In fact, it is about five o’clock in an evening that the first hour of spring strikes -
autumn arrives in the early morning, but spring at the close of a winter day.
Elizabeth Bowen (1899-1973)

How true I thought, as I motored home in daylight for the first time in several months.  Once in the garden, the scents of spring assailed my nostrils - fresh and invigorating and somehow perfectly in tune with the bright greens, yellows and whites of the flowers, foliage and new grass of the season. Although the cool temperature dissuaded me from too long a look, I lingered just enough to spot the neighbour’s cat taking down yet another of my wild bird population.  Still, believe it or not, this feline interloper wreaks less havoc on my feathered guests than the resident sparrowhawk. A ruthless and persistent killer, I return most evenings to a scattering of feathers upon the lawn. Brazen and unashamed, it will sometimes perch atop its prey and defy me to frighten it away.  However, I am prepared to tolerate this natural course of events because it rarely kills needlessly, but I do draw the line when it fixes its raptor’s eye upon my parrots. Albeit they are behind bars this deters it little.  Like a fighter pilot, it stoops suddenly out of the sun and lunges rapaciously with outstretched talons at their brightly coloured plumage.  Fortunately, my avian pets have been forewarned by the harsh cackling of the garden’s magpies and huddle close together in the centre of their cage. Still, some would have me rid my garden of magpies, because they too can be quite villainous, but I believe that Nature does nothing without purpose or uselessly.

Safe refuge.
Needless to say, and before you ask, I didn’t get a cat, despite the unrelenting pressure of many - the letters continue to roll in but I cannot be persuaded! Instead, I have just added Larry to the family, a very happy little chappie native to Senegal in west Africa. Although they share no common tongue, because Birdie is from Brazil and the Blues Brothers from South Australia, all birds get on well together and are united in their common shriek for food!

Sadly, because of the threat of bird flu, several have been abandoning their cage birds, often in distressing circumstances, and I fear that animal welfare centres will be unable to cope with the numbers.  Following the discovery the other week of a cat infected by the H5N1 virus on the German island of Rugen, I hope that cats will not be next. Still, according to European Union animal health experts, this cat was an unusual case probably triggered by the cat’s exposure to infected wild birds and concluded that it does not increase the risk of catching bird flu for animals and people. Apparently, current knowledge suggests that the disease in carnivores such as cats is a ‘cul de sac’ of the infection. Um?!

Safety considerations for infants.
I am asked too often what I really think about the use of essential oils with very small infants. Not being a doctor, aromatherapist, midwife, or even recent father, I defer to the literature on the subject and quote invariably four pieces of advice, which I have pinned behind my desk.

Employed as whole plants for thousands of years, in the form of herbalism, the active principles, essential oils, are very much more concentrated than in the plant. The essential oil within plant tissues capable of extraction varies but the yield is often less than 1% and distillation can concentrate this up to 99 times.  Therefore the properties become more important, especially when used on the skin as well as in emotional treatments.  Also, one cannot assume that an essential oil will cause the same actions as those attributed to the whole plant. The Aromatherapy Practitioner Reference Manual. Sylla Sheppard Hanger, 1994. Published by the Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy, 16018 Saddlestring Drive, Tampa, Forida 33618, USA. ISBN: 0-9643141-0-X.

For dermal application, great caution is in order for very small infants.  This is because a baby’s skin is especially thin, and is therefore potentially more sensitive, and more permeable to essential oils. A baby is also less equipped to deal with any adverse effects than is an adult.  These cautions apply even more to premature babies, and here it might be prudent to avoid the external use of essential oils altogether, unless there are very important benefits to the baby.  Even vapourising oils into the air might be best avoided.
Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. Robert Tisserand & Tony Balacs, 1995. Published by Churchill Livingstone. ISBN: 0-443-05260-3.

