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QUOTES from SCIENCE and MEDICINECompiled by Jacquelyn Close, RA
“Aromatherapy [utilizing therapeutic grade essential oils]
is one of the most powerful yet safe healing modalities we have
today. It should be considered much more in healing.” “...in Toulouse a band of thieves is alleged to have stripped
and robbed the bodies of plague victims without coming to harm
themselves, thanks to an aromatic compound of vinegar, cloves,
sage, marjoram, rosemary, juniper and camphor--all known and used
in aromatherapy for their antibacterial properties...History further
reveals that virtually the entire town of Bucklersbury, England
was spared from the plague, even while the residents of other
towns in close proximity were dying in droves. How were the residents
of Buklersbury spared? Historians believe it was because it was
the center of the European lavender trade. While lavender is a
plant whose essential oil is widely used in making perfume, it
has long been known to have powerful disease-fighting properties.”
Dr. Jean Valnet, a French physician, began using essential oils
during World War II, using them to treat the wounds and burns
of soldiers on the battle field. His subsequent research stimulated
widespread interest in the use of essential oils, and his book,
“The Clinical Practice of Aromatherapy”, is now regarded
as a classic. “Lavender, thyme and tea-tree oils have been used for centuries
as antiseptics; their chemical compounds appear to kill microbes
on contact.” “The use of myrrh, cedarwood oil, and other aromatics in
the process of mummification gives ample evidence of their antiseptic
properties....[and] has also led to the use of these gums as rejuvenating
agents.” “The use of essential oils dates back to ancient times,
but there has never been a time when essential oils are more needed
than today...Modern technology has produced the jet aircraft,
which can be the instrument of transferring contagious disease
around the world in hours. Fortunately, there are answers that
provide a way for us to protect ourselves, our families and friends
from these dangers. Research has shown that with their immune-stimulating
properties essential oils can dramatically enhance and support
the building of the immune system, whether they are inhaled or
rubbed on the body topically. Even those who contract a cold or
the flu can recover 70% faster using essential oils.” Dr. Valnet writes: "In recent years both doctors and the public have re-discovered the medical value of essential plant oils, but the idea of using their properties to maintain or regain health goes back to antiquity. The Romans had their knowledge of essential oils from the Greeks, who in turn had received it from the Egyptians. Hippocrates, for example, tackled the plague epidemic in Athens by fumigating the whole city with aromatic essences of plant oils. Later, in the 19th century, it is known that perfumery workers always showed an almost complete immunity during cholera outbreaks." During the Black Plague of the 17th century, "Every aromatic
substance available seems to have been used...Aromatics were the
best antiseptics available at the time, and the people knew it."
Of course, it didn't help many thousands of people who died. But,
"those in closest contact with aromatics, especially the
perfumers, were virtually immune." "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." "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. " What is understood is this: Because of their unique chemical
structure, essential oils are able to penetrate the cell membrane
of human cells, just as they do the cells of plants, carrying
vital nutrients inside. Once inside the cell, "Essential
oils promote natural healing by stimulating and reinforcing the
body's own mechanisms. Essences of chamomile and thyme, for instance,
are credited with the ability to stimulate the production of white
blood cells which help in our fight against disease." "Essential oils include muscle relaxants digestive tonics,
circulatory stimulants and hormone precursors. Many repair injured
cells; others carry away metabolic waste. In addition, a number
of essential oils enhance immunity, working with the body to heal
itself. They're capable of stimulating the production of phagocytes
(white blood cells that attack invaders). And some are antitoxic.
Many essential oils have been proven effective against fungi and
yeast, parasites and viruses. Others fight infection with amazing
effectiveness, killing bacteria by disrupting their life cycle.
And unlike conventional antibiotic drugs, essential oils are "probiotic":
they kill pathogenic bacteria, but tend to leave beneficial bacteria
intact. Finally, bacteria typically do not acquire resistance
to essential oils, as they so often due to antibiotic drugs. "
"What do the oils do? First of all they are transporters;
they transport products to the cells of our body. Secondly, they
contain ATP, which serves as the power source of the cells--the
fuel. Essential oils normalize the viscosity of the blood, and
facilitate the delivery of vital nutrients. Some oils are anti-spasmodic
and help relieve migraine headaches and mental fatigue. Others
reduce the pain and swelling of arthritis, release liver toxins,
clean the gall bladder, clear up acne and stimulate the secretion
of gastric juices, while even others work to improve nerve impulses
and synaptic connections, and heal burns, cuts and infected wounds.
