AROMATHERAPY AND ESSENTIAL OIL (APRICOT TREE/APRICOT ESSENTIAL OIL)

This article is dedicated to my botany university students.

Disclaimer:  please note that, this article is meant for informational purpose only, and not to treat or diagnose any ailment.

This article will provide introductory information for the apricot plant, history of the apricot plant, apricot essential oil and the uses of apricot essential oil.

 

APRICOT TREE (Prunus armeniaca)

Apricot tree is a small tree with dense spreading canopy, round leaves and v-shape margin, it has white flowers with pinkish petals which could be single or in a pair. Apricot tree produces small soft, round fruits with yellowish orange flesh with a stone like seed inside.

HISTORY OF APRICOT

The Latin name of apricot is prunus armeniaca or Armeniaca plum. For centuries apricot has being cultivated in Armenia and is believed by many researchers to have originated there. Archaeological finding show that, apricot cultivation in Armenia date back to the Neolithic era.

Other findings show that, early cultivation of apricot in Greece resulted ,from the conquest of Alexandra the Great, while in ancient Rome, apricot fruits where transported from it’s colonies for consumption and cultivation. In Persia, records show that apricot was extensively cultivated for commercial purposes. In the 17^th century, English settlers transported apricot seed to English colonies, such as America for cultivation.

APRICOT ESSENTAIL OIL/ USES

Apricot essential oil is obtained form the kernel of the fruit. Apricot essential oil is rich in vitamin E and carotene. This, make apricot oil an ideal ingredient in many cosmetic, facial creams and lotions products.

Apricot essential oil has medicinal properties; it’s used to cure illness such as

·         Respiratory infection

·         Asthma

·          constipation

·         Bronchitis

·         Emphysema

·         Cold and coughs

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AROMATHERAPY AND ESSENTIAL OILS (TEA TREE OIL)

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Disclaimer:  please note that, this article is meant only, for informational purposes, and not to treat or diagnose any ailment.

This article will provide brief information for tea tree plant, brief history of the tea tree essential oil, method of extraction of tea tree essential oil and uses of tea tree oil.

TEA TREE (Melaleu alternifolia)

Tea tree plant is native to Australia, New Zealand, and the northern coast of new south Wales, but, grows in different parts of the world.

The Australian aborigines have used tea tree plant for thousands of years to cure many ailments. These ailments include: burns, cuts and wounds.

A little history of tea tree oil

In the 19^th century certain scientists, chemists and curators like, Dr Author penfold  carried out experiments on tea tree oil and found out that, tea tree oil is thirteen times  stronger than phenol as an antiseptic ( in 1900’s phenol was the generally accepted antiseptic).

METHOD OF EXTRACTION OF TEA TREE OIL

Steam distillation is the basis method used to extract tea tree essential oil. This method of extraction is done by, placing tea tree leaves on the steam distiller, while it’s being heated up with boiling water in a pot under the distiller. The vapor from the leaves and boiling water pass through a cooling chamber called a condenser. In this cooling chamber or condenser the vapor turns to liquid, and the essential oil is separated from the water.

USES OF TEA TREE OIL

As stated above tea tree oil has been known to for centuries as a medicinal substance, having antiseptic properties used for wounds, cuts, bites and burns.

Tea tree oil has over 98 compounds contained in it. But among these 98 compounds terpinen-4-ol gives it, its anti-microbial ability. Tea tree oil is also used to cure staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus epidermidis, acne and ringworm.

When buying tea tree essential oil be sure, it’s sold in a dark bottle, this dark bottle helps to reduce the adverse effect of ultraviolet rays on it.

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PEPPERMINT OIL (AROMATHERAPY AND ESSENTIAL OILS)

Disclaimer:  please note that, this article is meant only, for informational purposes, and not to treat or diagnose any ailment.