The difficulty for midwives is that essential oils are assumed to be safe to use because there is no real evidence to the contrary. Indeed there are many generalised unproven claims made for aromatherapy generally.  Until more clinical research trials have been undertaken it would be prudent for midwives to work cautiously with essential oils, using the lowest possible dose and on the least number of occasions. There is much confusion amongst even the most notable of aromatherapy authorities regarding the safety of different oils, and midwives must ensure that they are as up to date as possible with contemporary research.
Complementary Therapies for Pregnancy and Childbirth. Edited by Denise Tiran & Sue Mack, Second Edition, 2000. Published by Bailliere Tindall. ISBN: 0-7020-2328-0.

Current research supports the possibility that olfaction is an important sensory modality for the developing infant, guiding and modulating behaviours before other sensory systems have matured.

Some adult-like olfactory preference patterns appear to have their origins in infancy and are evident by 9 months of age, and some may be traced to the earliest days of life. The view that all olfactory preferences are learned through associational learning processes relatively late in the pre-school period must be modified. If learning underlies the acquisition of olfactory hedonics, then this occurs during infancy, and not exclusively during the pre-school period. Moreover, the demonstration of odour preference patterns in infants demands reconsidering the possibility that some odour preference patterns are innate (e.g., the smell of a lactating woman’s breast).  Since the range of odours that have been studied with infants is to date somewhat limited, and most of the methods for evaluating hedonic odour reactions in infants are indirect, this area demands additional research.

Anatomical studies suggest that by 7 months gestation the olfactory system is functional in human foetuses, and the human foetal environment could support olfactory stimulation.
Olfactory Hedonics in Infants and Young Children. H.J. Schmidt in Fragrance: The Psychology and Biology of Perfume, 1992. Edited by S. Van Toller & G.H. Dodd. Published by Elsevier Applied Science. ISBN: 1-85166-872-1.

I find this last point most interesting, because animal studies raise an interesting possibility: earliest odour experience, during a critical developmental period, may result in long-term structural changes in the brain’s neural responses to odours, and can be associated with behavioural preferences. Animal studies have also demonstrated that interuterine olfactory experience can impact on the development of odour preference patterns. 

The case for Ginkgo.
Some may know that I am always on the look-out for bits and pieces for my ancient motors, for often they emerge from barns with many missing.  I trawl through heaps of junk at various events and occasionally strike it lucky, but that’s just the beginning because then they have to be restored to their former glory, which is way beyond my capabilities.  Unfortunately, chaps who do this sort of thing are few and far between, but they do exist. Recently, requiring help with some odd item, I called one up, but his wife answered the phone. Strangely, men rarely ask me what I do but ladies are far more probing!

I’d like to follow-up one of the points raised by me in our unexpected, but most enjoyable and informative recent telephone conversation. What, if any, is your opinion on the pros and cons of Ginkgo?  You may recall that it was covered in a recent television programme about alternative medicine.  Drat! I missed it, probably because I was too busy searching for her husband’s telephone number!  Quite significant claims were made for its properties, some of which related to very serious conditions such as Alzheimer’s and others to benefits to the circulatory system.  Good heavens, I only enquired about a water pump!  Still.....

There is a large body of research which shows that the herb Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) is beneficial for boosting concentration and memory.  In 2000, researchers from the University of Northumbria found that a combination of ginkgo and Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Mey.) could dramatically boost brain power.

The study found that ginkgo improved the power of concentration while ginseng sharpened up the memory. It also concluded that the effect was more powerful if both herbs were taken together. The participants in the study were given a variety of different doses and the most significant impact was when they took a preparation of 60% ginseng and 40% ginkgo.

Ginkgo’s fleshy seeds have been valued in China for their medicinal properties since about 2800 B.C., but it is only in the last forty-five years that the leaves of this living fossil have been utilized extensively in Western medicine.  Unlike many of the herbs in use today, ginkgo leaves are not used so much in their crude state as in the form of a concentrated, standardized ginkgo biloba extract (GBE).  This extract has become a very popular drug in Europe, where it is widely used for its beneficial effects on the circulatory system [Schilcher, H. Zeitschrift fur Phytotherapie 9: 119-127, 1988]. In fact, during 1988, doctors in Germany wrote more prescriptions (5.4 million!) for GBE than any other drug.

