Aromatherapy: Sniffing Essential Oils

The popularity of essences of aromatic plants appears to have skyrocketed in recent years. Normally they're used as simple fragrances, in perfumes, incense, soaps and candles, or even potpourri. But their recent rise may be due in part to stinkier practices: a lot of people are now turning to essential oils for medical purposes. Some believe they promote general wellness, some believe they boost the immune system, and some depend on specific aromatherapies to treat very specific diseases. Are they right to do so?
Let's look exactly at what an essential oil is. First of all, the word "essential" means that the oil contains the "essence" of whatever plant it's from; it does not mean that it's essential (as in necessary for health). Leaves, stems, flowers, or whatever part of the desired plant is placed in a distillation vessel with steam. The heat releases the volatile... (Read the rest at

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