Essential oils enter the body
in three ways. They can be:
•
Applied to the skin
•
Inhaled
•
Ingested
How does skin application work?
Essential oils can be applied
topically to the skin. Common examples include applying a blend that contains
black pepper (Piper nigrum) or ginger (Zinziber officinalis)
essential oil to reduce arthritis pain and improve flexibility, or applying
German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) essential oil to treat eczema.
How does this work? Our skin
is somewhat permeable. The active chemicals in essential oils are absorbed just
like the ingredients in common pharmaceuticals such as hormone replacement
therapy cream and nicotine patches.
Factors That Increase Skin Absorption
Different factors can affect
the absorption of essential oils through the skin. If you massage the area
first, it will increase circulation to that area, thereby causing an increase
in absorption of essential oils. Heat will likewise increase circulation and
thus enhance absorption.
Some researchers report that
essential oils may be more readily absorbed from skin locations with greater
concentrations of sweat glands and hair follicles, such as the genitals, head,
soles, palms, and armpits (Battaglia, 2003).
How do I inhale essential oils?
Another way that essential
oils enter the body is inhalation through the nose or mouth. Common examples
include inhaling eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globules, E. radiate, or E. smithii)
essential oil when you have a cough or inhaling peppermint (Mentha piperita)
essential oil to reduce fatigue or nausea. (Note: Often, essential oils are put
into a diffuser for inhalation.
The Olfactory System
The olfactory system includes
all physical organs or cells relating to, or contributing to, the sense of
smell. When we inhale through the nose, airborne molecules interact with the
olfactory organs and, almost immediately, the brain.
Molecules inhaled through the
nose or mouth are also carried to the lungs and interact with the respiratory
system. Thus, inhaled essential oils can affect the body through several
systems and pathways.
Interaction with the Limbic System
(Emotional Brain)
During inhalation, odor
molecules travel through the nose and affect the brain through a variety of
receptor sites, one of which is the limbic system, which is commonly referred
to as the "emotional brain."
The limbic system is directly
connected to those parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure,
breathing, memory, stress levels, and hormone balance (Higley & Higley,
1998). This relationship helps explain why smells often trigger emotions.
Knowing this, we can hypothesize how inhalation of essential oils can have some
very profound physiological and psychological effects!
"Smell is a potent wizard
that transports us across thousands of miles and all the years we have
lived." Helen Keller
Do people ingest essential oils?
The third way that essential
oils enter the body is by ingestion (swallowing). Oral ingestion of essential
oils is NOT recommended for the general public because a great deal of
essential oils knowledge and expertise is necessary for safe practice.
The ingestion of essential
oils is not common practice in the US. In France, it is more common, but only
when specially trained physicians and pharmacists prescribe and dispense them.
There are several reasons for caution, including the following:
•
Some essential oils can be
toxic to the liver or kidneys when ingested.
•
Chemical breakdown of
essential oils during gastric processing can change the effects.
There could be potential drug
interactions. (Tisserand and Balacs, 1995; Schnaubelt, 1999)
- Linda Halcon
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