Essential Oil

Camomile oil is extracted from the flowers of the camomile plant, which is very popular as a flowering plant. There are two types of camomile, the Roman camomile, which is scientifically known as  Anthemis nobilis  and the German camomile, whose scientific name is  Matricaria chamomilla . Although the essential oils extracted from both varieties are quite similar in some medicinal properties, their composition is different and they do possess certain specific qualities that are worth noting. Roman Camomile oil  is composed of alpha pinene, beta pinene, camphene, caryophyllene, sabinene, myrcene, gamma-terpinene, pinocarvone, farnesol, cineole, propyl angelate, and butyl angelate. German camomile oil, on the other hand, is composed of azulene (also called chamazulene), alpha bisabolol, bisabolol oxide-A & B, and bisabolene oxide-A. While Roman camomile oil is more calming and works as a better emmenagogue, German camomile oil is a very power...

Clove oil is extracted from the flower buds of the  Eugenia caryophyllata  tree native to the Spice Islands but now grown in many tropical areas around the world. The buds are usually hand picked before they open. The oil extracted from the dried buds is rich in many volatile compounds that give the spice its strong aroma and flavor. Eugenol is the main component, forming 70-90% of the oil.   Clove is at the top of antioxidant food list with an ORAC value of 290,283 units; but then, clove is not exactly a food. It is a spice, to be used in small amounts to flavor food. But it does more than just make food palatable; it relieves gastrointestinal problems and aids digestion. Its anaesthetic action makes it a favorite herbal remedy for all types of aches and pains. Here are fourteen benefits of this potent therapeutic oil. 1. Toothache remedy This is how most people know cloves, and with good reason. Intense pain from dental caries usually starts...

A variety of citrus tree and an herb of the mint family are both known by the name bergamot, but the essential oil of bergamot is extracted from the bergamot orange called  Citrus bergamia .   This small tree bearing edible fruit that fall somewhere between lemon and grapefruit in taste grows mainly in Mediterranean climate. It is named after the Italian city of Bergamo, the original place of bergamot oil trade. The essential oil is cold pressed from the rind of the fruit, with about a hundred fruits yielding up to 3 ounces of oil. The sweet-smelling oil is widely used in perfumery as well as a food flavoring agent, particularly in Earl Grey Tea and Turkish delight. Some of the active agents in bergamot oil are alpha pinene, limonene, alpha bergaptene, beta bisabolene, nerol, geraniol, linalool and alpha terpineol. Bergamot is rich in polyphenolic compounds, and has the distinction of being the only citrus fruit to contain melitidin and brutieridin proven to ha...

Lemon essential oil  hardly requires a lengthy introduction. Most of us have been exposed to it for our entire lives in one form or another (e.g., air fresheners, soaps, furniture polishes, and other household cleaning products). In fact, the oil distilled from the rind of  Citrus limon   is probably the most widely used essential oil in the world today! This powerful citrusy essential oil is well known for its anti-microbial properties and it is widely used as a stimulating indoor air freshener and household cleanser – that you probably already know. Some of its other uses include as a natural pain reliever, a topic anti-fungal remedy, as a weight loss aid or even to alleviate severe nausea like that associated with morning sickness. Lemon essential oil can also be diffused for aromatherapy to reduce stress and anxiety while simultaneously enhancing mood and concentration. You can even use it to cleanse and naturally highlight your hair. Native to Asia, th...