Opinion - EOs and disease

There is a creep of medicalising lots of things that we cope with in daily life. Psychological matters are rarely disease. As I see it the essential oils are a natural extension of the essential oils in the fruit and vegetables we utilise in our diet for health and wellbeing but in a more convenient form particularly for diffusing for mood effect. When we come to psychological mood effects the EOs are particularly valuable and of course harmless. 

The EOs (in sufficient dose) do exert a pharmacological effect - their antiviral, fungal and bactericidal effects are particularly strong.  So we meet the pharmaceutical companies and those who push their products coming the other way. The EOs cannot be patented. If they could the pharmaceutical companies would be praising them to the rooftops! However in the sort of doses of EOs we are talking about there is no pharmacological effect worth speaking of. That is why when we use or diffuse the oils we can say "This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease." 

School administrators would think nothing of a mum putting fruit and veg in the lunchbox so eos in an inhaler or in a playdoh should not present a challenge but of course it can. With education we can change attitudes and improve understanding.  Lets see how far we can get with just a few oils - lavender, lemon and pepermint, None of these should be a challenge to a school administrator.

Endocrine System

                Nil

Cardiovascular system

                Lavender

                Lemon

Muscular/skeletal system

                Peppermint

                Lavender

Immune system

                Lemon

Nervous system

                Lavender

Emotions

                Lemon

Digestive

                Lemon

                Peppermint

Respiration

                Peppermint

Skin and hair

                Lavender

Lavender


Aromatherapy uses


Baby - nappy rash, Breast abcess (mastitis), Chicken pox, Cystitis, Eczema, Fluid retention, Headaches, Herpes, Leg ulcers, Mumps, Osteoarthritis, Post natal infections, Ringworm, Stretch marks, Thrush


Aromatherapy profile


Lavender angustifolia ('vrac') is analgesic, antifungal, antiinflammatory, antispetic helpful for skin conditions.  It is an excellent skincell regenerator helping healing of wounds and scars.  It is recommended for arthritis, burns, headaches, radiography burns, eczema, herpes, psoriasis, spots and woulds.  It is a generally calming oil, has excellent bactericidal and analgesic properties.  It lowers blood pressure and is recommended for headaches and migraines.


Aroma profile

Soothing floral aroma.

Lemon


Aromatherapy uses

Blood pressure - high, Periods - heavy Aromatherapy profile Lemon oil is antispasmodic and calming. It lowers blood pressure, rejuvenates and generally cleanses the body. Aroma profile Characteristic clean and refreshing lemon aroma.  Safety.  Phototoxic.  Should be used with caution before exposure to sunlight or UV beds. Peppermint Aromatherapy uses Colds, Headaches, Visible veins Aromatherapy profile Peppermint oil is antiinflammatory, bactericidal, an analgesic and a tonic to the system.  It lowers fever, is a good expectorant and clears the senses helping mental fatigue and nervous exhaustion.  It constricts capillaries and is recommended for asthma, eczema, gnats, herpes, rashes and ringworm.  It helps headaches, migraines and stress. Aroma profile Characteristic clean limonene aroma.  Safety.  Phototoxic.  Should be used with caution before exposure to sunlight or UV beds.

Ian Brealey