THE SCIENCE BEHIND

ESSENTIAL OILS
BY MELISSA LEA RIETZ, CNP, RYT-200
[email protected]
 PROFESSIONAL DISCLOSURE

I have no personal or professional affiliation with any of the resources

listed in this presentation, and will receive no monetary gain or
professional advancement from this lecture.
I am a Wellness Advocate for an Essential Oil Company.
TALK OBJECTIVES

• Describe how essential oils have been used for centuries as pharmacological agents
Describe

• Increase your understanding of the chemical composition of essential oils and how they are
Increase extracted for pharmacologic use

• Discuss how oils can be used internally, aromatically, and topically.

Discuss

• Illustrate the chemical make-up, medicinal uses, and potential clinical application of TEA
Illustrate TREE, CLARY SAGE, COPAIBA, VETIVER, OREGANO, LEMON, MELISSA, AND LAVENDER.
 • Plants are able to synthesize two kinds of oils:
fixed oils and essential oils
• Fixed oils are esters of glycerol and fatty acids
• Essential oils are mixtures of volatile, organic
compounds that originate from a single botanical
source. These oils create the flavor and fragrance of
the plant
WHAT ARE
• Called “essential” because they are the essence
ESSENTIAL of the plant
OILS?
• It is also believed that in the Middle Ages
essential oils were “essential” to life
• In Modern times essential oils are defined as the
essence, or extract, of the plant’s aroma or flavor.
• Ex. Lavender smells like Lavender because of the oil
contained within the plant
 • Essential oils are produced as a part of the
plants immune system, playing a critical role
in protection against environmental threats.
WHY DO • Attract Insects
PLANTS • Repel Competition
PRODUCE • Protect
• Defend & Protect: Provide Immunity
ESSENTIAL
OILS? • Those parts of the plants with the greatest
amounts of essential oils are generally the
areas that are at the highest risk for an
invasion by microorganisms. This may be the
bark, sap, leaves, seeds, or fruit rinds.
PRODUCTION METHODS

Distillation: Distillation Steam Water Cold

Scent & vs. Extraction Distilled Distilled Pressing Extraction
Steam
STEAM DISTILLED • Distillation: method of evaporating leading to the
condensing of liquids
• Can be performed through very simple means
in the fields where the plant is harvested
• Ability to process large amounts of plant
material in a short period of time
• Highly flammable solvents are not required
• Steam Distilled:
• Principle of a two-phase distillation as
opposed to a regular one-phase distillation
• Steam is injected into the dry plant material.
Due to the very high temperatures those
constituents of the plant that have a very high
boiling point are extracted
• This method is almost exclusively used for the
industrial production of essential oils.
 1) Steam is created from the boiling point
2) The steam passes through the plants biomass, breaking up
the plant micro-particles
3) This process separates the volatile from the non-volatile
organic compounds, both rise with the steam
STEPS OF 4) A condenser is used to cool the steam, thus transforming it
STEAM back into water
5) The volatile principles (i.e. essential oils) rise to the top
DISTILLATION through the use of a separator and are then extracted
6) The residual water contains the non-volatile principles, or
floral waters (i.e. hydrosols)which can be used for body care
products and also contain medicinal properties
7) The essential oils are then tested for purity
 Plant material is placed in a still and is completely
covered in water

WATER The entire still is brought to a boil

DISTILLED
Continues to be a method used for very high quality
oils as it is performed at reduced pressure and
temperature as compared to steam distillation
 • The most gentle form of extraction
• Used exclusively to prepare citrus oils
• Peels are separated from the fruits and then
cold pressed
COLD
• The essential oil is collected with mall
PRESSING amounts of juice and then seperatated
 • Used on raw materials that have a low
concentration of essential oils
• Best method for isolating fragrant
constituents

