The Mayo News

The mechanics of organics


Aromatherapy
Ellen Cox

A question I’m often asked is ‘why use organic aromatherapy oils’?  Why use organic anything is a question that many people may feel too embarrassed to ask, not fully understanding what it means past ‘grown without chemicals’. 
Every now and then ‘organic’ takes a media bashing, normally in the field of organic food. I came across an article recently that explained ‘organic’ very simply. It outlined a recent survey that showed that non-organic food contained similar levels of many nutrients found in organic food. However, surveys, like statistics, as my boss once said to me, are like a bikini – they reveal what’s interesting and conceal what’s crucial. The fact is that with organics, it’s more about what’s NOT in the product, be it food, a body product or a domestic cleaner.
Hundreds of pesticides are used in conventional farming and commercial produce.  Chemical fertilisers, growth hormones and antibiotics are known to leave residues in food and its by-products, residues that humans can ingest or absorb. The worry is of the cumulative effect on our health.
Many people also find the taste and flavour from a wide range of organic foods far superior. I have seen a toddler pop home-grown cherry tomatoes straight off the plant like smarties  – ‘they’re like sweeties’ she said with delight.
With regard to organic aromatherapy oils, citrus oils are a good group to mention.  Commercial citrus crops (think fruit bowl – lemon, orange, mandarin, grapefruit) are heavily sprayed, and that spray lands on the rinds of the fruit. Citrus oils are extracted by pressing the rind. As there are concerns about pesticide residues, it would be a wise choice to select organic citrus oils. If you have mint in the garden, you may have noticed it can be prone to pests. Commercially grown peppermint is heavily sprayed to prevent these pests, and so it is prudent to choose organic peppermint oil.
Organic is not the be all and end all. Ideally, we want what nature produces, unadulterated. Each growing season is different – rainfall, draught and other factors affect each harvest, meaning each harvest will be different. (‘Variety is the spice of life’!). Accordingly, essential oils will have subtle variations in their aromas from year to year, reflecting the uniqueness of another year’s growth. 
One essential oil example is Eucalyptus. When fresh, it has a fairly ‘funky’ aroma (I have heard it compared to ‘wet dog’ in smell!). Some companies refine the oil to attain a more ‘pleasing’ aroma. However, the oil has been tampered with. Think about it: Eucalyptus oil is most regularly used for congestion, coughs, colds or muscle rubs – you’re not busting out the Eucalyptus to get the house smelling lovely or for use as a perfume. The term ‘quality’ is bandied about, but what does it mean exactly? It should mean ‘fit for a purpose’.  Give me fresh and funky Eucalyptus oil any day over an adulterated one. 
The farm Atlantic Aromatics buy their organic Lavender from has been producing Lavender oil for almost 100 years. This year, due to two consecutive summers of draught and a severe frost of -17 degrees in April, many of the plants were killed and the Lavender yield was only 30 per cent. Although this was obviously a big blow to the family farm, the oil, on the other hand, has a particularly delightful aroma. The diversity of nature is not without hardship but is undoubtedly a master of creation.
Lastly, organic farming is also about the environment. It’s about ensuring that the ‘whole’ process has a minimal impact on nature and our surroundings. It’s about our general health and wellbeing – and that of the generations to come.