The Anticancer Attributes Offered By Essential Oils

The particular practice of using essential oils as medicines, rather than for just their aromas, is becoming more popular in the United States. The main reasons are simple: first, we are becoming increasingly disenchanted with our current professional medical establishment. The costs are outrageous, as the pharmaceutical and insurance industries are actually bleeding the system dry. At the same time the value of "traditional" medicine, utilizing plant-based remedies, is becoming more apparent. Scientific investigation regularly supports the efficacy of herbs as well as other natural cures.

The amount of research on the medicinal uses of pure essential oils has been significant in recent years. The very same oils used in "aromatherapy" have been documented to enjoy potent antiviral, antibacterial and anti-fungal action. Perhaps most exciting is the forthcoming of data showing profound anticancer and anti-tumor activity of several essential oils. A recent search of Pub Med, the National Institute of Health's online research database, produced over 400 search results each for the particular phrases "essential oil cancer" as well as "essential oil tumor"'. Listed here is a sampling of the results.

The bottom line of a study in the March 2009 Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine noted that frankincense essential oil breaks down cancerous cells, and appears to differentiate between cancerous from normal cells. The study also outlines that frankincense oil might symbolize an alternative agent for cancer treatment. This is extremely promising in that this oil is easily obtained, inexpensive, non-toxic natural compound can eliminate cancer cells without harming normal, healthy cells in the same organ.

Lemongrass, right after frankincense, is the next most commonly researched essential oil for anticancer activity. Through research published in the May 2009 journal of Chemico-Biological Interactions, scientists tested essential oil of lemongrass against twelve human cancer cell lines. Colon as well as neuron cancer cell lines were found most prone to the essential oil. The study noted that lemongrass essential oil leads to natural cell death of cancer cells, a process that is inherently dysfunctional in cancer cells.

"Linalool" is a molecule naturally found in a variety of essential oils. Essential oils are naturally made up of quite a few individual chemical constituents, and linalool is a sweet, relaxing aromatic molecule found in many floral and medicinal spice essential oils. Linalool itself, separated out of the essential oil of coriander (Cilantro seeds) was the subject matter of research published in the June 2009 issue of the journal of Chemico-Biological interactions. Linalool has been found to completely eradicate a type of liver cancer in very low concentrations. This interested revelation indicates that a great many essential oils may have anticancer activity, far more than is currently considered.

Skin cancer is actually a major concern for many people, and a series of studies have shown sandalwood to be effective at preventing tumor development. "Santolols" are substances found naturally in all sandalwood oils, which has anti-anxiety and relaxation enhancing activity. Research indicates an important reduction in the development of skin cancers when skin is pre-treated with sandalwood oil prior to contact with carcinogens and UVB light rays. Formulas including sandalwood would clearly make an excellent addition to a pre-sun body or facial care formula.

Hence, like many plant medicines, essential oils perform on a number of levels for many disorders, with cancer being one of them. The general picture is very bright for the use of essential oils in cancer therapy, and further investigation is certainly warranted by the scientific and medical communities for the development of effective medical protocols for this profoundly life-altering condition.

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