For inquiries about our range of natural body care products, including those featuring beneficial herbs and spices and phytotherapy techniques, please contact us at 901.687.3310.
Essential Oils
About Essential Oils
Essential oils are powerful gifts from nature. Essential oils are the pure botanical essences of plants. They are complex plants of naturally occurring compounds that play a number of vital roles in plant life. They are nature’s healers and scents. Unlike synthetic fragrances, which are manufactured in laboratories, pure essential oils provide the complex, natural, and beneficial compounds for wellness.
Essential oils are highly concentrated substances distilled from a wide range of flowers, roots, leaves, barks, and resins, or cold pressed from the rinds of citrus fruits and should be diluted in a carrier oil before applying on the skin in order to prevent skin irritation. If some does get on the skin and a reaction occurs, just rub the area with the carrier oil for quick relief.
These readily evaporating oils are extracted from plants, usually by steam distillation, to produce the powerful concentrations used in aromatherapy. Unlike synthetic fragrances, which are manufactured in laboratories, pure essential oils provide the complex, natural, and beneficial compounds for aromatherapy.
Essential oils are indispensable to medicine and healing. Essential oils are the pure botanical essences of plants. They are extremely complex precious liquids from plants and are in harmony with both people and the planet. They enter and leave the body with great efficiency, leaving no toxins behind. On average, they can contain 100 to 1000 components. Components so complex that they cannot be duplicated. They are also nature’s scents. There are some 300 at present. Each single oil has many diverse purposes. They run the healing gauntlet of being anti-viral, anti-biotic, anti-fungal, anti-septic to warding off insects and purifying the air.
Essential oils can have an immediate physical effects on the lungs and go from there directly into the bloodstream. Their action can be revitalizing and healing. When you breath in essential oils, aromatic molecules are breathed in to the roof of the nose and locked in place on olfactory hair; then the aromatic message is transmitted to the areas of the brain that are linked to memory, feelings, and emotions.
They are used in lotions, sprays, shampoos, skin, body, and hair care products. They can be placed on cotton pads and sniffed throughout the day, placed on light bulb rings, or used in diffusers to promote a healing environment. A few drops can be added to bath water, or they can be added to carrier oils such as olive, canola, sweet almond, avocado as well. These precious gifts from nature are very potent and should not be placed directly on the skin due to the fact that some people could have a sensitive reaction.
The human olfactory organ has 10 million scent-detecting cells, each with two hair-like nerve endings that pick up odor molecules dissolved in the mucous membrane. Research studies have confirmed the therapeutic and medicinal value of plant essences.
To begin your collection of these precious oils, start with these: lavender, lemon, tea tree, bergamot, eucalyptus, sweet orange, peppermint, and chamomile. Be sure to buy from Embellir to make sure that you are getting 100% pure plant oils. Our suppliers are some of the best around.
If you are pregnant, nursing, hypertensive, epileptic, or suffer from diabetes or heart problems, be sure to check with us before using any kind of essential oil or herb.
For more information on essential oils, please contact us at embellir@embellir.us.com.
Essential Oil Caution
Pure essential oils are like precious jewelry or fine wine. They are the life force of natural, organic substances. Essential oils are highly concentrated—70-100 times more concentrated than dried herbs. This is easily demonstrated in the thousands of petals needed to produce a single drop of oil.
Because they can penetrate the skin, they actually beautify within.
Safety Guidelines:
In general, commonly available essential oils are safe to use for aromatherapy or household purposes. However, due to their high concentration and potency it is important to be aware of the following safety information that applies to all of our oils.
Almost all essential oils should NOT be taken orally unless you would normally eat the source such as orange or grapefruit; and then make sure that they are 100% pure essential oils and not adulterated.
Store away from sunlight; keep closed.
Avoid all contact with mouth and eyes.
Do not apply oils to the skin undiluted. While some oils can be applied directly to skin, it is best to add the oil to a medium such as a carrier oil (olive, almond, jojoba, etc), water, nature alcohol, and other ready-to-use cosmetics.
Essential oils may cause skin irritation in people with very sensitive or damaged skin. Do a skin patch test first, if itching or redness occur on skin, place a cold, wet cloth on the area until the redness or itchiness disappears, and discontinue use.
More is not better when it comes to essential oils; please use oils as directed. They are generally used by the drop.
