"Essential oils provide us with a fragrant pharmacy full of remedies and delights for all aspects of our lives.
They are extracted from certain varieties of trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, roots, fruits, and flowers. The oil is concentrated in different parts of the plant. It is extracted from the plant by a variety of means, depending again on the particular species.
The most common method is steam distillation; other methods includes CO2, extraction, expression, enfleurage, maceration, and solvent extraction.
Each oil has its own medicinal and other properties.
We are all increasingly aware of the number of synthetic chemicals in our lives today, whether we like them or not. They leach from carpets, flooring, and furniture. They are in home cleaning products.
For some jobs around the home, we can replace the usual shop-bought products with essential oils, and we can make our own entire body, hair, and face products, perfumes, and air fresheners.
Each time we use them, we avoid using synthetic chemicals in our lives because we are lucky enough to have been given natural alternatives."
The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood.
Safety Advice: Not to be taken internally. Keep away from children. Do not use during pregnancy.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint - Mentha piperita - essential oil is produced by steam distillation of peppermint plant, or Mentha Piperita. It has got analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, digestive and tonic properties.
Avoid during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Also, avoid undiluted in baths or showers.
Orange Essential Oil
Orange - Citrus sinensis - essential oil is produced by cold-pressed, steam distillation of Citrus Sinensis. It has got antibacterial, antiseptic, calmative, depurative, cholagogue and tonic properties.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender - Lavandula angustifolia - essential oil is produced by steam and CO2 distillation of Lavandula Angustifolia. It has got analgesic, anthelmintic, antibacterial, antidepressant, calmative and cicatrising properties.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea Tree - Melaleuca alternifolia - essential oil is produced by steam distillation. Native to Australia, it is no grown commercially elsewhere.
The Aboriginal people of Australia have used the medicinal properties of tea tree for untold millennia. It treats bacterial skin infections, parasitic skin infection, respiratory tract infections, sinusitis, laryngitis, athlete's foot, warts and verrucas. May cause irritation: a skin patch test is advisable.
Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon - Citrus limon - essential oil is produced by steam distillation or cold expression. The essential oil contains vitamins and minerals, and the juice is a source of citric acid. Lemon essential oil is effective in removing stains and polishing metal and is used as a solvent. It treats digestive problems, loss of appetite, detoxifying, cellulite, influenza, sore throats, herpes, anxious depression, nervous tension, inability to concentrate or focus.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus - Eucalyptus globulus - essential oil is produced by steam distillation. The medicinal properties of eucalyptus were quickly recognized. It treats analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, expectorant febrifuge.
Mandarin Essential Oil
Mandarin - Citrus reticulata - essential oil is produced by cold expression. Mandarin originated in China and Vietnam and spread through Asia, only coming to Europe in the nineteenth century, particularly to the southern tip of Italy. The fruit is pressed to extract the essential oil before being fully ripe. This is a very gentle oil, good for blending and excellent for the more delicate among us. It treats digestive conditions, nervous spasm, stomachache, insomnia, irritability, stress.
