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Ethnobotanical Leaflets 13 :595-602, 2009. Efficacy
of Some Essential Oils to Cure Some Common Problems in Human Beings Mukesh
Sharma Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, E-mail: mukeshsharma_uniraj@yahoo.co.in Issued May 01, 2009 Abstract Essential oils now form a part of
day-to-day life of people. There are different varieties of essential oil
used for fragrance and flavours. The quality and composition of these oils
play an important role in determining their role in therapeutics. The present
paper gives an account of the medicinal plants containing essential oils and
their therapeutic properties. Different oil yielding plants were surveyed to
find out the efficacy of essential oils in disease treatment. Key words: Oil yielding plants, essential oils, therapeutic
properties, Introduction
Many
developing countries are economically based on production of essential oils
(Husnu, 1999). Essential oils
can prevent contagious and infections diseases (Marwah and Marwah, 2001).
These oils have a calming, stimulating, pain alleviating and mood enhancing
effect. They improve the functioning of internal organs, like heart, lungs
etc. Till now they were on the periphery of pharmacological preparations, but
now used extensively as carminatives, antiseptic, analgesics,
anti-inflammatory and flavouring agents. This is because they have multiple
beneficial effects than just being pain relievers (Shukla and Shukla, 1997).
Essential oils have excellent therapeutic properties to cure various common
problems of human beings (Chowdhury, 2003). They have very good medical
properties and their constituents are beneficial for human beings (Bouillet
and Goeb, 1999). Essential oils have long been
recognized because of their anti-microbial activity (Deans and Ritchie, 1987;
Paster et al., 1990; Reddy et al., 1991; Lis-Blachin et al.,
1998; Smith-Palmer et al., 1998; Hammer et al., 1999). Due to
this property, essential oils have gained much attention in investigations on
their potential as alternatives to antibiotics for therapeutic purposes and
applications in the cosmetics and food industry. The present investigation was carried out to assess
the efficacy of essential oils in therapeutics and in curing some common
problems of human beings. Methodology During the present investigation various
oil yielding plants were surveyed in different places during 2006-2007. Their
therapeutic properties were investigated from the local medicinemen who
prescribed their own herbal preparations. Relevant information on disease
treatment by the plants has been collected from the elderly persons of the
local community in these areas. The collected oil yielding medicinal plants
were identified with the help of floras and the informations were further
verified by crosschecking with the medicineman of different parts of the Results and
Discussion Essential oils
are one of the most beneficial bio-product. These oils are now being used
extensively to cure various dermatological and other related human diseases.
In the present paper, various medicinal plants having essential oils were
surveyed together with their therapeutic properties (Table-1). In addition,
some of the case studies showing significance of essential oils were
observed. Table 1. Therapeutic
properties of essential oils.
Treatment
for common problems of human beings
Case study 1: Problem statement: The patient suffered from
sebhorreic dermatitis and hyperactive sebaceous glands due to which the
facial skin was inflammed with small rashes and large acne. Treatment: It was clear that the skin had to be cleansed, exfoliated
and dried before aromatherapy oils could work to heal the skin and the scalp.
Thereafter, lavender oil was used for treatment. The effectiveness of the oil
was increased by generating heat on the facial skin by using ultrasound
machine. The results were positive. Case study 2: Problem statement: The patient suffered for past
seven years with acute dermatitis on palms during winter months. She had been
using steroidal creams for relief. The palms had become so sensitive that
they would bleed and emit tremendous heat. Treatment: She was treated with six applications of super-critically
extracted sandalwood oil and the palms healed miraculosuly. Case study 3: Problem statement: The patient suffered with fungal
infection on the skin for past fifteen years. The infection began with a small
patch and gradually the infected area increased. Treatment: He was treated with full extracted sandalwood and lavender
oil alternately. The results were satisfactory. Case study 4: Problem statement: The patient suffered from a
nervous breakdown and consequently had to be put on strong doses of
medication. This made her weak and forgetful with loss of confidence. Treatment: She was treated with aromatic oils, mainly chamomile, and
the Ayurvedic technique of Shirodhara was
practiced on her. Four sittings brought significant change in the patient's
attitude. Case study 5: Problem Statement: The female patient aged twenty-six
suffered from irritable skin along the nasolabial fold together with dull
hair and dull skin. Reocurrence of the problem was seen on trying a number of
skin treatments. Moreover, scalp never showed signs of infection as scales
adhered to the scalp without being shed. Treatment: She was given the hair treatment and then appeared strips
of scaly skin due to which the facial skin erupted badly. The face was then
left untouched and the hair was treated for several months with a formulation
of basil, palmarosa and Jatamansi in black sesame oil. The scalp soothed out
in 6 months. The face was restored to a normal condition, and the hair bounced
back to its crowing glory. Case study 6: Problem statement: The patient suffered from eczema
like condition with a patch of skin due to an insect bite over a period of 15
years. The patch flared up suddenly improve for a short periods of time. Treatment: The patient was treated with SCFE extracted sandalwood oil
and lavender oil alternately. Positive results were obtained. Case study 7: Problem statement: Thirty patients suffered from Acne
vulgaries Acne affects the forehead, cheeks, chin and ‘beard area’. Treatment: All these cases of acne vulgaris
were treated with a large amount of success with the above mentioned
treatments being done to prepare the skin to benefit from the application of
a very valued oil of Ganga Tulsi and lavender. Case study 8:
Problem statement: A female patient aged twenty-four years had profuse hair
fall for eight months. The hair was thin on the vertex and needed washing
every second day. Moreover, she had acne on face and body, microscopic
examination revealed innumerable numbers of micro-bacillus and occasional bottle-bacillus. Treatment: She was treated with strong antiseptic lotions at the
start followed with rejuvenating massage with a formulation containing
lavender, all spice and turmeric in Badam (almond) oil. Due to acne, deep
cleansing was done regularly with every hair treatment. The treatment was
continued for 5 months with effective results. Case study 9: Problem statement: Ten patients suffered from viral
warts, which are transmitted by direct contact. Treatment: The patients were treated with cauterization and advised
to clear the area with a scurb and loofah. Case study 10: Problem statement: The patient suffered from contact dermatitis on the finger
pads of both the hands. Treatment: He was treated with six applications of super critically
extracted sandalwood oil and there was miraculous healing of palm. Above studies
clearly reveals that essential oils have great potential to cure skin and
other human ailments. Different case studies given, proves the immense
significance of these oils in therapeutics. Still, many of the traditional
practices need scientific validation through detailed researches. Finally the
paper asses the degree of awareness about essential oils among the common
man. Acknowledgments The authors fell indebted and thankful
to Herbarium, Department of Botany, References Bouillet X, Goeb P (1999). Medical properties of essential oils and
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