As storms threaten, and driving rain lashes the windows, I sit cocooned indoors sifting through some of my New Year mail.

Are you ever going to produce a new Price List?  Yes, very soon, but for the time being “2002”is still current.  Have you ever heard of Pommade Divine?  No, but I am very interested to find out more. Do you have any knowledge or information about using essential oils to help in clients with MS? A little, but I should welcome more. “Fidgety leg syndrome”- do you know if it is caused by muscular problems, the nervous system, or circulation dysfunction? I don’t, but I am confident that someone will tell me. How do you produce such an informative newsletter every month?  With difficulty: I set aside a couple of days, surround myself with clutter, and hope that my mailbag will produce a little inspiration.  Why aren’t all your Eucalyptus oils from Australia? I’ll tell you in a moment. 

Christmas Plants Competition.
I was completely blown away by the response. My own measly efforts soon paled into insignificance under the weight of diligently researched Christmas plants.

For a moment I thought that Cindy Warner had it won, but she was quickly matched by Kenna Longson. However, after much deliberation, I adjudge that Paul Kennedy, with 27 Christmas prefixes covering 37 species, has just the edge and I am delighted to send him his prize. Very well done!

Nevertheless a certain young lady was also extremely grateful to receive the even longer list which had been compiled by Alison Winter, but it was a tad late for the competition: a splendid effort all the same.

Those darned Gum Trees!
Twenty-five years ago, when I visited from Australia trying to reintroduce it to Europe, most had never heard of Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel) and all thought it little more than an overpriced eucalyptus oil.  As a result, I had cause to curse those darned “Gum Trees” for several years.

Believe it or not, planted eucalypt trees cover more than 6 million hectares of the earth’s surface and, collectively, are arguably Australia’s most important contribution to the world’s array of crops.  They used to, and probably still do, form about three-quarters of the flora of Australia. 

They are often, but wrongly, called “Gum Trees”, since the exudation from the bark is not a gum, but a tannin-like substance known as a “kino”.  The kinos were formerly much used medicinally on account of their astringent properties.

The genus was named Eucalyptus by L’Héritier in 1788, the word being derived from the Greek eu “well”, and kalypto “I cover”, an allusion to the operculum or lid which covers the stamens until they are fully developed.

Although some species have been recorded from New Guinea, Timor and the Philippines, the genus is as Australian as the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) which feeds on it.  The extensive plantations in Africa, California, India, Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, Chile, China and many other parts of the world were planted with seed obtained originally from Australia.

The eucalypts are found widely distributed over the whole of Australia.  They range from the dwarfed and stunted forms called “Mallees”, which occur in the areas of low rainfall, to the tall and luxuriant trees which grow in the coastal and mountainous regions. Some species are at home at sea level; others thrive on the snowline. Eucalyptus trees used to be a very valuable asset to Australia.

Bush medicine provides a lead.
Aboriginal occupation of Australia first commenced some 40,000 years ago. Aborigines traditionally were much healthier than Australians are today.  Living in the open in a land largely free from disease, they benefited from a better diet, more exercise, less stress, a more supportive society and a more harmonious world view.

Nonetheless, Aborigines often had need of bush medicines.  Sleeping at night by fires meant they sometimes suffered from burns.  Strong sunshine and certain foods caused headaches, and eye infections were common. Feasting on sour fruits or rancid meat brought on digestive upsets and, although tooth decay was not a problem, coarse gritty food sometimes wore teeth down to the nerves. Aborigines were also occasionally stung by stingrays, stonefish, jellyfish and snakes. In the bush there was always a chance of injury, and fighting usually ended in great bruises and gashes.

To deal with such ailments, Aborigines resorted to a range of remedies - wild herbs, animal products, steam baths, clay pills, charcoal and mud, massages, string amulets and secret chants. Some of these remedies had no empirical basis, but it is clear from the accounts of colonists that they worked.

Many of the remedies, of course, did directly heal.  Aromatic herbs, tannin-rich inner barks and kinos have well-documented therapeutic effects.  Other plants undoubtedly harboured alkaloids or other compounds with pronounced healing effects.  It is important to recognise, however, that Aboriginal remedies varied between tribes. There was no one Aboriginal phamacopoeia, just as there was no one Aboriginal language.

