topic g_aromatherapy Flashcards
define aromatherapy (5 points)
● controlled use ● of aromatic plant extracts ● with the aim of healing and improving ● the mind, body, and spirit ● through the sense of smell and skin absorption
methods to obtain essential oils
● steam distillation
● expression (pressing oil out of citrus peel)
methods to obtain absolutes
● solvent extraction (usually using hexane to obtain tuberose or jasmine absolutes)
● carbon dioxide extraction (new)
define essential oil (6)
● natural, volatile oil
● typically obtained via steam distillation or expression
● contains hundreds of compounds
● reflects characteristics of a mixture
● synergistic effect of its various compounds to create additive or beneficial effect
● eg. ketones like camphor (15-30% in rosemary) and carvone (70% in spearmint) do not exhibit their usually harmful effects in their respective oils
what is a hydrosol/hydrolat (2)
● distillate waters or condensate waters
● CO-produced during steam distillation of plant materials for skincare and healing purposes
how does an essential oil work on the mind and body?
● oils have chemical compounds that provide beneficial therapeutic properties
● biological, emotional, mental, spiritual impact
● involves limbic system aka right brain (eg. vetiver immediately goes to right brain)
how to use essential oils?
● inhalation or
● topical application (dilution strongly recommended)
unsafe practices when using essential oil (4)
- unsafe usage of essential oils risking overexposure, toxicity, allergic reactions
- ingestion of oil or topical application without safe dilution
- using adulterated oils
- using oils during first trimester of pregnancy
possible side effects of ingesting essential oils or topical application without safe dilution (3)
● irritation to internal organs
● deterioration of internal organs
● reaction of skin
side effects of adulterated oils (4)
● allergic reactions
● irritation
● toxic side effects
● reduced therapeutic properties
unsafe dilution means …
diluting with water or aqueous solvent
- oil is immiscible in water
benefits of essential oils (8)
- improves quality of life
- pain mgmt
- reduces stress
- reduces anxiety
- antibacterial
- anti-inflammatory
- cell regeneration (skincare)
- immune boosting
methods to obtain essential oils (2)
● steam distillation
● expression (pressing oil out of citrus peel)
methods to obtain absolutes (2)
● solvent extraction (usu. using hexane for tuberose or jasmine)
● CO2 extraction (new)
absolute vs essential oils
EO contains only volatile aroma compounds, absolutes have both volatile and non volatile components
factors affecting quality of essential oils (5)
● type of solvent ● heat ● pressure ● time of processing ● quality of plant material used
factors affecting quality of plant material used in essential oil (5)
● age ● harvesting method ● storage conditions ● impurities ● method of growth: soil composition, use of pesticides, herbicides
what is adulteration and example (3)
● when eo has components removed, added, or enhanced
● should NOT be the case in aromatherapy grade oil
● eg. adding chamazulene to moroccan chamomile to make it blue like german chamomile
what are four ways essential oils can be compromised
- adulteration (shd not be the case for aromatherapy-grade oils)
- removal
- substitution
- cutting (some retail stores sell dilutions as low as 1% but say in small print bad!!!!)
what is deterpenation (3)
● a form of removal: removing terpenes by redistillation of EO
● makes terpeneless or folded oils which are more alc soluble and long lasting
● commonly used in citrus oils esp bergamot oils
pov u wanna make neroli oil but u r broke what do you do
1+3
substitute neroli with PETITGRAIN (poor man’s neroli)
● cheaper than neroli
● extracted from leaves and twigs (cheaper process than neroli which is distilled from blossoms)
● less sweet and floral fragrance tho
pov broke but want lavender (1+5)
substitute lavender with LAVENDIN
● made from hybrid of true and spike lavender
● grows readily and easily on lower ground (c.f. lavender which grows at high altitudes)
● can be propagated from cuttings
● yields 2x oil
● used as source of linalool in perfume industry
pov broke but lemon verbena
LEMONGRASS yay
what is cutting
method to make original oil go further: adding odourless solvents to dilute EO
solvents used in cutting
● diethyl phthalate (DEP): added to sandalwood
● dipropyl glycol (DPG)
● phenylethyl alcohol (PEA): natural component of rose otto
what are chemotypes (3)
subspecies of plants with
● same morphological characteristics but
● produce different qties of chemical components in EO
● due to being grown in different environments
rosemary chemotypes (3) and their applications
- verbenone (French)
● safe and non irritant
● for skin and hair treatments - 1,8-cineole (Tunisian)
● for pulmonary congestion
● for efficient liver and kidney function - camphor-borneol (Spanish)
● best suited to musculoskeletal system
thyme chemotypes (2) and comparison (3) hint: harshness, func grps, environment
sweet thyme
● gentler
● alcohol groups: high in linalool, geraniol., thujanol-4, a-terpineol
● grow at higher altitudes
red thyme
● harsher more irritant: powerful antiseptic
● phenolic eg. carvacrol, thymol
● grow at lower altitudes (near Mediterranean sea)
factors to consider when using EO in massage (topical/dermal application) (6)
- types and combination of EO
- dosage of EO
- choice of carrier oils (solvent): odour, absorption, skin type, shelf life
- physiological properties of oils
- client’s health
- safety factors
what is blending
when EO in massage are diluted in a carrier or base oil
usu. veg oil such as sweet almond, jojoba
what is a blend
resultant mixture of essential oil and carrier oil (usu. veg oil such as sweet almond or jojoba)
what is the dosage of EO used in massage
SUBJECTIVE
● dep on method of use, size, age, health, purpose of treatment etc
● generally around 1-5%
● but not standardised or accurately measured
