Parameters to Check for Therapeutic Essential Oils

With the growing level environmental pollution, our skin tones get a beating. It’s a daunting task to keep it healthy and glowing. Aromatherapy by using various types of 100% organic therapeutic essential oils is a great way to recover from all different types of psychosomatic disorders, depression and stress-related medical conditions those results more from our indiscipline, and artificial lifestyle.

The benefit of essential natural oils is widely acclaimed and has been practiced for centuries by different alternate healing practitioners all over the world. However, it is the Oriental medical tradition that initially used pure essential oils to soothe our senses that later on finds place in modern allopathic medicines. No matter if the therapeutic essential oils are used for therapeutic or cosmetic purpose, its positive effect on human nervous system is unquestionable. Hence, it is essential to understand purity standards, conditions of usage, and precautions that needs to be taken while using.

Essential Oils 

Essential Oils are natural oil typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic odour of the plant or other source from which it is extracted. These are naturally occurring and free from chemical adjuncts, and are applied in several cosmetic and therapeutic medicaments. Oils that extracted from various natural sources such as: rose, lemon grass, jasmine, agarwood, basil, benzoin, bergamot, black pepper, betel vine, peppermint, lavender, sesame, and blue lotus have been known not only to heal skin, hair, and other external skin conditions but also help to balance internal physiological problems. The question arises on how to know about the purity of such extracts!

With a plethora of brand claiming to be 100% authentic, the following criteria should be looked at for authenticity of certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils:

• Essential oils are obtained from different plant parts, either from flowers, leaves, barks, stems, roots, fruits, and seeds by the process of steam distillation or carbon-di-oxide extraction.

• The method of extraction actually gives us a better idea on the actual purity of the volatile liquid components.

• The potency of extracted oil is also depends upon the environmental factors such as: the area where it is grown, the soil condition, the climate of the region & its suitability for such plants, and the method of cultivation, etc.

• The grades of essential oils depend on the season when the plant is harvested, distillation process, and oil collection processes.

There is no universal legal grading mechanism that can provide the gradation of certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils by manufacturers. However, the Association French Normalization Organization Regulation (AFNOR) standards or ISO certification (ISO standards) is the only agency that offers reliable chemical constituent indicating parameters to judge whether the extracted oil is therapeutic or otherwise.

With no stringent rules that govern oil extraction methods, obtaining the best grade therapeutic benefit in oils depends upon your personal judgement and it comes with years of experience. So, if you are looking to purchase 100% pure organic essential oils, then you should procure them from certified manufacturers or marketers. You can look for the percentage of the organic component in the concentrated extract to ensure high therapeutic value of the essential oil used in medicinal products.

Smart Choice in Aromatherapy Oils

Ailing under stress and pollution can be daunting even for regularly healthy individuals. With psychosomatic disorders, depression and stress-related medical conditions as clear winners in today’s modern and ‘virtual’ or e-World, aromatherapy could be the way forward.

The benefit of essential natural oils is not new and has been propagated by healing practitioners. It is the Far-Eastern tradition and healing potencies of pure essential oils that finds parallel place with modern allopathic medicines. Whether for therapeutic or cosmetic use, understanding purity standards of therapeutic essential oils, its advantages and drawbacks are equally essential.

Essential Oils

Oils that are naturally occurring and free from chemical adjuncts find application in several cosmetic and therapeutic medicaments. Oils such as those extracted from natural sources have been known to heal skin, hair and other external conditions but, others also help to balance internal physiological problems. Extracts of peppermint, lavender, sesame and rose find common usage. But, how do we understand purity of such extracts?

With a plethora of brand claiming to be 100 % authentic, there is a need to look for criteria for selecting your oil concentrate for effective efficacy. You need to understand that:

* Essential oils are obtained from plant parts, either from roots, barks, seeds, stems, leaves, flowers or fruits by the process of steam distillation or carbon-di-oxide extraction.

* The oil obtained is actually the volatile liquid components of plant parts. How purity of the end-oil product depends on the method of extraction.

* The potency of extracted oil is dependent on environmental factors such as the area it is grown, the soil sown and fertilizer type (organic vs. chemical).

* The period in which the plant is harvested, distillation and bottling processes also determine grades of essential oils.

* Be aware of commercial products that use excessive solvents to extract the oils which might adulterate the oil potency. Therefore, make sure to procure your essential oil from certified producers.

Manufacturers of certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils do not have scientific or legal standards to fall back on when grading their oil extracts. However, the Association French Normalization Organization Regulation (AFNOR) standards or ISO certification (ISO standards) is the only agency that offers the best reliable chemical constituent indicating parameters to judge whether the extracted oil is therapeutic or otherwise.

With no stringent rules that governs oil extraction methods, obtaining the best grade therapeutic benefit in oils, is time consuming and expensive. The expense incurred in procuring plants such as pine, geranium, lavender, clove, black pepper or lemon balm is worth the cost; if extracted authentically.

Look for percentage of the organic component in the concentrated extract to ensure high therapeutic value of the essential oil used in medicinal products.