Discover Oshadhi
Care and Handling of Essential Oils
Oshadhi recognizes essential oils as containing an innate life-energy that must be respected, honored and preserved during the handling process. This process starts with our facility which was built using the architectural design concepts of Vastu, the ancient science of India akin to what is known as Feng Shui in China.
The facility
The facility is located in a low-intensity zone surrounded by fields and nature in a small village in South Germany. When the facility was built, principles of design were used to enhance and optimize the openness, the exposure to sunlight, and naturalness of the setting. Much of the facility is built with wood, pine and larch, to provide a warm and inviting atmosphere for the staff and the products. Emphasis was placed on large windows and high ceilings to expand everyone’s feelings of well-being which get communicated to the products. The electrical wiring in the building was specially shielded to avoid electrical leakage in the walls.
We avoid the use of high intensity equipment for handling, blending and bottling the oils for similar reasons. Special high vibrational music is played during many hours per day to ensure a positive energy surrounding creating specific resonances within the molecular structure of our oils. Anyone familiar with Emoto’s work “Messages From Water” on the effect of music, emotion and thought on water molecules will recognize the benefits of this practice. The team that we have assembled has also put the utmost emphasis on harmony and mutuality so that negative feelings and emotions are not brought into the facility.
While some companies try to mechanize the handling of essential oils, we treat them as living molecules with energy that must be supported. We recognize, after many years of experience, the real benefit and difference such handling adds to the oils. We start with the highest quality oils, the finest low intensity natural distillation methods, and add a respectful and gentle handling procedure to deliver to our customers oils that retain their natural vitality and communicate that energy when put to use by the end user.
Distillation of Essential Oils
Distillation demonstration in our Aromatherapy training center, Aurel, High Provence, France. One of the major differentiating factors for the quality of an essential oil is the method and care used in the distillation. Most of the essential oils supplied by Oshadhi are extracted by a method known as steam distillation. In this process, no chemical solvents are used. It is not however a simple matter of distillation, because there are different techniques, some using high pressure or high heat to speed up the process (and thereby resulting in lower quality end result), or those that involve slow distillation at low heat, which is how Oshadhi oils are distilled under this method. This results in a more complete extraction with richer, subtler fragrances than the process used commercially to obtain fast, high volume results.
Lemon Yellow Cold pressed
The citrus oils in general, are not steam distilled, but are cold-pressed. This process protects the delicate citrus peel from the effects of heat which otherwise would result in a totally different quality and richness of fragrance. For certain delicate flowers or specific medicinal plants, one has to use different forms of solvent extraction, and this yields a product known as an Absolute. In this method, it is important to avoid the use of certain toxic solvents, stick to various heat / solvent processes and parameters and ensure that all solvents are cleanly removed from the end result. Oshadhi supplies the state of the art Absolutes for those plants which require such treatment.
Use of essential oils
How To Use Essential Oils & Safe Use of Essential Oils
Essential oils can be used for a variety of health benefits, from skin care to stress relief or simple relaxation. The most common way is to inhale them either directly or by using one of our diffusers, but you can also dilute them with a carrier oil and apply it directly on your skin or hair. Of course, you can also get creative and mix your personal shower gel, bath or shampoo by adding a few drops of essential oils.
Some of the ways you could use essential oils are listed below – the choice of the application method depends on the desired effect and the essential oil selected as some essential oils can be irritating to the skin and are better for inhalation, for example.
Diffuser
it’s a good way to add the scent to a room, for example Lavender if you want to enhance relaxation or grapefruit if you want to clear the atmosphere
Simple Inhalation
the easiest way to inhale is to open a bottle and inhale a few times. Or use a bowl of hot water, place a towel on your head, close your eyes and inhale the steam for a few minutes
Dry Evaporation
you can put a few drops of essential oil on any kind of fabric or also wood for example to allow it to evaporate in the air in your room or car or to also sniff directly
Spray
place a few drops of essential oils or one of the Oshadhi Synergies / Blends in a water-based solution, shake and then spray in the air. Alternatively, you could use our Oshadhi Room Sprays. This approach is nice at home, but also particularly to feel at home in hotel rooms. You can also use the spray method as a way to clean your Yoga mat
Compress
The essential oil is diluted in a liquid carrier (water or oil) and applied to a dressing or directly to the affected area. Optional heat or cold can be applied. For example, a few drops of ginger (Zinziber officinalis) essential oil can be added to comfortably hot water and mixed to disperse the oil; then a cloth can be soaked in the solution and placed on a stiff joint. Additional heat can be applied as desired
Gargle
Drops of essential oil are added to water. You mix, then gargle the solution and spit it out. Do NOT swallow it. For example, one drop of tea tree oil in a glass of water can be gargled for sore throat discomfort. Use 1-2 drops per 30 ml of warm water
Bath
Drops of essential oils are added to bath water in a dispersant immediately before stepping in. This method results in absorption through the skin, as well as inhalation of the volatilized essential oil. A few tablespoons of full cream milk can be used as a dispersant. Remember, essential oils are not water soluble; thus they will float on top of the bath and skin passing through the oil will be exposed to full strength essential oil. Bath salts can also be used to disperse essential oils. A relaxing bath base can be made by mixing one part baking soda, two parts Epsom salts, and three parts sea salt. Add six drops of true lavender essential oil to about two tablespoons of this mixture and mix it into bath water just before entering.
