Image by Vesna Harni from Pixabay
Wondering what’s in essential oils that gives them their therapeutic boost? Look no further- find out the basics right here!
You may not realize it but essential oils belong to different chemical families- for example, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, monoterpenols, sesquiterpenols, esters, ketones, aldehydes, phenols and oxides. There are other chemicals in some essential oils, but these are certainly some of the more significant chemical families.
Why does any of this matter?
It matters greatly, because the various chemicals in these chemical families are what give essential oils their therapeutic properties.
Knowing that linalool (sometimes spelled linalol), from the monoterpenol chemical family, generally makes up a significant percentage of lavandula angustifolia, the lavender variety most people think of, has been historically shown to help with that occasional restless night, is of utmost importance.
What many people are not aware of, though, is that there are many different kinds of lavender, each of which have their own chemical properties and therefore their own therapeutic applications. For example, lavandula latifolia (commonly known as Spike lavender), generally has a high percentage of 1,8-cineole in it. This chemical is from the Oxide family, and it has been shown to increase cerebral blood flow and energy levels. It’s easy to see now, then, why this variety of lavender would not be a good choice to use in a diffuser at nighttime.
So grabbing the wrong lavender can make a huge difference! And it’s just one of many examples, so it’s super important to be aware of the constituents of any oil you are using.
Next week, we will continue to explore some other basic concepts that will help you in choosing the right oils for your personal use.
‘Til next time!
Jenn💕
