Advanced Aromatherapy by Kurt Schaubelt: Review

Advanced Aromatherpy by Kurt Schaubelt provides the science to the romanticism of aromatherapy. An interesting part of this book is how it discusses the downfall of conventional medicine and most importantly WHY essiential oils work the way they do along with the results of scientific studies that show which oils are most effective at doing certain actions.
I came across several new terms I was not familiar with that hindered my understanding of the text, I was able to gain a general understanding of it. I believe I was able to read through this book due to my fascination and interest on the subject, but I think it would be an even better read to one with more science background knowledge and/or aromatherapy experience. I believe this book offers most of everything one would like to know about aromatherapy and is the go to book instead of trying to find information via internet.

Distilling Lavender

Instructions I've found for Extracting the Oils of Lavender" 1) Harvest the lavender plant in the morning and allow it to dry for a few hours. This should ideally be done on a dry, sunny day just as the flowers are approaching full bloom.

2) Load the plants into a distillation vessel. This is typically a large, food-grade stainless steel pot used only for distilling lavender. The pot is filled with the lavender plants and sealed.

3) Introduce low-pressure steam into the bottom of the vessel to boil the essential oil from the plant. Allow the steam to exit through the lid of the vessel and feed it through a condenser. The steam is cooled into a liquid by cold water that runs through coils in the condenser.

4)Feed the condensate into a separator. This liquid is divided into two parts: lavender water on the bottom and the lighter essential oil on top. The lavender water is drained off through an opening in the separator situated below the level of the essential oil.

5)Collect the essential oil in a beaker on top of the separator.

I've also found a different way of Exracting the oils which contains using a brick. I'd like to try it out.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6566496_extract-lavender-oil-lavender-plant.html

Some things I would need to get would be the Heat Proof Measuring Cup, Separatory Funnel (which I think is the same as a oil seperator), and I need to check if I have a pot similar to a "dutch oven".

This process does seem much more simple in comparison to creating an actual Distiller, but I'm not sure if the resulting quality of the oils will different. It might be an interesting to compare the two types of methods.

Key Components

I found what is supposed to be the key components to a Steam Distiller.

1. The heat source or furnace, which is used to boil the water. Direct fire, a fire built under the retort is the oldest method for heating the still. Today, we can also use gas, such as propane or butane, and electricity. Fuel costs are a major factor when considering a heat source for you distiller;

2. The holding tank or retort (I believe a retort looks like this: http://unitednuclear.com/images/retort.jpg), which holds both the water and, just above the water on a grate or false bottom - picture a vegetable steamer - the plant material to be distilled;

3. The condenser, which collects the steam and cools it, usually by piping it through a tube immersed in cold water, and...

The separator, which separates the essential oil from the water vapor. The separator, or Essencier, is one of the most important pieces of apparatus a distiller can have. This enables the distiller to separate the essential oils from the distillate in a passive manner.

I found that an Essencier looks like this . It looks complicated.

What makes a Steam Distiller?

I found this site which describes their own steam distiller. I hope to gather useful information (like what to use) in order to build my own. http://www.crucible.org/essential_oil_distiller_operation.htm

List of items included in their kit:

ALL NEW BOROSILICATE (generically called "pyrex") GLASSWARE:
* 2 liter boiling flask, 24/40 sized ground glass joint and side port for water addition
* 2 liter Biomass flask, 24/40 joint on bottom and large 45/50 joint on top
* Still Head, 45/50 with built in thermometer adapter and male spherical condenser joint
* West Condenser, with a spherical joint that allows a wide range of alignment without risk of breakage or loss of seal integrety
* Receiver/separatory funnel with teflon valve
MECHANICAL PARTS:
* New hotplate with built-in flask support rod (240 volt for EUROPE available at no additional cost)
* Two laboratory Clamps
* Two 5 foot HOSES for condenser water
* WIRE SCREEN with ceramic heat dissipator to keep the flask happy while on the hotplate (240v european units only)
* 3 Packets of joint grease
* Keck Clamps to hold condenser, receiver, and still head together

Notes that may provide useful/decoding:
Distiller made from 'scientific-grade borosilicate glass'
Best choice: all glass (pyrex?) produces 'true' dry steam? for 'purest' oil?
No hose or rubber stoppers.
Glass joints.
Biomass Flask.
'"vertical" design, the biomass flask stays dry, none of the "boiling water" is wastefully condensed and trapped in the biomass flask, and because it uses separate flasks for boiling and biomass, there's further insurance that overheating or possibly burning your plant material will never happen.'

