Essential Oil - Acupuncture One - Medical Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine

From Wikipedia

An essential oil is a concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aromatic compounds from plants. It is produced by distillation. Other extraction processes to obtain aromatic plant compounds include expression, or solvent extraction. Essential oils are used in perfumery, aromatherapy, cosmetics, incense, for flavoring food and drink, and –to a lesser extent- in health care, and household cleaning products. They are valuable commodities to the fragrance and flavorant industries.

Essential oil is also known as volatile oil and ethereal oil. It may also be referred to as "oil of" the raw plant material from which it was extracted, such as oil of clove. The term essential is intended to indicate that the oil is the fragrant essence of the plant from which it is extracted and not in the more common grammatical sense of being indispensable. It is not to be confused with essential fatty acids.

The medical use of vegetable oils has a long and distinguished history. Many oils that are used medicinally are essential oils, which are distilled rather than pressed or otherwise extracted. Medical properties claimed by those who sell medicinal oils vary from skin treatments to remedies for cancer, and are often based on historical use of these oils for these purposes. Such claims are now subject to regulation in most countries, and have grown correspondingly more vague, to stay within these regulations.

Interest in such uses of essential oils has enjoyed a revival in recent decades, with the popularity of aromatherapy, in which oils are heated and volatized.

Distillation
Today, most common essential oils, such as lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus, are distilled. Raw plant material, consisting of the flowers, leaves, wood, bark, roots, seeds, or peel, is put into an alembic 1 (distillation apparatus) over water. As the water is heated the steam passes through the plant material, vaporizing the volatile compounds. The vapors flow through a coil where they condense back to liquid, which is then collected in the receiving vessel.

Most oils are distilled in a single process. One exception is Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata), which takes 22 hours to complete through a Fractional distillation.

The water recondensed from the distillation process is referred to as a hydrosol, hydrolat, herbal distillate or plant water essence, which may be sold as another fragrant product. Popular hydrosols are rose water, lavender water, lemon balm, clary sage, and orange blossom water. The use of herbal distillates in cosmetics is increasing. Some plant hydrosols have unpleasant smells and are therefore not sold.

Expression
Most citrus peel oils are usually expresses mechanically, or cold-pressed. Due to the large quantities of oil in citrus peel and the relatively low cost to grow and harvest the raw materials, citrus-fruit oils are cheaper than most other essential oils. Lemon or sweet orange oils that are obtained as by-products of the commercial citrus industry are even cheaper.

Prior to the discovery of distillation, essential oils (EO) were extracted by pressing.

Solvent extraction
Most flowers contain very little volatile oil to undergo expression and their chemical components are to delicate and easily denatured by the high heat used in steam distillation. Instead, a solvent such as hexane or supercritical carbon dioxide is used to extract the oils. Extracts from hexane and other hydrophobic solvent are called concretes, which is a mixture of essential oil, waxes, resins and other lipophilic (oil soluble) plant material.

Although highly fragrant, concretes contain large quantities of non-fragrant waxes and resins. As such another solvent, often ethyl alcohol, which only dissolves the fragrant low-molecular weight compounds, is used to extract the fragrant oil from the concrete. The alcohol is removed by a second distillation, leaving behind the absolute.

Supercritical carbon dioxide is used as a solvent in supercritical fluid extraction. This method has many benefits, including avoiding petrochemical residues in the product. It does not yield an absolute directly. The supercritical carbon dioxide will extract both the waxes and the essential oils that make up the concrete. Subsequent processing with liquid carbon dioxide, achieved in the same extractor by merely lowering the extraction temperature, will separate the waxes from the essential oils. This lower temperature process prevents the decomposition and denaturing of compounds and provides for a superior product. When the extraction is complete, the pressure is reduced to ambient and the carbon dioxide reverts back to a gas, leaving no residue. Although supercritical carbon dioxide is also used for making decaffeinated coffee, the actual process is different.

