Читать книгу Aromatherapy Workbook - Shirley Price - Страница 52
Electrical Classification of Essential Oils
ОглавлениеThe therapeutic effects of the different chemicals we have been looking at can be shown by charting the reaction of essential oils and their components to electricity and water. There has been a lot of work done in France by Franchomme, based on investigations begun by Vincent and Mars, to determine the polarity of each chemical constituent in order to discover whether these follow an overall pattern. It presents a fascinating concept and has given very interesting results.15
When essential oil molecules are sprayed between two electric plates (one positively charged and one negatively charged) they will be attracted either to one plate or the other. This attraction stems from the chemical components, each of which has either a negative or a positive charge. Opposites attract, so negative components go towards the positive plate and vice versa. When a component from one chemical family is sprayed between the plates, it is attracted either to the negative or the positive plate. Aliphatic aldehydes (chain based), esters and ketones are attracted towards the negative plate; alcohols, aromatic aldehydes (ring based), monoterpenes, oxides, phenols and phenolic ethers towards the positive one; the sesquiterpenes, lactones and coumarins are neutral and are not attracted – some are slightly more negative – others more positive. See Figure 3.23.
FIGURE 3.23: Movement of alcohol molecules
Essential oils are slightly soluble in water – this is due to the hydrophilic (soluble) or hydrophobic (insoluble) factor of each chemical family. Alcohols, all aldehydes, phenols, ketones, lactones and coumarins are soluble to some degree; monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes are insoluble, as are most of the esters; oxides and phenolic ethers fall in the middle, as do a relatively small proportion of the esters. See Figure 3.24.
With a four-way grid like this, it is easy to see which constituents from the essential oils are cooling and which are warming; which are calming and which are stimulating (Figure 3.25).
See how top and bottom, left and right, and opposite quadrants, complement each other; using a combination of these opposites, essential oils can be selected to treat the whole person. Franchomme’s approach is that there is a relationship between the chemical components and the effects – if you know the chemical constituents it gives at least an idea of the effect of an essential oil containing these. I am told that he and his colleagues have carried out many clinical experiments in French hospitals to verify his work.
FIGURE 3.24: Polarity and solubility of individual components of essential oils (adapted from grid originated by Roger Jallois and published in Aromathérapie Exactement)
There is much work being done and more yet to be done on these fascinating creations of nature, essential oils. Even though I have only touched the tip of the iceberg, I trust I have awakened in you a desire to utilize the information in it to the good of your own health and, if you are an aromatherapist, of that of your clients.
FIGURE 3.25: Basic effects of individual constituents
TABLE 1: Chemical Constituents of Essential Oils and their Effects
TABLE 2: Some Chief Chemical Constituents of Essential Oils
This table simply gives an idea of a few of the chemicals in selected essential oils and is not meant to be comprehensive.
TABLE 3: List of Oils with Common Name, Latin Name and Plant Family
| Common Plant name and Latin name | Family | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Angelica (Angelica archangelica) | Apiaceae | 62 |
| Aniseed (Pimpinella anisum) | Apiaceae | 66 |
| Basil (Ocimum basilicum) | Lamiaceae | 75 |
| Benzoin, Siam (Styrax tonkinensis, Styrax benzoin) | Styracaceae | 94 |
| Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) | Rutaceae | 92 |
| Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) | Piperaceae | 87 |
| Cajuput (Melaleuca leucadendron or M. cajuputi) | Myrtaceae | 85 |
| Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora) | Lauraceae | 81 |
| Caraway (Carum carvi) | Apiaceae | 63 |
| Carrot seed (Daucus carota) | Apiaceae | 63 |
| Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) | Abietaceae | 60 |
| Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile, Chamomilla recutita and Ormenis mixta) | Asteraceae | 67 |
| Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum or C. verum) | Lauraceae | 82 |
| Clary (Salvia sclarea) | Lamiaceae | 79 |
| Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) | Myrtaceae | 86 |
| Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) | Apiaceae | 63 |
| Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) | Cupressaceae | 70 |
| Dill (Anethum graveolens) | Apiaceae | 62 |
| Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus, E. Smithii, E. radiata, E. citriodora) | Myrtaceae | 84 |
| Fennel, sweet (Foeniculum vulgare var. dulce) | Apiaceae | 64 |
| Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) | Burseraceae | 69 |
| Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens and P. x asperum) | Geraniaceae | 71 |
| Ginger (Zingiber officinale) | Zingiberaceae | 96 |
| Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) | Rutaceae | 92 |
| Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) | Lamiaceae | 72 |
| Jasmine (Jasminum officinale var. grandiflorum) | Oleaceae | 86 |
| Juniper (Juniperus communis) | Cupressaceae | 71 |
| Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) | Lamiaceae | 74 |
| Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia, L. vera, L. officinalis) | Lamiaceae | 73 |
| Lemon (Citrus limon) | Rutaceae | 92 |
| Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus or C. flexuosus) | Poaceae | 87 |
| Lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora) | Verbenaceae | 95 |
| Lime (Citrus aurantifolia or C. limetta) | Rutaceae | 90 |
| Lovage (Levisticum officinale) | Apiaceae | 65 |
| Mandarin or Tangerine (Citrus reticulata) | Rutaceae | 93 |
| Marjoram, Spanish (Thymus mastichina) | Lamiaceae | 80 |
| Marjoram, sweet (Origanum majorana) | Lamiaceae | 76 |
| Melissa (Melissa officinalis) | Lamiaceae | 74 |
| Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha or C. molmol) | Burseraceae | 69 |
| Myrtle (Myrtus communis) | Myrtaceae | 85 |
| Neroli bigarade (Citrus aurantium var. amara flos) | Rutaceae | 91 |
| Niaouli (Melaleuca viridiflora or M. quinquenervia) | Myrtaceae | 85 |
| Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) | Myristicaceae | 83 |
| Orange, bitter (Citrus aurantium var. amara per) | Rutaceae | 90 |
| Orange, sweet (C. aurantium var. sinensis per) | Rutaceae | 90 |
| Oregano (Origanum vulgare) | Lamiaceae | 76 |
| Parsley (Petroselinum crispum or P. sativum) | Apiaceae | 65 |
| Patchouli (Pogostemon patchouli or P. cablin) | Lamiaceae | 76 |
| Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) | Lamiaceae | 74 |
| Petitgrain bigarde (Citrus aurantium var. amara fol) | Rutaceae | 91 |
| Pine (Pinus sylvestris) | Abietaceae | 61 |
| Rose (Rosa damascena, R. centifolia) | Rosaceae | 88 |
| Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) | Lamiaceae | 78 |
| Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora) | Lauraceae | 81 |
| Sage (Salvia officinalis) | Lamiaceae | 78 |
| Sandalwood (Santalum album) | Santalaceae | 93 |
| Savory (Satureia montana, Satureia hortensis) | Lamiaceae | 80 |
| Spearmint (Mentha spicata) | Lamiaceae | 75 |
| Tagetes (Tagetes glandulifera) | Asteraceae | 68 |
| Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) | Myrtaceae | 84 |
| Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) | Lamiaceae | 80 |
| Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) | Valerianaceae | 94 |
| Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) | Poaceae | 88 |
| Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) | Annonaceae | 61 |
