| Here is an excerpt from "Essential Oils and Aromatherapy Reloaded: The Complete Step By Step Guide" by Janet Evans There is so much information available about essential oils, but I only recently decided to look beyond the word of mouth that passes through families for healing and health. Zija International recently introduced a new essential oils division: Ameo ------- Essential oils hold the distinction as mankind’s first medicines. The tradition of using essential oils as home remedies for common minor afflictions would not have been propagated through word- of- mouth if its vaunted effects were all folkloric hype. They are called essential oils because of how ancient doctors or medicine men, as well as pharmacists of the olden times (called apothecaries or more specifically, alchemists), perceive these plant extracts as the essential life force of plants. Contrary to popular belief, the essential oils used by reputable professionals in the modern world who engage in aromatherapy and massage therapy are not pure essential oils. This is not, however, a bad thing at all. Technically, essential oils cannot and should not be used in their pure form because these will cause severe skin irritation and/or reactions for most individuals. The same is true for essential oils used in aromatherapy because the nasal lining is more sensitive than the external skin. It is standard practice to dilute essential oils using carrier oils. Carrier oils are derived from the fatty portion of plants such as the kernel, nut, or seed and do not have the strong aroma of essential oils, but they do not evaporate. Carrier oils are important in aromatherapy and are used to dilute essential oils to prevent irritation or other adverse reactions. Carrier oil is the general term used in aromatherapy to dilute essential oils prior to application. Base oils are practically the same as carrier oils, but the former term finds more frequent use in skin care, specifically when referring to natural methods of caring for the skin. ------ |