Some oils reverse insomnia and anxiety, lower cholesterol, relieve
PMS symptoms, stimulate the immune functions and destroy [microbes]
among many other important functions. " Dr. Valnet asserts that the essential oil from thyme destroys the anthrax bacillus, the typhoid bacillus, the glanders bacillus, staphylococcus, the diptheria bacillus, and meningococcus. He further states, "The essence of lemon is second to none in its antiseptic and anti bacterial properties.” Andrew Weil, M.D., noted advocate of natural therapies writes:
"Certain aldehydes in lemon balm, for instance, have been
shown to reduce inflammation, while certain ketones in rosemary
and eucalyptus appear to reduce mucus production. Essential oils
appear to affect the emotions as well: In one recent study done
in a British nursing home, vaporized lavender oil was found to
work as well as pharmaceutical sedatives in helping residents
relax into sleep." In tests conducted in France by Professor Griffin, director of
the French Police Toxicology Laboratory, the antiseptic effect
of a blend of essential oils--including pine, thyme, peppermint,
lavender, rosemary, cloves and cinnamon--was studied in order
to test the ability of the oils to purify the air of harmful disease
causing bacteria. First, Professor Griffin set up a number of
Petri dishes approximately 15 centimeters from ground level in
an open room, allowing them to stand for 24 hours, germs from
the air being collected naturally as they settled into the open
to dishes. After 24 hours he analyzed the dishes, finding them
to contain 210 colonies of various microbes, including numerous
molds and staphylococci. He then sprayed the mixture of essential
oils in the form of an aerosol into the air in the room. After
only 15 minutes, only 14 colonies of microorganisms out of the
original 210 were left alive. After 30 minutes, only four colonies
of the regional 210 were left. Importantly, all the potentially
harmful disease causing molds and staphylococci had been killed
in the first 30 minutes. In another French experiment, the number of pathogenic microorganisms in various locations were measured. In a forest, there were found to be five pathogenic microorganisms in the air for every cubic meter. In an average apartment, there were found to be twenty thousand microbes in the air per cubic meter. In public stores, there were found to be nine million microbes in the air per cubic meter. On the top of a worktable there were found to be five million microbes per square meter. On a carpet, 9 million. And in the air of a large hospital there were found to be on average ten thousand microbes per cubic meter. According to Dr. Valnet, when an inquisitive doctor put some of the microbe laden air from the hospital into a flask containing just a few drops of essential oils, 40 percent of the microbes were destroyed in only 20 minutes, 80 percent in an hour, and 100 percent in nine hours! Dr. Valnet concluded, "Clearly, the administering of essential oils by fine aerosol spray should be common practice in sick rooms, operating rooms and clinics." In an extensive article in “Advances,” a publication of the Fetzer Institute, Keith Block, M.D., a physician well known in the cancer field, surveys the alternative therapies for cancer that seem to be effective. He writes, "Consider the chemopreventive activity of limonene, a monocyclic monoterpene found in the essential oils of citrus fruits, spices, and herbs. As recently reviewed by Crowell and Gould (1994), limonene induces both phase I and phase II enzymes, resulting in hepatic (liver-related) detoxification of carcinogens and increased carcinogen excretion. Limonene may also block tumor promotion and progression. (Haag et al. 1992a) [and] the complete regression of mammary carcinomas by limonene and its metabolites appears to involve tissue re-differentiation and induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis), an integral part of normal biologic processes (Haag, et al. 1992b)." (Block, 1997) Dr. Valnet states that pathogenic microorganisms do not become resistant to essential oils as they do to modern day synthetic drugs. He says, " The body cannot become 'habituated' in the pejorative sense of the word--i.e., no longer able to derive any benefit--to the oils anymore than it can become habituated to pure mountain air or personal hygiene. The results remain the same; they do not lessen over any length of time.” And, unlike many of today's most popular antiseptic chemicals, essential oils do not harm human tissue. Dr. Valnet writes, “Essential oils are especially valuable as antiseptics because their aggression towards microbial germs is matched by their total harmlessness to tissue--one of the chief defects of chemical antiseptics is that they are likely to be as harmful to the cells of the organism as to the cause of the disease.” Wounds of all types appear to heal quicker when treated with essential oils. According to Dr. Valnet, "When essential oils are used on both large and small wounds, healing takes place