Why are essential oils effective?

They look like a homogeneous substance, they are often transparent, but the essential oils used for therapeutic purposes are chemically very complex substances where up to 300 different molecules are combined.

Gerhard Buchbauer, professor of pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of Vienna, has investigated the essential oils used in aromatherapy and highlights as protagonists of its composition the volatile organic compounds that we perceive through smell.

Dr. Wolfgang Steflitsch, vice president of the Austrian Aromatherapy Association, explains that there is high-quality scientific evidence on the effectiveness of essential oils. to treat viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections, and to relieve sleeping difficulties and pain. The oils can also improve moods, such as anxiety, depression, and reduce stress.

Why are they effective? The answer seems to lie in the way that its volatile compounds reach the body through smell and skin.

How they act through smell and skin

Essential oils are extracted from the roots, flowers, leaves, or seeds of plants by steam or by applying physical pressure. The qualifier “essential” refers to the fact that the oil contains the “essence” of the plant (i.e. the natural chemicals that provide its distinctive odor or taste.

How are they applied? Aromatherapists recommend that oils are inhaled directly from a jar, cloth, or the palm of your hand, or massaged into your skin after diluting them in a carrier oil, such as olive oil or sweet almond oil. They can also be diluted in bath water or gels, creams and shampoos.How they are absorbed through the nose and skin. When inhaled, absorption of volatile compounds through the nose is as fast as an intravenous injection, says Buchbauer. Absorption through the skin is slower because some of its chemical compounds have to pass through fatty tissue and can even be stored there.

With precaution. Due to its potency, it is important use only a few drops diluted in another oil, because if they are applied directly to the skin they can irritate it or increase sensitivity to the sun’s rays.Why smell plays an essential role. The sense of smell plays an important role in the way essential oils act on the body. When inhaled, stimulate olfactory receptors in the nose, which send chemical messages through the nerves to the limbic system in the brain, affecting moods and emotions, and may have some physiological effects.

Scientific evidence on essential oils

Melissa is capable of reduce agitation in patients with dementia, According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Other studies confirm that citrus essential oils act as anti-inflammatory agents.

Another proven effective oil is tea tree, which can be a effective treatment for acne. In a clinical trial, researchers compared gel containing tea tree oil with a benzoyl peroxide product and found that the latter worked slightly better, but that the tea tree oil had fewer side effects.

Some preliminary work has suggested that peppermint oil can help with irritable bowel syndrome, although the traditional indications are as a decongestant and to treat headaches and muscle aches.

Lavender oil is used for anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, depression, headache, upset stomach, and hair loss. Some studies indicate that it can be useful, combined with thyme, rosemary and cedar, to combat alopecia areata.

Possible Side Effects of Essential Oils

Inhalation of essential oil vapors is safe. for most people, if used correctly (not overdosing and diluting with base oils when applied to the skin). However, the continued use of some may present undesirable effects, which proves their power.

For example, tea tree and lavender oils contain small amounts of phytoestrogens They mimic the action of female hormones. Its continued use can cause enlargement of breast tissue in preteens, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Scientific references: