essential oils
WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS ?
Essential oils are the volatile liquids extracted from plants through steam distillation . These oils , which contain the “ essence ” of the plant , have been used for thousands of years for their medicinal and cosmetic benefits . Their power lies in the hundreds of chemical constituents they contain . Each oil profile has anywhere from 200 to 800 different constituents in varying amounts , hundreds of which have yet to be identified and studied by scientists . These include terpenes , alcohols , esters , aldehydes , ketones , phenols , and oxides . They have a wide range of antibacterial , antifungal , antiinflammatory , antioxidant , anesthetic , sedative , expectorant , antiseptic , antispasmodic , antirheumatic , antiepileptic , and anticonvulsant properties . Each specific constituent also has its own unique attributes . For example , thymol is a phenol found in thyme and oregano , and has been shown to inhibit the growth of microorganisms , such as E . coli , by disrupting the microbe ’ s cytoplasmic membranes and causing cell leakage . Without this membrane , the viability of the microbe decreases significantly .
BENEFITS OF ESSENTIAL OILS IN THE GARDEN
The most important benefit of using essential oils as pesticides is they are safer for humans and beneficial against pests . Recent studies indicate some of the chemicals in essential oils interfere with the octopaminergic nervous system in insects . Since mammals do not share this target site , most essential oils are non-toxic to gardeners and their furry friends . Pollinators are also less likely to suffer . Although essential oil sprays may cause harm if sprayed directly on beneficial insects , after 24 hours , they no longer leave a residue that will harm bees and butterflies while they work . Scientists believe pests will build up a resistance more slowly to essential oil-based pesticides than their synthetic counterparts because of the complex combinations of their constituents . Essential oil-based pesticides are expected to have commercial applications in urban pest control , greenhouse crops , and high-value organic food production where the uses of other synthetic pesticides are limited .
DRAWBACKS OF ESSENTIAL OILS
One of the major drawbacks of using essential oils is maintaining consistency in the chemical profile of the oils . The levels of terpenes and other constituents can vary greatly depending on the region where they are grown , genetics , climate , and other seasonal factors . For example , rosemary oil extracted from plants grown in two different regions of Italy will contain varying levels of alpha-pinene , ranging from 11 per cent to 36 per cent .
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There is growing concern
about the toxicity of commercial pesticides to our bodies and the environment . Most have non-biodegradable properties , and their residues remain in the soil , water supply , and our crops .”
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