Nevertheless, it is evident that Aborigines in various parts of the country were aware of the medicinal value of the leaves of eucalypts growing locally.  In some cases the leaves were steeped in water to make infusions to be drunk for the treatment of bronchial ailments, and in other areas body wounds were wrapped in the leaves of certain eucalypt species to promote rapid healing.  Such knowledge was vital to their very survival.

Taking the hint.
It is hardly surprising therefore that with the first establishment of European settlement in Australia in 1788, and the corresponding need for self sufficiency, active efforts were made to explore local plants for their medicinal values.

Foremost among the searchers was Surgeon-General John White of the First Fleet and his assistant Denis Considen, who is credited with the collection and dispatch to England in 1789 of the first sample of eucalyptus oil for further testing and evaluation. However, at the time, it is likely that Considen, who was familiar with the English Peppermint herb and its use, thought that he was sending a sample of peppermint oil (Mentha piperita L.), because the oil in question was said to have a peppermint smell.

According to John White’s journal of the voyage, it was found to be “much more efficacious in removing all cholicky complaints than that of the oil obtained from the well-known English peppermint, being less pungent and more aromatic”.  The oil had been steam distilled from the leaves of a tree found growing on the shores of Port Jackson, where Sydney now stands. The tree was thus aptly named the Sydney Peppermint.

However the species collected is now believed to have been Eucalyptus piperita Smith, the oil of which has a very different composition to that of Mentha piperita - the former contains mostly piperitone whereas the latter contains mainly menthol and menthone.

Whatever, despite the potential of a promising indigenous industry and favourable response of the medical fraternity in Europe, it is surprising to discover that the eucalyptus oil export industry took so long to develop.  It did not get started until the early 1850s when Joseph Bosisto, a Melbourne pharmacist, built his first distillation plant on the banks of Dandenong Creek outside Melbourne. The first oil produced by Bosisto was stated to be Eucalyptus amygdalina Labill., Black Peppermint, but we now know it to be Eucalyptus radiata Sieber ex DC., Narrow-leaved Peppermint.

Bosisto quickly expanded his enterprise and others also set up stills. By the mid 1870s Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Blue Gum, had won world-wide acceptance as a medicinal product and was being exported to England and Europe.  At that time Australia had a virtual monopoly on the world market.

Losing the initiative.
The eucalyptus oil industry in Australia reached its peak in the early post-war years when, in 1946-47, total production was almost 1,000 tonnes of which 70% was exported.  The main oils produced were those rich in cineole and they were widely used for inhalants, soaps, gargles, lozenges, etc.  A second group of oils was used widely for industrial purposes and within it both phellandrene and piperitone were the main constituents.  These oils have a pleasant odour. Phellandrene oils were used for the manufacture of inexpensive disinfectants. The piperitione oils, especially from Eucalyptus dives Schaur, Broad-leaved Peppermint, are the principal raw materials for the manufacture of synthetic menthol and thymol and demand for these was particularly high during and just after World War II.

Since then the industry has declined and since the late 1970s large quantities of lower quality cineole oil have been imported from plantations overseas for rectification (the removal of unwanted constituents). The reason for importing the oils is that they are low grade and relatively cheap and, after rectification, can be blended with the locally produced higher quality oils such as those from Eucalyptus polybractea R.T. Baker, Blue Mallee.  In fact without these low grade cineole oil imports for blending and the production of menthol from imported Eucalyptus dives it is likely that the Australian industry would cease to exist.

The establishment of large eucalypt plantations overseas for wood production, with oils as a by-product, has led to the reduction of the oil industry in Australia. In South Africa some eucalypts - mainly Eucalyptus smithii R.T. Baker, Gully Gum, E. dives and E. radiata - have been selected and grown solely for the production of leaf oils. In Zimbabwe both Eucalyptus cinerea F. Muell. ex Benth., Argyle Apple, and E. smithii are being grown for the production of cineole. Only about 5-10% of the world’s eucalyptus oils are produced in Australia today: major producers now are China, Portugal, Spain, Chile, South Africa and Swaziland.

Lauding laurel leaf.
Today I was able to read your January Newsletter, and I was really pleased to find your piece on Laurel Leaf.  Great essential oil, one of our favourites here in Vancouver. You should mention what Kurt Schnaubelt has to say.