EXTRACTION • Solvent Extraction

• Enfleurage
 PURITY

• Essential oils may be adulterated by extending it with another essential oil that has similar composition
• It is difficult to detect
• 3 simple tests:
a) Additional of vegetable oil is the most common way to extend an essential oil creating a greasy
feel when applied. PURE essential oils do not feel greasy. Apply a small amount to your thumb
and rub together with you index finger, it should feel smooth not greasy.
b) Place a drop of essential oil on a sheet of plain, white paper. A pure oil will completely
evaporate and leave no residue, an extended will leave a lasting, oily stain on the paper.
c) Essential oils used for cosmetic purposes sometimes use surfactants and /or emulsifiers, although
they claim to be 100% pure. Place 1 drop into water, pure essential oils do not dissolve in
water, they float to the top as they are lighter than water. Emulsified dissolve in the water
producing a milky white or opaque solution.
 QUALITY

• Pure, natural, and complete

• Genuine and authentic
• Natural vs. Synthetic

“A truly genuine and authentic essential oil should always be guaranteed in

three respects: the plant, the distillation process, and the essential oil itself.”
-Kurt Schnaubelt, Ph. D.
LABELING

100% 100% 100%

Natural Pure Complete
 USAGE OF
ESSENTIAL OILS

Aromatically

Internally

Topically
 SMELL
Strong connection between scent and psychological response
Research demonstrates that basil, lemon, and peppermint are
stimulating while bergamot and sandalwood are relaxing
More than 1000 genes code the types of olfactory receptors in
our nose
Receptors are located on the tips of the olfactory receptor cells
These receptors are positioned on the upper part of the nasal
lining
The body can smell and remember approximately 10,000 smells
An odor molecule stimulates an odor receptor, which in turn
activates the olfactory receptor cell. An electronic impulse is
created, then relayed to the glomeruli, then transmitted to the
higher regions of the brain, this signals a response
AROMATICALLY

Direct Diffusion Steam

inhalation Inhalation
 In as little as 5-20 minutes the essential oil is carried into the blood stream,
carried to the lungs, and exhaled through the breath. Essential oils are also
eliminated through the skin and urine.

The term “neat”: can be applied without any dilution

TOPICALLY Dilute: Essential oils which should be diluted ith a carrier oil every time

Sensitive: Require dilution before applying to more sensitive skin such as young
children and the elderly.

Carrier Oil: an oil that literally acts as a carries the essential oil to the desired
area, ex. Fractionated coconut oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil
INTERNALLY

FDA has created a Generally

In their 1930 publication Pure oils were used for Recognized As Safe (GRAS)
Useful Drugs the American decades in the food and drink list that provides the names
Medical Association listed industry for flavorings. of essential oils that are
certain oils for oral use. deemed as safe for internal
use
 Terpenes Hydrocarbons Oxygenated Compounds
• Monoterpene • Phenols
• Sesquiterpene • Alcohols Aldehydes
• Monoterpene alcohols
• Sesquiterpene alcohols

CONSTITUENTS:

HYDROCARBONS Ketones Esters Ethers

&
OXYGENATED
COMPOUNDS Oxides
MONOTERPENE

• Found in nearly all essential oils

• Structure of 10 carbon atoms and at least 1 double bond
• The carbon atoms are derived from two isoprene units
• React readily to air and heat sources
• Example: LEMON
 MAIN CHEMICAL COMPONENTS: LIMONENE, S pinenes, Γ-TERPIMENE:

LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL IS EXTRACTED FROM THE LEMON RINDS, OR PEEL OF THE
LEMON. THE LEMON RINDS ARE COLD PRESSED TO PRODUCE LEMON ESSENTIAL
OIL. AN EXPRESSION DISTILLATION PROCESS, COLD PRESSING IS TYPICALLY
USED FOR CITRUS OILS WHEN PRODUCING ESSENTIAL OILS, AND USES HIGH
MECHANICAL PRESSURE TO PRODUCE OIL FROM THE LEMON RIND.
 History
• Lemon trees are native to Asia, they may have arrived in
LEMON Europe in the Middle Ages around 200 A.D. English sailors in
the Royal Navy used them to protect against vitamin
deficiencies given their known benefits as an antiseptic and
anti-bacterial agent
• Used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic Medicine.

Botanical Name: Citrus x limon L.

