By Robert Tisserand Note: below is a link to a full article, along with an Executive Summary in six languages. Nature is complex. A single essential oil can contain dozens of constituents, each one of which, alone, has certain properties. How do we make sense of such complexity in nature? We often turn to
Part Two: Skin Healing by Robert Tisserand Figure 1. A Santalum album seedling © Quintis Limited Of the several species of Sandalwood oil commercially produced, this article focuses on just one, Santalum album. Although Santalum album oil (SAO) has been produced in India for centuries, large-scale production there has now entirely ceased
Myrtle by Robert Tisserand This is an updated version of an article published here. Some quite strong feelings and opinions have been expressed about essential oils and cats, and a frequently asked question is “Is it safe to diffuse essential oils around cats?”. Diffusing essential oils can be toxic to humans if it’s over-done, causing neurological
by Robert Tisserand Spikenard in bloom In most essential oil-related sustainability discussions, the plants most often cited are Sandalwood and Rosewood. Fortunately, the Sandalwood problem has receded over the last couple of years - see here. More of an issue would be Spikenard and Rosewood, with perhaps Agarwood (Oud) or Frankincense in third
Part one: history, meeting sustainability challenges, quality control and psychodermatology by Robert Tisserand Sandalwood flowers, image: Wikimedia Commons Sustainability is now a major challenge for many essential oil-bearing crops, and the growth of aromatherapy has exacerbated the problem. This especially applies to wild grown plants such as Santalum album. This is a
by Robert Tisserand, first published at RobertTisserand.com It now appears that the world would have warmed more than it has were it not for the aromatic cocktail of chemicals emitted by plants. It turns out that this can change the weather - and anything that changes the weather day after day and year after year
by Robert Tisserand Can peppermint oil reduce milk supply if you’re breastfeeding? In the past my answer to this question was always that I didn’t know, and that there was no research on this. Nor could I imagine why peppermint oil would have such an effect, though I’m always open to learning something new. There
by Robert Tisserand One of the most poisonous plants, Atropa belladonna Although essential oils are natural substances, “natural” and “safe” have never been synonymous. Nature is replete with poisonous plants (deadly nightshade, wolf’s bane, foxglove, suicide tree, etc.) not to mention spiders, snakes, scorpions etc. Natural bitter almond oil even contains cyanide, though
by Robert Tisserand If you wanted something to keep you awake, and I offered you a choice of caffeinated coffee or decaffeinated coffee, which would you choose? It’s not a trick question. And if you wanted something to treat cancer, and I offered you a choice of frankincense A that contains 50% of an antitumoral
by Robert Tisserand Update 12/13/2017: We are very pleased to see that since the publication of our blogpost, six companies have changed their safety guidelines! Eden Botanicals now has 0.07% as the recommended dilution for Cinnamon Bark oil, and Organic Infusions, Nature’s Gift, Ananda Apothecary and Barefut. all give 0.1% as the maximum. All of these