Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils in perfumery, skin care and traditional herbal medicine. Essential oils are extracted from plants by steam distillation or by infusing plant materials into oil, water or alcohol. Basil essential oil comes from basil leaves and stems. Rosewood essential oil is extracted from the wood of the rosewood tree.
Rosewood
Rosewood smells woodsy and like roses. It is used in perfumes such as Chanel No. 5. The terpene alcohols in rosewood essential oil are toning, stimulating, antibacterial and antiviral. Aromatherapists use rosewood to treat headaches and to lessen the symptoms of the common cold, fever, nausea and infection because it is mildly analgesic. According to the authors of "Aromatherapy," rosewood is suitable for use on all skin types because it doesn't cause irritation.
Availability
Rosewood grows in the Amazon basin. Farmers have over-harvested rosewood trees due to the high demand from perfumers. Because common practice is to cut them down without replanting, wild rosewood trees are becoming rare. Any rosewood essential oil available on the market now is synthetic, according to Len Price, author of "Aromatherapy for Health Professionals."
Replacement
The active ingredient in rosewood is linalol, which is also the active ingredient in coriander, French basil and lavender. They smell different because of other ingredients individual to each plant. Since it is difficult, if not impossible, to get true rosewood oil, you can use coriander essential oil instead. Its uses are similar to those of rosewood and it is commonly available. For a similar smell, add a little rose essential oil to the coriander oil.
Basil
Herbalists have traditionally used basil essential oil for skin diseases, dysentery, fever, indigestion and headaches. Patricia Davis, author of "Aromatherapy: An A-Z," recommends basil for depression and fatigue. She also recommends it for mental clarity and for insect bites. However, like eucalyptus and camphor oils, basil oil is an irritant. Use very small amounts, such as three or four drops in a 4-oz. bottle of massage oil, or three or four drops in your bath. Don't use it for longer than a week at a time to avoid becoming sensitive to it.
Considerations
In general, do not take essential oils internally and don't apply the undiluted oil directly to your skin. Use essential oil in carrier oils such as olive oil, almond oil or jojoba oil. Store your essential oils in air-tight dark glass bottles or away from light. Do a patch test on your inner arm before using an essential oil to see if you might be allergic to it.
References
- "Aromatherapy"; Kathi Keville, Mindy Green; 2008
- "Aromatherapy: An A-Z"; Patricia Davis; 2005
- "Medical Aromatherapy"; Kurt Schnaubelt; 1999
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