Going Back to the basics...

Going Back to the basics

Aromatherapy

the art and science of using  volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being.

THE EXTRACTION PROCESS 

 The method chosen is dependent on the plant itself and the desired end product.

When a plant is delicate , like rose petals, then it is subject to quick deterioration and needs to be harvested and processed quickly. Sometimes a few hours of wilting after harvesting are allowed to take place as part of the process. On the other hand, hardier plants, like seeds and roots, can be stored and harvested at a later point in time.

some of the processes used today:

­- Steam distillation is the most used process in modern extraction. The process involves placing the plant material into a still and allowing pressurized steam to pass through the plant material.

The steamed heat makes the drops of plant oil burst and evaporate. The vapor and the steam rise out the top of the still and locate in a water-cooled pipe and are condensed back to liquid form. The oil begins to separate from the water and, of course, floats on top of the water. It is believed that this process retains the aromatic healing properties in the most advantageous manner.

­- Essential oils used in massage are often extracted by maceration. Maceration creates an “infused oil” and not so much an essential oil. The plant soaks in vegetable oils and then is heated and strained out of the oil.

­- Cold pressing as an extraction method has its drawbacks. The oils are taken from the rinds of citrus fruits, which has been separated from the fruit. The rinds are ground or chopped and then pressed to remove the oil. The result is a watery mixture that the oil eventually will separate from if given the right amount of time. The drawback is that a cold pressed product often has a short shelf life - about six months.

­- Solvent extraction is used in combination with distillation. A hydrocarbon solvent is put in with the plant material and dissolves the essential oil. The resulting solution is then filtered and put through a distillation process that concentrates the oil to produce a resin, or resinoid. The remaining substance is a combination of wax and essential oil and is called “concrete”.

The oil is then extracted by using pure alcohol. The alcohol eventually evaporates and leaves the oil behind. The drawback is that solvents leave residue that could cause problems to the immune system if used in a therapeutic situation.