Botanical synonym: Citrus limonum Risso
Family: Rutaceae
Source: Fruit peel, by expression
Key Constituents:
(+)-Limonene
β-pinene
 MEDICINAL USE & CLINICAL APPLICATION

• Antiseptic-like properties • May serve as insect repellent

• Contains compounds studied for their effect on • May be beneficial to the skin
immune function
• May reduce nausea and vomiting in
• Limonene slightly inhibits Phase 1 liver pregnancy (inhalation)
detoxification enzymes, thus induces Phase 2
enzymes.
***CITRUS OILS SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED TO
• Selectively inhibits reproduction of tumor cells SKIN THAT WILL BE EXPOSED TO DIRECT
through the inhibition of HMG CoA reductase
SUNLIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT WITHIN 72
*** this same process occurs when we eat citrus HOURS***
fruits or use Lemon Essential Oil***
 The effect of lemon inhalation aromatherapy on nausea and
vomiting of pregnancy: a double-blinded, randomized,
LEMON RESEARCH controlled clinical trial.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=lemon+essential+oil+
nausea+and+vomiting
The effect of lemon, orange and bergamot essential oils and their
components on the survival of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia
coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus and
Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and in food systems.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17105553
Effects of sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations of lemon
essential oil on the acid tolerance and biofilm formation of
Streptococcus mutans.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29331510
Induction of apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells
by polymethoxylated flavone-rich Citrus grandis Osbeck
(Dangyuja) leaf extract.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20538032
SESQUITERPENE

• Work as a liver and gland stimulant

• Contain caryophyllene and valencene
• Composed of 15 carbon atoms derived from 3 isoprene unit
• Less volatile than Monoterpenes
• Example: Copaiba
 MAIN CHEMICAL COMPONENTS: CARYOPHYLLENE, A BICYCLIC
SESQUITERPENE

COPAIBA ESSENTIAL OIL IS OBTAINED BY STEAM DISTILLATION OF THE

RESIN COLLECTED FROM COPAIFERA OFFICINALIS, A TREE NATIVE TO
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.
 History
•
COPAIBA Used since the16th century by native and traditional
medical practitioners in its native Brazil and throughout
South America
• Harvested from the trunk of the Copaifera tree. The
essential oil is the distilled resin of the tree

Botanical Name: Copaifera langsdorfii, Copaifera officinalis

Family: Fabaceae
Source: Balsam from wood
Key Constituents:
β-Caryophyllene
Germacrene B
Has no known hazards or contraindications
 MEDICINAL USE & CLINICAL APPLICATION

• Bicyclic sesquiterpene beta-caryophyllene • As an anti-oxidant

has the ability to bind to CB2 receptors • To support the nervous system
• beta-caryophyllene has been known to be a • For the treatment of acne
cannabinoid
• Wound and scar healing
• Activation of CB2 receptors
• Thus supports healthy nervous and immune
function
• Copaiba essential oil is composed of more
than 50% beta-caryophyllene
COPAIBA RESEARCH Application of the essential oil from copaiba (Copaifera
langsdori Desf.) for acne vulgaris: a double-blind, placebo-
controlled clinical trial.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Application+of+
the+essential+oil+from+copaiba+(Copaifera+langsdori+Desf.
)+for+acne+vulgaris%3A+a+double-blind%2C+placebo-
controlled+clinical+trial%2C
Antibacterial Combination of Oleoresin from Copaifera
multijuga Hayne and Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles Towards
Streptococcus agalactiae.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Antibacterial+co
mbination+of+oleoresin+from+Copaifera+multijuga+Hayne+
and+biogenic+silver+nanoparticles+towards+Streptococcus+a
galactiae
Antimicrobial Activity of Copaiba (Copaifera officinalis) and
Pracaxi (Pentaclethra macroloba) Oils against
Staphylococcus Aureus: Importance in Compounding for
Wound Care.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27125055
PHENOLS

• Subtype of alcohols
• An alcohol group (an oxygen and a hydrogen) attached to a benzene ring
• Benzene ring= has six carbon atoms arranged in a hexagon pattern with 3
double bonds inside the ring
• Hepato-toxicity
• Example: Oregano
 MAIN CHEMICAL COMPONENTS: CARVACROL, THYMOL , PARA-CYMENE, Γ-
TERPINENE

