(originally published in the June, 1998 edition of Les Nouvelles Esthetiques)
Has it ever been proven scientifically that essential oils can penetrate into the layers of the dermis?
Yes, according to the literature. Essential oils are organic in nature, lipid (fat) soluable, and very small in molecular weight. They are absorbed through the pores and hair follicles of the skin, where they are then absorbed by the tiny capillaries into the blood stream. After circulation through the body, they are then excreted through the urine, feces, perspiration and breath. Certain oils have the affinity for being excreted through certain parts of the body, i.e., juniper and sandalwood through the urine, which will then have a detectable smell of juniper or sandalwood; garlic is excreted through the breath. (Cooksley, V.G., Aromatherapy, A Lifetime Guide To Healing With Essential Oils. Prentice Hall, 1996 @ p. 15)
Dr. Peter Slynko of the Kiev Institute of Physiology (Ukrainian Academy of Science) has proved that for several minutes after sweating, the pores remain open and suck in whatever happens to be on the surface of the skin, which later shows up in the blood or lymph. (Woodward, V.A., The Fragrant Mind. New World Library, 1996 @p.22)
Jean Valnet, M.D. reports: ‘certain recent scientific methods (using radioactive isotopes) have provided proof of the skin’s absorption of the active principles of minerals and vegetables added to baths and later found in the blood. This discovery explains the action of aromatic baths. For instance, baths containing the essence of thyme or pine needles-on the lungs, i.e., generally antiseptic, fluidifying the mucus and aiding expectoration. Such baths do have an effect through inhalation of vapor, but it is also achieved through the intermediary of the blood as the essences follow the path from the skin to the lungs. Valnet also reports a case history of a woman being burned with scalding hot water:
‘She was treated by a nurse with dressings of a mixture of aromatic essences (essential oils). The next day, while her burns had been resolved, she developed blisters on her legs. These were lanced (by Dr. Valnet), and the expression contained a very diluted version of the same mixture of essences, in the proportion of one teaspoon to one glass of water.” He goes on to report that after four days, she was completely cured, with no markings on her skin. (Valnet, M.D., J., The Practice of Aromatherapy. Healing Arts Press, 1980 @pp. 43, 23.)
A simple way of assuring for yourself that the essential oils are absorbed through the skin is suggested by Cooksley:
“Cut a fresh clove of garlic in half and rub it on the sole of your foot. You will detect garlic odor on your breath within 15-30 minutes.”
Les Nouvelles Esthétiques
