Aromatherapy is the means of healing the mind and body with pure essential oils. These pure essential oils are very volatile essences of plants and their aromatic molecules, usually produced by the distillation of steam. These molecules are produced by plants for a number of reasons. The molecules lure bees who will pollinate, and they also protect the leaves from fungus.
Unlike standard vegetable oils, pure essential oils are very concentrated. They must be diluted before being applied to human skin.
Pure essential oils work on the brain’s limbic system. The effects on the parasympathetic nervous system is intense, and its effect powerfully antibacterial.
Other then the standard steam distillation method, there are several other means of making pure essential oils. Hydrodistillation is one method, similar to steam distillation except for the use of water rather than steam. The vast majority of these pure essential oils are made by some sort of distillation method. In every type of distillation, water is heated until it steams, and then carries volatile chemicals from it. This steam is then placed in a condenser where it is chilled. The distillate that results is collected. The pure essential oils generally float above the components of the distilled water and then are separated and removed.
With the hydrodistillation method of creating pure essential oils, the plants are submerged completely in the water and a soup is produced. The steam from this combination contains the aromatic molecules that make the pure essential oils. This method is the oldest and the one with the most versatility. It is often used in less advanced countries, although it has to be carefully watched. Should the still run dry or be heated too much the aromatics can burn. At that point they are useless as pure essential oils.
