AROMATHERAPY

History

AustralianAboriginalsuse eucalyptus leaf infusions (which contain eucalyptus oil) as a traditionalmedicinefor treating body pains,sinuscongestion,fever, andcolds.

Dennis ConsidenandJohn White, surgeons on theFirst Fleet, distilled eucalyptus oil fromEucalyptus piperitafound growing on the shores ofPort Jacksonin 1788 to treat convicts and marines.Eucalyptus oil was subsequently extracted by early colonists, but was not commercially exploited for some time.

BaronFerdinand von Mueller, Victorian botanist, promoted the qualities of Eucalyptus as adisinfectantin "fever districts", and also encouragedJoseph Bosisto, aMelbournepharmacist, to investigate the commercial potential of the oil.Bosisto started the commercial eucalyptus oil industry in 1852 nearDandenong,Victoria, Australia, when he set up a distillation plant and extracted theessential oilfrom the cineolechemotypeofEucalyptus radiata. This resulted in the cineole chemotype becoming the generic 'oil of eucalyptus', and "Bosisto's Eucalyptus Oil" still survives as a brand.

French chemist,F. S. Cloez, identified and ascribed the nameeucalyptol — also known ascineole — to the dominant portion ofE. globulusoil.By the 1870s oil fromEucalyptus globulus, Tasmanian blue gum, was being exported worldwide and eventually dominated world trade, while other higher quality species were also being distilled to a lesser extent.Surgeonswere using eucalyptus oil as anantisepticduringsurgeryby the 1880s.

The Australian eucalyptus oil industry peaked in the 1940s, the main area of production being the central goldfields region of Victoria, particularlyInglewood; then the global establishment of eucalyptus plantations fortimberresulted in increased volumes of eucalyptus oil as a plantation by-product. By the 1950s the cost of producing eucalyptus oil in Australia had increased so much that it could not compete against cheaper Spanish and Portuguese oils (closer to European Market therefore less costs). Non-Australian sources now dominate commercial eucalyptus oil supply, although Australia continues to produce high grade oils, mainly from blue mallee (E. polybractea) stands.

Reference:Wikipedia

Like all essential oils, it is not a pure compound; it is a complex mixture of naturally occurring phytochemicals, including linalool and linalyl acetate. Kashmir Lavender oil is famous for being produced from lavender at the foothills of the Himalayas. As of 2011, the biggest lavender oil producer in the world is Bulgaria.

Uses
Lavender oil has long been used in the production of perfume. In aromatherapy lavender oil produces a significant decrement in performance of working memory and impaired reaction times for both memory and attention based tasks compared to controls.Oil of spike lavender was used as a solvent in oil painting, mainly before the use of distilled turpentine became common

Research
Lavender oil has been found to potentiate GABAA receptor currents in vitro. It has been found to have anxiolytic effects comparable to lorazepam in small clinical studies, which in animals were blocked by a 5-HT receptor antagonist but not by a GABAA receptor antagonist. Lavender oil may be useful for alleviating anxiety and sleep disorders. It also has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and mood alleviating effects.

There are case reports of topical lavender oil administration producing pre-pubertal gynecomastia. In vitro assessment with human cell lines found that lavender oil has estrogenic and anti-androgenic effects, though an in vivo study with rats found no evidence of estrogenic activity at the doses assayed. A small clinical study found that topical lavender oil in the form of an oil spray was effective in the treatment of young women with mild idiopathic hirsutism.

Reference Source;Wikipedia

Eucalyptus oil is the generic name of distilled oil from the leaf of Eucalyptus, a genus of the plant family Myrtaceae native to Australia and cultivated worldwide. Eucalyptus oil has a history of wide application, as a pharmaceutical, antiseptic, repellent, flavouring, fragrance and industrial uses.

The leaves of selected Eucalyptus species are steam distilled to extract eucalyptus oil.

Types and production
Eucalyptus oils in the trade are categorized into three broad types according to their composition and main end-use:medicinal, perfumery and industrial. The most prevalent is the standard cineole-based "oil of eucalyptus", a colourless mobile liquid (yellow with age) with a penetrating, camphoraceous, woody-sweet scent.

China produces about 75% of the world trade, but most of this is derived from the cineole fractions of camphor laurelrather than being true eucalyptus oil. Significant producers of true eucalyptus oil include South Africa, Portugal,Spain, Brazil, Australia, Chile and Swaziland.

Eucalyptus polybractea or Blue-leaf Mallee, a species yielding high quality eucalyptus oil
Global production is dominated by Eucalyptus globulus. However, Eucalyptus kochii and Eucalyptus polybractea have the highest cineole content, ranging from 80-95%. The British Pharmacopoeia states that the oil must have a minimum cineole content of 70% if it is pharmaceutical grade. Rectification is used to bring lower grade oils up to the high cineole standard required. Global annual production of eucalyptus oil is estimated at 3,000 tonnes.The eucalyptus genus also produces non-cineole oils, including piperitone,phellandrene, citral, methyl cinnamate and geranyl acetate.

Uses
Medicinal and antiseptic
The cineole-based oil is used as component in pharmaceutical preparations to relieve the symptoms of influenza and colds, in products like cough sweets, lozenges, ointments and inhalants. Eucalyptus oil has antibacterial effects on pathogenic bacteria in the respiratory tract. Inhaled eucalyptus oil vapor is a decongestant and treatment for bronchitis. Cineole controls airway mucus hyper-secretion and asthma via anti-inflammatory cytokine inhibition. Pre-clinical results also show that eucalyptus oil stimulates innate cell-mediated immune response by effects on the phagocytic ability of human monocyte derived macrophages.

Eucalyptus oil also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic qualities as a topically applied liniment ingredient

Eucalyptus oil is also used in personal hygiene products for antimicrobial properties in dental care and soaps. It can also be applied to wounds to prevent infection.

Repellent and biopesticide
Cineole-based eucalyptus oil is used as an insect repellent and biopesticide. In the U.S., eucalyptus oil was first registered in 1948 as an insecticide and miticide.

Flavouring
Eucalyptus oil is used in flavouring. Cineole-based eucalyptus oil is used as a flavouring at low levels (0.002%) in various products, including baked goods, confectionery, meat products and beverages. Eucalyptus oil has antimicrobial activity against a broad range of foodborne human pathogens and food spoilage microorganisms.Non-cineole peppermint gum, strawberry gum and lemon ironbark are also used as flavouring.

Fragrance
Eucalyptus oil is also used as a fragrance component to impart a fresh and clean aroma in soaps, detergents, lotions and perfumes. It is known for its pungent, intoxicating scent.

Industrial
Research shows that cineole-based eucalyptus oil (5% of mixture) prevents the separation problem with ethanol andpetrol fuel blends. Eucalyptus oil also has a respectable octane rating and can be used as a fuel in its own right. However, production costs are currently too high for the oil to be economically viable as a fuel.

Phellandrene- and piperitone-based eucalyptus oils have been used in mining to separate sulfide minerals viaflotation.

Safety and toxicity
If consumed internally at low dosage as a flavouring component or in pharmaceutical products at the recommended rate, cineole-based 'oil of eucalyptus' is safe for adults. However, systemic toxicity can result from ingestion or topical application at higher than recommended doses.

The probable lethal dose of pure eucalyptus oil for an adult is in the range of 0.05 mL to 0.5 mL/per kg of body weight. Because of their high body surface area to mass ratio, children are more vulnerable to poisons absorbed transdermally. Severe poisoning has occurred in children after ingestion of 4 mL to 5 mL of eucalyptus oil.

Reference Source:Wikipedia