Chemical Makeup of Oils

[Guest guest]

At 12:28 PM 6/12/03 +0000, you wrote:

>Knowing percentage of major chemical componets in an EO can sometimes

>tell you a bit about the odor of the oil but its not very effective for

>judging efficacy and safety .. unfortunately, rumors and misinformation

>controls a lot of the teachings in the cottage-industry of aromatherapy

 

it's my understanding that the chemical makeup of an oil CAN made a

difference in its efficacy for specific purposes.

 

For example, one nurse-client requests that her lemongrass be high in

myrcene since, in her words, the myrcene enhances the antibacterial effect

as well as giving a peripheral analgesic effect.

 

and didn't you say that catnip oil had to be high in one specific chemical

to be effective?

 

(however, in most cases, we don't KNOW why a specific oil does some of the

things it does, so we don't know that a higher or lower level of

alphabetacetamine will increase or decrease the effect.)

 

 

 

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Accessories, Information, Books and more!

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[Guest guest]

Hey Marge,

 

> >Knowing percentage of major chemical componets in an EO can sometimes

> >tell you a bit about the odor of the oil but its not very effective

> >for judging efficacy and safety .. unfortunately, rumors and

> >misinformation controls a lot of the teachings in the

> >cottage-industry of aromatherapy

 

> it's my understanding that the chemical makeup of an oil CAN made a

> difference in its efficacy for specific purposes.

 

Totally agree that chemical makeup of an oil CAN and DOES make a

difference in efficacy for specific purposes. Didn't say otherwise.

 

I said knowing the MAJOR chemical components does not!

 

> For example, one nurse-client requests that her lemongrass be high in

> myrcene since, in her words, the myrcene enhances the antibacterial

> effect as well as giving a peripheral analgesic effect.

 

Right .. I've heard that .. and its NOT a major chemical component.

Commonly found at .10% (1/10th of 1%) .. if its .20% (2/10ths of 1%)

they like it even more.

 

> and didn't you say that catnip oil had to be high in one specific

> chemical to be effective?

 

No m'am. Never said that. The active ingredient is Nepetalactone.

There is 40-50% Nep. American and 80-90% Nep. Canadian, which is normal

percentage of total of the various forms of Nepetalactone in the oil.

Because the Canadian is twice as powerful as the American, but doesn't

cost twice as much, it was obvious to the end-users that they got more

bang for the buck with the Canadian. They made the decision and it was

a wise one methinks. Still, its gotta be diluted down to like 10%.

 

Same with Origanums .. active ingredient is Carvacrol .. Origanums with

Carvacrol levels of 60% work well .. but they cost the same as those

with Carvacrol levels of 75% .. so its a matter of economics.

 

> (however, in most cases, we don't KNOW why a specific oil does some of

> the things it does, so we don't know that a higher or lower level of

> alphabetacetamine will increase or decrease the effect.)

 

One thousand percent agree. And .. just tonight I was talking with a

lady who is about to begin her PhD thesis .. choose nutrition as ONE of

the preventive measures for cancer. We were discussing Vit. C. and all

the controversy. Maybe 40% of the researchers are on one side of the

issue and 40% more on the other side. The smart ones (it appears) are

the 20% in the middle who aren't convinced yet. In fact, a know one who

is trying to prove that there are trace chemicals in citrus that really

are far more benefical than Vit. C. And he's trying to isolate them so

he can do tests on them.

 

> Your source for superb Essential Oils, Aromatherapy

> Accessories, Information, Books and more!

> Visit us at: <http://www.naturesgift.com>

 

Y'all keep smiling, Butch http://www.AV-AT.com