Essential oils wiki are volatile liquids extracted from the leaves, fruit, roots, flowers, bark, stems, and other parts of certain plants. The oil carries the distinctive fragrance of the plant and is named after the plant from which it was derived, for example, peppermint oil, clover leaf oil, or ylang-ylang oil. Essential oils are often used in aromatherapy, a branch of alternative medicine, which claims that the scents carried by these oils have medicinal properties. In modern clinical trials, these oils are being tested for antibacterial and fungicidal properties, insect repellents, and pain killers, among other things.
The chemistry of these oils is complex and varied. The primary constituents of most essential oils are the aromatic compounds known as terpenes. These are primarily mono- and sesquiterpenes, but may also include some phenols, aldehydes, esters, ketones, or oxides. The odor of an essential oil is caused by the combination of these molecules, and the specific composition of a particular oil varies depending on the environment in which it was grown.
Distillation is the most common method for obtaining an essential oil, but other methods such as expression (expression of the seed), enfleurage (soaking the plant in fat), maceration, and solvent extraction are also used. Different plant parts produce different amounts of oil, and the oil can change from harvest to harvest as the plant matures or the climate changes.
When diluted with a carrier oil, these oils are used in aromatherapy and other health practices. They can be applied to the skin directly, diffused in the air with a vaporizer or humidifier, or heated over a candle flame as incense. They are also used in cooking, cleaning, and bathing.
Although these oils are considered to be safe for human use when diluted properly, they should never be ingested or applied to the skin in their undiluted form. If this happens, the side effects can range from mild irritation to a severe allergic reaction and, in some cases, even death. If the oils are absorbed through the skin, they can also cause nausea, vomiting, liver damage, and seizures.
Some of these oils can be photosensitizing, increasing the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. Others, such as eucalyptus and tea tree oil, can be toxic to the liver.
Essential oil uses have been widespread since ancient times, and interest has revived in recent decades with the resurgence of interest in alternative medicine. In modern clinical studies, these oils are being tested for antibacterial, fungicidal, and insecticidal properties, as well as their purported effects on mood and mental performance. It is important to remember that none of the information in this wiki should be taken as medical advice, and users are encouraged to seek professional medical advice. Those who want to learn more about aromatherapy should consult a licensed aromatherapist.
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