Essential Oil Absorption: Fun Things You Didn’t Know About Aromatherapy
The Interesting Features of Essential Oil Inhalation
Essential oils are the lipophilic steam distillates of plants, meaning they are “fat friendly” and easily pass through cell walls. This means they get into nooks and crannies of the body fairly readily, and get into our bodies fairly readily too! But many folks who use essential oils only by inhalation often don’t consider how they’re absorbed, the actual physiology, or what happens after they’re absorbed. It’s good stuff…
The essential oil compounds (made up of molecules of essential oils), are first breathed in by the nasal cavity. Inside the nasal cavity there are fine hairs or cilia that sort the medicinal molecules and filter them down into the pharynx. From here the inhaled compounds reach the trachea, into the branched tubes known as bronchi, down into smaller tubes known as bronchioles and finally arrive at microscopic air sacs known as alveoli. Each alveolus is lined with thin epithelial cells that enable gas exchange to take place with capillaries of the pulmonary vein. Once in the pulmonary vein, the compounds are taken to the heart and then distributed to parts of the body that are receptive to their medicinal support.
The benefits of essential oil compounds reaching the brain take less time than other parts of the body. Once the essential oil molecules reach the upper nasal cavity, the olfactory epithelium stimulates olfactory nerves which send signals to the brain. The part of the brain stimulated by essential oil compounds is largely the limbic center. This component of the brain is primarily responsible for memory and emotion. Thus, through the use of essential oil compounds, it is possible to alter one?s emotional state from stress to relaxation, or fatigue to alertness.
The essential oil compounds are able to reach organs and various body systems and thus aid in restoring wellness as well as altering one?s sense of stress or fatigue. When the essential oil compounds reach the brain (via olfactory epithelium which stimulate olfactory nerves to send messages to the brain), they stimulate the limbic system component of the brain. The limbic system is largely responsible for emotion and memory. Thus, it is possible to alter one?s emotions by breathing in rejuvenating compounds of essential oils. Essential oils can serve the body as an antiviral, antiseptic, antispasmatic, antitussive (helps in coughing), balsamic (softens phlegm) and as an expectorant.
Aromatherapy Used on the Skin
Although the skin in not the primary way in which essential oils can reach the blood stream, research has shown that select, highly potent essential oils can penetrate the skin membranes and permeate into the body. The penetration potential of essential oils can be enhanced through heat, such as through the action of massage or through hot water, such as in a bath. And, as will be concluded from above, portions of the essential oil compounds will also evaporate and find its way into the nasal cavity and into the lungs.
Although some areas of human skin are more conducive to applying essential oil, all areas of the skin are permeable to essential oil compounds. The use of heat, such as through massage, and hot water, such as in a bath seems to enhance the penetrability of the oils.
Taking Essential Oils by Mouth
While oil ingestion tends to be discouraged, the system used in France frequently prescribes them taken 1-3 drops at a time for specific ailments. These are precise, controlled methods, and when followed, are perfectly safe. Essential oils taken through the mouth without water are absorbed before they get to the stomach, and delivered rapidly to the rest of the body by the bloodstream. If taken with water, they’ll be absorption by the stomach, and see the same rapid delivery.
The author is a consultant for Ananda Aromatherapy Essential Oils, found at www.anandaapothecary.com. Find more resources are available on carrier oils through the website.
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