Arava Dead Sea Pet Spa - Guidance Booklet | Page 17

Properties of Essential Oils
An essential oil is the fragrance of the plant. Each plant has its
characteristic scent according to its dominant component. The oil is
comprised of dozens to hundreds of different substances, found in
different parts of the plant – in the roots, stem, flowers, and the fruit.
The benefits of the oil are very significant to the body but no less so for
the actual plant. In fact, the essential oil is synthesized for the good of
the plant and for its continued existence. The main roles of the
essential oil are to attract or repel insects and birds and to protect the
plant.
These same essential oils have therapeutic properties for a living body.
In the past, oil was produced mainly for perfume production and body
care. Even back then, the plants’ fragrance was known affect to
feelings, and soothe, groom, and beautify the skin and hair. Over the
years, the healing properties of the essential oils were discovered. This
is how these aromatic oils assumed their important role in herbal
medicine, medicinal products, and of course in Aromatherapy, which is
the practice of using aromatic oils for healing purposes.
Essential oils have a wide variety of modern uses, such as disinfectant,
treating inflammation, antibacterial, killing cancerous cells, analgesic,
stimulating and invigorating different bodily systems, storing water,
strengthening cell membranes, anti-convulsive, relaxing and contracting
smooth muscles, balancing hormonal activity, use in organic
agriculture, and more.