Against animal testing

this week we are going to tackle animal testing, great progress in the EU on this but at the same time this should not be a window for the unscrupulous to launch dangerous cosmetics with nice names, that they might reasonably have known would cause allergies.

Aromatherapy has had a somewhat fraught relationship with science in this area.  Scientists naturally want to test essential oils effects on tissues so tend to test the essential oils against rats and guinea pigs tissues.

Essential oils science is not aromatherapy.  That is an empirical process resulting from case studies of the use of essential oils in practical application.  I like to think too aromatherapy goes far beyond the visible and the measurable.  Science too is increasingly agreeing.  In the vital area of maintaining congnition as populations age researchers are confirming the importance of essential oils in fighting the plaques which can build up in the brain.  These are every be to be combatted as plaque on our teeth,.

Essential n. something of importance


On muscular injections, researchers in france injected massive doses into laboratory mice to test the toxicity of essential oils in the 1920s and 1930s.  Research blossomed in this period because of the interest of R Gattefosse who made available the materials and facilities of the Gattefosse company to researchers.  Gattefosse had scientific and commercial interest in the physiological effects of essential oils (and isolated constituents and synthetic fragrance components) with a view to their medical applications.  Dozens of research papers are listed in his book Aromatherapy.

Empirical.  His book also contains a useful summary of the empirical use.  Then there was no aromatherapy profession to report back practical uses of the oils and Gattefosse lists pharmacopea summaries of indications of the plants or essential oil or isolates.  Researchers observed the effects of these massive doses and from this much of our knowledge of toxicity springs.

Terpenes.  One of Gattefosse's 's achievements was to note that if terpenes were put to one side essential oils ordered themselves quite naturally according to the chemical effects of their oxygenated components. This was an important insight and a big improvement on previous classifications. Terpenes dissolve mucous and can affect the stomach and oesophagous lining as a result. The other constituents too means there much be the greatest concern with a significent undiluted use of oils internally as 'food supplements or dietary aids' in any but trivial quantities and other than by a qualified and trained individual. Terpenes are not soluble in water so this is an unsatisfactory dilutant.


Essentia