The Chemistry of Aromatherapeutic Oils

The Chemistry of Aromatherapeutic Oils
Author: E. Joy Bowles
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Academic
Copyright: 2004 (3rd Edition)
ISBN: 1-74114-051X
Number of Pages: 236
Dimensions: 5 5/8"w x 9"h x 5/8"d

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The Chemistry of Aromatherapeutic Oils is a practical and enlightening resource that introduces the reader to the science and chemistry of essential oils. Written in easy-to-understand language, The Chemistry of Aromatherapeutic Oils should be considered as a resource for students and practitioners who want a deeper understanding of the chemistry and constituents behind the essential oils commonly used in holistic aromatherapy. This book will also appeal to aromatherapy enthusiasts who have no background in chemistry. Offered as a paperback, the dimensions of the book make it more convenient to handle than traditional hardcover textbooks.

E. Joy Bowles works in Australia and this work was published there (See the About the Author section below). Some topics and statistics are presented with an Australian audience in mind (i.e. statistics offered within the A brief overview of the essential oil industry section of the book).

Book Description As It Appears on the Back of the Publication:

The Chemistry of Aromatherapeutic Oils offers a practical approach to understanding the chemical functional groups and pharmacological actions of essential oils.

in this extensively revised and updated third edition of her popular book, E. Joy Bowles takes you, step by step, through the fundamental chemistry of aromatherapy and explains the powerful effects essential oils have on the body at a molecular level.

The Chemistry of Aromatherapeutic Oils includes:

Useful chemical diagrams and easy-to-follow explanations
Essential oil extraction methods and techniques for quality control
Reference charts of the effects of essential oils on pharmacological targets and the major components of 89 essential oils

About the Author as Described on the Back of the Text:

E. Joy Bowles BSc Hon, has taught the chemistry of essential oils to aromatherapists in Australia and America since 1991. In 2001 Joy developed an on-line course for The Australasian College of Herbal Studies in Oregon, USA. She has also taught at the highly regarded Nature Care College in Sydney and run workshops for the International Federation of Aromatherapists. She co-founded the Aromatherapy Research Group (TARG) in 1997. Joy has a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Education at Griffith University. She has recently been awarded a full scholarship to complete a PhD at Southern Cross University, NSW, where she will conduct research into aromatherapy for aged care.

Table of Contents for The Chemistry of Aromatherapeutic Oils

The book's Table of Contents is more comprehensive than the below main-category summary.

List of Illustrations
List of Tables
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Introduction
1. What is Chemistry?

Atomic theory of elements
Types of atoms found in essential oils
Bonding
Symbols, formulae and chemical drawings
Further reading

2. Plants and Essential Oils

Plant classification
Plant anatomy
Plant physiology
How plants make essential oil molecules
Variation in essential oil composition
A brief overview of the essential oil industry
Further reading

3. Terpenes

Physical characteristics of terpenoid molecules
Molecular structure and information
Monoterpenes
Sesquiterpenes
Further reading

4. Functional groups

Monoterpenols
Sesquiterpenols
Phenols
Aldehydes
Ketones
Acids and esters
Phenyl methyl ethers
Cyclic ethers or oxides
Lactones
Summary of hazardous and therapeutic properties of functional
Further reading

5. The pharmacology of essential oils

Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacokinetic pathway of essential oils
Interactions of essential oils with pharmaceutical drugs
Pharmacological targets of essential oil constituents
Enzyme effects
Interactions with DNA and developmental processes
Cell membrane ion channel effects
Receptor interactions
Psychopharmacology
Summary of health conditions and applicable pharmacodynamic effects of essential oil molecules
Further reading

6. Quality control

Quality control of essential oils

7. Isomers and naming

Geometric isomers
Enantiomers
Chirality
Systematic chemical nomenclature
Further reading

8. Molecular structures

Common monoterpenes
Common sesquiterpenes
Common monoterpenols
Common sesquiterpenols
Common phenols
Common aldehydes
Common ketones
Common esters
Common ethers
Common cyclic ethers and oxides
Common lactones
Common coumarins
Common furocoumarins

Appendix: Ready reference list of essential oils
Notes
Index

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