Therapeutic properties of the essential oils:
With some texts from Shirley Price and Franchomme-Penoel.
Antiseptic and antibacterial
This is probably the most studied property of essential oils.
Test have been carried out on the antiseptic and antibacterial
properties of essential oils for more than one century.
(Chamberland 1887, Dr Jean Valnet-1963... and many others)
Test made with electric diffusers have proven how powerful and rapidly bacteries
can be destroyed with essential oils.
Analgesic
Many esential oils have this property:
Clove oil: used to calm dental pain
Peppermint oil(Mentha x Piperita ) headaches...
Lavender (Lavandula x hybrida clone super): migraine...
Birch (Betula aleghaniensis): rhumatism...
...
Antifungal
Different essential oils are well known having this property:
Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris ct carvacrol, ct geranium)
...
Antiinflammatory
Some essential oils are famous regarding this property:
German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla): due to the azulene and (-)-alfa-bisabolol
it contains, thus explaining the blue color.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): sunburn, small burns, insect bites...
...
Antitoxic
Chamomile oil has been found to be capable of inactivating toxins produced by bacteria.
Antiviral
There are some powerful antiviral essential oils:
Melissa officinalis and Eucalyptus smithii on Herpes simplex virus I
Ravensara aromatica
Niaouli (Melaleuca viridiflora or quinquinervia)
...
Balancing
Aromatherapists are well aware of the remarkable balancing powers of the essential oils.
At times this can cause puzzlement because of the apparantly contradictory effects of the oils.
For instance some oils act sedative in small doses, but very stimulating at higher doses...
Deodorant
Diffusing sweet smelling essential oils can replace bad odours very rapidly.
They are also very usefull in underarms and foot deodorant recipes.
Digestive
Most essential oils obtained from seed (Anise, Caraway...) have powerful digestif properties.
Also Peppermint and even Lavender oils are useful here.
Diuretic
The most famous diuretic essential oil is Juniper (Juniperus communis).
Energizing
Not surprizing, this property, because we know essential oils are in some way materialized
sun-energy!
Granulation-promoting
This helps in healing wher there has been damage or removal of tissue. Probably the best
known use is lavender oil for minor burns, which yields positive and rapid results.
Hormonal
Some essential oils are hormon-like:
Clary...amenorrhoea, oligomenorrhoea, pre-menopause...
Pine : stimulates the cortex of the suprarenal gland...
...
Hyperaemic
Essential oils promote local peripheral circulation due to a primary irritation of the
skin, and the effects of this are twofold:
The freeing of mediators (e.g. bradykinin) which cause vasodillation
Humoral reactions resulting in the antiinflammatory effect.
Eucalyptus globulus, Rosmarinus officinalis , Juniperus communis...
Immunostimulant
Different essential oils have been reported to have an immunostimulant.
For instance Melaleuca viridiflora (Niaouli)(Penoel 1981), but other essential oils
have also been mentioned.
Insecicidal and repellent
Most famous insect repellants:
Citronella
Cinnamon(Cinnamomum camphora
Geranium (Pelargonium asperum)
...
Mucolytic and expectorant
Many oils are mucolytic thanks to their content of powerful ketones (carvone, menthone,
thuyone, pinocamphone, etc.)and in some cases lactones.
Eucalyptus globulus, Pine, Anise, Thyme ct thymol...
Sedative
Well known: Melissa , Valerian... Lavender, Citrus oils
(Citrus aurantium var. amara)...
(Personal note: Melissa is extremely expensive, so I preferr the use of citrus oils and
lavender.)
Spasmolytic
Many essential oils have this property, ...Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Majoran (Origanum
majorana), Cypres (Cupressus sempervirens-folia)...Laurel (Laurus nobilis), German chamomile...