Essential oils are the regenerating and oxygenating immune defense properties of plants. Their oxygenating molecules effectively transport nutrients and a myriad of other powerful chemical constituents to the cells, bringing life to the plants, destroying infections, staving off infestation, aiding in growth, and stimulating healing. They are to plants what blood is to the human body, and much, much more. --D. Gary Young
Dr. Taylor of the University of Austin, Texas has observed that essential oils present more new compounds than the chemists of the whole world could analyze in a thousand years. We now know that they are mixtures of many powerful and therapeutic chemical constituents. For example: terpenes, alcohols, esters, aldehydes, ketones and phenols. --Dr. Jean Valnet, MD
Essential oils are the subtle, volatile liquids or resins from plants, shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes, and seeds.
They are what give plants their characteristic odors, such as the fragrance of a rose or the aroma of cedar or pine.
There are now 30,000 known aromatic molecules that make up various essential oils, and science readily admits it has only scratched the surface in identifying and cataloguing them. This is one reason why the amazing therapeutic actions of various essential oils are not yet fully understood.
What is understood is this: much like the blood of humans, essential oils are the transporters of the fundamental nutrients, vital elements and chemical constituents necessary to feed and nurture the cells of all plants. Because of their unique chemical structure, these oils have the ability to penetrate cell walls and transport oxygen, nutrients and hundreds of other vital chemical components inside each cell.
Their powerful chemical compounds give plants the ability to initiate and maintain growth, repair structural damage, destroy infections, stave off infestation, and even reproduce.
Essential oils are created and stored in specialized plant structures such as secretory cells, glands, glandular hairs and resin ducts. In a process similar to photosynthesis, plants create essential oils by trapping and transmuting light and energy. The secretory cells that produce the volatile oils trap the photoelectromagnetic energy of the sun and, with the help of glucose, convert it into biochemical energy in the form of aromatic molecules. Through this incredible process, some of the most powerful natural healing elements known to man are created.
The three primary elements of all essential oils are hydrogen, carbon and oxygen.
However, essential oils contain a tremendous number of other powerful chemical groups including alcohols, phenols, esters, ethers, oxides, coumarins, sesquiterpenes, terpinols, ketones and aldehydes.
As you'll see in just a moment, these chemical constituents and the subcompounds they are made up of are what give the essential oils many of their most awesome healing properties.
Here are some of the chief families of chemical constituents found in the essential oils, along with their most widely-acknowledged therapeutic properties...
Aldehydes--are highly reactive organic compounds that are anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, calming and sedative. They are found in many of the lemon scented oils including the oils of lemongrass, melissa and citronella. One of the principal aldehyde compounds, citral, is highly anti-infectious and anti-viral, particularly when applied topically on herpes simplex.
Phenols--are deadly to bacteria. They contain high levels of oxygenating molecules, and have powerful antioxidant properties. As a result, they are one of the most beneficial immunomodulating compounds of all of the aromatic groups. Some of the compounds in phenols include thymol, which is highly antiseptic, eugenol, which is also highly antiseptic and stimulating, and carvacrol, which has been shown to be antiseptic, superbly energizing and highly anti-cancerous.
Alcohols--are strongly anti-bacterial and anti-viral. Plus, the sesquiterpenol molecules in this group are anti-inflammatory and known to stimulate immune responses. Recent research from the universities of Berlin and Vienna show that these molecules can greatly increase oxygenation around the pineal and pituitary glands. Linalol, one of the most beneficial constituents of the alcohols, is highly anti-bacterial and works to boost the immune system.
Terpenes--are known to inhibit the accumulation of toxins in the human body, and help the liver and kidneys discharge built-up toxins. They are antiseptic and stimulating, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, analgesic, anti-spasmodic and sedative.
Ketones--are known to help stimulate cell regeneration and promote the formation of tissue. Because they also help dissolve and discharge mucous, they are particularly helpful with such conditions as asthma, cold, flu, and cough.
Esters--result from the reaction of an alcohol with an acid. They are known to produce a relaxing and soothing effect on the human body. Additionally, they have very strong anti-spasmodic properties, and phenomenal anti-fungal properties.
These are the chief chemical groups and their therapeutic properties found in various essential oils. Additional chemical constituents found in essential oils, with equally impressive healing properties, include...
Azulene--prevents the discharge of histamine from the tissues by activating the pituitary-adrenal system, causing the release of cortisone. Very useful for asthmatic conditions. Known to dramatically speed up the process of healing. Stimulates liver regeneration. Strongly anti-inflammatory.
Bisabolol--this is the strongest of the sesquiterpene alcohols. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. It is also known to be a powerful ulcer preventative.
Flavonoids--these show highly beneficial effects on the capillaries of the human body, increasing blood flow and oxygenation of the cells and tissues. Additionally, by inhibiting the action of methyl transferase in the human body, these chemicals prolong the body's natural epinephrine effects, thereby stimulating the pituitary- adrenal axis and exerting a highly beneficial regulatory effect on the adrenal hormones and endocrine organs.
Farnesol--is highly anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial.
Farnesene--strongly anti-viral in action.
Limonene--known to exhibit incredibly strong anti-viral properties.
Terpene alcohols--highly antibacterial and stimulating to the immune system.
Terpene hydrocarbons--highly anti-viral.
Thujone--relieves respiratory distress and stimulates the immune system.
Has recently been shown to be highly beneficial in the reduction and destruction of malignant tumors, particularly in breast cancer.
Quite an impressive list, we think you'll agree. And believe it or not, the above list barely touches the surface of what modern medical science is now discovering regarding the powerful therapeutic, healing and immune-boosting properties of the literally thousands of chemical constituents found in essential oils. Many scientists, in fact, believe that over the course of the next decade, it will be some of these specific constituents of various essential oils that will finally help bring a halt to the burgeoning epidemic of chronic degenerative disease now rocking this country, including cancer, arthritis, heart disease, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis and more!