What are essential oils?

Essential oils in ancient times

Already in ancient times, people were aware that essential oils have healing properties. With the discovery of distillation about 5000 years ago, the valuable oils could be extracted from aromatic plants and used for cosmetic as well as medicinal purposes.

At the time of the pharaohs, essential oils were an expression of divinity, power and purity: Thus, the ancient Egyptians perfumed themselves with the scent essences to create proximity to the gods. Essential oils were also used to make healing ointments or to embalm the deceased.

Later, the Romans and Arabs refined the knowledge and developed more advanced methods that made the extraction of the oils much easier.

How are essential oils made?

Most essential oils today are obtained by distillation with steam. To drive the oils from the plant, steam is injected into a sealed vessel containing the crushed plant material. The oil-water mixture then condenses in a cooled tube and is directed into a collecting vessel where the essential oil can be separated from the aqueous phase.

Since this process generates temperatures of up to 70 degrees, very volatile fragrances and thus the quality of the essential oil are lost.

A more gentle production method is cold pressing: In contrast to distillation with steam, the process takes place without heat - however, only a few essential oils, such as those from citrus peels, are still produced in this way.

Special essential oils are known as absolues: These fragrances are extracted from particularly sensitive plant parts (e.g. flowers) with the aid of chemical solvents. Since small residual amounts of the chemicals remain in the oil at the end of the manufacturing process, absolutes are not used in the therapeutic area.

What are examples of essential oils?

Typical plant families with a high content of essential oils include the umbellifers, the labiates, as well as the laurel, rue and myrtle plants.

The following essential oils are particularly popular and versatile in use:

• Anise oil(Anisi aetheroleum)
• Bergamot oil(Bergamottae aetheroleum)
• Eucalyptus oil(Eucalypti aetheroleum)
• Fennel oil(Foeniculi aetheroleum)
• Spruce oil(Piceae aetheroleum)
• Jasmine oil(Jasmini aetheroleum)
• Chamomile oil(Matricariae aetheroleum)
• Pine needle oil(Pini aetheroleum)
• Caraway oil(Carvi aetheroleum)
• Lavender oil(Lavandulae aetheroleum)
• Geranium oil(Geranii aetheroleum)
• Clove oil(Caryophylli aetheroleum)
• Melissa oil(Melissae aetheroleum)
• Peppermint oil(Menthae piperitae aetheroleum)
• Rose oil(Rosae aetheroleum)
• Rosemary oil(Rosmarini aetheroleum)
• Sage oil(Salviae aetheroleum)
• Tea tree oil(Melaleucae aetheroleum)
• Thyme oil(Thymi aetheroleum)
• Juniper oil(Iuniperi aetheroleum)
• Ylan ylang oil
• Cedarwood oil(Cedri ligni aetheroleum)
• Cinnamon oil(Cinnamomi aetheroleum)
• Lemon oil(Limonis aetheroleum)

All these are essential oils that are known and loved by us. Surely you already know some of them.

Essential oils: effect and application

When it comes to the question of what essential oils are, their action is of course an essential point. The mode of action of essential oils can be in three different ways:

• About smelling fragrance molecules;
• About receptors of the skin and organs;
• Via biochemical mechanisms that inhibit microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi.

Essential oils can now be found in every well-stocked medicine cabinet. As a household remedy, they are used for various ailments - whether externally as a component of compresses, ointments, baths, room sprays or massage oils or internally as an addition to food and beverages.

Typical applications of preparations with essential oils are for example:

• Pain in muscles and joints (usually as an addition to creams and massage oils).
• cold, cough and sore throat (as inhalation, medicinal bath, balm or pastilles)
• Headache (as an application to the temples and forehead)
• Digestion promotion
• Abdominal pain and flatulence 
• Mouth and skin care
• Aromatherapy
• Indoor air and surface disinfection

What are the possible side effects of essential oils?

By and large, essential oils are free of side effects. However, in sensitive individuals, certain fragrances can cause local irritation, asthma or allergic reactions. This is also why essential oils should not be used on infants and young children. If you are unsure, feel your way slowly to using the oils. 

Caution: Especially for internal use, essential oils must be used sparingly and at low doses, as even a few milliliters can lead to severe poisoning. Therefore, always inform yourself in advance whether the essential oil of your choice is at all suitable for oral administration and how to take it correctly. Of course, you can also ask your doctor or alternative physician.

