By Jill McCubbin-Clare, Registered Acupuncturist / Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner / Certified Yoga Therapist

Essential oils derive from plant extracts and are produced via a distillation or compression process. The chemical compounds from flowers, bark, leaves and fruit form essential oils and these are classed as chemical compounds and are to be respected as medicine along with therapeutic benefits, contraindications and safely concerns. It takes two pounds of plant matter to produce one single bottle of essential oil.

Before we discuss the medicinal uses and indications for essential oil usage, it is prudent to highlight some of the cautions. Just the way you can become allergic to certain products and odours you can develop reactions to certain essential oils. Pets and children are special considerations to inhalants in the home and oils on the skin therefore the best way to approach usage is to do your own research on the oils you want to work with and note any contraindications and safely warnings. Other pets with tiny lungs such as birds do not do well with scented oil candles, diffusers and sprays and should not be used in areas where the pets are. Young children should not have essential oils within reach as if ingested can be toxic to the liver. In general most practitioners agree that only the most educated and expert individuals should work with ingestion of these essential oils as they can be toxic even deadly to our body. During pregnancy and breast-feeding avoid topical use of the essential oils and consult your Naturopath or Health Practitioner if you want to use a diffuser for inhalation of the essential oils. Look for 100% pure essential oil (organic if possible) Avoid bottles with the words “Aroma pure, natural, essence, blended or mixed with oils.”

Aromatherapy is the Art or Practice of using essential oils for the therapeutic effects on body, mind and spirit. There are two main pathways for this effect. One is through inhalation via the olfactory system into the brain. The essential oil molecules are transmitted into the Limbic System, primarily affecting the Amygdala. The Amygdala is responsible for olfactory and Neuroendocrine input to detect emotional signals such as threat and fear. It is the keeper of emotional memories and becomes hyper-excitable producing such states as depression, anxiety, and social phobias. There are a number of scholarly research articles that have come out in the last 15 years outlining how certain essential oil compounds can help with the above disorders. Some are proven and some are still being researched.

The following essential oils are the ones most cited in the journal research. As an aside, some of my most distinct emotional memories involve scent and perhaps you may recall some of your own. These memories linger due to the Olfactory and Neuroendrocrine input transmitting scent to the Amygdala; the emotional memory keeper. From this we can deduce that it is possible to self-regulate by using essential oils to help calm the Amygdala when we care triggered or just when we want to regulate our state of health. The other mode of transmission is via the skin. In general, and depending on how large the essential molecules are, the oils enter the capillaries and bloodstream within 20-30 minutes in trace amounts and are usually eliminated from the bloodstream within 90 minutes. This research is based on diluting essential oil drops into carrier oil. The therapeutic benefits of applying essential oils on the skin include the olfactory benefit, skin problems, muscular tension, and personal preference.

Here are some examples of therapeutic oils:

Lavender - Calming to muscles and mood. Helps with sleep.

Basil - Benefits the mind for more focus and clarity.

Patchouli - Helps with chronic fatigue and spaciness.

Myrrh - Used for reconnection with your essence and soul work.

Lemon - Helps to boost your mood.

Bergamot - Helps with different types of depression.

Eucalyptus - Helps with nasal and chest congestion, asthma and is anti-microbial.

Peppermint - Helps with congestion, headaches, mental clarity and inflammation in general.

Tea Tree - Helps with fungal infections of the skin and certain skin conditions.

Ylang-Ylang - Helps with panic attacks and anxiety disorders.

Roman Chamomile - Helps with panic attacks and anxiety disorders.

Lime - Uplifts energy and is a mood booster.

Lemongrass - Uplifts energy and is a mood booster.

If you have a medical condition that you would like to treat, you can consult your Naturopath or Health Care Practitioner in terms of essential oil dosage and usage. If you wish to use essential oils for personal use as in mood boosting etc. first choose the purest oils that speak to you.

Try one or two oils in the beginning and use them in the following ways:

• Diffuser bracelet: Use one oil on one bracelet by adding a few drops onto the beads. You don’t have to dilute the oil with this method. You can experiment by stacking the bracelets. For example: Choose Lime and Lemongrass for an entry boost. One bracelet will have Lime and one will have Lemongrass. Consult the directions that come with the bracelet for cleaning and care.

• Diffuser: For use at home or in a work space. Refer to the directions that come with the diffuser and take in the safety warning and considerations mentioned in this article.

• Skin use: Always dilute 1 drop of essential oil to 1 drop of a carrier oil. A carrier oil can be Jojoba oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil) Remember that essential oil is classed as a medical compound and as such should not be used full strength on your skin as it goes into your system. Even though the scent is more subtle, you still get the therapeutic effects. Place drops of your mixture onto pulse points and of course avoid sensitive areas.

• Inhalants: You can buy inhaler sticks and you can inhale from the bottle. With this method your inhale full strength with our having to put it onto your skin.

Remember that most health clinics, hospitals and many businesses are “scent free.” This goes for essential oils. Also keep in mind that some individuals suffer from migraines triggered by certain smells. Practise mindfulness as well as have fun with essential oils as therapy.