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Rosemary Essential Oil comes in lots of different "flavors". What I mean by that is, depending on where it's grown (climate, altitude, weather, soil, etc), the chemical composition of the oil will differ.
Robert Tisserand's Essential Oil Safety lists seven unique constituent types of Rosmarinus officinalis: CT Borneol, CT Bornyl acetate, CT Camphor, CT 1,8 Cineole, CT β-Myrcene, CT α-Pinene, and CT Verbenone. While there are a few differences in the overall chemical composition, the main variation in each of these types is the quantity of each chemical. All of the chemotypes contain Camphor, Camphene, 1,8 Cineole, Verbenone, and α-Pinene. This has an impact on safe use of the oil as we'll see later in this blog. It also means that the therapeutic properties of each type will be similar. Rosemary can relieve inflammation, pain, muscle spasms, gas, and cramping. Its antimicrobial properties combined with its respiratory benefits of being both decongestant and expectorant make it a good oil to use in a diffuser blend for ages 10 and up during a cold or the flu. Added to a skin/hair care regimen, Rosemary's astringent and antioxidant properties can help with reducing acne and excess oil in the hair and skin. As a circulatory stimulant, it can increase blood flow, thus increasing alertness, cognition, and attention span. Finally, Rosemary can help protect the liver with its antioxidant properties. While Rosemary has GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) status, there are some precautions that need to be taken before using it. First, if you have a seizure disorder, do not use Rosemary Essential Oil. The camphor in it may be neurotoxic, and this oil has been known to set off seizures. Second, 1,8 Cineole is a chemical that can cause breathing and the central nervous system of children to slow down. Do not use Rosemary Essential Oil on or near the faces of children under the age of 10. Third, the amount to use topically has limits depending on the chemical composition. For example, the maximum dilution for use on the skin is 16.5% for Rosemary ct Camphor, 22% for Rosemary ct α-Pinene, and 6.5 % for Rosemary ct Verbenone. When used properly, Rosemary is a great oil (I love it in my nO MG blend when I have a migraine), but it's important that you know which oil you have, and that you follow the safety precautions. To learn more about Rosemary Essential Oil, check out its Materia Aromatica in the Membership section of my website.
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Calming, cooling, refreshing, opening - these are the properties I think of when someone mentions peppermint. These properties are also found in Peppermint Essential Oil.
When your head is foggy and your nose is stuffed up, all you need do is take a few whiffs of this powerful oil to open the sinuses and clear the fogginess. Between the menthol (a monoterpenol) and the menthone (a Ketone), Peppermint's constituents provide a strong, minty aroma that can wake you up - body, mind, and spirit. This cool essential oil can do a whole lot more! It can relieve pain, spasms, and swelling, is antibacterial and antifungal, and can calm the stomach and support the liver. Be sure to dilute it to 1 - 2 % (for topical application) with a skin-loving carrier oil to avoid possible skin irritation. Peppermint can be neurotoxic to children under the age of 5, so keep it away from their faces. If you have cardiac fibrillation or G6PD Deficiency, you should not use Peppermint Essential Oil. To learn more about this stimulating essential oil, check out its Materia Aromatica in the Membership Section of this website! Matricaria recutita - also known as German Chamomile is a grounding and calming oil that has a wide application in aromatherapy. Let's look at some of its therapeutic properties.
The chamazulene and A-bisabolol content of German Chamomile are believed to play a significant role in this oil's anti-inflammatory, antihistaminic, antispasmodic, and sedative properties. A-bisabolol is also a key factor in its antifungal and skin/wound/scar healing actions. G. Chamomile is also analgesic, anti-allergenic, antiviral, cooling, and tonic. The chamazulene is the reason this oil is blue in color! This oil does come with some warnings: it can interfere with antidepressants like paroxetine and fluoxetine as well as with tamoxifen and codeine. According to Robert Tisserand, such risks are theoretical, however, I recommend erring on the side of safety until there is more conclusive proof one way or the other. Therefore, if you are taking these medications, you should not use G. Chamomile. To learn more about German Chamomile, sign up for a Membership! When I first started learning about essential oils, Roman Chamomile was one of the oils that came highly recommended - and for good reason! It has been used therapeutically for thousands of years and scientifically documented as effective.
My initial interest in RC was for its antispasmodic, sedative, and skin-healing properties. Initially, I experimented with this sweet-smelling oil in blends for muscle spasms, cramping, and relaxing. But, did you know that it's also analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and can help with digestion? Roman Chamomile, with its high level of Esters, is great in blends for colic, menstrual cramps, aches and pains, sleeping, calming anxiety, rashes and skin irritations, sore and/or spasming muscles. This oil has GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) status. In the last few years, the price of Roman Chamomile has skyrocketed to (often) over $100 per ounce, so I've frequently chosen alternative oils to this one when I'm experimenting. I reserve my RC for making individualized blends for my clients. To learn more about this phenomenal oil (and a plethora of other oils and herbs), sign up for a membership! (Membership section will open up by the end of July 2019.) |
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