ORIGANUM VULGARE, IS A BUSHY PERENNIAL THAT IS PART OF THE LAMIACEAE

FAMILY. THE LEAVES OF THE PLANT ARE FRAGRANT AND ARE CHARACTERIZED BY
THEIR ROUNDED TO OVATE SHAPE. IT THRIVES IN FULL SUN. THE OIL IS
EXTRACTED FROM THE LEAVES OF THE PLANT.
 History
• Used since the16th century by native and traditional
OREGANO medical practitioners in its native Brazil and throughout
South America
• Harvested from the trunk of the Copaifera tree. The
essential oil is the distilled resin of the tree

Botanical Name: Origanum onites L.; Origanum vulgare L. subsp.

hirtum; Thymbra capitatus
Family: Lamaiceae
Source: Dried aerial parts of the flowering plant
Key Constituents:
Carvacrol
p-Cymene
y-Terpinene
Contraindicated in pregnancy and breastfeeding, caution with topical
use if hypertensive, sensitive skin, and children under the age of 2.
 MEDICINAL USE & CLINICAL APPLICATION

• Main chemical component is carvacrol which • Antiseptic

contains warming properties
• Anti-bacterial
• Antiseptic properties due to carvacrol • Contain high levels of oxygenating
• As a phenol oregano also has beneficial molecules and have antioxidant properties
antioxidant effects • Carvacrol may help support the body’s
normal immune response to inflammatory
stressor
• May promote gastrointestinal health
OREGANO RESEARCH
Antimicrobial activity of carvacrol: current progress and future
prospectives.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22044355
Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oils Obtained
from Oregano (Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum) by Using Different
Extraction Methods
http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jmf.2010.0098
Chemical composition and bioactivity of different oregano
(Origanum vulgare) extracts and essential oil.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23553824
Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Cytotoxic Activities of the Ethanolic
Origanum vulgare Extract and Its Major Constituents
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4804097/
MONOTERPENE ALCOHOLS

• Any molecule with an alcohol functional group

• An oxygen atom bound to both the carbon backbone on one end and a
hydrogen atom on the other end
• Example: Tea Tree and Lavender
 MAIN CHEMICAL COMPONENTS: LINALOOL, LINALYL ACETATE

A SHORT SHRUB THAT GROWS TO BE ROUGHLY 2 FEET TALL, LAVENDER IS

NATIVE TO THE MEDITERRANEAN. THE DISTINCT, FRESH SCENT OF LAVENDER
COMES FROM THE PLANT’S FLOWERS, WHICH IS WHERE THE ESSENTIAL OIL IS
EXTRACTED FROM. AFTER EXTRACTION, LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL IS PRODUCED
THROUGH THE PROCESS OF STEAM DISTILLATION.
LAVENDER
History
• The name lavender comes from the Latin root lavare, which means "to wash.“
• There is documented use of Lavender for more than 2500 years.
• Used in cosmetics in Egypt, in Greece and Rome as an antiseptic, and ingested internally during the Middle
Ages.
• Prior to World War 1 Lavender essential oil was only produced from wild plants grown in the French and
Italian Alps

Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia

Family: Lamaiceae
Source: Flowering Tops
Key Constituents:
Linalyl actetate
Linalool
Non-toxic, low risk of skin sensitivityNo known contraindications
 MEDICINAL USE & CLINICAL APPLICATION

• Linolool inhibits HMG CoA reductase • May alleviate premenstrual emotional

(antitumor, antifungal), reduces spasms, is symptoms Anti-bacterial
anticonvulsant, and modifies autonomic
• May decrease stress and enhance immune
nervous system activity
function in pregnant women
• Linalool may activate biochemical pathways in • Useful in managing insomnia
the endothelial lining of the blood vessels, thus
relaxing the underlying vascular smooth • Active against Staphylococcus aureas,
muscle. Klebsiella, and Candida albicans making it a
beneficial essential oil for a variety of skin
• Lavender’s nerve-calming effects may be due conditions
to its ability to modulate NMDA receptors
 Does lavender aromatherapy alleviate premenstrual emotional symptoms?: a randomized crossover
trial.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23724853

