This guide offers a practical approach to understanding the pharmacological actions of essential oils. Incorporating up-to-date research findings, the book takes you, step by step, through the fundamental chemistry of aromatherapy and explains the powerful effects of essential oils on the body at a molecular level. Information includes: essential oil extraction methods and techniques for quality control; useful chemical diagrams and easy-to-follow explanations; and reference charts of the major compounds of 89 essential oils. The book helps to make sense of the chemistry of aromatherapy for those who really want to understand the science and efficacy of this healing art. Suitable for students and practitioners of holistic therapies, it should also appeal to nurses, doctors, pharmacists and other allied health practitioners.

Table of Contents

Contents Introduction 1. A Scientific View of the Universe. Matter and energy. The Structure of matter. Types of atoms found in essential oils. Bonding. Symbols, formulae and chemical drawings. 2. Plants and Essential Oils. Botanic classification. Botanical features. Plants, cells and molecules. How plants make their own food. Essential oils manufacture. 3.Terpenes. Physical characteristics of terpenoid molecules. Molecular structure and information. Monoterpenes. Sesquiterpenes. 4. Functional Groups. Alcohols. Monoterpenols. Sesquiterpenols. Phenols. Aldehydes. Ketones. Acids and esters. Ethers. Oxides. Lactones. Coumarins. Summary of hazardous and therapeutic properties of functional groups. 5. Body Systems and Essential Oils. Cells. DNA transcription and manufacture.