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essential oils

Essential Oils are highly concentrated extracts obtained from such diverse plant life flowers, seeds, berries, roots and barks or citrus rind expression.. These are the most potent form of herbal medicine, having been used for thousands of years for their medicinal properties.

Essential oils contain a variety of antibiotics, pheromones and regenerating agents that nourish, energise and protect the living plant. These properties strengthen immunity to disease by killing bacteria and neutralising viruses. By extracting the essential oils from plants we too can harness their healing qualities and apply them to the human body.

Extraction of Essential Oils

Steam distillation is the most common extraction method, in which a still is charged with plant material to be processed. Steam is introduced at the base of the still and gradually the plants volatile elements evaporate with the steam. A condensation process turns this vapour-mix into liquid water and oil, which floats on the top of the water and is separated off.

Cold pressing is used exclusively for citrus oils. This is a very mild and gentle pressing treatment in which the outer layer of the peel is ruptured and the oil is then pressed out.

There is a wide range of quality among the natural Essential Oils produced and available on the market today. Several important factors contribute to this, including the overall quality of the plants used for extraction, the expertise of the extraction process and the condition of storage of the finished product. Only a small percentage of the Essential Oils produced today are of a suitable quality for therapeutic treatment.

Choosing and Blending Oils

An oil for treatment is created by mixing a few drops of essential oil (or oils) in a "carrier" oil such as a vegetable oil. It is essential that the aroma of the blend appeals to you, or to the person you are going to massage, as this serves as indication of the body reacting favourably to the blend.

The general rule is that a little is best. A weak blend of oils often smells better and is therefore more effective than a stronger blend.