Searching for the Right Words

With an innumerable sum of textbooks to choose from, I found it difficult to decided on which would be most beneficial towards my project. Along with information about aromatherapy, oils, and making perfume, I also want to learn about the chemistry side. I provided a few books appeared to fit what I'm looking for.



Advanced Aromatherapy: The Science of Essential Oil Therapy
By: Kurt Schnaubelt

A chemist and aromatherapy practitioner provides scientific proof for the effectiveness of using essential oils.
Aromatherapy is the fastest-growing segment of the body care industry, an effective and deeply pleasurable way to maintain well-being. Now, Kurt Schnaubelt, a chemist and longtime aromatherapy practitioner, provides scientific proof for the efficacy of essential oils, explained clearly and logically. Advanced Aromatherapy draws on the most recent research to demonstrate how essential oils work on the cells and microbes of the body. These chemical changes affect emotional states as well as physical ones. Advanced Aromatherapy explains how to treat symptoms ranging from hay fever to stress disorders with predictable results.
An essential textbook for aromatherapy practitioners.

The Fragrant Mind
By: Valerie Ann Worwood

This 431-page volume delves into the psychological and emotional use of aromatherapy and essential oils. It covers both general psychological and aromatherapy information as well as listing emotional conditions (i.e. nicotine addition, phobias, stress, etc.) and the oils that can assist with the condition. It also discusses various personality profiles and the oils most suitable for those personality types. This text is written in an easy-to-understand style, and previous knowledge of psychology is not required. Certain chapters are intended to be read thoroughly while other chapters act more as a reference.

The Essential Oils Book: Creating Personal Blends for Mind & Body
By: Colleen K. Dodt

The Essential Oils Book is a 152-page book suitable for beginners. Intermediates will most likely also find a few nice little tidbits within this book as well. This book has received high praise for being a great book for beginners. This book contains practical, holistic, and safety-oriented advice and recipes for the beginner.










Aromatherapy: Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils for Esthetics
BY: Jimm Harrison

Aromatherapy:Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils for Esthetics and Spa Therapy explores the complex and important chemistry and application of essential oils. With alternative and natural therapies becoming a part of daily life, this pertinent topic deserves this complete and informative treatment. Through aromatherapy, the use of essential oils is a creative, versatile, and powerfully effective treatment. This text provides the tools and knowledge necessary to understand the complexities of essential oil therapy, and confidently utilize its healing potential. The text addresses aromatherapy from multiple angles including chemically, biologically, and holistically. The reader will also benefit from the incorporation of psychology, philosophy, diet, nutrition, and lifestyle in terms of their relevance to essential oil use. Multiple photos and charts help illustrate the content. Extensive coverage of 33 essential oils presents in-depth knowledge of how these oils should be valued and used in a spa or medical setting. The book carefully notes and explains the many varying descriptions of essential oils that are out there, and describes in detail the reasons why conflicting information exists and how to filter through it. The inclusion of the plant origin of the essential oils in order to more clearly define their healing properties as well as their relationship with human hormonal balance adds dimensions to the text. In all, Aromatherapy provides a thorough and accurate essential oils study and will remain an invaluable resource in continued practice.

The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils: The Science of Advanced Aromatherapy
by Kurt Schnaubelt

Explains how essential oils convey the complex natural healing powers of plants, offering scientifically proven advantages over synthetic drugs. Offers revolutionary essential oil treatments to ameliorate the side effects of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments as well as for hepatitis, osteoporosis, liver detoxification, and the prevention of UV damage and melanoma. Presents simple recipes and protocols for strengthening the immune system; for treatment of common ailments, such as colds, flu, herpes, and candida; and for pain management
Exploring science’s new biological understanding of essential oils and their advantages over synthetic drugs, renowned aromatherapist Kurt Schnaubelt reveals how the effectiveness of essential oil treatments stems from our common biochemical and cellular heritage with plants. He explains how essential oils preserve a plant’s complex natural life-supporting and immune-building qualities, developed through millions of years of interaction with animals and humans. Reviewing recent research in molecular, cellular, and evolutionary biology, he shows how the multilayered activity of plant essences helps maintain the integrity of our genetic code--the reason why pathogens cannot develop resistance toward essential oils as they do with antibiotics and antivirals--making essential oils a more effective and sustainable form of treatment for a variety of health problems.