LAVENDER RESEARCH
Effects of Aromatherapy Massage on Pregnant Women's Stress and Immune Function: A Longitudinal,
Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28783372

Inhaled lavender effect on anxiety and pain caused from intrauterine device insertion.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=lavender+iud

Antinociceptive and gastroprotective effects of inhaled and orally administered Lavandula hybrida
Reverchon "Grosso" essential oil.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Antinociceptive+and+gastroprotective+effects+of+inhaled+
and+orally+administered+Lavandula+hybrida+Reverchon+Grosso+essential+oil

Linalool Affects the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Essential Oils.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Linalool+Affects+the+Antimicrobial+Efficacy+of+Essential+
Oils

Effect of Inhaled Lavender and Sleep Hygiene on Self-Reported Sleep Issues: A Randomized Controlled
Trial.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Effect+of+lavender+and+sleep+hygiene+on+self-
reported+sleep+issues%3A+A+randomized+controlled+trial.

Ambient odors of orange and lavender reduce anxiety and improve mood in a dental office.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Ambient+odors+of+orange+and+lavender+reduce+anxiet
y+and+improve+mood+in+a+dental+office.

Effect of lavender aroma on salivary endocrinological stress markers.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Effect+of+lavender+aroma+on+salivary+endocrinological+
stress+markers.
 MAIN CHEMICAL COMPONENTS: TERPINEN-4-OL, Y-TERPINENE

MELALEUCA OIL, OR TEA TREE OIL, IS EXTRACTED FROM THE LEAVES OF

MELALEUCA SHRUBS OR TREES, WHICH HAVE A STRONG AROMA
WHEN RUBBED. MELALEUCA ESSENTIAL OIL IS PRODUCED THROUGH
THE PROCESS OF STEAM DISTILLATION.
TEA TREE
History
• Used by the Aboriginal people of Australia for centuries
• “Discovered” by British explorer Captain James Cook (1728- 1779) on his travels
around the world
• Used in military first aid kits during World War II
• Classed as a necessary commodity in Australia

Botanical Name: Melaleuca alternifolia

Family: Myrtaceae
Source: Leaves
Key Constituents:
Terpinen-4-ol
y-Terpinene
Non-toxic, low risk of skin sensitivity.
 MEDICINAL USE & CLINICAL APPLICATION

• Terpinen-4-ol has a strong 5 carbon bond • Potent topical antiseptic, known as a anti-
which is chemically resilient against bacteria, fungal, antiviral and antibacterial aid
it prevents bacteria from reproducing
• May be effective at reducing the appearance
• The water-soluble components of tea tree oil of skin concerns
can suppress pro-inflammatory mediator
• Likely has a place in oral hygiene to keep
production by activated human monocytes.
teeth, gums, and mouth clean and free of
• Terpinen-4-ol and alpha-terpineol can disease
suppress the production of inflammatory
mediators in LPS-stimulated human
macrophage
TEA TREE RESEARCH
Influence of melaleuca and copaiba oils on Candida
albicans adhesion.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Influence+of
+melaleuca+and+copaiba+oils+on+Candida+albicans+a
dhesion
Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of
Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/
Plants of the Melaleuca Genus as Antimicrobial Agents:
From Farm to Pharmacy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28782167
Efficacy of Specific Plant Products on Microorganisms
Causing Dental Caries.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28209019
ALDEHYDES

• Highly reactive
• Characterized by the group C-H-O (Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen)
• Anti-infectious with a sedative effect on the central nervous system
• Quite irritating when applied topically, calming effect when inhaled
• Example: cinnamon
MAIN CHEMICAL COMPONENTS: EUGENOL, EUGENOL ACETATE,
CINNAMIC ALDEHYDE AND BENZYL BENZOATE

