Ask the Pharmacist

Q: I have been hearing a lot about essential oils lately. Can you tell me what they are, and what all the buzz is about?

A: Essential oils seem to be increasing in popularity as people search for natural remedies to their ailments.

The oils are extracted from various parts of plants, such as seeds, stems, bark, roots and flowers. They are put through a process of resin tapping, steam distillation and/or cold-pressing and turned into potent, volatile aromatic compounds.

Potent means that it can have a very powerful effect; volatile means that it can easily evaporate at normal temperatures and turn into a gas which includes microscopic molecules; aromatic means that it has a pleasant and/or distinctive smell (unfortunately not all smells are pleasant).

You might be wondering, “How can an oil with a pretty smell be of any use to me other than to possibly make me smell nice?” Think of how you react to various smells in your life - the smell of coffee brewing or your favourite cake baking. The nose has olfactory sensory neurons which are specialized sensory cells, also called chemoreceptors, and are connected directly to the brain.

The smell or odour actually consists of microscopic molecules (remember that the volatile oil evaporated into these microscopic molecules) that the sensory neurons in your nose detect, then send electrical impulses to the olfactory bulb which, in turn, sends a message to your brain to identify that odour. The olfactory bulb is part of the brain's limbic system which supports many functions of the body, such as emotion, motivation, behaviour, associative learning, thirst, hunger, body temperature, energy and memory recalls.

Most of us are familiar with the concept of a distinctive smell evoking a memory and producing a response (pleasurable or otherwise, yes I’m talking to you Tequila) almost instantaneously in individuals. Essential oils can be used for emotional and physical well-being. They can help with immune support, hormonal support, cellular repair, insomnia, mental health issues, and a host of other common, and sometimes difficult to treat, conditions.

Some examples of specific oils and their uses are: lemon has antiseptic properties, antioxidant properties, is a diuretic and can be used for heartburn, edema and congestion; lavender is an antispasmodic, antidepressant and sedative and can be used to help combat stress, anxiety and insomnia; peppermint is an anti-inflammatory and can be used to reduce fevers, headaches, muscle tension and digestive issues.

They can be used aromatically by inhaling a drop or two in your hand or by diffusing the scent in a diffuser (a small machine that spreads the aroma of a few drops of an oil within a room for hours, if desired). The oils can also be applied topically (i.e. directly to the skin) to help either the emotional and/or physical body.

Some oils can be applied neat (directly on the skin) while others should be diluted with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil, grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, etc. When applying oils to children, it is advised to always dilute them since a child’s skin is generally more sensitive.

Essential oils may also be taken internally, depending on the brand of oil you choose. There are some manufactured oil capsules available for internal use. You can also make your own capsules by adding oil(s) to a vegetable capsule or gelatin capsule. It is also common to add the oil to the water you drink and/or to your favourite recipes when cooking/baking.

Keep in mind that not all essential oils can be taken internally and that not all essential oil companies are created equal. If you are thinking about using essential oils, do your research on the company before you invest your money in buying them. Some have added foreign, synthetic or natural chemicals to the oil to help reduce the cost of the oil or to boost the level of the key ingredient to specification levels.

The addition of any ingredient to the original oil will then be considered adulterated and will reduce the sensory strength, thereby making it less effective and less valuable. These chemicals that are added to the adulterated form may be harmful to the body regardless of the method used (aromatically, topically or internally).

For more information about this or any other health-related questions, contact the pharmacists at Gordon Pharmasave, Your Health and Wellness Destination. Also check the website at www.gordon-pharmasave.com/ and the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GordonPharmasave/?fref=ts

But before you do, take time to smell the roses. Who knows, it may just put a smile on your face!