The peppermint plant (mentha piperita) from which peppermint oil is extracted is an aromatic herb. Peppermint plant belongs to the mint family of plants, specifically the lamiaceae family of plants. The peppermint plant originated in Europe, but, it’s extensively grown round the world.

It has a smooth branching stem which grows to about 3 feet; it has narrow toothed leaves which have small oil glands.

Actually, peppermint plant is a hybrid of two species of the mint family which are mentha aquatica and mentha spicata this two species produce mentha piperita.

Peppermint has being cultivated and used since the 17th century for its medicinal ability and other useful purposes.

PEPPERMINT OIL/ EXTRACTION METHOD

Peppermint oil is extracted through steam distillation. The leaves are collected and steam distilled before the plant flowers, the essential oil extracted from the leaves is clear and colorless with a cool minty aroma.

The major constitute of peppermint oil is menthol (“C10 H19 OH” a white crystalline substance). Menthol is responsible for the cooling sensation in the mouth, nose, mind and body of peppermint oil. Menthol is also a good antiseptic, and also and ingredient found in some shaving creams, lotions and cough treatment products. Menthol is also used to treat inflammations in the mucous membrane of the nose.

Uses of peppermint oil

Peppermint oil is remedy for many diseases. These diseases include;

1.       Fever

2.       Sinus infection

3.       Intestinal cramps, bronchitis

4.       Coughs and colds

5.       Diarrhea

6.       Mental exhaustion and bad breath

Peppermint oils is also and ingredient in cosmetics, pharmaceutical products and a favorite essential oil in aromatherapy, used by many aroma and massage therapists around the world.

PEPPERMINT OIL PRODUCTION

The United States is the leading producer of peppermint oils. Since 1944, peppermint plant has being extensively cultivated the united states, in 1944 alone, particularly in Indiana about 21, 000 acres where allocated to the cultivation of peppermint plant, which produced a large amount of peppermint oil.

Well, that was 1944 think about what is being produced in 2012.

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AROMATHERAPY AND ESSENTIAL OIL (LAVENDER OIL)

Thank you for reading this article. This article will provide brief information on the lavender plant, lavender essential oil. Plus, a little history of lavender essential oil.

Lavender is a fragrant plant, a low growing aromatic herb with thin gray leaves, but, bluish purple in color when in clusters.

It’s native to the Mediterranean region.

The name lavender comes from the Latin word lavere which means to “wash”. Lavender is a member of the mint family of plants. Lavender has being used for thousands of years as a remedy for many illnesses, this illnesses range from; flatulence, insomnia, headaches, stomachaches, depression, liver problems, loss of appetite, colds coughs, stress-related problems. Apart from its medicinal use, it’s also used for cosmetics, perfumes and balms.

A LITTLE HISTORY

In 1930 a French scientist Rene gattefosse, was the first to document the ability of lavender to regenerate tissue. This documentation was as a result of an explosion that occurred during an experiment, which burnt his hand.  Gattefosse dipped his hand into lavender and discovered that, his hand healed faster (thank you Rene gattefosse for this discovery).

Lavender oil

The most potent lavender specie of plants used to produce essential oil in aromatherapy is- lavendula officinalis. Lavendula  officinalis grows only at altitudes above 3000 feet. Lavender officinalis is also known to be resistant to cold and heat.

Lavender oil has three major constitutes, geraniol, cineola, and coumarin. This three constitutes makes lavender a good cleaning agent, a good antiseptic that, fights against viruses, fungi, microbes and bacterial.

TYPES OF LAVENDER

There are three kinds of lavender that are use, in lavender oil production.

1)      Common lavender

2)      Spike lavender

3)      Lavendin

In subsequent articles more information will be provided on each of this lavender plant, and how essential oil is extracted from them.

LAVENDER OIL EXTRACTION

Generally, lavender essential oil is extracted through steam distillation. During extraction steam is passed over the leaves and a condensing pip cools the vapor and the essential oil is separated from the water that results from the cooled vapor (that’s just an overly simplified explanation of steam distillation).

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