A NATIVE TO INDONESIA, BUT CULTIVATED IN SRI LANKA AND INDIA,

THE TREE IS RUST-COLORED AND CAN GROW UP TO 15 METERS
(45FEET). EXTRACTION: THE LEAVES AND TWIGS OR INNER DRIED BARK
ARE SUBJECTED TO STEAM DISTILLATION
CINNAMON
History
• One of the oldest known aromatics
• Longest existing spices in the world
• Used for embalming purposes, medicine and incense throughout Egypt and for flavoring
and as an aromatic in religious rites in Europe.
Botanical Name: Cinnamomum verum J. Presl.
Family: Lauraceae
Source: Leaves or Bark
Key Constituents:
Eugenol (leaf) (E)-Cinnamaldehyde (bark)
Eugenyl acetate
High risk of skin sensitization, contraindicated in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Medication interaction must be
considered.
 MEDICINAL USE & CLINICAL APPLICATION

• Cinnamaldehyde, which is the main chemical • Anti-diabetic properties

constituent of Cinnamon Bark, may support healthy
• Patients may be using cinnamon as a dietary
molecular function in the kidneys by inactivating the
supplement for gastrointestinal issues or weight loss
JAK2-STAT1/STAT3 biochemical pathway in the
kidney cells • Frequently used as a spice
• Sirtuin-1 (Sirt-1), a deacetylase in the insulin
signaling pathway is a possible target for cinnamon
extract and may be why it has an antidiabetic
effect.
• Anti-inflammatory properties of cinnamaldehyde
have been shown to be caused by it’s ability to
block nuclear factor-κB activation in immune cells
CINNAMON RESEARCH

Cinnamaldehyde and Nitric Oxide Attenuate Advanced Glycation

End Products-­‐Induced the JAK/STAT Signaling in Human Renal
Tubular Cells

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jcb.25058

Cooperative binding of cinnamon polyphenols as activators of

Sirtuin-1 protein in the insulin signaling pathway

http://www.fasebj.org/doi/abs/10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.
761.25

Immune Suppressive Effect of Cinnamaldehyde Due to Inhibition

of Proliferation and Induction of Apoptosis in Immune Cells:
Implications in Cancer

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4182734/
ESTERS

• Formed by the reaction of alcohols with acids

• Central carbon atom double bonded to an oxygen atom, single bonded to the
backbone, and single bonded to a second oxygen atom
• Used extensively in flavorings and edible fruit aromas
• Activity against fungal overgrowth
• Example: Clary sage
MAIN CHEMICAL COMPONENTS: LINALYL ACETATE, LINALOOL

CLARY SAGE IS A BIENNIAL OR PERENNIAL HERB THAT IS FAST

GROWING. CLARY SAGE ESSENTIAL OIL IS EXTRACTED FROM
THE FLOWER.
CLARY SAGE
History
• In the Middle Ages Clary Sage was used to relieve a wide range of gynecological conditions including
menstrual cramps, painful menstruation, and hot flashes
• Mentioned in herbalist Culpeper’s ‘Complete Herbal & English Physician’ (1653), clary sage was
referred to as ‘clear eye’ as after soaking the seeds form a thick mucilage that were used to remove
foreign objects from the eye, draw out splinters and thorns from the skin, and reduce inflammation.
• Native to Southern Europe

Botanical Name: Muscatel sage

Family: Lamiaceae
Source: Leaves and flowering tops
Key Constituents:
Linalyl acetate
Linalool
Germacrene D
Non-toxic, Moderate risk of skin sensitization, No known contraindications.
 MEDICINAL USE & CLINICAL APPLICATION

• Active against Staphylococcus • May be of benefit to women in

aureus, S. epidermidis and S. xylosus menopause
• Massage with Clary Sage provided • May be effective adjunct in the
relief for primary dysmenorrhea treatment of depression
and reduced the duration of • Shows promise as an antimicrobial
menstrual pain agent
CLARY SAGE RESEARCH

Randomized controlled trial for Salvia sclarea or Lavandula angustifolia:

differential effects on blood pressure in female patients with urinary
incontinence undergoing urodynamic examination.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23360656

Changes in 5-hydroxytryptamine and cortisol plasma levels in menopausal

women after inhalation of clary sage oil.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24802524