If you get an essential oil into your eyes, add a base oil to area and absorb this with a soft cloth before rinsing eyes with lots of cold water.
Bergamot and citrus essential oils are phototoxic. This means that they may cause skin discoloration in bright sunlight. Bergamot comes in a BF form which can be worn in bright sunlight.
Keep all essential oils out of the reach of children and pets.
Pregnant women and persons with health problems must consult doctor.
Avoid if you suffer from high blood pressure, pregnant, nursing, or suffer from epilepsy (see list below).
Do not use on infants.
Keep away from candles, cigarettes, and fire since they are flammable.
Do place bottle on wooden furniture; the oil could damage the finish of the wood.
Being natural products, essential oils are prone to variations due to geographic location, altitude, climate, season, methods of collection, wild or clonal change and method of distillation. Example: Oils obtained from one location during different seasons in the year can show variations in the chemical analysis and scent.
Safety Guidelines 2:
The following information is from Julia Lawless book The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils. If you are planning on working with essential oils it is very important to research the oils and know the safety data about each oil you use. The book "Essential Oil Safety A Guide for Health Care Professionals" by Robert Tisserand and Tony Balacs is also a very good reference book.
Somewhat Hazardous Oils: Bitter Almond, Arnica, Boldo, Broom, Buchu, Calamus, Camphor, Cassia, Chervil, Cinnamon (bark), Costus, Elecampane, Fennel (bitter), Horseradish, Mugwort, Mustard, Oregano, Pennyroyal, Pine (dwarf), Rue, Sage (common), Santolina, Sassafras, Savine, Savory, Tansy, Thuja, Thyme (red), Tonka, Wintergreen, Wormseed and Wormwood.
Toxicity: Essential oils which should be used in moderation (only in dilution and for a maximum of two weeks at a time) because of toxicity levels are: Ajowan, Anise Star, Basil (exotic), Bay Laurel, Bay (West Indian), Camphor (white), Cassie, Cedarwood (Virginian), Cinnamon (leaf), Clove (bud), Coriander, Eucalyptus, Fennel (sweet), Hops, Hyssop, Juniper, Nutmeg, Parsley, Pepper (black), Sage (Spanish), Tagests, Tarragon, Thyme (white), Tuberose, Turmeric, Valerian.
Dermal/Skin Irritation: Oils which may irritate the skin, especially if used in a high concentrations are: Ajowan, Allspice, Aniseed, Basil (sweet), Black Pepper, Boreol, Cajeput, Caraway, Cedarwood (Virginian), Cinnamon (leaf), Clove (bud), Cornmint, Eucalyptus, Garlic, Ginger, Lemon, Parsley, Peppermint, Tyyme (white) and Turmeric.
Sensitization: Some oils may cause skin irritation only in those people with very sensitive skins or can cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. Always do a patch test before using a new oil to check for individual sensitization. Oils which may cause sensitization include: Basil (French), Bay Laurel, Benzoin, Cade, Canagaa, Cedarwood (Virginian), Chamomile (Roman and German), Citronella, Garlic, Geranium, Ginger, Hops, Jasmine, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lemon Balm (melissa), Litsea Cubeba, Lovage, Mastic, Mint, Orange, Peru Balsam, Pine (Scotch and long-leaf), Styrax, Tea Tree, Thyme (white), Tolu Balsam, Turmeric, Turpentine, Valerian, Vanilla, Verbena, Violet, Yarrow and Ylang Ylang.
Phototoxicity: Some oils are phototoxic, meaning they can cause skin pigmentation if exposed to direct sunlight. Do not use the following oils either neat or in dilution on the skin, if the area will be exposed to the sun: Angelica Root, Bergamot (except bergapten-free type), Cumin, Ginger, Lemon (expressed), Lime (expressed), Lovage, Mandarin, Orange and Verbena.
High Blood Pressure: Avoid the following oils in cases of high-hypertension: Hyssop, Rosemary, Sage (Spanish and common) and Thyme.
Epilepsy: Avoid Fennel (sweet).
Diabetes: Avoid Hyssop, Rosemary, Angelica, and Sage (all types).
Homeopathy: Homeopathic treatment is not compatible with the following essential oils: Black Pepper, Camphor, Eucalyptus, and Peppermint.
For more information on essential oils and their uses, just give us a call (901.687.3310)