#78: 🪔 Nature’s Pharmacy: The Science Behind Essential Oils
What they are, how they are made and what they do
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🪔 Nature’s Pharmacy: The Science Behind Essential Oils
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#78: 🪔 Nature’s Pharmacy: The Science Behind Essential Oils
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts obtained through distillation or mechanical methods, such as cold pressing.
These potent plant extracts are distilled from roots, leaves, flowers and seeds, leaving behind the “essence” of the plant in oil form.
Historically, essential oils have been used by various cultures for medicinal and health benefits.
Essential oils have been touted for stress reduction, inflammation reduction and improved sleep, all of which can contribute to well-being and potentially reduce some risk factors associated with chronic diseases, linking them to longevity.
I was asked recently about essential oils - what they are, their benefits, so let me break it down for you.
The Science of Essential Oils
What makes essential oils interesting is their creation within the plant.
Plants produce essential oils as part of the plant’s immune system to attract pollinators, ward off pests, and to compete or synergize with the surrounding flora.
This natural chemistry not only protects the plant, but also provides the plant with a distinct odor and flavor.
Because of these strong smells and flavors, aromatic plants have been used as preservatives, curative agents and as the main source of aroma and flavor by the food industry.
Extraction
To extract essential oils from aromatic plants, chemists use extraction and distillation protocols to isolate the essential oils and remove the plant material.
Essential oils can be extracted via steam distillation, which is the most common method of extraction.
In this method, steam is passed through the plant material. The steam helps to release the aromatic, volatile compounds from the plant, which are then cooled and condense from steam back into a liquid form.
Cold pressing, primarily used for citrus oils, is a mechanical process which involves pressing the plant material to extract the oils.
When a plant is too delicate for steam distillation or cold pressing, solvents are used to extract the essential oils. However, this method can result in absolute solutions, which are much more concentrated and can contain solvent residues.
The composition of an essential oil can vary considerably between producers as well as between batches of the same producer.
Many factors can change an essential oil’s chemical composition including the species, origin, climate, soil conditions, etc.
Chemical Composition
Essential oils are complex substances made up of several hundred chemical compounds including terpenes (responsible for flavors and smells), esters (which contribute therapeutic properties), phenols, ketones, ethers, aldehydes, oxides, and alcohols.
Each essential oil has a unique composition of these chemical compounds, which can affect its aroma, color and how it interacts with the body.
Due to the complex nature of an essential oil’s composition, it is often difficult to determine which chemical compound affects which biological pathway in the body to elicit its health benefits.
For example, in an individual oil, up to 400 substances can be identified, and even more than that with the most sensitive analytical equipment.
In the table below, you can find different aromatic plants, you can note the part of the plant where we find the essential oils, and the key active ingredients within the essential oil.
Terpenes are the biggest class of chemicals found in essential oils.
The monoterpenes and sesquiterpene classes of terpenes are the most important in essential oils.
The distinct smell of an essential oil is due to these chemical compounds.
Various structures of chemical compounds found in essential oils are illustrated below, where you can see the monoterpenes.
A notable chemical structure is the “aromatic ring.” In several compounds in the figure, you can see a 6-sided ring structure.
This is the source of the compound’s unique scent.
The ring structure allows for a high degree of chemical reactivity.
When a terpene is modified by an oxidation reaction, the molecule will yield different terpenoids.
Oxidation also creates subgroups such as alcohols, aldehydes, phenols, ethers and ketones, which also contribute to the essential oil’s fragrance and potential health benefits.
The biological effects of essential oils are not solely due to a single compound but often result from the synergistic interaction between multiple compounds within the oil.
Essential Oils Biological Activities
Essential oils can act as antimicrobial agents. They can inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi, making them useful in natural remedies and preservatives.
Research into the use of essential oils found in citrus fruits is particularly intriguing due to their natural antibacterial qualities.
For example, citrus oil, particularly when combined with Dead Sea salts, was shown to inhibit bacterial growth in mice and act as an anti-inflammatory agent.
The citrus essential oil bergamot could help fight the bacterial growth of the common causes of food poisoning like listeria, e coli, and staphylococcus.
Antioxidant - they can neutralize free radicals, preventing cell damage.
Antinflammatory & Analgesic - essential oils can reduce inflammation and pain due to various conditions. For example, essential oils of Eucalyptus can be used to treat bronchitis and coughing, and peppermint essential oils can be used to treat respiratory congestion.
The essential oils, chamomile, eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender, millefolia, have been found to mediate the inflammatory response.
There are other proven success stories for essential oils, such as the treatment of acne with tea tree oil and the treatment of alopecia areata or hair loss with oils like thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedarwood.
Usage of Essential Oils
Essential oils can be enjoyed through aromatherapy by direct inhalation, diffusion and steam inhalation.
Essential oils can also be applied topically on the skin.
In as little as 5-20 minutes on the skin, the essential oil is carried into the bloodstream, carried to the lungs, and eliminated.
When applying essential oils to the skin, they should be diluted with a carrier oil, like fractionated coconut oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, every time.
For people with sensitive skin, such as young children and the elderly, essential oils should be applied in a more diluted concentration.
Popular Essential Oils
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil has beneficial effects on sleep quality, anxiety reduction and wound healing.
It exhibits anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and sedative effects.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil supports digestive health, provides headache relief, and enhances sports performance.
Peppermint oil has antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
A common ingredient in skincare products, tea tree essential oil is effective in treating acne, dandruff and fungal infections.
Tea tree oil possesses antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral effects.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus essential oil is beneficial for respiratory conditions, aids in wound healing and can act as an insect repellent.
It can act as a decongestant, antispasmodic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
Frankincense Essential Oil
Acting as an anti-inflammatory, astringent, and disinfectant, Frankincense oil historically has been used since 2800 B.C for the treatment of skin sores, wounds and inflammation.
Additionally it has potential benefits for reducing arthritis symptoms, improving gut function and enhancing skin health.
Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon essential oil aids in improving digestion and mood. It is also beneficial for skin care.
This essential oil exhibits antimicrobial, antioxidant, mood-enhancing and detoxifying effects.
Chamomile Essential Oil
Known for its benefits to improve sleep, chamomile is a key ingredient in many “sleepytime” teas and skincare products.
It can also be beneficial to reduce anxiety and menstrual pain.
The biological activity of chamomile essential oil is anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and sedative.
Safety
Essential oils are thought to be natural and pure products, some of the most common being lavender, tea tree, peppermint, and ylang-ylang.
In recent years, however, the composition of these oils has been found to be more complex than previously thought.
Increased use has led to increasing reports of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to allergens in sensitized individuals.
If you have skin irritation and are unsure of the cause, it might be relevant to consider your essential oil use.
Research & Evidence
Scientific studies are increasingly supporting the health benefits of certain oils, however more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms by which the oils elicit their effects and the applications they can be used for.
While we have a plethora of anecdotal evidence to the benefits of essential oils, unfortunately there is no evidence-backed research showing any illnesses that can be cured through the use of essential oils or the practice of aromatherapy.
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Not just a book, but also a show.
A few weeks ago I read Isaac Asimov’s Foundation (BOTW #73).
Then, I discovered it’s been turned into a series on AppleTV+.
And now, I am binge watching it.
Rating: ★★★★★
The show is much easier to follow than the book.
It’s visual-effects heavy, which helps to explain a few things that I had a hard time visualizing in my imagination as I read the book.
There are already two seasons released, with rumors that season 3 will debut in 2025.
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The Top 5 munching moments from the animals at the San Antonio Zoo.
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Edited by Wright Time Publishing