Essential oils: the surprising future of medicine

Essential oils. Ether oils. Aromatic oils. All different names of the same thing. 

 

Essential oils are mixtures of aromatic molecules, extracted from plants. They're made of the most fragrant ingredients of blossoms, fruits, seeds, leaves or wood bark. The plant world is full of amazing scents, and that's what Aromatherapy is built on. These amazingly fragrant essential oils are often used for their flavor or aroma. Now it seems they can be used in healthcare, as well. 

 

 

Right now, not a lot of medical research goes into essential oils- but that's about to change. Research at VIB-KU Leuven shows that the molecules in essential oils can be subject to the same tests as medicine molecules. Up until now, chemical lab-made molecules had priority in medical research. Essential oils are more difficult to examine, as they're water repellant and evaporate more quickly- but recent technological advancements and stricter chemical substance regulations ensure natural products are looked at as potential medicines. 

 

A study testing the use of oils against fungal infections found that about half of the oils tested effectively combat fungi. As a bonus benefit, the oils can be evaporated to treat hard to reach areas. For example, this could be an effective way to treat lung infections or clean hospital rooms. Oils can also be used in agriculture. 

 

 

Many essential oils are already available as supplements, but the medicinal uses are still a mystery. A lot of research and testing is necessary before we can proceed in that direction, and that will take time and resources. In any case, there are many unique benefits to using essential oils. Some components have already proven their usefulness and may be very useful in treating respiratory or central nervous system diseases in the future. 

 

Do you want to know more about essential oils, and even help with groundbreaking new studies? Then follow an Aromatherapy course and discover this astonishing new world!