Living Magazine English Living Magazine 2016 | Page 30

Imagine you had a
magnifying glass strong
enough to see down to
the molecular level.
Take that magnifying
glass and peek into a
drop of essential oil.
What you’d find is an astonishing array
of natural plant chemicals carefully
honed by millennia of evolution,
meticulously sourced and harvested
to preserve the unique bouquet, and

Like humans, plants need
to communicate with their
neighbors. They need to ward
off pests, fight off invaders,
attract the right helpers, and
heal after injury. Many of the
chemicals they use in these
processes are what we know as
essential oils.
The variety of essential oil compounds is staggering:
monoterpenes, diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, esters,
alcohols, and terpenoids, to name a few. It’s likely
that some essential oils will contain compounds
we’ve never seen before—only a fraction of plant
species have been evaluated for their health benefits.
Essential oils are useful in many ways, but their
true distinctiveness lies in several characteristics:
volatility, synergy, and adaptability.

painstakingly extracted to capture
the true ratios of physiologically
active components. What
you’d see in that drop
of essential oil is
one of nature’s
finest creations.

Essential oils are unique and elegantly
functional, because they contain a mixture
of highly volatile components. This
is one of the stationary plant’s best
tools. How could a peppermint plant
communicate with its neighbors?
Can’t pull up roots, so send over a
volatile molecule. How could the
peppermint plant tell a hungry
bug to stay away from its leaves or
roots? Secrete volatile molecules
and allow them to surround
the plant like an invisible shield.
Historically, humans have harnessed
this chemical volatility for wellness
purposes. Science is just now beginning
to understand the physiological processes
at work when an essential oil is inhaled.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent desease.

30 / 2016 EUROPE LIVING MAGAZINE