quickly without dangerous toxicity or the formation of scars." Skin disease also appears to benefit greatly from the use of essential oils. States Dr. Valnet, "The various dermatoses, acne and blotches are curable by both local and general treatment with essential oils. Local application of the oils also acts upon the subjacent organ such as the liver, intestine or circulatory system, whose deficiency has given rise to the cutaneous problem." Furthermore, according to Dr. Valnet, many essential oils have proven to be anti-neuralgic, anti-rheumatic, and beneficial to the entire body and its organs. "Recent research has proved that the essential oils pass directly through the layers of the skin to be rapidly circulated in the blood, and then eliminated via the lungs and kidneys in particular. The organs benefit from the disinfectant, antispasmodic or stimulant properties of the oils in the process. Using the essential oil of juniper in bath water, for example, is recommended for people suffering from rheumatism or arthritis." Dr. Valnet further states that various essential oils can be used to treat conditions ranging from high blood pressure to fatigue. For example, "The oils of lavender and marjoram lower arterial pressure. On the other hand, the essences of hyssop, rosemary, sage and thyme raise arterial pressure by liberating adrenaline as a result of direct action on the area of the cortex of the adrenal gland." Andrew Weil reports on confirmation of the French medical orientation
to aromatherapy, or the therapeutic use of essential oils: "Research
worldwide is now validating the French acceptance of aromatherapy
as a medical modality." As examples he cites a German double
blind, controlled study finding peppermint oil reducing headaches;
two controlled British studies showing peppermint oil more effective
than placebo for irritable bowel syndrome; and ongoing studies
in the United Kingdom researching the possible promise of limonene,
in lemon oil, in the treatment of advanced cancer. The effectiveness of essential oils cannot be fully understood
without some discussion of frequency. Frequency is the measurable
rate of electrical energy flow that is constant between any two
points. Everything has frequency. Dr. Robert O. Becker, in his
book “The Body Electric”, establishes that much about
a person's health can be told by the frequencies generated by
the person's body. How do the essential oils cause their effects? Specialized nerve endings deep in the nasal passage are direct extensions of the brain's olfactory bulb. When the tiny, vaporous oil molecules hit them, they stimulate unique receptors that send impulses directly to the olfactory center which "is very closely connected with the limbic area of the brain, which is concerned with our most subtle responses such as emotion, memory, sex-drive and intuition. The olfactory area of the brain also connects with the hypothalamus, a very important structure, which controls the entire hormonal system by influencing the 'master gland' itself--the 'pituitary.' (Wildwood, 1991) Thus, it's not hard to understand how an essential oil, sending impulses so directly to the brain, can affect the physical body as well as the emotions. According to Dr. Valnet, "Many essences (e.g., cinnamon, pine, thyme, lemon) have marked effects on influenza, and patients treated with these essences seem to get through the winter without trouble." ________________________________________________ Becker, Robert O. (1985). “The Body Electric”. Wm. Morrow, New York Block, K.I. "The role of the self in healthy cancer survivorship: a view from the front lines of treating cancer" from Advances, Jrn. of Mind-Body Health, Winter 1997, Vol.13, No.1 Davis, P. (1995). “Aromatherapy: An A-Z”. National Book Network, Lanham, MD Farag, R.S. (1989) Many articles including "Influence of thyme and clove oils on cottonseed oil oxidation","Antimicrobial activity of some spice essential oils," etc., in African Journ of Ag. Sci. Friedmann, T.S. (1993) “Freedom Through Health”. Harvest, Scottsdale, AZ Keville, K. and Green (1995) “Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art”. Crossing Press, Freedom, CA Tainio, B. (1996) Personal communication, unpublished. Tisserand, R.B. (1977) “The Art of Aromatherapy”. Healing Arts, Rochester, VT Valnet, J. (1980). “The Practice of Aromatherapy”. Healing Arts, Rochester, VT Weil, A. "Aromatherapy offers intriguing possibilities" from Dr. Andrew Weil's Self Healing, Oct. 1996, Watertown, MA Wildwood, C. (1991). “Aromatherapy: Massage with Essential Oils”. Barnes & Noble, New York. Young, D.G. (1995) “Aromatherapy, The Essential Beginning”. Essential Press, Salt Lake City, UT Young, D.G., (1996) Unpub. lecture, Young Living Essential Oils conference, Salt Lake City, UT Zhao, S. (1996) "Scientific research of Essential Oils at Weber States U. "Unpublished research paper presented at YLEO conference, Salt Lake City, UT RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION
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