Schilcher also reported that GBE is effective in treating ailments associated with decreased cerebral blood flow, particularly in geriatric patients. These conditions include short-term memory loss, headache, tinnitus, depression, and the like.  Clinical and pharmacological studies have shown that GBE promotes vasodilation and improved blood flow both in the arteries and capillaries. There are also indications that it is an effective free-radical scavenger. However, large doses are required, which probably explains why a concentrate is used rather than the herb itself.

GBE’s membrane-stabilizing and free radical-scavenging effects are perhaps most evident in the brain and nerve cells.  Brain cells contain the highest percentage of unsaturated fatty acids in their membranes of any cells in the body, making them highly susceptible to free radical damage.

The brain cell is also highly susceptible to a diminished amount of oxygen in the tissues. Unlike most other tissues, the brain has very little energy reserves.  Its functions require large amounts of energy which must be supplied by a constant supply of glucose and oxygen. Diminished circulation to the brain sets off a chain of reactions which disrupt membrane function and energy production and ultimately lead to cellular death.

GBE is remarkable in its ability to prevent metabolic and neuronal disturbances in experimental models of cerebral ischaemia. It accomplishes this by enhancing oxygen utilization and increasing cellular uptake of glucose, thus restoring energy production.

All of these metabolic effects are in addition to GBE’s ability to re-establish effective tissue perfusion.  Particularly interesting is GBE’s ability to normalize the circulation in areas most
affected by micro-embolization, namely the hippocampus and striatum.

Briefly, GBE promotes increased nerve transmission rate, improves synthesis and turnover of brain neurotransmitters, and normalizes acetylcholine receptors in the hippocampus (the area of the brain most affected by Alzheimer’s).

Of the more than forty published clinical trials on the use of GBE for cerebral insufficiency, ten to twelve have been deemed methodologically sound. In Germany, GBE is licensed for treating cerebral dysfunction symptoms (such as memory difficulties, dizziness, tinnitus, headaches, and emotional stability with anxiety).  It is used also in the supportive treatment of intermittent claudication and hearing loss due to cervical syndrome [Ahlemeyer, B. and Krieglstein, J. Neuroprotective Effects of Ginkgo Biloba Extract. In Phytomedicines of Europe - Chemistry and Biological Activity, L.D. Lawson and R. Bauer (Eds.). American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 1988, pp. 210-220].

Nevertheless, it is worth noting that almost all of the scientific and clinical studies on the effectiveness of GBE have been carried out on two standardized extracts, cited in the literature as EGb-761 and LI 1370. Therefore, if consumers want well-tested products they should check the origin of the GBE product that they are buying.

Although preliminary studies in established Alzheimer’s patients are quite promising, at this time it appears that GBE only helps reverse or merely delay mental deterioration in the early stages of the disease. However, in addition to this, if the mental deficit is due to vascular insufficiency or depression and not Alzheimer’s, GBE will usually be effective in reversing the deficit.

However, as GBE does reduce the clotting time of blood it may be of concern to those already taking anticoagulants. Also, very large doses of the extract may cause restlessness, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and other unpleasant effects, usually of a relatively mild nature. Therefore, if these occur it would be wise to cease taking the drug, or at the very least reduce the dosage.

 
A fascinating plant!
One of the joys of working with plants and essential oils is that I am always stumbling across something new and interesting.
Tobacco Headspace Extract - unfortunately this experiment and the subsequent one using hot sunflower oil didn’t work out, but I did have the opportunity to steam distil a quarter ton of resurrection bush, wrote Chris Tippett from South Africa.

