Essential oils, widely used in society, emit numerous volatile compounds (VOCs). VOCs include such poisons as acetaldehyde, acetone, ethanol, and toluene.
Some of these essential oil VOCs are considered to be potentially hazardous under federal regulations. In nature, we would never come in contact with such extracted, concentrated compounds.
Essential Oils are not oils.
They look like an oil; they act like an oil … but oils (fat and butters) are made up of different fatty acids. Fatty acids are what make an oil, an oil. Essential oils contain no fatty acids. So they are not actual oils.
So what are essential oils?
Essential oils are plant fragrances, also known as Terpenoids. Terpenoids are natural weed killers. Studies have shown EOs have anti-microbial properties, and act as a plant's built-in pesticide to deter bugs and animals from eating them. Do you really want to put that on your baby’s skin and defuse it in the air???
Some essential oils have even been found to be as powerful chlorhexidine – the nasty ingredient in many prescription mouthwashes. Unlike what the essential oil lovers tell you, EOs can be damaging to your gum tissue.
EOs are antibacterial and we actually don’t want anti-bacterials in our system and air pathways on a daily basis. Our microbiome is an ecosystem of all sorts of bacteria that balances itself naturally. Interferences from essential oils bring imbalance.
Most all essential oils are phototoxic. They damage and age your skin. Even a 1% dilution still can cause phototoxic and cytotoxic effects on skin. I mean they can kill plants when used as a pesticide sooooooo…….
There are even people who get allergic contact dermatitis from essential oils. Professionals like aromatherapists, masseurs and physiotherapists are often affected in this way.
Pure, Organic, Therapeutic, Conventional essential oils?
It's all the same basic compound. For example, Linalool, the chemical in lavender that actually causes skin cell death, is in all lavenders, be they organic or not. Pure or not. 'Therapeutic' means nothing as there are no FDA regulations regarding the terminology!
Eucalyptus Oil-Induced Seizures in Children. Feel free to look at this study. There are many more. Hospitals have created essential oil poisoning protocols. Australia has been seeing an increase in essential oil poisoning among children.
There are even concerns that EOs could act as abortifacients, causing maternal toxicity and reproductive hormone modulation. This study concludes that avoiding the use of potentially dangerous essential oils is best to prevent reproductive toxicity in humans! Yikes!
Dilution? Diluting these compounds does not make them less potent. Dilution reduces the total active amount , but they can still be harmful.
We are actually missing out on a lot of good stuff and wasting a ton of product. To make 1 drop of rose oil you need 60 whole large roses!
Are EOs a waste?
By extracting EOs from plant matter we are missing numerous medicinal constituents available in whole plants, we're literally washing away healing compounds.
To sum up EOs, they are brought to us by multi-billion dollar FOR-profit companies. Their marketing is so good, it's cult level! Honestly essential oils are a tragedy for the planet.
Since EO’s don’t seem to be the way to go, let me introduce whole plant extracts, aka 'What is Hydrosol?'
Each plant is made out of roots, stems, leaves, and flowers, and contains a variety of constituents and phytochemicals spread throughout. Any part contains many active ingredients. You can break down these constituents even further into isolated organic compounds, different acids, and subcategories of volatile oils.
Plant Constituents
Physiologically active plant constituents are usually classified by their chemical structure rather than specific actions. There are many active compounds:
Acids
Alcohols
Carbohydrates
Phenols & phenolic glycosides
Tannins
Coumarins & their glycosides
Anthraquinones & their glycosides
Flavones & Flavonoid glycosides
Volatile Oils
Saponins
Cardioactive glycosides
Cyanogenic glycosides
“Bitter Principles”
Alkaloids
When we only extract and use the volatile oils we miss out on medicinal aspects and constituents that are too heavy to be distilled. With a whole plant extract you get the proper ratio of all these components, which support each other, instead of just using EOs, with their highly antimicrobial properties. Once we understand the power of these whole plant components acting together, it makes sense to use hydrosols instead of essential oils.
Enfleurage is great way to extract all constituents from a resin. Here the resin is soaked in animal fat or olive oil instead of being distilled. At the end the essence is extracted with alcohol.
For most plant varieties a whole plant distillation is used. And the cool thing is you can do this at home!
Plant matter is heated in water until its' water based and volatile compounds are released into the air in the form of steam.
During this process, the steam is cooled and the oils turn into a liquid state again.
Two end products can be harnessed
1. Essential Oil
Since we are using a very small amount of plant material to make hydrosol, the proportions of EOs are very low and come in ratio with the rest of the plant constituents.
2. Hydrosol
Another product of distillation includes the water based compounds from plants. These are gentle, nourishing, and contain a light scent.
Since these extracts are similar to that of a whole plant found in nature, none of their properties are overly concentrated.
Reasons to include hydrosol in your care routine.
Natural
Antioxidants
Gentle antimicrobial that promotes the survival of good bugs
Balances skin pH
Hydrating and healing properties (Proper hydration and moisturizing is attained with the union of oil and water.)
Gentle
Flower essence benefits, which bring the plant's soul into your energetic field, helping you to shift energetic patterns to those characters qualities of a given herb / plant.
How to use hydrosol?
Skincare – Mist it on your skin
Haircare - Mist in on your hair
Room Spray
Light perfume
Clothing spray
Topical gentle antimicrobial support
Topical healing
Diffuse in a diffuser (but this is going to be costly)
Ways to make your own Hydrosol:
The Stovetop method
Distillation with a Copper Still. Copper Pro features various sizes.
How else can you replace EOs?
Herbal infused oil is another great way to include the healing properties of whole plants.
You can even infuse your vinegar with whole dried plants like lavender, sage, mint, etc, and use that for cleaning instead of EOs
Tea-infusion and tinctures are all great ways to receive the healing effects of whole plant extracts.
Homeopathic products are a great way as well.
Steaming whole plants can be used to clear nasal pathways
Infusing whole plants in witch hazel
Plant bundles can be burned in metal or stone dishes to deter insects.
-> An alternative 4 thieve blend you can use internally, externally or for cleaning. Credit to Herbal Academy.
2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 tsp dried sage leaves
2 tsp dried rosemary leaves
2 tsp dried lavender flowers
2 tsp dried juniper berries
1 tsp black peppercorn seed, crushed
1 tsp dried thyme leaves
1 bulb fresh raw garlic
Add all ingredient to a quart size jar and fill with apple cider vinegar. Stir and screw the lid on. Let the mixture sit for one month. Shake occasionally and then strain, and bottle it up.
Companies with high standards that I support.
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