The Aromatherapy Store Information bank presents ‘How Essential Oils Enter the Body’.
There are three main ways that essential oils are accessed by the body – inhalation (perhaps the truest ‘aromatherapy’ method), topical application (through the use of oiled baths, and massage oils etc applied directly to the skin) and ingestion (in the UK the least used method).
1) Absorption Through the Skin
This is a method often used and has a number of benefits and drawback – depending on how it is achieved.
In the last half of the 20th century it was established beyond doubt that molecules can be absorbed through the skin – hence the development of things like patches for people trying to give up smoking. 
The main barrier to molecule absorption is the 20 layers of dead skin cells which are the the main protection our body has against the elements – but absorption through the skin can be encouraged in a number of ways.
Small molecules of essential oil, weighing less than 225 molecular weight, can travel down the hair follicles, and sweat glands, which means that the forehead and the scalp are particularly good areas for oil absorption.
Additionally each skin cell is composed of about 90% water and whilst the cell is, to a certain extent, waterproof, it is also slightly permeable to water soluble substances.
In certain health treatment circumstances, essential oil’s transdermal delivery ability – ie its ability to permeate the skin and so enter into the blood stream – is used to assist otherwise non-permeable drugs to enter piggy back style. For instance in tests by Williams and Barry (1989) eucalyptus essential oil used as a penetrative enhancer increased the absorption of the drug 5-FU by 30 fold.
Adding essential oils to your bath water is effective because of the water content of the cell – and a well hydrated cell will absorb the essential oil up to a 100 times faster than water itself (p146 Aromatherapy For Health Professionals – Edited by Shirley and Len Price Published by Churchill Livingstone – an excellent book for anyone interested int he hard facts behind aromotherapy) – and whereas many other writers recommend diluting the essential oil in a carrier oil, Shirley and Len Price suggest that sufficient agitation of the water will dispel it sufficiently. This method has the added benefit that the amount is used so efficiently that you can use just six or seven drops – it also enters the system through inhalation on the steam from the bath water too – so a double whammy! Essential oil in a basin of warm water is particularly useful in treating arthritis – soaking the hands or the feet.
Massage can obviously be another good way of getting the benefits of essential oil through skin absorption. The warmth of the hands and the friction causes the blood vessels to dilate as they warm and thereby increase transdermal delivery. It is also a good treatment again for arthritis – and can reduce the dependency on pain killers for sufferers.
Another method is to dilute the essential oil in distilled or sterilized water and then used in a spray. This method is particularly effective when treating areas of sensitive skin that is best not touched by the hands.
Note: All information is provided as points of possible interest to the reader and as such is not intended as medical advice. You should always consult a doctor or a chemist if you have any complaints or conditions arise. The Aromatherapy Store does not intend to provide you with anything which could be considered an alternative to proper qualified medical advice. ALWAYS treat oils with respect. They should never be taken internally, and should be kept away from babies and children. Pregnant women are als0 advised to practise particular care when using essential oils and all users should stop usage and exposure altogether if there are any concerns. Different skins react differently to oils so always be sure to test the oil (diluted) on a small patch of skin for 24 hours before embarking on exteneded usage.
The Aromatherapy Store is a site dedicated to promoting the safe and confident use of the natural qualities of essential oils and related products for the professional and amateur aromatherapist alike!
