Where does the miraculous power of plants come from? Essential oils are the fragrant components of plants. These are the chemical components that give the plant its characteristic scent. In the spiritualistic approach to aromatherapy, essential oils are considered the life force and energy of a plant. Alchemists considered them to be the embodiment of the plant. Anthroposophists believe that the essential oils were created by the intervention of astral forces in the plant.
From a scientific point of view, essential oils are a type of hormone, ie certain regulators that help the plant to adapt to the environment. From a biochemical point of view, they can be considered part of the immune system of plants. In extreme climatic conditions, such as the Arabian deserts, some plants even use essential oils as sun protection. Myrrh and frankincense shrubs are surrounded by a very thin layer of essential oils that filter the sun’s rays and refresh the air around the vegetation. The white dictamus (dictamus fraxinella), which grows in Sinai, contains such a large supply of essential oils that vapors evaporating on a hot day can easily ignite and burn with very dazzling light. Essential oils also protect the plant from disease and parasites.
Pants use essential oils from flowers for its reproductive process. It attracts specific species of insects by releasing fragrances that mimic insect pheromones, making pollination easier. Essential oils from flowers are in a way part of the reproductive system of plants. There are many essential oils that have aphrodisiac and other properties that are related to reproduction and sexuality (stimulation of the menstrual cycle, balancing hormone levels, affecting PMS or reducing menopausal difficulties, etc.).
Some essential oils can deter insects that could be harmful to plants. Lemongrass and geraniums repel mosquitoes, while lavender repels fleas and mites. In some cases, essential oils can even be used as natural pesticides because they can create an area where other plants cannot grow. Organic farmers know how to use this phenomenon in their work: some plants have positive effects on the growth of specific plants, while dampening others.
Plants store essential oils in small capsules. It is important to realize that plants do not use essential oils in their pure form. Plants store essential oils in certain areas and obtain them in diluted form when they need them for their biochemical processes. Humans, like plants, should also not use essential oils in their pure form.
Essential oils are usually located on the outside of the plant. You can see them on the surface of citrus fruits or on the surface of leaves that represent the skin of plants. This is evidence of the close relationship between essential oils and skin.