified and accepted by, then diffused throughout the blood and tissues. When applied to the skin, essential oils travel throughout the body in a matter of minutes complementing and supporting the body's natural balance and homeostasis.
When an essential oil is inhaled, the fragrance travels through the olfactory membranes to the amygdala (where emotional memories are stored) and other parts of the limbic system of the brain. Because the limbic system is directly connected to the parts of the brain controlling heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress, and hormone balance, essential oils often have profound physiological and psychological effects.
The sense of smell is the only one of the five senses directly linked to the limbic lobe of the brain, the emotional control center. Anxiety, depression, fear, anger, and joy all emanate from this region. The scent of a special fragrance can evoke memories and emotions below conscious awareness.