The Resurrection Bush (Myrothamnus flabellifolius Welw.) is quite fascinating, because a distinctive feature of the plant is the ability of the seemingly dead, dormant leaves to unfold and turn bright green when placed in water, even months after the twig has been cut from the plant.  It is this remarkable property that gives the plant its vernacular name. At one time it was used as a test to determine whether a small boy had reached an age to be separated from his mother and join the men of the village at their meeting place. A twig was placed in his mouth and held there. If the leaves opened he could go; if not he was considered too young.

A shrubby plant with red-brown stems up to a metre high, but often sprawling over flat rock surfaces, the leaves look dead and dry, held flat along the hard branches until the first rains, when they open within half an hour, expanding fan-wise to show fresh green within. The tiny red-brown flowers, growing in catkin-like spikes from the leaf axils, are produced in summer, with male and female flowers on separate plants. The plant occurs in the northern part of South Africa, where it is always found on dry mountain slopes [Weimarck, H. Myrothamnus flabellifolia Welw., eine polymorphe Pflanzenart. Bot. Notiser 26: 451-462 (1936)].

Numerous traditional uses have been reported.  An infusion of the leaves is used for colds, taken hot, last thing at night. Decoctions are taken to alleviate pain and for backache, kidney problems, haemorrhoids and painful menstruation.  It may also be applied as a soothing lotion to abrasions. Smoke from burning leaves is inhaled for chest pains and asthma [Watt, J.M. & Breyer-Brandwijk, M.G. 1962. The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa. 2nd Edition. Livingstone, London].  Dried, powdered leaves are used to dress burns and wounds [Von Koenen, E. 1966. Heil-, Gift- u Essbare Pflanzen in Namibia. Klauss Hess Verlag, Gottingen].

Whilst most seem to agree that the essential oil is probably the active ingredient, I was  surprised to discover that there appears to be no reliable publication in which the main compounds have been reported, according to the Dictionary of Natural Products (1996). 
Odd, because plants with numerous traditional uses have usually been well picked over by researchers: I determined to take a deeper look.  

True, reports of the chemical composition of the volatile oil do seem to vary. Some studies show that camphor is the main ingredient of the oil, with small amounts of a-pinene and 1,8-cineole, which could explain its therapeutic effects, but others suggest that it contains carvone and perillyl alcohol as the main constituents [A.P. da Cunha and O. de L.R. Roque, Identification and determination of the main components of the essential oil in Myrothamnus flabellifolius from Angola. Garcia de Orta, Ser. Farmacogn. 2(1), 1-6 (1973)].  

Even more confusing, a re-examination of the composition of the oil in fresh green and dry herb plant by other researchers concluded that the oil has trans-pinocarveol, pinocarvone and a-pinene as major components, with b-selinene, linalool and 1,8-cineole as important minor compounds [Chagonda, L.S. and Makanda, C. Essential Oils of Four Wild and Semi-Wild Plants from Zimbabwe: Colospermum mopane (Kirk ex Benth.) Kirk ex Leonard, Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less, Myrothamnus flabellifolia (Wilw.) and Tagetes minuta L.  J. Essent. Oil Res., 11, 573-578 (1999)].

Fortunately Chris has sent me a sample of his distillation, and it is with some excitement that I await the results of the analysis.  Splendid stuff!  

A kindred spirit!
Bonjour Charles, I’ll be one of your reader/customers who look forward to receiving your newsletter, read it and file it away (or mail it overseas to someone), and then feel vaguely contrite about not ordering anything from your vast range of products. Well, I shall be doing so in the near future.

Your March newsletter contained many items of interest; for example, your mention of Maine Coons (“coon” or its derivatives being native dialect for small, powerful, stocky animals including beaver and black bear) brings me to a recommendation of one of my favourite animal-in-residence, the common, western, striped skunk. Cheerful, graceful, not very large, and intelligent, I’ve had two of the creatures as pets.  Neither were de-scented as they spent most of their time outdoors and did their spraying there, although removing the glands prevents later inflammation - useful, as no vet is going to squeeze the anal glands of a skunk.On the positive side, they are inquisitive, socially interactive, entertaining and perhaps overly dextrous with their paws.