Antidepressant-like effect of Salvia sclarea is explained by modulation of

dopamine activities in rats.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20441789

The effect of clary sage oil on staphylococci responsible for wound infections

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4360007/
ETHERS • A molecule with an oxygen atom bonded between
two carbons.
• The two flanking carbons MUST only have bonds
with other carbons
• Ether eucalyptol or 1, 8-cineole is the most
common ether found in essential oils
• Eucalyptole (usually redistilled or isolated) is
widely used as an expectorant in many over-the-
counter pharmaceuticals
• Example: eucalyptus
 MAIN CHEMICAL COMPONENTS: EUCALYPTOL, ALPHA-TERPINEOL

THE EUCALYPTUS PLANT IS AN EVERGREEN TREE THAT CAN GROW UP

TO 50 FEET IN HEIGHT. EUCALYPTUS LEAVES ARE THIN, LONG, AND
GREEN IN COLOR. EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL IS EXTRACTED FROM
THE LEAVES.
EUCALYPTUS
History
• Originally grown in Australia and known by the native population of Australia as ‘kino’,
used to cover wounds and assist in healing
• Introduced in Europe in 1788
• The first major use of Eucalyptus in the Industrialized world was as an antiseptic agent

Botanical Name: Eucalyptus camaldulensis; Eucalyptus globulus; Eucalyptus maidenii; Eucalyptus plenissima; Eucalyptus
polybractea; Eucalyptus radiata; Eucalyptus smithii
Family: Myrtaceae
Source: Leaves
Key Constituents:
1, 8-Cineole
a-Pinene
A-Terpineol
May cause breathing and CNS problems in young children. DO not apply near the face of an infant or children under
the age of 10.
 MEDICINAL USE & CLINICAL APPLICATION

• Eucalyptus is a mucolytic, and as such has • Used as an anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal,

bronchodilating and anti-inflammatory effects and antimicrobial agent
• Broad-spectrum antimicrobial • Studies to demonstrate the efficacy of the use
in Eucalyptus in the treatment of asthma and
• Application by inhalation or oral route
COPD are ongoing
provides benefit for purulent and non-purulent
respiratory problems
• Eucalyptus oil has been shown in studies to
significantly induced macrophage activation
and reduce the release of inflammatory
cytokines
EUCALYPTUS RESEARCH

Concomitant therapy with Cineole (Eucalyptole) reduces

exacerbations in COPD: a placebo-controlled double-
blind trial.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Concomitant
+therapy+with+Cineole+(Eucalyptole)+reduces+exacerba
tions+in+COPD%3A+a+placebo-controlled+double-
blind+trial.
Patients with asthma benefit from concomitant therapy
with cineole: a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Patients+wit
h+asthma+benefit+from+concomitant+therapy+with+cine
ole%3A+a+placebo-controlled%2C+double-blind+trial
KETONES

• All ketones share the same functional group: the ketone or carboxyl group
• Most prominent feature is their mucolytic effect
• Ability to induce the formation of new cells and tissue
• Possibly neurotoxic when isolated from constituents
• Example: Spikenard
ESSENTIAL OILS MIGHT BE THE NEW ANTIBIOTICS

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/01/the-new-antibiotics-might-be-essential-oils/384247/
 MAIN CHEMICAL COMPONENTS: CARVONE, ISOVALENCENOL,
KHUSIMOL

THE VETIVER PLANT, VETIVERIA ZIZANIOIDES, IS A MEMBER OF THE

GRASS FAMILY. THE MANY ROOTS OF THE PLANT GROW IN LARGE
CLUSTERS UNDERGROUND. THE VETIVER ESSENTIAL OIL IS OBTAINED
FROM THE ROOTS OF THE VETIVER PLANT.
VETIVER RESEARCH

Vetiver Essential Oil in Cosmetics: What Is New?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28930256
RESOURCES
• Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand &
Rodney Young
• The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils by
Kurt Schaubelt
• Emotions & Essential Oils
• Aromatica by Peter Holmes
• Medical Aromatherapy by Kurt Schaubelt