Of course, how could I have forgotten. Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt, who is Scientific Director of the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy in San Rafael, California, writes about laurel leaf (Laurus nobilis L.) in his stimulating book Advanced Aromatherapy.....

“Although there are no scientific studies on the medicinal effects of laurel, its positive effects on the lymphatic system are undeniable. Rubbing a few drops of laurel on swollen lymph nodes will produce an immediately noticeable relieving effect. The positive and pleasant effect of this oil is so distinct and strong that one application will normally suffice to convince the most hardened sceptic to use it.”

Nevertheless, he cautions that “frequent use of laurel on the skin over a longer period of time (e.g., longer than three weeks) can result in sensitization and irritability because of its content of sesquiterpene lactones.” 

My Canadian correspondent however, who has extensive experience with the use of laurel, comments that he has not had a single case of skin sensitization.  He confirms that it is useful for rheumatism, particularly in combination with Plai (Zingiber cassumunar Roxb.) and Bay (Pimenta racemosa Mill.), and thinks it also a good antiviral.

Reporting back on Seville Lavender.
In Newsletter 142 I hinted that I might ask Jacqui Le Sueur to give Seville Lavender (Lavandula luisieri (Rozeira) Riv.-Mart.) her “intuitive” once-over.

....Mmm where do I start?  ‘Sultanas with a hint of vinegar’ was my initial sensory thought [Good heavens!] when I first opened the bottle, an image echoed by [my husband] David. Certainly fruity, a hint of menthol and rosemary just beneath the surface. Smooth, protective, defensive, cleansing and warming are all adjectives that sprung into my mind.  As always, I passed the oil to several of my very keen aromatherapy patients when they came to visit, whose comments were most interesting - curry, mint, cloves, wood, bark being peeled away from the tree, mince pies and fruit pudding to name but a few. One patient said, ‘smells like bark looks like whisky’.  And indeed, it does look like a fine single malt with its beautiful golden amber hue.  With its unusual aroma and colour I would be surprised if many people would identify it as a lavender at first whiff.

I was beginning to worry that I might have sent her my Talisker by mistake!

The oil is nothing but complex.  The most astounding thing I have discovered so far is how soft it makes the skin when used in very weak dilution (1 drop per 10ml Sweet Almond). Possibly a good oil to use with Kukui (Aleurites moluccana (L.) Willd.) to protect the skin against the ravages of the cold winter weather and also in treating chilblains or Raynaud’s Phenomenon (with Cubebs (Piper cubeba L.f.) or Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.).

I have been using it in this dilution for a week now both on our skin here at home and also in massage. Because of this wonderful ‘softening’ ability I have found it beneficial with Cubebs on tight muscles and stiff joints. And because it is a warm oil it is so appropriate for these cold winter days. 

It strikes me as an oil that could be useful in treating conditions where there is a barrier that needs to be broken through, i.e. asthma and psoriasis where there is a defensive/protective barrier to remove, infection where we have bacterial barriers to break down and eradicate, and also in trauma such as bereavement or divorce where we have a very natural tendency to erect shields to hide behind and defend ourselves from further emotional onslaught.    

Lavandula luisieri is no different to other lavenders in that it grows on well drained, dry, gravelly soil in a warm climate. This coupled with its gnarled barky stems makes me think that it would be a good oil to use for any condition where dryness is present - dry coughs, dry skin conditions, dry hair, etc. - and also where there are ‘gnarly’ joint changes such as we see in rheumatoid and osteo- arthritis, and polymyalgia rheumatica.

Because we know so little about this oil at this stage, other than its chemical profile, Jacqui would not use it on babies, children, or at any time during pregnancy.  Although Jacqui has used it neat on her own skin she would not recommend it to a patient at the moment, because she is still dealing with the unknown. Once she has used it for a month or two without evidence of skin irritation she would be happy to reach for it when making skin treatment blends and also when blending inhaler oils for colds, emphysema and the like.     

Finally, Jacqui enthuses.....This is such an interesting oil that I would like to think there are others who will give it a go despite the fact that it takes us into uncharted territory. It is this very fact that makes aromatherapy so exciting, don’t you think? I do!  Give me a call if you would like a sample. Meanwhile, I am planning another “Thinking Outside the Box” day with Jacqui.  Riveting stuff!