A neighbour kept raccoons and we could compare notes; concluding that the ‘coons could become dangerously aggressive and had the weight and teeth to back up their tempers. A skunk’s funny five minutes can usually be controlled by throwing a blanket over it and putting it outside.  Quite personable beasts; I’m hoping for another some day. - James Huntzinger, Sensaroma, Stanford in the Vale.

Although absolutely nothing at all to do with CAM or essential oils, I think that James’s e-mail illustrates well how the newsletter has evolved over 14 years.  Originally intended solely as a sales tool, I realized quickly, and perhaps somewhat selfishly, that if I was to remain motivated it had to include some of my other interests as well. Of course sales are important, but so too are mental stimulation, challenge and social interaction.  Without these, I would soon become insular, an island, not really sharing or cascading.

Today, my greatest joy is to receive your input. Not only does it relieve the pressure on my own output, but it also stimulates the interest of others.  Although I do not know for sure, I think that many therapists probably work alone and, therefore, opportunities to discuss their work, aspirations, concerns, problems and other interests are restricted.  Via the newsletter, you have access to at least 30,000 kindred spirits!  Just ask.

Questions & Answers.
I’m 10 weeks pregnant and the hormones are causing my mucous membranes to swell, causing terrible sinus problems, e-mailed Sara Perry.

I’ve been steaming 3-4 times daily with eucalyptus radiata, niaouli and tea tree and, when the nasal drip was causing a cough which kept me awake all night, I used frankincense, benzoin and sandalwood.  However, whilst these are keeping the infection at bay (just!) I’m
still in discomfort with the fullness of the sinuses.

Can you suggest anything that may reduce the swelling and amount of mucus?

Poor girl! I understand that this is quite a common problem, but I am reluctant to advocate any other essential oils. I believe that icepacks on the sinuses may help, but I should much welcome any suggestions from others.

With regard to “A surprising reaction” in the March Newsletter, you may find the following personal anecdote interesting, wrote Kim Shenton.

Kim has been using various seed and nut oils for years without, as she thought, any reaction. However, just before Christmas 2005 she developed a severe case of hives over almost all of her body.  The pain and itching were so intense that she required an emergency anti-histamine injection.  By process of elimination, she was able to ascertain that her distress was the result of an underlying mild sensitivity to seeds, nuts and their oils.  Since removing them from her diet and skincare routine, her dry eyes, constant indigestion and joint pains have reduced dramatically. Furthermore, she can now eat happily foods that gave her “much trouble” over the last couple of years.  She uses currently avocado and olive oils without problems, and a homoeopathic remedy to combat the effects of inadvertently consuming products containing sunflower oil.

Interestingly several others have reported isolated cases of adverse reactions to seed and nut oils but, because sensitivities/allergies are very specific to the individual concerned, it seems there is no non-reactive oil or substance. However, Clare Lowing, who is an Infant Massage Instructor, and has seen a reaction to sunflower in a baby and mother only twice in about 250 families, recommends fractionated coconut for those with sensitive skin.  This is based on advice to members from the International Association of Infant Massage (www.iaim.org.uk). 

I did a treatment today on a 52 years old lady with lichen planus on both shins, although this was not the presenting problem, e-mailed David Freeman Powell.  Previously, she had been treated by using TCM and eliminating shellfish and red wine from her diet (an interesting combination, not unlike my own predilection!). It may have been triggered originally during menopause, but may now be stress-related.  At the client’s request, I didn’t massage the area but I have been thinking about treatment options.  Didn’t you suggest Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil for this in a previous newsletter?  Also, what about Neem, as a friend with psoriasis reports great success with it?  Am stuck on essential oils, but patchouli comes to mind. Any thoughts?
 
