AROMATHERAPY: The magic of tree oils

The magic of tree oils


Aromatherapy
Ellen Cox

I would almost pay serious cash for regular warm, sunshiny days, like all weather in Ireland it sparks much discussion, an enormous amount of discussion in fact, relative to other parts of the world. I am a little intolerant of most kinds of moaning and make enormous efforts to keep the activity to a bare minimum (it can serve well every once in a while!).
However, my tolerance was challenged during our recent spell of glorious weather. I almost lost the plot listening to people moaning about, yep, the sun and it being ‘soooo hot’. Now that’s just not right.
I thought about this a bit more whilst walking in a beautiful meadow on a balmy lunchtime today. The sheep and lambs looked almost biblical idling in the long cool grass under the dappled shady trees. Trees and woods offer cool comfort on sunny days, which got me thinking about trees and the immense array of oils they produce and what I might suggest to the next person who moans about the heat!
A few of the trees that I have grown to love and learn about in relation to essential oils include bay laurel, cypress, cedarwood, eucalyptus, fir, pine, rosewood, sandalwood, spruce. Some oils are produced from the leaves, wood and resin of trees.
The orange tree (citrus aurantium) can, remarkably, produce three different oils – the blossom produces neroli oil, helpful for anxiety, depression, scar tissue, dry or more-mature skin types; the leaves produce petitgrain oil, which has an intensely fresh, clean aroma and is helpful for nervous exhaustion, stress, anguish and oily skin; and the fruit produces Orange oil (bitter), which can be antidepressant, calming and mildly sedative. Each of the three oils have entirely different chemical compositions and properties. They work particularly well in a blend together for a bath, a massage or a foot application or in an oil burner.
In the world of botany, plants are divided into ‘plant families’, many of which are aromatic. For aromatherapy, around 20 plant families provide the many oils available.
Talking trees, some of the great giants belong to the Coniferae family, including cedarwood, cypress pine and the not-so-tall juniperberry. Their oils are generally distilled from berries, cones, needles and twigs. It is thought that these were among the first plants on the planet to produce essential oils.
All of these oils have an affinity with the respiratory system, and those who suffer from chronic or repetitive respiratory infections may find them helpful in terms of strengthening and supporting the lungs. They can also be useful to help treat respiratory conditions where there is a lot of mucus. The general properties of oils from the Coniferae family are antiseptic, antimicrobial and disinfectant. They are also good for circulation.
I was mesmerised some years ago in Oaxaca, Mexico to visit the tree with the largest girth in the world. It’s a full 190 feet wide – and not too short either at 140 feet tall. The oldest Cypress tree in Europe is believed to be in north Italy – it’s estimated to be an incredible 800 years old.
A variety of pine tree, Pinus Longaeva, which is found in the mountains of Utah and Nevada, also boasts an long life span – the oldest is dated at 4,000 years of age (older than megalithic tombs here in Ireland, which date back 3,500 years). Quite something when you think about it, so whether you plant a tree, save a tree, admire a tree or diffuse the essential oil from a tree, try finding a little time to admire a tree.
Worth mentioning for tree lovers is a fascinating book with magnificent photography, Thomas Pakenham’s ‘Remarkable Trees of The World’.