Production quantities
Estimates of total production of essential oils are difficult to obtain. One estimate, compiled from data in 1989,1990, and 1994 from various sources gives the following total production, in tones, of essential oils for which more than 1,000 tonnes were produced. 2

Oils Tonnes
Sweet Orange 12,000
Mentha arvensis 4,800
Peppermint 3,200
Cedarwood 2,600
Lemon 2,300
Eucalyptus globules 2,070
Litsea cubeba 2,000
Clove (leaf) 2,000
Spearmint 1,300

Essential oil in use in aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a form of herbal medicine, in which healing effects are ascribed to the aromatic compounds in essential oils and other plant extracts. Many common essential oils have medicinal properties that have been applied in folk medicine since ancient times and are still widely used today. For example, many essential oils have antiseptic properties, though some are stronger than others.3 In addition, many are claimed to have an uplifting effect on the mind, though different essential oils have different properties. 4 5 The claims are supported in some studies and unconfirmed in others.

Solvents
Essential oils are usually lipophilic compounds. It has thus been found that alcohols such as methanol and ethanol (primarily 100% concentrations), or organic solvents such as acetone, are the best diluents. Water is not recommended as oil will not usually dissolve in water-although minimal oil dilution in water can be attained at extremely low concentrations of oil, depending on the viscosity of the oil.

Raw Materials
Essential oils are derived from various parts of plants. Some, like orange oil, are derived from any of several parts of the plant.

Berries: Allspice, Juniper
Seeds: Almond, Anise, Celery, Cumin, Nutmeg oil
Bark: Cassia, Cinnamon
Wood: Camphor, Cedar, Rosewood, Sandalwood
Rhizome: Ginger
Leaves: Basil, Bay leaf, Cinnamon, Common sage, Eucalyptus, Lemon grass, Melaleuca, Oregano, Patchouli, Peppermint, Pine, Rosemary, Spearmint, Tea tree, Thyme, Wintergreen
Resin: Frankincense, Myrrh
Flowers: Chamomile, Clary sage, Clove, Geranium, Hyssop, Jasmine, Lavender, Manuka, Marjoram, Orange, Rose, Ylang-ylang
Peel: Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Tangerine
Root: Valerian

Rose oil
The most well-known essential oil is probably Rose oil, produced from the petals of Rosa damascena and Rosa centifolia. Steam-distilled rose oil is known as "rose otto" while the solvent extracted product is known as "rose absolute".

Dangers
Because of their concentrated nature, EO’s generally should not be applied directly to the skin in their undiluted or "neat" form. Some can cause severe irritation or provoke an allergic reaction. Instead, essential oils should be blended with a vegetable carrier oil (also referred to as a base or "fixed" oil) before being applied. Examples of common carrier oils would be olive, hazelnut, grapeseed, etc. Common ratio of essential oil disbursed in a carrier oil is 0.5-3% (most less than 10%) and depends on its purpose. Some EO’s including many of the citrus peel oils, are photosensitizers, increasing the skin’s reaction to sunlight and making it more likely to burn.

Industrial users of essential oils should consult the material safety data sheet (MSDS) to determine the hazards and handling requirements of particular oils.

Pesticide residues
There is some concern about pesticide residues in EO’s, particularly those used therapeutically. For this reason, many practitioners of aromatherapy choose to buy organically produced oils.

Ingestion
While some advocate the ingestion of essential oils for therapeutic purposes, this should never be done except under the supervision of a professional who is licensed to prescribe such treatment. Some very common EO’s such as Eucalyptus are extremely toxic internally. Pharmacopoeia standards for medicinal oils should be heeded. EO’s should always be kept out of the reach of children. Some oils can be toxic to some domestic animals, cats in particular. Owners must ensure that their pets do not come into contact with potentially harmful essential oils. 7

Smoke
The smoke from burning essential oils may contain potential carcinogens, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Essential oils are naturally high in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The internal use of essential oils should be fully avoided during pregnancy without consulting with a licensed professional, as some can be abortifacients in dose 0.5-10 ml.