True, I did suggest Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) some years ago, with good results in several.  Lichen planus are aggregates of small, persistent, polygonal papules, flat-topped with a characteristic sheen, and of reddish-purple colour, occurring in patches on the wrists, ankles and abdomen; greyish patches on mucous membranes; and may involve hair follicles and nails.  Used externally, the seed oil has a well-researched reputation for the treatment of conditions such as neurodermatitis.  Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) could also help perhaps because, for skin diseases in India, it has long been considered a drug of choice.  It is applied on pustules, hard abcesses, obstinate types of wounds, leprotic lesions, ringworm, eczema and itch.  It is particularly recommemded for hair care problems such as psoriasis and dandruff, for killing lice and for giving relief in itching.

As for essential oils, I am never really sure if they help or hinder certain skin conditions, but patchouli could make some sense as it is used in aromatherapy to treat skin complaints. It is thought to have a regenerative effect on skin tone and to help clear skin conditions such as eczema and acne.  What do you think?
    
I’m interested in your sandalwood essential oil and sandalwood absolute. I was wondering how they differ. Are they both middle/base notes and which one has the most predominant smell. Also what is baked Kannauj earth? asked Tom Adams.

Although sandalwood is an emotive subject, it obviously does not deter the interest of some.  Sandalwood Absolute was a one-off with which we were experimenting in New Caledonia: we no longer stock it.  However, I would consider it to have a more predominant aroma than the oil.  It was developed primarily for the perfumery industry.  I would think that the oil and absolute are both base notes for these purposes.

Mitti or Gill attar is a co-distillation of sandalwood and, literally, baked soil from Kannauj. The history of Indian perfumes is inextricably linked to the history of Kannauj for it is here, along with Jaunpur and Ghazipur, that the industry took root.  All the attars are used in India as perfumes by themselves, but their use is declining with changing tastes and the advent of western-type perfumes. I would think that our supplier in Kannauj is one of the last still to produce Mitti.  Nevertheless, its aroma is really quite pleasant.

Unfortunately I missed your recent article on Spikenard, but would like to know more about the oil; particularly, with which oils it blends well and are there any precautions? e-mailed
Kay Eastment.

First, check out Newsletter 164 (November, 2005) - “Saintly Spikenard”.  It blends well with cistus, lavender, patchouli, pine needle, vetiver, and spice oils. 

Safety application is tentatively assumed to be similar to that of patchouli, i.e., recommended level of use is 10%. However, spikenard has not been formally tested for adverse reactions and any skin sensitization potential cannot be ascertained from the oil’s composition. That said, I have received no adverse reports to date.

Have you heard of Citrus dulcis? was another question I was asked recently.  If so, can you let me know its common name and any info you have on it.

To my knowledge, Citrus dulcis is not part of botanical nomenclature; in Latin, it means literally Sweet (dulcis) Orange (Citrus), although the Romans tended to use ‘citrus’ for
all yellow-skinned citrus fruit. The correct binomial for sweet orange is Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, being the main citrus tree grown in most of the citrus producing countries. Four groups exist within the species: Navel oranges, Common oranges (also called white oranges), Blood oranges, and Acidless oranges (also called sugar or sugary oranges).

Sour Oranges belong to the species Citrus aurantium L. As edible fruits they are grown for the preparation of marmalade.  They usually have a rather large number of seeds and the rind of the fruit has a deeper orange colour than most of the sweet orange varieties.  Within the sour oranges the following groups exist: ‘Standard’ or ‘Seville’ sour orange, ‘Bouquet de Fleurs’ grown as an ornamental and also for production of flowers from which ‘neroli oil’ is extracted, ‘Granito’ or ‘Abers’ (much used for extraction of ‘petitgrain oil’ from the leaves), ‘Chinotto’ (used as an ornamental plant) and ‘Bergamot’. 
 
Finally.....
Tell me, do you know if they have got a new cat at Highland Park? asked Fleur Macdonald. At first the penny didn’t drop, because I am not a whisky drinker, but.....

Unlike The Famous Grouse, which appointed two cats to succeed its long-serving mouser at Glenturret, Highland Park on Orkney is going feline-free. It blames “environmental issues” for the decision not to replace Barley, who died after a road accident.  A statue will take his place!





charles@essentiallyoils.com

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