Natural Essential Oil

Essential oils are the extraction of volatile liquid plant materials and other aromatic compounds obtained from plants. Generally, various parts of plants like roots, stems, leaves, flowers, or fruits, which are abundantly available in nature, are used in this process. Such oils contain the plant’s flavor and essence. Each plant has different chemical structures which give unique aromatic compounds their characteristic essence. The history of essential oils can be traced back as long as the existence of humankind. Before the invention of modern medicines, essential oils from naturally available plants were used for curing purposes. However, due to scientific discoveries and innovation in the field, the applications of such oils have widened the area of utilization.

The extraction of oil from natural herbs needs a selective method. Depending on the plants and characteristic of the oil, methods like Cold press extraction, steam distillation, or solvent extraction has been used popularly. In cold press extraction, fruits or suitable parts of the plant are pressed mechanically to extract the oil. In a hydro-distillation, steam is passed through the plant material while boiling down with water, allowing the plant to release the aromatic compound which upon cooling, is collected in a separate container. In a solvent extraction method, the material of interest is treated with solvent, which produces a waxy aromatic compound that is separated by using alcohol. Oil could be separated from the waxy compound by simple vacuum distillation.

These plant oils may be used internally in some forms of herbal medicine, herbal cosmetics as well as in aromatherapy and as a perfume. They are also used as an alternative medicine for headaches, muscle pain, skin diseases, and joint pain. Due to antibacterial and antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and topical antibiotic properties, such oil grab special attention for topical application, household cleaning products, and the cosmetic industry. It is also used to treat chronicle diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Arthritis, Asthma, Blood Pressure, COPD, Obesity, etc.  The most important virtue of such oil is that having almost no adverse effects, hence it becomes the prime element of selection for many applications that includes the therapeutic and cosmetics industry.