Essential Oils
How Do Essential Oils Work? Essential oils enter the body in four ways. They can be:
* Applied to the skin
* Inhaled
* Ingested
* Rectally
How does skin application work? Essential oils can be applied topically to the skin. How does this work? Our skin is somewhat permeable. The active chemicals in essential oils are absorbed just like the ingredients in common pharmaceuticals such as hormone replacement therapy cream and nicotine patches.
Factors That Increase Skin Absorption Different factors can affect the absorption of essential oils through the skin. If you massage the area first, it will increase circulation to that area, thereby causing an increase in absorption of essential oils. Heat will likewise increase circulation and thus enhance absorption.
Some researchers report that essential oils may be more readily absorbed from skin locations with greater concentrations of sweat glands and hair follicles, such as the genitals, head, soles, palms, and armpits
How do I inhale essential oils?Another way that essential oils enter the body is inhalation through the nose or mouth. (Note: Often, essential oils are put into a diffuser for inhalation.
The Olfactory SystemThe olfactory system includes all physical organs or cells relating to, or contributing to, the sense of smell. When we inhale through the nose, airborne molecules interact with the olfactory organs and, almost immediately, the brain.
Molecules inhaled through the nose or mouth are also carried to the lungs and interact with the respiratory system. Thus, inhaled essential oils can affect the body through several systems and pathways.
Interaction with the Limbic System (Emotional Brain)During inhalation, odor molecules travel through the nose and affect the brain through a variety of receptor sites, one of which is the limbic system, which is commonly referred to as the "emotional brain."
The limbic system is directly connected to those parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels, and hormone balance This relationship helps explain why smells often trigger emotions. Knowing this, we can hypothesize how inhalation of essential oils can have some very profound physiological and psychological effects!
Do people ingest essential oils?The third way that essential oils enter the body is by ingestion (swallowing). Oral ingestion of essential oils is NOT recommended for the general public because a great deal of essential oils knowledge and expertise is necessary for safe practice.
The ingestion of essential oils is not recommended of any oils except Young Living, it is the only brand that states its safety in oral or rectal use. The other oils may not be mixed with a suitable oil blend.
Rectally, they can be absorbed very quickly when they are placed in a capsule and inserted. But as stated before only under guidance and only with high grade oils.
How Do Essential Oils Work? Essential oils enter the body in four ways. They can be:
* Applied to the skin
* Inhaled
* Ingested
* Rectally
How does skin application work? Essential oils can be applied topically to the skin. How does this work? Our skin is somewhat permeable. The active chemicals in essential oils are absorbed just like the ingredients in common pharmaceuticals such as hormone replacement therapy cream and nicotine patches.
Factors That Increase Skin Absorption Different factors can affect the absorption of essential oils through the skin. If you massage the area first, it will increase circulation to that area, thereby causing an increase in absorption of essential oils. Heat will likewise increase circulation and thus enhance absorption.
Some researchers report that essential oils may be more readily absorbed from skin locations with greater concentrations of sweat glands and hair follicles, such as the genitals, head, soles, palms, and armpits
How do I inhale essential oils?Another way that essential oils enter the body is inhalation through the nose or mouth. (Note: Often, essential oils are put into a diffuser for inhalation.
The Olfactory SystemThe olfactory system includes all physical organs or cells relating to, or contributing to, the sense of smell. When we inhale through the nose, airborne molecules interact with the olfactory organs and, almost immediately, the brain.
Molecules inhaled through the nose or mouth are also carried to the lungs and interact with the respiratory system. Thus, inhaled essential oils can affect the body through several systems and pathways.
Interaction with the Limbic System (Emotional Brain)During inhalation, odor molecules travel through the nose and affect the brain through a variety of receptor sites, one of which is the limbic system, which is commonly referred to as the "emotional brain."
The limbic system is directly connected to those parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels, and hormone balance This relationship helps explain why smells often trigger emotions. Knowing this, we can hypothesize how inhalation of essential oils can have some very profound physiological and psychological effects!
Do people ingest essential oils?The third way that essential oils enter the body is by ingestion (swallowing). Oral ingestion of essential oils is NOT recommended for the general public because a great deal of essential oils knowledge and expertise is necessary for safe practice.
The ingestion of essential oils is not recommended of any oils except Young Living, it is the only brand that states its safety in oral or rectal use. The other oils may not be mixed with a suitable oil blend.
Rectally, they can be absorbed very quickly when they are placed in a capsule and inserted. But as stated before only under guidance and only with high grade oils.