Advice on miscarriage requested.
This is not my usual kind of subject but I was asked recently by Sue Ryan, for the purpose of a case study which has been approved by the volunteer’s doctor, if I or any of my readers might have experience and/or advice of genetic miscarriage and miscarriage in general, oil usage or avoidance, massage techniques, etc. I don’t, but have you?

The volunteer is 41 and this was her first pregnancy.  She miscarried after about 4 months.  It was described as a genetic miscarriage.

Before the age of 40, the risk of miscarriage is about 15%, and it can rise to about 40% in women over the age of 40, mostly because of genetic abnormalities. 

She lives with a younger man (26) who has a history of drug abuse. It seems the problem causing the miscarriage stems from the partner’s history of drug use, therefore her fertility is not in question.

Because it is the woman who miscarries, greater emphasis has been placed on looking at problems in the female reproductive system.  But, when nothing wrong can be found, it is logical to wonder if the problem might lie with the partner’s sperm (since in four out of ten cases of infertility the problems are on the male side). There is a theory that chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage the DNA in sperm [Br. J. Cancer, 1997; 76: 1525-31] and, therefore, it seems reasonable to assume that drugs might do the same and it’s easy to believe that any changes in DNA in the sperm could lead to a possible increase in the rate of miscarriage.  DNA damage cannot be picked up in normal semen analysis, so this problem would not be seen during routine fertility investigations.

The volunteer wishes to conceive again.  Sue has been advised to treat her for grief, anxiety and tension and general relaxation, but she feels that she needs ‘a second opinion’ from other aromatherapists with the relevant knowledge and experience before she proceeds.

Hissing in the ears.
I write to enquire whether you can provide a product which might help me reduce tinnitus, a slight hiss in both ears.....

Without knowing more, it is always a little difficult to answer questions of this kind.  For example, aspirin is among a wide range of drugs, including other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), that has been linked to tinnitus.  Aspirin contains salicylate, which is a known cause of tinnitus, and even one tablet can worsen the condition, so it’s important not to take it (if you are already). Even if this is not the cause, care should be taken to remove all salicylates from your diet - unfortunately many common foods contain them, so it is worth reading carefully the labels!

Tinnitus could also be a symptom of high cholesterol; if so, you should reduce intake of saturated fats.  Supplementing with vitamins A and E can improve the situation, I understand.

Tinnitus may also be an indicator of poor circulation and so Ginkgo biloba supplements may help although the degree to which they are of benefit in permanent severe tinnitus remains to be determined, but given Ginkgo biloba’s safety profile it is probably worth a try.

Many tinnitus sufferers are also found to have high insulin levels, so a low carbohydrate, high protein diet can improve things.

You might consider trying also osteopathy or chiropractic, as manipulation of the neck and jaw has on occasions reversed the condition.

As far as essential oils are concerned, some suggest the use of oils which increase circulation, such as rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.), lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f.), and rose (Rosa damascena Mill.).  Massage of the head, neck, and chest using these oils may help, as will one or more in a blend heated in a vaporizer or burner.

Warning on Wintergreen.
In response to my piece on wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens L.) in last month’s Newsletter (142), Jayne Morton e-mailed.....

Back in 1999 I did some basic research on toxic botanicals.  I had the help of Dr. Mike Berry who taught Botany and Chemistry in John Moore’s University. 

All information and data regarding wintergreen/methyl salicylate indicate that it is an irritant, a sensitizer, and an environmental hazard and marine pollutant.

Ingested, it can cause swelling of the tongue, inflammation of the stomach, violent retching and vomiting, loud respiration, high pulse, increased urine output, and problems with motor, sensory, and auditory nerves.

Inhaled, it can cause ptosis (e.g., the drooping of an eyelid), dilated pupils, delirium, hallucinations, convulsions, coma and congenital malformation in the foetus.

Applied topically, it can alter the pH of the skin, cause rashes and eruptions, and attack the epithelium.

Strewth!

Perhaps one of my North American readers can tell me but, I should very much like to know if any toxicological investigation of the old wintergreen distillers has ever been done.  I believe that the chief producing area used to be in eastern Pennsylvania, particularly Carbon County, which could be a good place to start.

Thyroid facts.
My final comment last month certainly unleashed some “interesting”theories, and it is going to take me a while to sort the surreal from the real! 

