Essential oils

For years, Europeans have enjoyed health and well-being with the use of organic essential oils for medical applications including ingestion under strict medical procedures.

The indispensable

Lavender

Lavandula Officinalis - Flowering tops (non toxic)

Probably the most feminine of all essential oils. Maybe because its composition is close to the Clary Sage. In fact, it's the most polyvalent of all, working admirably on younger children because totally safe. For that reason, it is one of the very few able to be used pure & undiluted on the skin. It definitely belongs to the aromatherapeutic arsenal.
Constituted mainly by an alcohol. the linalol, and its acetic ester, linalyl acetate, the lavender is calming, soothing, anti-spasmodic and tonifying. Although it is possible to ingest this essential oil, it's best when administered through the skin where it can undergo a wonderful activity of scarring, and regeneration of the epidermal cells. It is a must when it comes to the treatment and caring of burns, contusions, wounds, itching, cutaneous ulceration etc. Its action of the circulatory level makes it very valuable when treating hematomas, phlebitis, oedemas, especially when associated with the cypress.
When dealing with mycosis, the lavendine, closely related but of greater anti-infectious properties, will be more efficient. When administered on a healthy skin, it will assure a regular anti-inflammatory maintenance and will induce its regeneration.
The lavender is the essential oil that has given birth to modern scientific Aromatherapy. If we were to start with only one oil, let it be this precise one.

ASSOCIATIONS: Carrot - Geranium - Ravensara - Cypress - Ylang Ylang - Rosemary


Carrot

Daucus carota - seed (non toxic

Maybe the most important one when dealing with pure cosmetic care, due to its direct action on epidermal cell regeneration. It's a basic oil in aromatherapy because of its medicinal action on the liver, the kidneys and the pancreas. This is not surprising aware as we are of the very intimate relationship between the skin and the liver.
Before being a symbol of beauty, the skin is to the physician, an open windows to the interior of the body, allowing him to evaluate the general state of the individual, i.e.; its functions of assimilation (digestion), filtration (Liver) and drainage (Kidneys). It is not possible to have a healthy skin on a wasted body. A liver or a kidney insufficiency will engender a cutaneous reaction, a sort of safety outlet using the adapted orifices present (the pores).
Hiding the whole works under an important coating of make-up or other more or less toxic so-called beauty products, will only end up in obstructing the pores, allowing a skin to look maybe pretty (not really), but certainly very far from being healthy. The carrot activates simultaneously the regeneration of the epidermal and hepatic cells.

Hazard or necessity ?
When ingested, the carrot will act primarily on the intestinal transit (especially on diarrhea, but also in cases of constipation), then induce a lowering of the circulating cholesterol levels, a lowering of the glycemia levels (blood sugar) and finally will enhance the renal functions by assisting in the drainage through micturition (diuretic).
Applied on the skin, it becomes a wonderful ally in cases of acne, furuncles, burns, bedsores, in short, whenever there has been deterioration of the epidermis which necessitates a rapid regeneration.
On a healthy skin, it will emphasize its vitality and as such becomes irreplaceable in the caring of the breasts. Its direct esthetic application is further enhanced by its association with wheat germ oil, rich in vitamin E (their association makes a perfect tanning oil). The Carrot belongs to those women who want to stay beautiful, but who want most of all to be smart.

ASSOCIATIONS: Geranium - Ylang Ylang - Cinnamon - Lavender - Lemon- Rosemary - Clove - Bay Laurel.


Geranium

Pelargonium Graveolens - Flowering branches (non toxic)

The third esthetic essential oil. Much less therapeutic than the former two, it is mostly used for its pleasant scent. However, its cutaneous activity makes it an excellent accessory to beauty. Made up mostly of monoterpenic alcohols, citronnellol, geraniol and linalol, plus numerous esters, it is astringent, disinfectant, and most of all tonic for the skin. Geranium is probably the most tonic essential oil for the skin, even more so when associated with grapefruit.
It is also very efficient when dealing with juvenile acne and insect bites, and turns out to be the best ally to produce a lymphatic drainage.
Overall not surprising it is well sought by women who appreciate its well pleasant scent, reminding somewhat the scent of the rose.

ASSOCIATIONS: Ravensara - Cypress - Ylang Ylang - Rosewood


Ravensara

Ravensara Aromatica - Branches (non toxic)

Ravensara is much more than a simple essential oil. It's a basic essential oil which, due to its polyvalent properties, very much like Lavender, should always be part of the aromatherapeutic arsenal. Consisting of primarily a terpenic oxide, 1,8-cineol, Ravensara, totally safe, is a very powerful essential oil, energetic and always catalyzing the ones that are associated with it. It's in fact an indispensable complement.
It is therefore considered as a Terrain essential oil, working wonderfully with the other, with however a lesser affinity with carrot.

ASSOCIATIONS: More or less synergic with all the other essential oils. When you’re not too sure about which oils to associate, you can never go wrong using Ravensara.



Complementary Oils

Lemon (Citrus limonum - Zest)

Another basic oil in the aromatherapeutic arsenal. The most important of all the citrus, for its action on drainage, for being an important depurative, a stimulant and also for revitalizing. A precious ally for the epidermis. Non toxic, but slightly photosensitive; avoid exposure to sun light or UV rays after applications.

Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii)

An excellent lymphatic drainer, very useful in case of cellulite.

Grapefruit (Citrus Paradisii - Zest)

Mostly used as a skin tonic, especially when associated with Geranium. non toxic. Also slightly photosensitive.

Orange (Citrus sinensis - zest)

Mostly for the presence of a-hydroxy-acids.

German Chamomile (Matricaria Camomilla)

Probably the greatest anti-inflammatory.

Roman Chamomile (Anthemis Nobilis)

Also a great anti-inflammatory

Rosewood (Aniba Rosaeodora)

Tonic, regenerating.

Immortelle (Helichrysum Italicum)

Targeting the arterial system.

Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)

Targeting the venous system.

Frankincense (Boswelia Carterii)

A good choice for wrinkles.

Sandalwood (Santalum album)

A very pleasant venous and lymphatic decongestant.

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)

The next skin regenerant oil after carrot. Not as powerful, but still efficient, especially for wrinkles and stretch marks.

Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata)

Pleasant to use in general skin care.