Aromatic herbs and essential oils have made their way from the shelves of natural food and organic stores to the aisles of your favorite supermarket. Laundry detergents boast that their lavender and vanilla scent will help you sleep. Shampoos advertise their organic botanical ingredients, and shower gels promise to invigorate you as they clean your skin. While a lot of the promises sound like advertising hype, products that contain natural aromatics and essential oils may offer benefits that their artificially-scented counterparts can't provide.
Definition
Aromatics and essential oils may seem to be synonyms, but distinct differences exist between the two. Aromatic is the term used for herbs and plants that have an aroma or fragrance. Essential oils, on the other hand, are the volatile oils that give fruits, flowers and plants their distinctive fragrances. In other words, an essential oil is the substance that gives an aromatic its scent.
Uses
Organic air fresheners, such as scented candles, reeds and diffusers, often rely on essential oils for their scent. Shampoos, conditioners and skin care products may contain essential oils that promise to moisturize dry skin or hair, normalize oily hair, make your hair glossy and your skin glow. Massage therapists often add essential oils to massage oil to enhance the experience by helping you relax, or to treat a specific condition.
Properties
Essential oils may provide more than scent. Your nose detects the scent of an oil or aromatic because tiny molecules of the substance evaporate into the air, where you inhale them. Those chemical substances also have other properties that can have an effect on your body, either externally or internally. Neem oil, for instance, is a natural antibacterial and fungicide, according to James Duke, who wrote "The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook." Lemon balm, also known as Sweet Melissa, may have antiviral and sedative properties, Duke notes. The effects are not all beneficial, however. Duke also cautions that neem oil is toxic for children, and excessive doses can cause breathing difficulties, convulsions and death.
Medicinal Uses
Practitioners of aromatherapy may prescribe essential oils and aromatics in inhalers, or as ingredients in tinctures, salves, ointments or pills to treat many physical and emotional conditions. Holistic practitioners and herbalists may recommend herbal teas, tisanes, poultices and salves made with aromatic plants. The evidence to support the use of essential oils and aromatics for medicinal uses varies, depending on the specific plant, herb or compound. If you're considering using essential oils or aromatics to treat a medical condition, consult your doctor or a medical professional for advice.
Warning
Essential oils are extremely concentrated. Always dilute them in a carrier oil before applying them to avoid irritating or burning your skin. If you're unfamiliar with the use of aromatics and essential oils, consult an expert or follow instructions from a reliable book on aromatherapy. Never take essential oils internally except under the supervision and advice of a medical professional. If you are allergic to a plant, you may also have an allergic reaction to its essential oil, or to tea made from that plant.
References
- "Webster's New World College Dictionary;" Wiley Publishing; 2010
- "The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook;" James A. Duke; 2001
- "Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art;" Kathi Keville, Mindy Green; 2008
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