Walking through a garden, one marvels at the bounty produced by food-bearing plants and herbs. While the value of vegetables and fruit is evident to most of us, the inherent worth of herbs and aromatics often is overlooked.
Many of us are aware that peppermint (Mentha piperita) is grown in the Willamette Valley as a crop for the oil it produces. It is used in everything from confections to liniments for aches and pains. Did you know, however, that birch, sage, coriander and fennel all have medicinal uses and that the oil of these plants often is used in alternative medicine?
Essential oils have a long history of use dating back at least to the Egyptians. Many oils served a dual purpose as a healing medicinal and a perfume. Several of the more common plants utilized for their essential oils are oregano, juniper, coriander and henna. Extraction of these oils seems to have been done by steeping the plants in hot oil; today, steam distillation is a much cleaner and effective means of oil extraction. Greece, Rome, China, Israel, Arabia and Europe all made their contributions to the art and science of using essential oils for healing and fragrance. During the black plague, many aromatics such as frankincense, clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary were used in an attempt to protect people from the disease.
There are many ways to use essential oils: aromatic, inhalation or using a vaporizer, and wearing the oil as in a perfume. Essential oils also can be consumed by cooking or drinking a beverage.
The flowers of Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) have been steam distilled and used for soothing bruises, cuts and associated injuries. It also is believed to have a calming affect, and we see it quite often as a tea. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) has powerful anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.
For more about essential oils, check out healingscents.net/learn/history-essential-oils-around-the-world.
Al Shay is a consulting horticulturist and instructor at OSU. Contact email@example.com.