Toxicology
LD50 of most EO or their main components are 0.5-10 g/kg (orally or skin test).

Media
In 2006, the German movie Perfume: The Story of a Murderer was made on the subject of essential oils. The story takes place in France in the 1700’s.

See our selection of Essential Oils

Bojenmi Chinese Tea

Bojenmi Tea (Baojianmei Jianfei, Cha; literally, maintain health and nice appearance, reduce fleshiness tea) is a popular product of China that has been used mainly for weight loss for the past twenty years. It is produced under the Egret River Brand of the Xiamen Export Corporation (XMEHECO) in beautiful Xiamen, an island of Fujian Province. This herb formulation is provided in the form of loose tea and easy to use tea bags. The main ingredient is tea leaf from Fujian Province (reported to be 50% of the product contents), which have been shown to help lower blood lipids. An extract of other herbs is sprayed onto the tea leaf to make the finished beverage product, which is prepared by steeping in boiled water for 3-4 minutes.

The other ingredients are:

• Crataegus (shanza)


• Malt (maiya)


• Pharbitis (qianniuzi)


• Pogostemon (huoxiang)


• Hoelen (fuling)


• Citrus (chenpi)


• Alisma (zexie)


• Cassia (juemingzi)


• Phaseolus (chixiaodou)


• Shen-chu (shenqu)


• Raphanus (laifuzi)

These herbs are traditionally used to enhance digestion, remove food stagnation, resolve accumulations pf phlegm and moisture, and provide a slight laxative action. The combination includes the four primary therapeutic actions relied upon by Chinese doctors to promote weight loss and reduce blood lipids. Malt, (barley sprout), shen-chu (fermented wheat with artemisia herb), crataegus (hawthorn fruit), raphanus (radish seed), citrus peel, and pogostemon (patchouli herb) invigorate the digestion of foods in the stomach; hoelen mushroom, cassia (red bean), alisma (water plantain rhizome), citrus, and pogostemon remove excess fluid; cassia (senna seed) and pharbitis (morning glory seed) provide a laxative effect. Crataegus, lisma, and cassia reduce blood lipids. The combination of malt, shen-chu, crataegus and raphanus was shown, in a clinical trial, to alleviate symptoms of abdominal distention, intestinal gurgling, eructation, acid regurgitation and intestinal cramping in patients with sluggish bowel function.

The recommended dosage for Bojenmi Tea is 3-6 grams each time (one tea bag contains 3 grams), to be taken three times daily, thus 9-18 grams of tea leaves carrying the herbal extracts is taken in one day (3-6 tae bags). According to the package information, if no dietary changes are made, one can still lose weight, though it is best to have a low calorie diet for continued weight loss. Bojenmi tea has a mild taste, something like ordinary black tea, with a slight added spicy-bitter taste. A small amount of sugar (or other sweetener) can be added to alter the taste, if desired.

A story about the value of ordinary green tea in removing fat was told this way: “In the Chinese restaurants, to clean up the spilled greasy food left after a meal, some of the remaining tea is poured onto the table top and then the grease dissolves and is easily cleaned up.” Chinese physicians point out also that alisma counteracts the “greasy quality” of herbs; because of this property, it was thought to reduce excess grease (fat) in the body, which has since been found to be true, based on laboratory and clinical evaluations.

Baojenmi Tea is a derivative of the traditional formula Baohe Wan (maintain harmony pill) a prescription of Zhu Danxi, originally recorded in Danxi Xinfa (The Fundamental Methods of Zhu Danxi; 1481 A.D.) This formula, available also as a patent remedy, contains the following ingredients in common with Baojenmi Tea: crataegus, shen-chu, raphanus, citrus, hoelen, and malt. The traditional formula was indicated for treating stagnant food, eructation, diarrhea, and thick coating on the tongue, indicating the phlegm excess resulting from food stagnation related to overeating. Bojenmi Tea treats the same conditions as Baohe Wan. It contains a small amount of mild laxatives, so that it can treat constipation, but it will still alleviate diarrhea that occurs from overeating and impaired digestive functions. In addition to rectifying the digestive disturbance that leads to accumulation of fat and water with resulting weight gain, it also helps conduct out excess fats from the blood.

