Although there are literally thousands of people around the world who have felt the health benefits of essential oils, healthcare workers and mainstream media simply ignore their stories. However, essential oils are a topic of many blogs on the Internet dedicated to do-it-yourself techniques, natural health, survival, alternative medicine, and mom blogs.
Now let’s see whether essential oils are really effective or if they are just another product that looks and smells good, but is practically useless.
What Are Essential Oils?
Every physical property of a certain flower or plant can be found in some type of essential oil, but this time the properties are in a concentrated form. The vaporous matter of the oil of the plant is extracted from the leaves, flowers, roots, or branches with the help of various distillation processes.
Essential oils come with bioactive volatile structures in a concentrated form that show strong healing benefits even in very small quantities.
Some of the typical groups of chemical structures that can be found in popular essential oils include alcohols, terpenes, aldehydes, ketones, phenols, and esters. A vast majority of essential oils have antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Many of them have exceptional antioxidant value. For instance, one ounce of clove oil has the same antioxidant capacity as 50 gallons of beet juice, 120 quarts of blueberries, or 450 lbs of carrots.
When it comes to terpenes, it is worth mentioning that there are three different types of these organic compounds found in essential oils: monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and phenylpropanoids (also known as hemiterpenes).
Monoterpenes – This type of terpenes can be found in almost all essential oils. They have a huge range of healing properties, but what makes them truly special is their ability to reprogram faulty information inside the cellular memory. If the DNA is not “written” in the right way, cells become to work improperly and the ultimate result is the development of diseases like cancer.
Sesquiterpenes – These compounds provide oxygen to all tissues in the body. They are found in frankincense (about 8%), ginger (59%), myrrh (62%), patchouli (71%), black pepper (74%), sandalwood (90%), spikenard (93%), vetiver (97%) and cedarwood (98%).
If the tissues have a sufficient amount of oxygen, it is very difficult for bacteria, cancer, and viruses to procreate and develop in this area. Just like monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes can reprogram and delete certain miswritten codes in our DNA.
Phenylpropanoids – They create conditions that are unfavorable to fungi, viruses, and bacteria. Phenylpropanoids are found in peppermint (25%), anise (50%), oregano (60%), cinnamon (73%), basil (75%), cassia (80%) and clove (90$). They have the ability to clean the receptor areas located in the cells. If these sites or areas are not clean, cells will lose the ability to communicate which will eventually result in diseases.
5 Real Facts About Essential Oils
1. Essential oils will not activate superbugs
Bacteria have the ability to mutate and form different types of highly resistant strains of so-called superbugs in order to adjust to the effects of antibiotic drugs. Essential oils will never activate these superbugs. Numerous scientific studies have proven the efficiency of essential oils against almost all bacteria including superbugs like MRSA.
It has also been confirmed that essential oils have powerful antiseptic properties and they are efficient even against drug-resistant bacteria.
Research presented at the annual meeting of the Society for General Microbiology in Edinburgh, Scotland, has shown that essential oils of cinnamon and thyme are very efficient when they are used as antibacterial agents against a variety of Staphylococcus species resistant to drugs. These bacteria are very difficult to eliminate.
Another study, conducted by a team of scientists from Georgetown University, has shown that oregano has germ-eliminating properties that are as effective (or even more effective) as pharmaceutical antibiotics like vancomycin, at least when it comes to superbugs like salmonella, e. Coli, flesh-eating bacteria, and MRSA.
2. Essential oils locate and deal with the causes of disease at a basic level
These oils can easily penetrate the cellular membranes and act against viruses. On the other hand, antibiotics can act against bacteria only when the bacteria are outside the cellular membrane. A single drop of essential oil comes with sufficient molecules to act in every cell in the system. One molecule of almost any essential oil can clean the receptor sites in the cells and allow proper communication between cells.
3. Essential oils can enter the body in many ways
It is believed that there are about 40 million trillion molecules in a single drop of essential oil which equals 40.000 molecules for every cell in our system. These molecules are very small and they can easily reach our body through the skin.
Essential oils come with some really interesting properties which help them enter the human body through the lungs too. In this way, they can spread all over the body, something that the majority of medicines can’t achieve.
Essential oils can be used in many ways – they can be applied externally, diffused, placed in our food, in our bath, etc. These oils can be used externally in order to heal different health problems like allergies, acne, indigestion, headaches, etc. Only a few drops of any essential oil applied to the feet, abs, hands, wrists, or back can significantly improve your condition.
4. Essential oils can delete and reprogram misinformation in the cells
These oils are capable of cleaning receptor sites located on the surface of our cells which means that they allow continuous and stable communication between cells. These oils can also delete and reprogram misinformation in our DNA.
5. Essential Oils can affect our nervous system biochemistry
A recent study conducted in Japan has shown that essential oil inhalation can affect our nervous system activity. Some specific essential oils can provide stimulating effects, while others lead to relaxation.
According to Dr/ Mercola, these are some of the effects that we can expect from some essential oils:
- Patchouli and rose oil can decrease the activity that takes place in the sympathetic nervous system by up to 40%.
- Grapefruit, fennel, and black pepper oil lead to a 2 to 2.5-fold increase in the same activity.
- Pepper oil has triggered 1.7 times increased plasma adrenaline concentration. On the other hand, rose oil led to a reduction of about 30%.
- Some other oils have decreased the activity of stress hormones. For instance, inhaling rosemary and lavender led to a reduction in cortisol levels.
If you are interested in purchasing essential oils, you should remember that they are different than synthetic fragrance oils which usually cannot be used on the skin safely. Pure essential oils are natural and safe.
In addition, many oils must be diluted with the help of carrier oil like coconut oil which can be used as a base on which you can use a couple of drops from some other essential oil. The use of carrier oil is a must for those who want to use essential oils on infants and children because their skin is more sensitive.
Remember that most essential oils found in the stores are not completely pure and therapeutic. Some of them may contain toxic extenders. Many experts recommend the use of doTERRA essential oils.
What Science and Experts Say About Essential Oils
- How can a combination of aspirin and wintergreen essential oil (applied externally) protect you from heart attacks: NCBI
- A scientific study that confirms the antifungal properties of hinokitiol which can be found in Great Arborvitae Essential Oil: J-Stage
- Thujaplicin found in all essential oils protects us from flu virus: Quick and Dirty Tips
- Another interesting study that shows an amazing reduction in H1N1 by OnGuard essential oil combination: NCBI
- The effects of essential oils when it comes to treating and preventing MRSA: Quick and Dirty Tips | John Hopkins Medicine | The List
- Use of lavender essential oil as a way to eliminate anxiety: NCBI
- References: Hopkins Medicine | Mercola