Massage
Drops of essential oil are added to a natural carrier oil and applied to skin areas with gentle rubbing. Massage blends should not exceed 1% concentration of essential oils (one drop in a teaspoon) for adults. The normal dilution for a general body massage is 1-3% (i.e. approximately 7-20 drops in 30ml carrier oil). For children, concentration should not exceed 0.25% for infants, 0.5% for toddlers age 6 months to 2 years, and 1% for children of 2 years and older. The choice of essential oils for massage depends on the desired effect
Skin Care Use
You can use essential oils for skincare and massage in a variety of ways. Dilute essential oils with a carrier oil and apply the mixture to your skin. Follow a recipe of your intuition to make a rollerball blend so that you have your favorite combination on hand. Focus on areas of muscular pain, tightness, and tension. You can also gently rub the oil into pressure points such as your temples, wrists, and third eye. You can also use the oils to massage your feet and place a few drops around your nose. Another option is to add essential oils to your favorite cosmetic products, such as toners, serums, and muscle rubs. But always take care to dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil first
Essential oils are highly concentrated natural extracts from the leaves, flowers, and stems of plants, which have an amazing scent and also therapeutic properties such as antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. They also can help to promote healthy sleep, relieve headaches and alleviate pain, improve skin conditions, treat a cold and encourage healthy digestion.
But always use caution and be mindful of essential oils potency. A basic understanding of their benefits and contraindications is good to have when using them. You find those information on our website for each oil we offer.
Use of essential oils with babies and children
0 – 6 months: The only oils that should be used – and in very small dilutions – are lavender, and camomile. Add 1 drop of oil to 2 tsp of a carrier oil such as sweet almond oil, sesame or jojoba oil for a massage, or use in one of our diffusers.
6 – 12 months: You can start adding mandarin, neroli, and rose.
1 – 6 years: You can introduce orange, coriander, palmarosa, tea tree.
7 – 12 years: Most of the commonly used essential oils are now suitable but at a quarter of the dosage used with adults.
Always keep essential oils of out the reach of children, and away from your eyes
Understanding Pricing of Essential Oils
There are also extraordinary differences in the yield of essential oils from different plants, that contributes to their cost and their rarity. For example, it may take as much as 10,000 kgs. of Lemon Balm plants to distill 1 liter of pure Lemon Balm oil. By comparison only 30 kg of Eucalyptus leaves are needed to make 1 liter of Eucalyptus oil. One of the most expensive oils, Rose oil, requires about 5,000 kgs. of Rose petals to make 1kg of Rose oil.
It is virtually impossible to compare two essential oils on pricing without understanding the complex variables that go into the specific oil you are looking at. Some of the factors involve the rarity of the plant and cultivar, the source from which it has to be obtained, the cultivation methods, including the added costs for organic certification and the processes required to maintain that certification, the distillation method and yield, and the availability of supply and demand taking into account harvests, weather conditions, and many other factors.
There are also different qualities or grades of the very same plant and cultivar, so just as you may source a fine wine from a particular region and type of grapes, or find an inexpensive wine from the same region and type of grapes, in the end, it is important to recognize the purity and fullness of the scent, the richness of the oil, and the subtle properties obtained through proper care and handling from the time of growing, through the entire process of distillation and handling.
Many essential oils come on the market for use in what may be called industrial uses. They are produced in large quantities through high pressure or solvent extraction methods and they are thus produced very inexpensively, but do not yield high quality aromatherapy grade oils such as those supplied by Oshadhi. Some brands use cheaper sourced grades or synthetic blends to reduce cost further. Oshadhi has made the decision not to compromise on the high and pure quality of our oils and our prices reflect the purity, quality and care that goes into our products. At the same time, since we are able to develop direct relationships and thereby reduce middle-man expenses, we are often able to pass along premium quality products at moderate price levels.
