topic g_aromatherapy

Question 1

define aromatherapy (5 points)

Answer 1

● 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

Question 2

methods to obtain essential oils

Answer 2

● steam distillation

● expression (pressing oil out of citrus peel)

Question 3

methods to obtain absolutes

Answer 3

● solvent extraction (usually using hexane to obtain tuberose or jasmine absolutes)
● carbon dioxide extraction (new)

Question 4

define essential oil (6)

Answer 4

● 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

Question 5

what is a hydrosol/hydrolat (2)

Answer 5

● distillate waters or condensate waters

● CO-produced during steam distillation of plant materials for skincare and healing purposes

Question 6

how does an essential oil work on the mind and body?

Answer 6

● 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)

Question 7

how to use essential oils?

Answer 7

● inhalation or

● topical application (dilution strongly recommended)

Question 8

unsafe practices when using essential oil (4)

Answer 8

1. unsafe usage of essential oils risking overexposure, toxicity, allergic reactions
2. ingestion of oil or topical application without safe dilution
3. using adulterated oils
4. using oils during first trimester of pregnancy

Question 9

possible side effects of ingesting essential oils or topical application without safe dilution (3)

Answer 9

● irritation to internal organs
● deterioration of internal organs
● reaction of skin

Question 10

side effects of adulterated oils (4)

Answer 10

● allergic reactions
● irritation
● toxic side effects
● reduced therapeutic properties

Question 11

unsafe dilution means …

Answer 11

diluting with water or aqueous solvent

- oil is immiscible in water

Question 12

benefits of essential oils (8)

Answer 12

1. improves quality of life
2. pain mgmt
3. reduces stress
4. reduces anxiety
5. antibacterial
6. anti-inflammatory
7. cell regeneration (skincare)
8. immune boosting

Question 13

methods to obtain essential oils (2)

Answer 13

● steam distillation

● expression (pressing oil out of citrus peel)

Question 14

methods to obtain absolutes (2)

Answer 14

● solvent extraction (usu. using hexane for tuberose or jasmine)
● CO2 extraction (new)

Question 15

absolute vs essential oils

Answer 15

EO contains only volatile aroma compounds, absolutes have both volatile and non volatile components

Question 16

factors affecting quality of essential oils (5)

Answer 16

● type of solvent
● heat
● pressure
● time of processing
● quality of plant material used

Question 17

factors affecting quality of plant material used in essential oil (5)

Answer 17

● age
● harvesting method
● storage conditions
● impurities
● method of growth: soil composition, use of pesticides, herbicides

Question 18

what is adulteration and example (3)

Answer 18

● 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

Question 19

what are four ways essential oils can be compromised

Answer 19

1. adulteration (shd not be the case for aromatherapy-grade oils)
2. removal
3. substitution
4. cutting (some retail stores sell dilutions as low as 1% but say in small print bad!!!!)

Question 20

what is deterpenation (3)

Answer 20

● 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

Question 21

pov u wanna make neroli oil but u r broke what do you do

1+3

Answer 21

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

Question 22

pov broke but want lavender (1+5)

Answer 22

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

Question 23

pov broke but lemon verbena

Answer 23

LEMONGRASS yay

Question 24

what is cutting

Answer 24

method to make original oil go further: adding odourless solvents to dilute EO

Question 25

solvents used in cutting

Answer 25

● diethyl phthalate (DEP): added to sandalwood
● dipropyl glycol (DPG)
● phenylethyl alcohol (PEA): natural component of rose otto

Question 26

what are chemotypes (3)

Answer 26

subspecies of plants with
● same morphological characteristics but
● produce different qties of chemical components in EO
● due to being grown in different environments

Question 27

rosemary chemotypes (3) and their applications

Answer 27

1. verbenone (French)
   ● safe and non irritant
   ● for skin and hair treatments
2. 1,8-cineole (Tunisian)
   ● for pulmonary congestion
   ● for efficient liver and kidney function
3. camphor-borneol (Spanish)
   ● best suited to musculoskeletal system

Question 28

thyme chemotypes (2) and comparison (3)
hint: harshness, func grps, environment

Answer 28

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)

Question 29

factors to consider when using EO in massage (topical/dermal application) (6)

Answer 29

1. types and combination of EO
2. dosage of EO
3. choice of carrier oils (solvent): odour, absorption, skin type, shelf life
4. physiological properties of oils
5. client’s health
6. safety factors

Question 30

what is blending

Answer 30

when EO in massage are diluted in a carrier or base oil

usu. veg oil such as sweet almond, jojoba

Question 31

what is a blend

Answer 31

resultant mixture of essential oil and carrier oil (usu. veg oil such as sweet almond or jojoba)

Question 32

what is the dosage of EO used in massage

Answer 32

SUBJECTIVE
● dep on method of use, size, age, health, purpose of treatment etc
● generally around 1-5%
● but not standardised or accurately measured