Essential oils: applications that have proven particularly effective

There are several ways and methods you can use essential oils. We have written down some of them for you:

Essential oils & the psyche

Whether stress, worries or lack of inner balance: The positive effect that essential oils have on the psyche has been proven in numerous studies. Essential oils are known for their calming, balancing and mood-lifting effect. Among the most widely used oils for the psyche are lavender oil, rose oil, ylang-ylang oil or bergamot oil.

The immune system - suitable oils

If there is an increased risk of infection during the cold season, the air you breathe in your own four walls can be cleaned with a room spray. Essential oils such as pine needle and lemon oil are particularly well known for their disinfecting effect: 5 or 3 drops are poured into a spray bottle together with half a liter of vinegar and distributed in the room. If you air the room thoroughly for a few minutes before spraying, the effect can be enhanced.

What are the right essential oils for cold symptoms?

Many essential oils are excellent for relieving the symptoms of a cold: Eucalyptus and peppermint oils have an expectorant effect and clear the nose. Oils of sage or chamomile support the body in case of mild sore throat, as they have anti-inflammatory substances. For steam inhalation, use eucalyptus, thyme or spruce needle oil to loosen mucus and fight bacteria.

The influence on digestion

Surely you have heard about rubbing caraway oil on your stomach when you have flatulence? Essential oils from fennel, anise or caraway have an antispasmodic and digestive effect, which is why they are often used against flatulence and painful cramps in the gastrointestinal tract. If you suffer from nausea or general digestive problems, essential oils from peppermint are particularly effective.

Muscle and knee pain - rosemary and arnica

Oils from rosemary and arnica contain substances that promote blood circulation and can relieve cramps. They are therefore often used for muscle and knee complaints. Geranium and ylang-ylang oils also have antispasmodic properties, which is why they are often used for gentle massages.

For the oils to work optimally, you should mix a few drops with warm water or a carrier such as almond oil. A towel soaked with the oil-water mixture can simply be applied to the affected muscle or joint. Massage oils with added essential oils are again the ideal base for a soothing massage.

Headache support

If you suffer from an unpleasant tension headache, essential oils are the remedy of your choice. Peppermint oil with its active ingredient menthol is considered an effective home remedy in the fight against the unpleasant headache. Apply it gently to your temples, forehead and neck every 10 minutes. Also, make sure you get enough rest and relaxation to support the effect of the essential oil.

Urinary tract

A mixture of soothing, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving essential oils helps against bladder problems. For example, you can add a few drops of thyme oil, lavender oil and chamomile oil to a base oil and rub the mixture into the abdominal area several times a day. Sitz baths with a few drops of eucalyptus oil can also help with bladder infections. Inform yourself in advance about the exact handling before you apply the essential oils!

Essential oils for menstrual cramps

As a massage oil, bath additive, or compress, antispasmodic essential oils can relieve pain during menstruation. The best way to use them is in combination with heat, for example in the form of a hot abdominal compress: A mixture of 2 drops of chamomile oil and 1 drop of lavender oil in 0.5 liters of hot water has proven effective here. Soak a cloth in the fragrant mixture and place it on the aching abdomen.

Supplement skin care

Essential oils are known to maintain the beauty of the skin and gently nourish it. For sensitive skin, rose oil, lavender oil, geranium oil or chamomile oil are recommended. Mature skin benefits from the beneficial properties of frankincense, rose and myrrh essential oils. If your skin is rather oily, you can care for it with oils from sandalwood and cedarwood. Essential oils can even help with neurodermatitis: The oil of blue chamomile in combination with jojoba and evening primrose oil is best.When applying essential oils to the skin, pay attention to the correct dosage to avoid reactions such as redness, itching or dryness!

Hair care with essential oils

Diluted with a base oil (e.g. almond oil), castor oil nourishes dry hair and flaky scalp as a natural conditioner. Let the oil mixture work into your scalp for a while and rinse thoroughly afterwards. 

Essential oils are even perfect for treating annoying head lice: mix 10 drops of tea tree oil, 10 drops of lavender oil and 5 drops of geranium oil with 50 ml of base oil. Massage the mixture into the hair and scalp and leave it on overnight. It is best to use a cloth to avoid stains on the bed linen. Repeat the procedure every two to three days for two weeks.