Baojenmi Tea has its origin in the coastal island city of Xiamen, known as Egret Island, because of the many egrets that used to ride there; the river is called Egret River, inspiring the brand name for this product. Xiamen is also known as the Garden of the Sea and the Green Island, because of its luxuriant plant life.

People began to settle on this island during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.). During the Ming Dynasty, it came to be called Xiamen, meaning that it was a gate (men) to the grand mansion (xia) of the mainland. Today’s Xiamen, with a population of over one million, is a famous scenic and historic spot, and has become well-known as commercial center. There were countless ships and boats sailing in and out of the port there. Since 1980, when Xiamen was opened as a special economic zone, skyscrapers and new factories sprung up, including production and export of Bojenmi Tea, which won an award in France in 1986.


Article Retrieved from www.itmonline.org/jintu

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Rodowca brings Eastern science to Greenville area - Acupuncture One uses traditional Chinese practice

By Rachel Rausch
Appleton Post-Crescent West
July 7, 2006


GREENVILLE- As one who performs acupuncture therapy, James Rodowca needs a steady hand.

Rodowca, a licensed acupuncturist, opened Acupuncture One, LLC in 2003 after receiving his Master of Science in Oriental Medicine degree from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine and serving his internship with a Chinese doctor.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese practice that uses needles to reduce pain caused by numerous health conditions. Acupuncture improves the flow of Qi (chee), or life-force, in the body. The Chinese believe Qi flows through the body in regular pathways, called meridians. Each meridian corresponds to a particular physiological system or organ. The meridians connect with the surface of the body at locations called acupuncture points. By stimulating the points with needles, sensory nerves are triggered and blockages in energy flow can be released.

"I think people have a misconception that it’s mystical or weird," Rodowca said. "It’s actually a very logical system of health, but it’s different than Western medicine."

Acupuncture reduces muscle spasms, decreases inflammation, activates blood circulation, stimulates immune function, and accelerates healing.

Rodowca said that since the needles are small and unlike hypodermic needles, the treatments are painless.

"It feels like a mosquito bite and there are some places where you don’t feel it at all," he said adding that for "needlephobic" patients an electrical shock can be used instead. "We try to provide a very relaxed and soothing environment."

In some cases, Chinese herbal supplements, Chinese massage and heat therapy can accompany a patient’s treatment.

Rodowca said patients, who range in age from infants to the elderly, can benefit from the therapy sessions, which usually last about an hour.

"It (acupuncture) provides substantial relief," Rodowca said. "Many times people can cut out their medications."

Shiocton resident Carol Struck, who has been visiting Acupuncture One for a year-and-a-half, is one of Rodowca’s clients who has been able to discontinue taking her medications.

Struck, who suffered from fibromyalgia for 15 years, describes acupuncture therapy as a "life blessing."

"I lived in pain for all those years and now I live without pain," said Struck, who admits she was skeptical of the practice at first and tried it as a last resort.

"I didn’t like the idea of the needles but it’s not like a needle like a shot," she said.

Struck said she began seeing results after a few sessions and now goes to Rodowca every three or four weeks.

"It stays with you. It doesn’t just leave when you walk out of the office," she said, adding that she’s recommended Rodowca to others. "He’s very knowledgeable and he’s a great listener and he’s fun. He’s got a great sense of humor."

Rodowca said acupuncture also is considered a preventive form of medicine, giving this analogy:
"A Western doctor is like the mechanic that repairs or replaces and an acupuncturist is like a gardener where everything is interrelated. We look at the body as a whole and we try to prevent imbalances. The goal is to get the body back into homeostasis."