Obviously many thought that I was looking for a connection between thyroidism and the use of essential oils - I wasn’t.  There are hundreds of thousands of people - one-sixth of the over 55s, according to one survey - walking around with undiagnosed underactive thyroid. Half of all women and a quarter of all men will die with an inflamed thyroid [J. Pathol. Bacteriol, 1962; 83: 255-64].  Therefore, I was somewhat surprised and a little alarmed that someone should even infer that there was perhaps a connection.  Nevertheless, let’s have a brief look at what we do know.

Hyperthyroidism, also known as thyrotoxicosis, denotes a group of clinical disorders characterized by increased levels of free thyroxine, also known as tetraiodothyronine (T4), and/or triiodothyronine (T3).  The autoimmune disorder, Graves’ disease [named for Robert James Graves, an Irish physician. 1797-1853], accounts for up to 85% of all cases of hyperthyroidism.  It is much more common in women than men (ratio 8:1) and typically begins between the ages of 20 and 40.

There are definite patterns of susceptibility in autoimmune disease in general, and in Graves’ disease in particular. Many of these patterns have been recognized by common observation, while others have come to light only by careful study.

The most obvious pattern is that of gender.  Practically all the original cases described by Parry, von Basedow, and Graves were women. The female to male ratio in published series is 7:1 to 10:1.

Recent stress has been recognized as a precipitating factor since Graves’ disease was first recognized.  In fact, the most common precipitating event is an “actual or threatened separation from an individual upon whom the patient is emotionally dependent” [Larson PR, Ingbar SH. The Thyroid Gland. In: Wilson JD, Foster DW, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 1992: pp. 367-487].  Studies now support the long-held observation that the onset of Graves’ often follows some kind of emotional shock, in particular some sort of loss such as divorce, death, or difficult separations.

One study showed a statistically significant trend for left-handed people to manifest Graves’ and other autoimmune diseases. There is also some evidence for a higher rate of dyslexia in Graves’patients. A statistically significant correlation exists between smoking and Graves’ disease, and animal research has shown that exposure to toxic levels of cadmium or mercury will induce an immediate hyperthyroidism.

In older patients with hyperthyroidism, a toxic reaction to prescription drugs must be considered.  The most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the elderly is a low intake of iodine and higher use of aminodarone, an antihypertensive drug.  In addition, symptoms of hyperthyroidism vary somewhat in older adults, with apathy, tachycardia and weight loss being more common.  

Since the hormones of the thyroid gland regulate metabolism in every cell of the body, a deficiency of thyroid hormones can affect virtually all body functions.  The degree of severity of symptoms in the adult range from mild deficiency states which are not detectable with standard blood tests (subclinical hypothyroidism) to severe deficiency states which can be life-threatening (myxedema).

Deficiency of thyroid hormone may be due to lack of stimulation by the pituitary gland, defective hormone synthesis or impaired cellular conversion of T4 to T3. The pituitary gland regulates thyroid activity through the secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The combination of low thyroid hormone and elevated TSH blood levels usually indicates defective thyroid hormone synthesis, which is defined as primary hypothyroidism.  When TSH and thyroid hormone levels are both low, the pituitary gland is responsible for the low thyroid function, a situation termed secondary hypothyroidism.  Normal blood thyroid hormone and TSH blood levels combined with functional thyroid activity (as defined by a low basal metabolic rate) suggest cellular hypothyroidism.

Most estimates on the rate of hypothyroidism are based on the level of thyroid hormones in the blood.  This may result in a large number of people with mild hypothyroidism going undetected.  Nonetheless, using blood levels of thyroid hormones as a criteria, it is estimated that between 1 and 4% of the adult population have moderate to severe hypothyroidism, and another 10-12% have mild hypothyroidism. The rate of hypothyroidism increases steadily with advancing age.

Some writers of popular books using medical history, physical examination, and basal body temperatures along with the blood thyroid levels as the diagnostic criteria estimate, somewhat extravagantly I think, that the rate of hypothyroidism in the general adult population to be as high as 40% [Barnes BO, Galton L. Hypothyroidism: the unsuspected illness. New York, NY: Thomas Crowell 1976].

All the same, it is likely that the true rate of hypothyroidism using these criteria is somewhere near 25% of the adult population and significantly higher in the elderly. 

Why, therefore, should anyone think that aromatherapists are more susceptible to thyroid problems than the rest of the adult population?  I don’t!

charles@essentiallyoils.com
 

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